It's 2030, and junior eco-warrior extremists now govern the First World - formerly known as Northern Europe.
Elected on a promise to put the wellbeing of a dying planet before its people, their Directives are turning the screw on the mental and physical health of the populace, all in the name of saving Earth.
Drones have been assigned to every home to monitor the behaviour of occupants. Destroying these robot lodgers or leaving home without their permission are both strictly prohibited and punishable by instant Removal, a mysterious process which sees the guilty driven away, never to be seen again
Among those confined to his apartment is Kent Sanderson, a 50-something writer who initially enjoyed his time with his attentive drone. But a year into the new regime, and with a recent Directive forcing him to give up his beloved pet dog, Kent, like the rest of the population, is reaching his wit's end.
Conscious of a swelling undercurrent of unrest across the First World, the government shows leniency by forcing everyone to leave their homes for a day and taste freedom the way the world used to know it.
Like millions of others, Kent arranges to meet up with friends on Freedom For All Day. But when one fails to show up at their meeting point and an unexpected, unwelcome guest arrives instead, Kent's day turns into a manhunt during which he must come to terms with his past, fight for his future, and uncover the chilling truth behind Removals and the government that now rules his life.