Where did he come from? (The opening scenes)

I always keep coming back to the idea that Ned is in the midst of a mental breakdown at the beginning of the story and the movie. In the story Ned is with his wife Lucinda at their friends' pool (the Westerhazys) before he makes his decision to swim home, but we're left in the end feeling ambiguous as to whether the brief exchange of words that takes place between Ned and Lucinda is imagined or real. In the movie he's already alone and off on his journey.

In my opinion, Ned is staying with a friend or maybe family (perhaps with a pool) at the beginning of the story after losing everything, including Lucinda. It could be a holiday weekend because of all the parties and this longing for the old good times triggers Ned to go seek out his old life. He spends the day in his irrational state visiting various friends and acquaintances. In his instability he deludes himself about where Lucinda really is at all times and he tells people where he really believes his daughters are (at home waiting for him).

Certain aspects of the film are difficult to explain/understand if taken literally at face value. There is some surrealism, and I feel that much of it is metaphorical for Ned's psychological state.