Fascinating look at how isolation, and sensory deprivation, can affect the mind.  It's not a stretch at all to see how one man's sanity could hinge entirely on the "friendship" of a mouse.  The episode sets the listener up for what could have been a great ending, but instead leaves so many questions unanswered that it essentially wastes a great performance by Peter Collins.  My guess...this was some sort of futuristic, totallitarian type society where people were routinely punished for "crimes" such as speaking out against the government, or some other type of non-conforming behavior.  Maybe a Orwellian/1984 type society where people were made examples of as a deterrent to others.  Like I said, just a guess.