The peaceful seaside town of Merham is still recovering from the aftermath of World War II when the tranquil local waters are upset by the arrival of a bohemian group with unclear relationships who move into a modern, architecturally eccentric house on the coast. The conservative residents of Merham are outraged, but young Lottie and her friend Celia are irresistibly drawn to the house and its staff. And an avalanche of events is set in motion, the tragic consequences of which persist even after fifty years...