罗伊斯（凯莉·霍威 Keeley Hawes 饰）自幼失去了父母，和叔叔理查德爵士（迈克尔·刚本 Michael Gambon 饰）一家人一起生活。罗伊斯和表哥表姐一起长大，其中，她的表哥科奥尼（Tom Hickey 饰）的性格最为强烈，向往自由平等的生活的他是一名反英份子，因此遭到了警方的通缉。 从很小的时候起，罗伊斯和科奥尼之间就存在着非常微妙的气氛，随着两人渐渐长大，他们之间的感情也在发生着变化。与此同时理查德爵士的手下卡罗萨思特（大卫·田纳特 David Tennant 饰）也对罗伊斯十分倾心。夹在两个男人之间，罗伊斯一时之间不知道该做出怎样的选择，殊不知自己的犹豫不决即将酿成悲剧。

In 1920s Ireland, an elderly couple reside over a tired country estate. Living with them are their high-spirited niece, their Oxford student nephew, and married house guests, who are trying to cover up that they are presently homeless. The niece enjoys romantic frolics with a soldier and a hidden guerrilla fighter. All of the principals are thrown into turmoil when one more guest arrives with considerable wit and unwanted advice.