In the summer of 1930, the last few dozen inhabitants of the lonely island of St. Kilda are evacuated. The government finds most of the islanders forestry jobs on the Scottish mainland. However, one of the leaders of the evacuation offers a young woman named Jenny a job on an industrialist's estate in South Wales. While living on the estate Jenny learns that the wealthy man's plans for her were fashioned by his mysterious mistress, a woman named Giovanna. Jenny proves to be too forceful a peronality to control, and she begins to discover the secrets of Giovanna's past and the woman's hold on her former lover.