Since the split of her 18-year marriage, Liz Dewhurst has lived with her son, Alex, and her father on their family farm on the east coast of Fife. Liz's acrimoni ous divorce and the decline of the farming business has left the farm burdened with debt - Liz wants to keep the farm but her father feels it sensible to sell to a company who wants to make the land into a golf course.

The arrival of Arthur, a professor, seems to bring more trouble but Liz's misgivings about taking in a lodger evaporate when she realises that not only does Arthur's presence help her lonely father but that she too, enjoys his company. Arthur, also divorced, is anxious to live life to the full, and asks Liz to accompany him on a trip to Spain. Liz refuses but then decides, why not When Arthur breaks his ankle, she's joined by Will, Arthur's estranged son, and with Arthur being the patient from hell and Liz feeling that she shouldn't be there, the return journey to Scotland is not an easy one but on the way the unexpected happens...