When his father dies, Paul Prior (Matthew Macfadyen), a disillusioned and battle weary war photographer, decides to return home to an isolated land-locked town in New Zealand. His brother, Andrew (Colin Moy), a local ostrich farmer, is caught off-guard by Paul's sudden re appearance after seventeen years away. Worlds apart, they barely recognise each other. Andrew, a pious man, pressures Paul into staying to help sort out the sale of their father's cottage and the adjoining orchard.

Reluctantly re-visiting the dilapidated family property, he discovers the old den, tucked away in the equipment shed. It belonged to his orchardist father, Jeff (Matthew Chamberlain), who away from his puritanical wife Iris (Vanessa Riddell), had secretly harboured a love of wine, literature and free thinking philosophy. When Paul as a child had accidentally stumbled upon this wondrous book-lined universe, he had been included in his father's secret, promising never to tell anyone about it.

Paul sets about clearing up and stumbles upon sixteen year-old Celia (Emily Barclay) in the den. She has been using the derelict hide-away as a private haven to write her stories and to fuel her dream of living in Europe, far away from the small town she longs to escape. Paul curtly sends her away, unaware that she is the daughter of his first girlfriend, Jackie (Jodie Rimmer), now the local butcher.

His former principal persuades him to take up a temporary relief position at the local high school teaching journalism. Celia, one of his students has a passion for writing and thirst for experience of the world. Intrigued, Paul allows her to visit him at home. It isn't long, however, before their growing friendship comes under scrutiny from a judgmental Andrew and an envious Jackie. The two are forbidden to see each other. Despite the warnings, Celia continues to visit and Paul encourages her in her ambitions as a writer.

And then, in the middle of winter, Celia goes missing. Paul was the last to see her, but denies knowing her whereabouts. He faces not only mounting suspicions and violent threats within the township itself, but his own wavering doubts about his involvement with Celia. Paul, now concerned for Celia's safety, admits she'd made him promise not to tell a soul about her ticket to Spain, on the morning she went missing. When Jackie discovers a packed suitcase beneath Celia's bed, along with a passport, the urgency of the police enquiry is raised. As the painful truth gradually emerges, Paul is forced to confront the family tragedy and betrayal that he ran from as a youth, and to face the grievous consequences of silence and secrecy that has surrounded his entire adult life.