Consul Harrington Brand had no success either in his personal life or in his career. After receiving a minor post in a small Spanish town, he moves there with his son Nicholas. The selfish and domineering father won’t let the boy see his mother: under the pretext of her weak health, he doesn’t allow him into school and doesn’t let him associate with peers. And so Nicholas quickly makes friends with a young, friendly gardener, Jose. Sensing that his son is slipping out from under his strict control, an enraged Harrington Brand takes dubious measures to break apart Nicholas and Jose…