Vincent (Hardy Kruger), a young man from Paris, arrives at the small Spanish village of Caldeya. where his has been loaned a home by his friend, Reginald (Maurice Teynac.) He meets Pascal Regnier (James Mason), a novelist engaged in pursuits of drinking and love affairs, who spends his summers in Caldeya with his son, Daniel (Didier Haudepin.) Regnier introduces Vincent to Jenny (Melina Meecouri), local nightclub owner, who has already received a wire from Reginald asking ger to look after his friend. Vincent and Jenny fall in love and plan a trip to Barcelona together, a trip they take in spite of Reginald's arrival. However, the shadow of Reginald comes between them and they accept the fact that their love is doomed to failure.

After suffering a nervous breakdown in Paris, Vincent, a young painter, motors to the small fishing village of Caldeya on the Spanish Costa Brava. Badly in need of rest, he has been given the use of a home belonging to his older companion and "patron," Reginald. In Caldeya, Vincent meets Pascal Regnier, a novelist preoccupied with drinking and love affairs who spends his summers in the town with his teenage son, Daniel. Daniel's friends include Serge and Nadine, models of young love. Most of the wealthy bohemians who summer in Caldeya gravitate to a cafe belonging to Jenny, a worldly woman who has already received a letter from Reginald urging her to look after Vincent. Her attentions prove to be more than Reginald had counted on, however, as Vincent, who is uncertain of his masculinity, falls in love with the older woman. Meanwhile, Regnier meets Orange and convinces her to move into his house, to the displeasure of Daniel. Reginald suddenly arrives on the scene, but Vincent nevertheless persuades Jenny to take a trip with him to Barcelona. The older man's hold proves too strong, however, and Vincent eventually leaves Caldeya to return to Paris and Reginald. As the summer season nears its end, Serge and Nadine make plans to run away from their decadent surroundings. Daniel brings them money, but Nadine, fearful of her parents' reaction, refuses to go through with the plan. The affair ends tragically with the death of Serge, and Regnier accompanies his son home after the tragedy. Daniel then engineers Orange's departure and pleads with his father to remain in the village through the winter. Regnier agrees and, embarking on a relationship with Jenny, begins to write again.