Scotland, 1934.
Recently ensconced at St. Saviours' University, William Stanley MacFaddyen
has desires to become a romantic poet, an author of historical adventure novels,
and above all, a succesful student.
As MacFaddyen's affair with his tutor, Dr. Jeanette Mackenzie, becomes more
intense, MacFaddyen finds himself afloat on a sea of bliss. Mackenzie grants him
top marks for a paper on Geoffrey Chaucer that is nothing but an erotic letter
addressed to her, while Paterson, MacFaddyen's deaf and troubled classmate,
suffers emotional turmoil as he is handed a D-grade for his efforts.
But storms of unrest begin to break upon MacFaddyen. Rose, owner of his
favourite tea-shop, tries valiantly once again to attract his attention, while
Paterson abruptly disappears in strange and surreal circumstances.
And in the background, still lurks the grim and gaunt figure of Luther MacKillick,
Master of Prince Albert College and architect of MacFaddyen's downfall...
