It is March 1943, and the US 116th Infantry Regiment arrive in the Devon town of Chalford.
Emily France, whose boyfriend Tom is fighting in the desert, commences a relationship with one of the GIs.
With the arrival of black US troops, the racism of their white colleagues is revealed, and the town must wrestle with its conscience in deciding whether to implement segregation of blacks and whites.
When Tom is invalided out of the army, and returns to Chalford, tragedy ensues.
How will the townsfolk react to a murder in their midst? Will they fight their personal prejudices to ensure that justice prevails?