After an altercation between a beautiful mother duck and an ugly hen, one of the mother's ducklings changes. His feathers become grey and pale, and he is shunned by his family and strangers. Alone and afraid, the duckling wanders until he comes across the ugly hen. Despite the anger he feels, his compassion shines through and he nurses her back to help. She rewards him with the knowledge that not all is as it seems-the ugly duckling is, in fact, a beautiful swan.