After the death of his wife, elderly Tom Mitchell has settled back into his plodding, plain and unadventurous life: Visits from his son, daughter and grandchildren, the occasional trip into Brighton, Friday night at the pub with his mates, pursuing his profitable hobby. In a Brighton hotel he meets Ching Lan, a woman over half his age. She is from a far off country, friendly, exotic, appealing; a little mysterious. In spite of misgivings he is attracted to her. Their friendship grows and Tom's predictable existance changes. One summer night he is mugged and for the first time in his life he is questioned by the police; he becomes innocently involved in a political scandal that threatens the security o After the death of his wife, elderly Tom Mitchell has settled back into his plodding, plain and unadventurous life: Visits from his son, daughter and grandchildren, the occasional trip into Brighton, Friday night at the pub with his mates, pursuing his profitable hobby. In a Brighton hotel he meets Ching Lan, a woman over half his age. She is from a far off country, friendly, exotic, appealing; a little mysterious. In spite of misgivings he is attracted to her. Their friendship grows and Tom's predictable existance changes. One summer night he is mugged and for the first time in his life he is questioned by the police; he becomes innocently involved in a political scandal that threatens the security of the country. A shadowy civil servant informs him he holds the key to exposing corruption within the Government. After a horrific attack in a Brighton street, Tom finds himself in a remote hospital where, as he recovers from his injuries, he plans his future while those around him put his sanity in doubt. f the country. A shadowy civil servant informs him he holds the key to exposing corruption within the Government. After a horrific attack in a Brighton street, Tom finds himself in a remote hospital where, as he recovers from his injuries, he plans his future while those around him put his sanity in doubt.