Mrs. Hoft returns with her daughter Eunice to a private beach left by her recently deceased husband. Mrs. Hoft is a stern mother who has grown weary of Eunice’s odd behavior since her father’s death--ignoring her mother’s orders, wandering the beach for hours peering through the wrong end of a telescope and attempting to swim out to sea, narrowly avoiding death by drowning each time. Once again Eunice has waded out to sea before being rescued by Bernard, a lifeguard, who tries to revive her. But this time Mrs. Hoft is determined to teach her daughter a lesson while Bernard, who is in love with Eunice, is desperate to hear her speak again.