Honour Atwell is the despair of her father, a wealthy City merchant. She is too beautiful, too lively, too rebellious. She must be married as soon as possible to a suitably sober husband, but Honour prefers the romantic Robert Reade, who sails in his father's ships. She is fascinated by the newly opened Restoration Theatre, and determines to visit it. She persuades her father's apprentice to accompany her to Drury Lane, where she is enthralled by the play. Outside, however, disaster strikes. Rescued by the charismatic Gervase Dunstone, her life changes and she begins to realise her dream.