Beautiful young widow, Charlotte Madison, is destitute after the death of her husband in a rail accident, and begins housekeeping once a week for five lovelorn bachelors in the small rural town of Monto In Queensland. They importune her and she keeps refusing until her son Robbie, 13, is caught thieving around the town with his mates. The local Police Sergeant urges her to get Robbie out of Monto and, desperate for money, Charlotte agrees to give her clients sex, but with very strict rules. Soon she's making money which is building up as one of her clients, a solicitor and canny investor, controls her finances. A grateful Charlotte agrees to marry him, but now has enough money to investigate businesses to buy in Brisbane. Curiosity leads her to a big brothel where she talks to the ageing and ill owner and they become immediate friends. Back in Monto Charlie is spotted by a local criminal, recently released from jail, who sees that she's single and alone and tries to rape her in her home. Robbie comes to her aid with a hammer and accidentally kills the man. After a long recovery, Charlotte and Robbie visit the brothel-keeper, Ophelia Parkinson, and Charlotte nurses her through her last days. A few days later she's dismayed to find that Ophelia has left her the brothel and millions of dollars. Charlie tries to sell but the only buyers are bikie gangs and Asian and Australian criminals. The girls beg her to stay, her fiancé refuses to accept her as a Madam, so Charlotte accepts the bequest. Charlotte and Robbie move in and Robbie begins his secret and highly illegal life among 20 pretty harlots at The Blue Moon Hotel.