England 1555. An isolated group of salt farmers arrange illegal passage to Europe for an Indian Gypsy family in hiding. But a love affair between Patience, a mute English girl, and Rumi, the son of the Egyptians, threatens to destroy both communities.
A young English student called Ophelia falls in love with her married lecturer, Michael. When their affair results in a shocking and tragic death, Ophelia finds herself trapped, and she can no longer trust her own mind.