In the early 1970′s, a naive girl, Bess, living in a small community on the coast of Scotland, falls in love with oil-rig worker and man-of-the-world Jan. Despite local opposition, they marry. Jan returns to the rig, whilst Bess counts the days to his homecoming, assured their love is made in heaven by her faithful telepathy with God. When an accident renders Jan paralysed, he worries that Bess will cut herself off from a normal life. Realising that he will be bedridden, he convinces her that she will aid his recovery by taking a lover and relating to him their sexual acts.