Cormac, an art teacher living now in Edinburgh with his wife and children, is an admirer of Rodin. When he tries to transmit his enthusiasm for Rodin to his students he finds his words tend to fall on stony ground, except when it comes to young Clarinda Bain. She becomes obsessed by the work and life of Gwen John, in particular by her affair with Rodin. She then begins to mirror this relationship by becoming obsessed herself with her own mentor, Cormac.