The year is 1912, and Alma Davies travels from England to America to take up a post as governess to Oscar, the sixteen-year-old son of wealthy businessman, Marcus Somerset. Oscar is horrified and outraged that he now has a governess, and does his petulant best to be as unpleasant as possible. The staff are only too familiar with Oscar's behaviour, and are delighted that the governess is in a position to do something about it. With the full support of the father, Alma begins to discipline Oscar with hairbrush, strap and cane. Unused to physical chastisement, Oscar learns the hard way, through severe thrashings, the meaning of obedience... and very slowly his defiance gives way to respect, and to his surprise he finds himself trying to please his strict governess.