A lost letter and the Korean War separate a pair of young lovers. Now the head of a secretarial agency, Jean realises that her client Lionel is the man she loved four decades ago.

After their accidental meeting, Jean and Lionel make vague promises to stay in contact; Sandy goes to the hotel but misses Lionel, whose publisher, Alistair, asks him to come along to a party.

After establishing an uneasy friendship, Jean and Lionel wonder if they can build a relationship. They discover a lot has changed as they revisit some of their old haunts, but manage to find a place they were both fond of.

Jean and Judy decide to surprise Lionel with a visit during his lecture at a conference in Norwich, but the surprise turns sour when Jean learns that Lionel is staying with another woman.

Jean capitalises on Alistair's infatuation with her to make Lionel jealous. Relations between Lionel and Jean become frosty.

Alistair becomes smitten with Jean, while Jean's daughter, Judy, becomes besotted with Lionel. Although they find all the attention flattering, Lionel and Jean feel it must stop.