- Rather undiplomatic British diplomat Harrington Brande (Sir Michael Hordern) takes up his new post in Spain accompanied by his son Nicholas (Jon Whiteley). The posting is something of a disappointment to Harrington, who was hoping for a promotion. That his wife had left him seems to have affected his career. Nicholas sees it all as something of an adventure, and soon becomes fast friends with the new gardener, José (Sir Dirk Bogarde). The apparently "delicate" Nicholas becomes attached to José, and Harrington's jealousy leads him to bar Nicholas from even speaking to José. As tensions mount, another servant frames José for theft, forcing everyone to review the situation.—garykmcd
- Of late, British Consul Harrington Brande has been passed up for one promotion after another. It is not his qualifications, but rather his moral character that has been in question, ever since his wife left him. Since, he has smothered his now eleven year old son, Nicholas Brande, who he has refused let see his mother in Scotland. Harrington considers Nicky "delicate", a kind euphemism for weak, but in reality Nicky would not be if Harrington just let his son flourish. Rather than send Nicky away to school as is custom, Harrington has instead decided to home school him at their next posting, the provincial outpost of San Jorge, on the Costa Brava coast of Spain. These actions with regard to Nicky are against the advice of Harrington's friend, Dr. Harvey, who is constantly called to examine Nicky for his delicate nature. Regardless, Nicky has unconditional love for and obedience to his father. At the consular home provided to him in San Jorge, Harrington hires a man to do the gardening of the largely unkempt grounds suggested to him by Carol Burton, the wife of consular official Robert Burton. Said gardener, Jose Santero, a friend of a friend of the Burtons, is a gentle soul. Left largely to his own devices as his father goes about his work, Nicky strikes up a friendship with Jose, who can see that Nicky just wants to be allowed to be a boy and do the things that boys do. Harrington sees this friendship as an immediate threat to his relationship with Nicky and his authority over his son. As that friendship grows stronger, the question becomes how far each of Harrington, Nicky and Jose will go to protect what is right, or what each believes is right, especially with regard to their interrelationships. A factor in the situation is a true wolf in sheep's clothes within their midst.—Huggo
- British diplomat Harrington Brande (Sir Michael Hordern) takes up a minor provincial consular post in Spain. The appointment is a disappointment to Harrington, who was hoping for a more senior position. His abandonment by his wife may have adversely affected his career, as might his brusque manner. He is accompanied by his eleven-year-old son, Nicholas (Jon Whiteley), whom he home schools, contrary to his friend's advice that the boy would benefit from the social engagement with other boys at a boarding school. Harrington prefers to monopolize his company.
Nicholas sees it as an adventure, and soon becomes friends with the teenage gardener, José (Sir Dirk Bogarde), spending time every day helping him with the plants and relaxing together. The exercise he is getting is much better for him than his father's mollycoddling of the perfectly healthy boy. However, the middle aged Harrington is jealous of his son's enthusiasm for and friendship with the much younger man. He rebukes his son for taking him to watch Jose play pelota and refuses Jose's gift of fish that he had caught. Similarly, he refuses to let Nicholas join a youth group organised by a junior colleague. He later bans Nicholas and Jose from speaking on pain of Jose's dismissal. He also sets Jose to clear a large rockery as punishment.
While Harrington is away on a business trip, the drunken Garcia, the butler/ chauffeur, threatens Nicholas with a knife and tries to break into his bedroom and the terrified boy takes refuge overnight with Jose with whom he has again been spending time. His father discovers this and is furious. Garcia then frames José to cover up his own behaviour.
The ending of the film differs from that of the book.
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