Based on D.H. Lawrence's novella about two young women - sickly chattering Jill Banford and quiet strong Ellen March - who are trying hopelessly to run a chicken farm in Canada. A gentle but powerful man named Paul Grenfell who used to live on their farm returns and puts things in order. But his proposal of marriage to Ellen awakens the homosexuality dormant in the girls: Jill uses her weakness to make Ellen feel protective and the women become active lovers.