East of Ipswich

Richard, a 17-year-old, is unhappy about spending his holidays in a traditional English guesthouse. He and his parents stay at the Tregarron guesthouse, run by Miss Wilbraham in Easton, Suffolk, where meals are strict and routines dominate the day.

Richard quickly befriends Edwin, a boy who is eager to chase girls and takes the younger teen under his wing. This budding friendship pulls Richard into Edwin's social circle for the rest of the holiday.

They attend a beach service organized by the local church youth group. During this outing, Richard and Edwin share a brief flirtation with the minister's twin daughters, testing boundaries.

That evening Julia agrees to a date with Edwin, but Anna, her Dutch exchange friend, can join them. Edwin persuades Richard to join the plan, forming a foursome for the night.

The group escapes the planned Sausage Sizzle and heads to a local jazz club instead. The night unfolds with a sense of mischief and defiance of the adults' rules.

Anna tries to slip away with local bikers, prompting Richard to chase after them. They race down the beach toward the sand dunes, seeking freedom from supervision.

On the dunes, Richard and Anna fall into each other's arms, sharing an intimate moment that marks a turnpoint in their holiday experiences. The mood is charged with reckless teenage boldness.

While tending to a head cut, Richard discovers a condom he had taken from Edwin's room, highlighting the night's indiscretions and the impending consequences.

Julia and Edwin fetch help, and Richard's parents along with the minister set off to rescue Richard and Anna from their precarious situation.

A woman walking her dog stumbles upon Richard and Anna on the beach, bringing the incident to light for the first time outside their close circle.

The parents and the minister arrive just in time to catch the teenagers in flagrante delicto, ending the night’s escapade in a dramatic confrontation.

With the holiday program effectively ruined, both families decide to end their stay early and head home, marking an abrupt end to the seaside trip.