Ring of Bright Water

Graham Merrill passes a pet shop in London and is drawn to a male river otter in the window. He feels a strong pull toward the animal and decides to keep him as a pet. This chance encounter sets the stage for an unlikely bond.

Graham follows through on his impulse and buys the otter, naming him Mijbil, or Mij for short. He brings Mij home to his flat, and their daily life begins to tilt toward adventure. The bond between keeper and otter starts to form immediately.

Mij's playful energy runs wild, turning furniture and floors into a watery chaos. The flat becomes a test of Graham's patience as the otter explores, splashes, and tests the limits of indoor life.

Seeking a quieter life, Graham and Mij leave London for a rustic cottage overlooking the sea on Scotland's west coast. The cross-country move shifts their world from urban to coastal, bringing new rhythms and freedom for the otter.

In the nearby village, they befriend Dr. Mary MacKenzie and her dog Johnny. The human community begins to form a gentle circle around Mij, who explores his new environment alongside his companions.

Graham attempts to supply Mij with live eels, but winter conditions and the lack of local supply make the hunt difficult. The episode underscores Mij's adventurous spirit and the practical challenges of caring for an otter in the wild.

Mij's curiosity leads him away from the cottage to meet a female otter and spend the day with her, unaware of danger. He is eventually caught in a net and nearly killed. The humans rescue him and nurse him back to health.

Graham spends long hours drawing Mij and realizes that to capture the otter's grace he must depict him underwater. He builds a large tank from old windows so he can observe and study Mij beneath the surface.

Merrill travels to London to attend to affairs, leaving MacKenzie in charge of Mij. The separation introduces new responsibilities and tests their routine with the otter.

While out on an exercise, Mij is killed by a ditch digger who does not realize he is a pet. Graham and MacKenzie return crushed by the loss of their beloved otter.

Some time later, a trio of otter youngsters and their mother approach the cottage, and Graham recognizes them as Mij's mate and their children. The sight brings a renewed sense of wonder and continuity.

Seeing the baby otters play inspires Graham to abandon his Marsh Arabs novel and begin writing about Mij. Through this process he discovers something meaningful about himself and his art.