When their car breaks down on the way to Queensland, a family is forced to take up residence at a caravan park while the father tries to earn enough money to get the car repaired.

He was born with the animals. He was taught by the animals. He lives with the animals. He talks to the animals. A living Nature Child. Touched by the Hand of God.

Paul Lawrence is a working class man who dates Cara, sells shirts at a Sydney department store, and dreams of attending art school. Cara leaves for London and Paul becomes the protege of designer Marie Rosefield. Through this he enters the 'set', the world of Sydney art society. Rosefield is friends with Mark Broniski, an artist who commissions Paul to design a set for British stage director, John L. Fredericks. Paul is helped by art student Tony Brown, who is dating Paul's cousin, Kim Sylvester. Paul and Tony begin a homosexual affair. Kim's mother Peggy has an affair with Boronoski.

After possibly killing a man in a brawl at a farewell party Tony Gunther, an American merchant seaman, is knocked out and wakes up in the apartment of Laura Ring, the secretary of a shipping company.