Upper class Americans Noel and Meg Johnson have a twenty-six year old daughter named Clara Johnson. Clara suffered a head injury as a child which resulted in her being mentally disabled. Clara's mental capacity is equivalent to that of a ten year old. In many social situations, Clara's disability can be passed off as a simple joy of life. The issue of Clara's care has placed a strain between Noel and Meg, the latter who clings to the hope that one day Clara can lead a "normal" life. While on an extended vacation through Italy, Meg and Clara meet a twenty-three year old Italian named Fabrizio Naccarelli in Florence. Fabrizio is instantly smitten with Clara, who returns the affection. Always protecting Clara, Meg initially resists Fabrizio's constant measures to insinuate himself into their lives. But as Meg learns more about Fabrizio and meets his family, Meg begins to believe a marriage between Fabrizio and Clara is Clara's chance for that normal life, all the while not telling the Naccarellis of Clara's issue. This belief places a further strain between Meg and Noel, who still wants Clara placed in some sort of institution. Not having met the Naccarellis, Noel also believes they have ulterior motives in their actions. But what happens if the Nacarellis find out about Clara's disability? 克拉拉（伊薇特·米米亚克斯 Yvette Mimieux 饰）童年时代大脑受过伤，因此智力始终停留在10岁的年纪，无法独立生活的她和母亲麦格（奥利维娅·德哈维兰 Olivia de Havilland 饰）过着相依为命的生活。因为克拉拉拥有非常美丽的外表，为了保护女儿，麦格只得带着克拉拉不断的搬家，最终来到了弗洛伦萨。 在那里，克拉拉邂逅了名为法布里奇奥（乔治·汉密尔顿 George Hamilton 饰）的男子，很快，法布里奇奥就爱上了克拉拉。对于这段感情，麦格百般阻挠，并且向法布里奇奥的家人说明了克拉拉的情况，可是他的家人们并不介意克拉拉的遭遇，并且对她非常的照顾。最终，克拉拉和法布里奇奥走到了一起。
