A single mother, Pearl, and her two children, Adam, and Lilith, a teenage Lolita, arrive to take over a derelict palace in Tuscany. Their story is told by Van, a writer who has lived in Tuscany for many years. The family are joined by Barney, Pearl's new young husband. They all hail from South Africa, and Barney believes there's money in farming ostriches. There is an incident with a ferocious ostrich, and Barney buys a gun. The cock ostrich is mysteriously released, and there is a chase the wrong way along the Auostrada. As the ostriches breed, jealousies spiral out of control. Barney is shot dead, and Pearl goes to prison for the murder. But all is not as it seems...Van has to travel to Cape Town to find out the truth.