Irish family drama based on the novel by Lillian Beckwith. Connie Nielson stars as Maire O'Donnell, a fisherman's wife on the remote Corrie Island who adopts a shy young orphan, Tomas (John Bell). On the island, Maire teaches Tomas the local folklore, including the secret of the seals, and gradually instills confidence and self-worth into the boy. But Maire's husband Alec (Aidan Quinn) is derisive of Tomas's timidity and halting speech, and can barely conceal his disappointment that Tomas is not the kind of son he was hoping for.