The father of a quirky family, the Wheelers, hires an ex-soldier, Clarence, as a handyman. Clarence falls for the family's governess, Violet. Mrs. Wheeler suspects that Violet and her husband are carrying on, and begins to develop an attraction to Clarence. Hubert Stem, Mr. Wheeler's avaricious private secretary, one day shows Mr. Wheeler an article about one Charles Smith, an army deserter, and insists that Clarence is in actuality Charles Smith. Complications ensue.