In the late 18th century some members of the British gentry used to employ professional anchorites to inhabit their garden grounds as some kind of decorative element. Richard, the last descendant of an impoverished noble family, inhabits a tiny flat in London - together with Jeremy, his "ornamental hermit". Their unity is menaced massively when they get to know Lavinia, the lovely girl from next door, who is a young art student, struggling for acknowledgement.