A medical student is admitted to hospital with a mild neck injury, but her condition deteriorates rapidly and she dies in agony. Her classmates conclude that her death was due to malpractice, but they are blocked at every turn in their investigation.
Jamie Graham, a privileged English boy, is living in Shanghai when the Japanese invade and force all foreigners into prison camps. Jamie is captured with an American sailor, who looks out for him while they are in the camp together. Even though he is separated from his parents and in a hostile environment, Jamie maintains his dignity and youthful spirits, providing a beacon of hope for the others held captive with him.