Lonely in his English country estate, Sir Basil decides to gather his grown (albeit illegitimate) children around him in his declining years. He uses a ledger which keeps track of the payments he has been making to ex-lovers to locate 2 of them, and a third is found by a lawyer in New York, her mother was too proud to accept any money. Sir Basil is a curmudgeon, and his three adult children have a hard time with him at first. Toni, the American, is a free spirit who had a budding career in show business. Jeffery is English and a semi-gentleman, and Maria is Italian, with a Latin temperament. They begin to bond, especially Sir Basil and Toni, whose outgoing personality finally wins over the old man. But past lives begin to creep back into the picture and threaten the old man's plans for a life filled with his children.

The old count Kristian Örnklo has four children spread around the world since his career as a diplomat, children he has never met. His doctor convinces him that he should gather his children at his countryside estate. The doctor's son, John, is sent out to bring them back. They all meet at the estate, Kerstin from Sweden, Dagmar from Denmark, Olav from Norway and Enrico from Spain. They all have a wonderful summer, and John and Kerstin fall in love with each other.