Endlessly struggling to feel seen, David becomes infatuated with a mysterious company's promise to transform people's lives by permanently changing the color of their eyes. After traveling to India to get the controversial procedure, he begins to question if this artificial beauty will give him the fulfillment he truly seeks.

Janey is on vacation with her brother, Jim, mother, Kate, and father Ed, at their beach house on the Mahurangi Peninsual in New Zealand. Ed and Kate, who are on the verge of divorce, sit around in the back yard all day drinking whiskey and Janey and Jim are left to their own devices. Cady, a local boaty who is having an affair with Kate, catches Janey's pubescent eye. In response to his wife's drinking problem and recurring infidelity, Ed turns to alcohol, ignoring his children almost as much as his wife, which eventually leads to a character's fate.

The family have come to Wellington, New Zealand for a combined holiday and business trip. They are met by Bill's friend, another agent, called Dennis.

The children are looking forward to going on holiday with Bill and Allie. School is over and the summer stretches ahead. Bill is summoned to his offer and instructed by Sir George to guard the future prince of Tauri-Hessia who has had a kidnap attempt made on him.

The family are going on a river boating holiday in Turkey. Bill gets a phone call from Sir George. They have to meet. The family suspect their holiday will be canceled.