16 year old Linus, living in 1930s Stockholm, dreams of becoming a poet, while working in a bookstore. After visiting a brickhouse with his father, Linus becomes involved with several of its inhabitants, including an enigmatic Ambassadress; her housekeeper Abigail, who Linus falls in love with; the janitor, who manages a brothel in the basement; Linus’ father’s best friend, who gets murdered.