Shaun Maclaren, the first born of twin girls is accused, at an early age of causing her sister's death. She is sent to a convent, abused and beaten. Seduced into becoming a lesbian by her cousin, she rebels and joins the army, where she is haunted by her sister.

After numerous operations to change her gender, she is rejected by the government psychiatric board as being ineligible for sex-reassignment.

Living the life of a neuter, she eventually meets Professor Gaisford, who through experimental cloning of male genitalia is able to give Shaun a complete , whole life as a man.

Shaun, accepted by his peers as a man, marries Leah, returns to Luckham Downs and decides to raise a family of his own.