It is October 1914, and the First World War is raging with grim intensity. The German forces are advancing rapidly through Belgium, forcing the Allies into retreat. In Britain, the influx of over 5,000 Belgian refugees has sparked a national effort to provide shelter. Hazel Bellamy, alongside Lady Prudence Fairfax, joins a committee to organize temporary homes for these displaced families. Eager to set an example, Hazel volunteers to host a family, expecting a small aristocratic household. To her surprise, she is assigned an extended family of five peasant farmers who speak no English, creating an immediate cultural and linguistic divide.   The refugees are settled into the servants’ quarters, but their presence quickly disrupts the household’s routine. The servants, unaccustomed to their guests’ customs, are baffled by their preferences and particularly offended by their refusal to bathe. Tensions rise as misunderstandings multiply, leaving both sides frustrated. The language barrier exacerbates the situation, making even basic communication a challenge. Hazel, though well-intentioned, struggles to bridge the gap, and the refugees, traumatized by their harrowing escape from war-torn Belgium, find it difficult to adapt to their unfamiliar surroundings.   Relief arrives with the return of Georgina, who, having been educated in Switzerland, speaks fluent French. She becomes the much-needed intermediary, translating for the refugees and the household. Through Georgina, the Belgians share their heartbreaking stories of loss and terror at the hands of the invading German forces. Their tales of survival and suffering evoke a profound sense of empathy from the Bellamy household, softening the earlier tensions. The shared humanity in the face of war’s brutality begins to unite them, fostering a deeper understanding and compassion that transcends cultural differences.