A governess is hired to care for two orphaned children, Flora and Miles, living in a remote country house. She begins to see the ghosts of former servants Peter Quint and Miss Jessel, and believes they are trying to possess the children. As Miles's behavior grows increasingly disturbing, the governess writes to the children's uncle for help. However, her letter disappears, and the story ends without resolving if the ghosts were real or if the governess was losing her mind.