In the darkest hours of World War II, France falls to the Germans and all English women in the country are rounded-up and forced into internment camps. Fearful of being deported to the Gestapo's brothels, over two thousand English women bide their time in an aging chateau, which serves as their prison. Females of all walks of life and classes are thrown together and forced to live a humiliating existence where they must beg for even the most basic privileges. Freda Thompson (Phyllis Calvert) is a journalist who had lived a posh existence writing human interest stories for the dailies. She spars with sultry and free-loving Bridie Johnson (Jean Kent), who is willing to trade her affections for black market goods. New prisoner Rosemary Brown (Patricia Roc) finds herself leading the underground after two Royal Air Force pilots crash behind enemy lines and seek aid in getting back to England.