It is 1909 and the very early years of the British film industry. Thirteen year old Tom Jupe lives in a small Sussex seaside village and is about to leave school and go into a sensible trade. But then the South Seas Film Company come to Aduring-by-Sea and Tom is irresistibly drawn to them. Disobeying his strict Methodist parents, Tom takes the false name of Daniel Lyons and begins to get friendly with the happy-go-lucky Merry family who run the film company. Soon, he is a regular visitor, helping them with their film-making and forming an unlikely friendship with fourteen year old Laura Merry. But for how long can he keep his identity secret? What will happen when the truth comes out? And who are the mysterious Busters of whom the Merrys are so terrified?