It is a moonless spring night in the Welsh fishing town of Llareggub, and all its inhabitants are asleep. As if by incantation, their dreams become audible, and a concert of voices arises. Captain Cat, the blind retired sailor, reminisces about his time on the sea and his drowned shipmates. Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard henpecks her two late husbands, while the organist Organ Morgan harps on about music. As the sleepers awaken and get on with their daily routines, their dreams are reflected by reality, their inner thoughts and feelings by action, and a poignant, lyrical and at times humorous portrait emerges of a small community grappling with the thorns of life.