It's vacation time at the sky ranch, and the only ones not present are Paul, who had to remain in Sea Cliff on business, and his niece Joan, who is sixteen, and is staying at the family home with him, as she has her first part-time job. But in addition to the family up at the sky ranch, is Roberta Evans at mother's special invitation. It's been a lively day, and now at the sky ranch it's early evening, with deepening purple shadows in the canyons, and the full moon taking over where the sun left off.