
A late night train pulls into the small station of the coastal town of Collinsport, Maine. Two passengers get off. One is a young woman, Victoria Winters. The other is a somewhat older man, Burke Devlin. Left alone at the deserted station, they introduce themselves, as strangers will. It seems that Victoria expected someone to meet her at the station, but no one has arrived. Burke has arranged for a taxi to carry him to the Collinsport Inn, so he offers Victoria a ride, and to share a cup of coffee at the inn's diner.

Working at the diner, as she does almost every day and night, is Maggie Evans, a vivacious young woman, quick to make friends and share a joke.
"So," she says to Victoria, "what brings you to this thriving metropolis?"
