John, as a boy, lives in the land of Puritania. He is fascinated by the beauty in the woods around him, but his mother forbids him from going there. He begins questioning the authority behind the rules he is made to follow. The Steward, who enforces the rules, is appointed by the Landlord. John is taken to meet the Steward, who sternly presents the long list of prohibitions and gives John a card with the list to take with him.

John is terrified of breaking the Landlord’s rules but finds it impossible to keep them all. He also discovers that the back of the card has an entirely different set of rules. Seeking escape, John travels further from home than ever before. He hears a voice calling him, which draws him to a wall beside the road. Through its window, he sees a forest, and he imagines a magical Island beyond.

John’s uncle George receives a notice to vacate his farm—an edict that shocks the family, as they believed that the lease would last longer. The Steward reminds them that the Landlord has the right to evict anyone without notice, and they accept reluctantly.