George works at a law firm in New York, which discontents his midwestern family, who thinks he has lost himself by becoming a snobby New York careerist. He is sending off his uncle Al to Greece when a woman behind him tries explaining that he has to wait to see the ship off, as the dock ritual requires. He doesn't listen, and when he's seeing his cousin off, the same woman is there, telling him about the ritual. George begins going down to the docks to see boats off during his lunch hour, encountering the woman there constantly. The two begin to share information about themselves, her informing him that her name is Undine, she has multiple daughters who've all married by now, and that her husband owns the drug store nearby. She tells him that she is someone who simply goes with the tide, and that George will invite her to stay with him, although he is doubtful of that. George develops an insatiable urge to embrace the sea one day, leading him to take the ferry to Staten Island and back, though his desire isn't quenched. Later, George finds the woman on a boat headed to Palestine, and he grabs her, and takes her back to his apartment, where they have sex. She dislikes all the artificial things in his apartment, including the air conditioning and fridge, so she turns them off. For three days, they inhabit the apartment and have sex frequently. She returns to her husband at the drug store, and George temporarily returns to work, saying he was sick. But shortly after, he desires her again and goes to the drug store to find her. Her husband, also named George, introduces himself and says he doesn't mind her shenanigans. George takes her back to his apartment for constant sex again, her now breaking holes in the windows so that she can feel real air. George visits the husband again, seeing now that they show great resemblance to one another, especially since George is quickly losing weight. The pharmacist explains that Undine, also called Sylvia, has had many lovers, which she refers to as husbands, and that she has many daughters all over the world. He explains that he used to be a sailor, until she found him and inexplicably tied him down to the pharmacy, where he also sleeps. George, on the other hand, has urges to go off on the sea and quit his job. George returns to his apartment and has more sex with Undine, but then his uncle calls him asking to stay in his apartment for the night since he doesn't want to find a hotel. George tries to decline, but eventually accepts the offer, then tells Undine she has to leave. Before leaving, she destroys everything in the apartment while George simply watches. Shortly after, both Georges go looking for Undine, and find her naked in an alleyway with a lyre, but she is unresponsive to them. The husband explains that she is probably done with them now, since she told him that she was going off to find her daughters. George, now with no job or tether, is left to decide where he wants to go from there.