Happiness Is a Warm Bum

Austin Murray is fifty years old, owns a bookstore and loves to walk on the beach every morning at sun-up. He’s a beachcomber, too, always in search of something unique to add to his collection. One such winter morning, an unkempt, sad-looking stranger roars into his life on a motorbike and his heart turns over for the first time, ever.

Murphy Vickers is world-weary, hurting and unable to connect with anyone. He travels from town to town looking for work, but never stays anywhere very long. He’s trying to outrun a painful event in his past that haunts him to this day. When he stops in a seaside town, he meets Austin, who offers him work and a place to stay for however long he needs.

Though a hard worker, Murphy is surly and reticent, no matter how friendly and open Austin tries to be. Austin almost despairs of getting through to him until the unexpected help of a local veteran sheds some light on Murphy’s past.

Slowly, Austin breaks through Murphy’s barriers and hopes the biker will decide that a sleepy seaside town and a maturing bachelor might be worth settling down for, even if it’s just for a little while.