The poignant story of four young people as they emerge into the glaring shaft of light presented by the onset of the Second World War. In a Yorkshire mining village of the 1930's Depression, families struggle to survive the harsh deprivations of working class life, and to keep hope, spirit and dignity alive. Shopkeeper's son Denis questions what the future may hold for him. The advent of war shows him the possibilities of a life far from all he knows. But his best friend, Ted, from the poorest part of the village, dreams only of becoming a man and starting to work down the pit, like his father before him. Both boys are drawn to Jean, a bold young woman who already has a "reputation" among the villagers. Meanwhile, Jessie, Ted's sister, lives her life through books, and gains a scholarship to High School. Will that be enough to escape a life of drudgery? The four youngsters must deal with the challenges and responsibilities of growing up, as they experience death, love, desire and their consequences. As their lives change forever, the seeds are sown for the conflicts that their generation will face once peace finally comes.