Liam is growing up in an Irish Catholic quarter of Liverpool in the 1930's, the youngest of three children. While he is at school trying to rid his seven year old head of wicked thoughts that stand between him and the salvation of his immortal soul, his older brother is working, adding his wage packet to the household funds. Liam idolises his teenage sister Teresa, who does her part cleaning for a wealthy Jewish family.

Though money is tight, the family is happy; Liam's mother is caring and devout and his father is a responsible working man, proud to be employed when so many others are not. But when hard time hit the Liverpool docks Liam's father loses his job.

Liam watches as his father becomes so embittered and determined to find someone to blame that he joins the local Fascists with tragic consequences.