In 1960s Bristol, Susan's family was like any other with its joys and frustrations, making ends meet and fierce, working class loyalties. Then tragedy struck and left a legacy that was to last a lifetime. Susan was only nine when her mother was cruelly taken by Death. No one spoke of it, no one dared. And Susan - bright, inquisitive and with an answer for everything - was left frightened, baffled and ready to fight back. A year later she was sent away to school. She didn't want to go and didn't understand why she had to. Why couldn't she stay at home with her brother and father? Why was everything going wrong in her life? In her struggle to cope with an uncertain world - a world where nothing seemed to make sense any more - she ends up pushing away the one person she loves best, her father. And as they try to find a way back to each other, they are forced to learn one of the hardest lessons of all - that no matter how angry they are with one another, and confused by life, no one can hurt them as much as they can each other, or love them as much either.