It's September 1940. As the bombs rain down on the residents of Islington, eighteen-year-old Beth Shanks knows she must keep her chin up. With her dad away fighting, it's up to Beth to help support the family, even though she and her mother don't always see eye-to-eye. A trained pianist, Connie Shanks can't understand why her daughter won't learn to read music, and despairs of the popular songs Beth prefers to play by ear. When a heavy air raid forces Beth and her family into a public shelter, Beth lifts everyone's spirits by betting out old favourites on an abandoned piano. Connie finally sees the joy her daughter's music can bring, but she is unaware that it will one day save their lives...