The story of a 7-year-old boy growing up in 1930s Liverpool. Liam's father works at the local shipyard, while his mother keeps the household afloat, pinching pennies, yet keeping spirits high. Life takes a terrible turn when the shipyard closes and Dad loses his job. Humiliated by the fact that his teenage daughter, Teresa, must work as a maid in a wealthy Jewish household, and that his eldest son is the family's major breadwinner, Dad loses his self-respect and becomes disillusioned. A Jewish pawnbroker buys their family trinkets for cash. Their Jewish landlord harasses them for rent. And Teresa's Jewish employer, the owner of the shipyard, is responsible for Dad's unemployment. Desperate for someone to blame for his misfortunes, Dad finds comfort and a sense of community with a group of Fascists who encourage him to blame the Jews for all of his troubles. Meanwhile, Teresa and Liam face their own crises of conscience and faith, as their mother hopes that the Church can hold the family together.