- Abel Mason is a man caught in a loveless marriage with a harridan wife who constantly berates him and beats their son Dick. When the one woman he loves dies at the hands of her husband after he was sent a letter by Mason's wife, exposing the affair, Abel leaves her for good taking to the road and young Dick with him.—kitsilanoca@yahoo.ca
- Abel Mason (Ciaran Hinds) is planning to run away with another women (also married), taking his son Dick with him. However, his wife Lena (Angela Walsh) finds out about these plans and sends a letter to the other woman's husband, who shots her and then himself. When Abel realizes Lena sent the letter, he takes Dick on the road with him. They head north, looking for work along the way to pay for expenses. Abel meets various strangers, some who allow him to work for a meal or two. Others drive Abel and Dick off their property, instead of allowing them to sleep in their barns overnight.
They finally arrive at the city, only to find there are no jobs. Abel queues in bread lines so they have something to eat for dinner. But he does not have enough money to pay for a bed, even after Dick's feet continue to not heal from tramping through the country side. They decide to head out of town, but on the road, they find and help Peter Maxwell (Daniel Massey), who is suffering heart pains. Abel drives Mr. Maxwell to his home, where Hilda Maxwell (Amanda Root) takes over and puts her husband to bed. The next morning, Mr. Maxwell shows his appreciation to Abel by offering to train him as a motor mechanic and a job at Maxwell Motors. Abel gratefully accepts the job, happy that Dick and he can settle down to a respectable live, but as Mr. Abel and Dick Gray, not Mason. He swears Dick to secrecy. And over the next year, the Grays settle into the company and local community.
One evening, Mr. Maxwell has a fatal heart attack and dies. Hilda sends Dick to inform her father, Fred Donnelly (Bobby Pattinson), and sister, Florrie Donnelly (Kate Buffery), of Peter's death. Dick finds Fred hostile to Hilda's marriage, and Florrie indifferent to Maxwell's demise. He also finds himself attracted to Florrie, who is currently a local businessman's mistress. A few days after Maxwell's funneral, Hilda approaches Abel and confesses her attraction to him. She and Maxwell never consummated their marriage, as he married her to gain a companion and housekeeper. Abel gives her the option to carry on a secret affair instead, worried that everyone will assume he married Hilda for her money. Hilda rejects the offer. She wants to marry Abel and have a real marriage. Abel finally agrees. He tells Dick that even though he knows committing bigamy is wrong, the risk is better than going back on the road again. Dick reluctantly agrees to keep silent. After Abel marries Hilda, he finds himself increasingly attracted to Florrie, who returns his feelings. They start an affair, which cools his marriage to Hilda.
Years pass. World War II is in the air, as the Battle of Britain starts. Abel has managed Maxwell Motors to a regional success. Dick is engaged to his childhood sweetheart. Florrie is pregnant with Abel's child. Hilda knows about her husband's affair and resents both of them for her disappointments. During this, Lena discovers Abel's other life. She has him arrested for desertion and bigamy. But during the trial, Hilda testifies that it was she who insisted on the marriage, not Abel. Dick testifies to why Abel felt he had to accept Hilda's proposal. Lena reveals her spitefulness and double standards during the trail. All of this leads the judge to send Abel to jail for only one year. When Abel gets out, Florrie has delivered their child. They anxiously await his arrival, but the German's interfere with a bombing raid, the first one in many months. Florrie and Fred are caught in their flat as a bomb drops nearby. Fred is killed. Florrie is seriously injured and in hospital. She asks Dick to fetch Hilda, so they can discuss Abel and the baby. Florrie asks Hilda to forgive Abel and help him take care of his child, if she dies. Hilda promises and leaves in tears. Abel stays out of her sight as she leaves, then slips in to sit by Florrie's bedside. She tries to prepare him for the possibility she may not survive, but Abel refuses to accept this, insisting Florrie fight to recover. However, she dies as he prepares to leave. Devastated, Abel sinks into a depression. Hilda finally goes to see him at his flat, and tells him she forgives him. She realizes he was in love with Florrie, and her accusations and words further alienated him. She asks that he come back to live with her, but as a friend and manager for the company, not her husband (since he's still married to Lena). Abel agrees. As he sits down to tea with his extended family, he realizes doesn't deserve their acceptance, and finally weeps in appreciation.
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