Glasgow is crippled by the General Strike and things look bleak for John Forysth. Made redundant from his factory job, he and his family only hold together through the determination of his ambitious wife, Madge ... even though this means a dramatic move to Devon. Beginning a new life, John finds working conditions in the copper mines almost intolerable and turns increasingly to the church ... and his secret supply of scrumpy; Madge ultimately attains love and happiness where she least expects it; and their children learn some hard lessons in growing up.