The Pratchett family have to contend with coalman Alfie Pratchett's obsessive jealousy. A bully his two teenage children John and Millie have learned to dodge him and his moods. The main concern of ugly duckling Millie - who looks nothing like her handsome brother John - is to protect their mum Eileen. When crisis strikes the Pratchetts' home Alfie is forced to watch his whole world gradually collapse around him. Their old life has gone forever and a new one has begun - one in which rape debt alcoholism and insanity play their parts. And redemption is a long time coming.