1945. The war is over. Eleven year-old Ralph lives with his mother, plays in bombed-out buildings,and dreams of the day his father will come home and tell him all about hisheroic battles.

But when his father actually does return, he's far from what Ralphexpected: his father is sullen, withdrawn and refuses to discuss the war at all. As Britain looks to a future fit for heroes, Ralph's father struggles to adjust tocivilian life. Susceptible to fits of crying and uncontrollable rages, his behaviourstarts to directly impact Ralph and his mother, and the community around them.