In northern England around 1900, the worker John O'Brien lives near poverty in a small house in the worker's district. He falls in love with Mary, the teacher of his highly intelligent younger sister Kathy and daughter of a rich family. Their love is doomed by the social difference, but the vigorous Mary refuses to allow outer circumstances destroying their love.
Shop girl Agnes is stuck running her father's candy shop and keeping the family peace. She draws the interest of upper-class Charles. Her sister, Jessie, gets involved with a dock worker that her parents don't approve of.
