Tommy takes the blame for a crime he didn't commit, thinking his family will be looked after. He gets a longer sentence than he hoped for and while he tries to survive in Barlinnie prison, his family are left to fend for themselves. His father dies and his mother doesn't want him at the funeral. life becomes unbearable, he stops eating and starts to speak to his dead father. The man he trusted, Danny, now has Tommy's thirteen year old brother, Mikey dealing drugs for him and has started sleeping with Tommy's girlfriend. Tommy is released, he tries to stop his mother from drinking and tries to rescue Mikey, with tragic consequences. He takes the blame again and dreams of a beautiful place.