Set in a Yorkshire milltown in 1957, Ellen Hardy is unhappily married but is close to her ten-year-old son, Victor. The family has recently moved house and Victor has started at a new school where Ellen has become friendly with his teacher, Kathy Thompson, who is keen to encourage him at art. As the friendship between the two women grows, Ellen's millworker husband, Hardy, feels increasingly alienated at home.

Barbara Marten
as Ellen Hardy

Andrina Carroll
as Kathy

Andrew Dunn
as Geoff Hardy

Bruce Alexander
as Mr. Butterworth, Headmaster

Tony Barton
as Tom

Ben Campbell
as Britchenor

Duggie Brown
as Mr Britchenor

Julia Deakin
as Alice

William Ilkley
as Frank

Pauline Jefferson
as Mrs. Parkin, Teacher