The tale of Jimmy Harper, born in London, an east ender, raised in Plaistow. His path to manhood is laid out before him by birthright, but Jimmy is haunted by a feeling that he doesn't really fit the mould. Then a chain of events, a series of unforeseen disasters, causes disruption to his life. After a night out on a pub crawl, to celebrate the upcoming wedding of one of his friends, he becomes embroiled in an incident in a bar. A man is killed by one of his friends. Jimmy is arrested along with all his friends. Although completely innocence, the judge regards him as a drunken associate of the murderer, and sentences Jimmy to four years in prison. The prison experience is overwhelming, bringing Jimmy to his knees.

He thought his life was over, then fate took a hand.