Ellen and Mirren are mill girls who earn extra money by working in a fish and chip shop several evenings a week. Mirren is engaged to Donald who has gone to America and will send for her when he is settled. However, when he does so, she is unable to leave as her mother is sick and dying. By the time her responsibilities have ended, Donald has found another...

Robbie, Mirren's brother, is getting involved with politics and often brings home a friend, Joe, usually following a fight when they need patching up. Mirren is dead against the political meetings but, after several failed dates with other men, she realises she is rather attracted to Joe.