The story of a mill town family coping with change, the closing of the mill. The mill has been a way of life for 59 yr old John Knight ever since he was a small child. John's son, Tommy, doesn't know any way of life except for the mill, and its closing leaves his future uncertain. Tommy copes with his problems by turning to the bottle and abuses his wife and small child. John feels responsible and decides he must unearth his motivation for living and working.