Austin 'Occi' Byrne is brought home to Ireland from London, where he was born after his mother failed to have an abortion. He spends his childhood with his alcoholic mother, being bullied by his peers and feeling isolated much of the time. Even though he doesn't know who his father is, he is certain that some day the father will return and meet him. Later years Occi spends in a mental institution, and when the place has to be closed, he finds work as a fisherman. While at sea, a death occurs on his trawler. Occi makes it safely back on land, but things are not exactly looking up for him there either.