Des and Terri Tunkley are a happily married, but struggling couple about to take the big plunge and buy into the Great Australian Dream. Falling under the spell of a television advertisement extolling the joys of home ownership, Terri cajoles Des into making their first big financial commitment. At first, Des is none too enthusiastic about leaving their carefree, downwardly mobile lifestyle in a caravan park by the sea, and neither is their young son, Jack (Jack Ellis). The good life is for Des is embodied in his beloved, as-yet-as-to-be-restored motorboat. Here then lies a basis for conflict between Terri's desire for the domestic comforts of a 'real' home, and Des' dream of sailing away to the West Indies. Undeterred by her husband's initial reluctance, Terri calls on Austral Finance for a housing loan. Now more determined than ever to realise her dream, Terri becomes frustrated by Des' lack of interest. When things finally come to a head between them one rainy afternoon.