East Ender Johnnie Stubbs is on the run from the law. His dad's in the army and he has no mother. Innocent Johnnie finds himself protecting little Shirley, a 3-year-old traumatized girl whose house has been bombed and her mother left in a coma. With some dodgy stuff, they head away from the London blitz to the country, where Johnnie meets up with gypsy girl Biddy and her people. Johnnie finds that whatever he has to prove, it is most importantly to himself. And how can he get Shirley back where she belongs - and at what cost to do so?