Autumn1977.DerekSpringfieldisan18-year-oldmisfit,who5yearsearlierwaspluckedfromhishomeintheindustrialoutskirtsofLeedstoattendPublicSchoolonascholarship.HehasjustreturnedhomeattheendofhisstudiestoawaithisOxbridgeresultsthathe'shopingwillresultinhispermanentescape.Lifeathomeisawkwardforthebrainyladandembarrassingforhisworkingclassfamilywhocan'trelatehisfecklessdad,no-nonsensemumandtwoolderbrothers,oneafootballhopefulandtheotheradistinctlydodgyacquirerofflashconsumergoods. Derekkillstimebywalkinganohopegreyhound,Slapper,andlovingout-of-hisleagueChrissiefromafar.ButunderDerek'slovingcareSlappergetsfaster-sofastshe'sstolenforherracingpotential.DerekdespairsatbeingcompletelyaloneoncemorebutChrissiegetsthelocalcommunitytokeepwatch.Slappereventuallyescapesfromherfuriouscaptorsatanillegalflappertrack.Exhausted,shesomehowfindsherwaybackandisreunitedwithDerekwhotriestonurseherbacktohealthhisbedroomwithouthisfamilyfindingout. Derek,ChrissieandSlapperdisguisethemselvestoavoidthedognappersandtrytheirluckatracingherataproperdogtrack.ThedognappersandalltheSpringfieldsconvergeonthestadiumfortheexcitingclimax. ItsalsothedayDerek'sresultsaredue...