1974: Against the backdrop of a violent miners strike in their quiet Northumbrian village, a likeable teenage artist falls in love with the new girl from London, but their tempestuous relationship and attempts to escape cause him to betray his family, community and best friends; he becomes dangerously embroiled in the rioting of the strike. With attempts to reconcile them failing, he must choose between his old friends and his new love.

Henry wants to sleep with lots of beautiful women, but they keep blowing him off...until a Hindu guru teaches him the technique of "substitution."