Josie Collins is reminded daily of how harsh life can be in Glasgow's slums during the 1920s by her abusive step-father. She dreams of escaping and becoming a reporter for one of the city's newspapers. Until disaster strikes when she reaches sixteen. A cruel twist of fate leaves her facing an unwanted pregnancy. Forced to give up her baby, she starts a new life and after a long struggle, Josie achieves her dream, even enjoying a close friendship with a male colleague. But, just when Josie starts to trust the happiness she's found, the past catches up with her, threatening everything she has worked so hard to achieve.