Barry Desmond is an only child. He has had a sheltered upbringing by parents distrustful of the outside world. This leaves him ill-equipped to cope with the savagery of school, the trials of adolescence and the grim realities of work and adulthood. In middle age and following the death of his parents and redundancy, Barry ventures out into the world determined to form relationships and live his life. Unlike his parents, Barry believes that people are fundamentally decent. But will society repay Barry's trust?