From Ashes to Ashes tells the story of Peter Morrison, son of a school teacher in rural New South Wales. When Peter's beloved teacher is pushed to enlist in World War II by his father, his boyhood is fractured by trauma and doubt.As he comes of age, Peter veers from the values of his conservative parents and begins a lifelong march to the beat of two di˝ erent drummers. While one leads him to teaching and family, the other draws him to illicit love and classroom scandal. With maturity, Peter rights his choices, retiring as a respected school principal. However, ÿ nally verging on dementia, he hears again, the beat of the other drummer.