The Flanagans, Tanners and Lovells all live on the top floor of\na crumbling Victorian tenement in the heart of London’s East End.\nIt’s 1936 and Britain is in the grip of the Depression.

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Nell Flanagan is a decent, hardworking woman, married to\nStephen, a tough, heavy-drinking brute of a man, who works as a\ncasual in the docks — when there’s work available. Nell has hidden\nthe abuse she has suffered at his hands from her young children,\nalthough most of the neighbours realise what’s going on.

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The Tanners think she must be asking for it, but\nnineteen-year-old Martin Lovell, has always admired Nell. When he\nsees Stephen actually attacking Nell, he can stand back no longer,\nbut his actions have repercussions for all the families…

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