When Meg's mother dies in childbirth, she is determined to keep the promise made on her mother's deathbed - keep the family together. But her father has descended into drink and resents the baby, Ruth, who he believes cost him his wife. Though struggling financially, Meg resists the offer of help from their unscrupulous and sinister landlord, Richard Flatterly. Things get worse when her father returns home one night with a woman called Doris and announces he intends to marry her. When war breaks out three of the children are evacuated to the country while little Ruth must stay with Meg's father as she is too young. Meg sign's up for the Land Army and goes to work on the farm where she meets Stephen, home on leave from the war. When shocking news comes from home, Meg realises that keeping her promise is going to be harder than she ever thought possible.