At only sixteen Clems world is turned upside down. His Willy-Loman-like father, a travelling salesman and a loser, is transferred from Eastbourne to Glasgow and along with him go Clem and his meek accommodating mother. But Glasgow is rough and Clems posh English accent is not well-accepted in the sink school he attends. And hes a brilliant scholar. He soon becomes the target for McEvoys group of thugs for whom slashing faces is the most important ambition in their depraved lives.