Bigoted and cantankerous head chef Kieran Corrigan has had enough of foreign workers flooding into this country, as Jimmy McGovern's powerful, award-winning drama continues.

Kieran is a lonely man. Raised by his war hero grandfather, he blames the Polish community for his grandad's missed chance to be a Manchester City footballer. In the kitchen where he works, Kieran's is the only white face. When Kieran goes on a blind date with Maria, a woman he deals with on the phone every day at work, he can't conceal his disappointment upon discovering that she is black.

Kieran's best mate, Duffy, has never done a day's work in his life and is permanently on invalidity benefit. After a drinking session in the pub one night, Kieran and Duffy approach a burning building. A little Polish girl, Anna, is screaming at the window for help. Staring up at the girl's terrified face, Kieran is frozen to the spot with fear and does nothing, while Duffy charges past him into the burning house and rescues the girl from one of the upper floors. Handing the child to Kieran, Duffy tells him: "You did this, I'm on invalidity."

Kieran fast becomes a local hero with his picture in the paper, free drinks at the pub, adulation from women, applause from his colleagues and, most importantly, much gratitude from the child's mother, Olenka.

Because of the fire, Olenka is homeless and destitute and Kieran valiantly offers her a roof over her head. Then things really start to get complicated...