A bittersweet tale of a single, 38-year-old Chicago cop who has lived with his mother all his life. When he falls in love with the shy daughter of a local mortician, he finds his resolve challenged by the guilt he feels at the prospect of leaving his strong-willed mother - guilt that she is only too happy to reinforce with her tart objections. Well-defined characterisations bring the working-class environment vividly to life.