In post-war London, aimless young married bisexual Johnny (Gary Oldman) is sent to prison, forcing him to entrust his beloved Alsatian dog Evie to the reluctant care of his downtrodden parents and older, middle-class former lover and best friend Frank (Sir Alan Bates). After a series of visits to Johnny's parents' home, Frank bonds with the dog, whose mischievous spirit reminds him of his incarcerated friend. As it becomes apparent to Frank that Johnny's father is beating the dog, who is left for days on end in a small yard, a class war erupts over Evie's welfare, exacerbated by Johnny's manipulative, antagonistic wife Megan (Frances Barber), whose sole aim is to claim Johnny back from Frank on his forthcoming release. A set of tragi-comic relationships evolve with the dog coming to represent the hold they have over each other. The story explores the characters capacity to make their own and others' lives a misery through their fear of freedom and inability to fulfill their dreams.—Paul Ackerley & Samantha Santa Maria