Autumn1977.DerekSpringfieldisan18-year-oldmisfit,who5yearsearlierwaspluckedfromhishomeintheindustrialoutskirtsofLeedstoattendPublicSchoolonascholarship.HehasjustreturnedhomeattheendofhisstudiestoawaithisOxbridgeresultsthathe'shopingwillresultinhispermanentescape.Lifeathomeisawkwardforthebrainyladandembarrassingforhisworkingclassfamilywhocan'trelate:hisfecklessdad,no-nonsensemumandtwoolderbrothers,oneafootballhopefulandtheotheradistinctlydodgyacquirerofflashconsumergoods.　　Derekkillstimebywalkinganohopegreyhound,Slapper,andlovingout-of-hisleagueChrissiefromafar.ButunderDerek'slovingcareSlappergetsfaster-sofastshe'sstolenforherracingpotential.DerekdespairsatbeingcompletelyaloneoncemorebutChrissiegetsthelocalcommunitytokeepwatch.Slappereventuallyescapesfromherfuriouscaptorsatanillegalflappertrack.Exhausted,shesomehowfindsherwaybackandisreunitedwithDerekwhotriestonurseherbacktohealthhisbedroomwithouthisfamilyfindingout.　　Derek,ChrissieandSlapperdisguisethemselvestoavoidthedognappersandtrytheirluckatracingherataproperdogtrack.ThedognappersandalltheSpringfieldsconvergeonthestadiumfortheexcitingclimax.　　ItsalsothedayDerek'sresultsaredue...