Charlie Wisdom is resigned to living his final days in the dreary Howard's Turn Nursing Home. The only thing he looks forward to every week is reluctantly sitting on a park bench for a fag and coffee with his grand daughter Lisa and great granddaughter Leonie.

Lisa married Derek and at a young age and they had their first child, Leonie. They were poor but they were happy, and when their second child Tommy was born the family seemed complete.

At eight months old, Tommy was being looked after by Derek for the day when he came down with a fever. Derek thought it was a cold and didn't do too much about it. 16 hours later Tommy died from meningitis.

Lisa and Derek couldn't get over the sudden tragic loss of their son and split up, remaining on relative good terms due to their devotion to Leonie. Charlie, however, blamed Derek and never forgave him for what happened. In fact, he hates him thoroughly.

One day at the nursing home Charlie receives an envelope containing a letter and a photograph. This awakens vivid memories from his idyllic summer in Spain fifty five years ago; a period in his life he had long suppressed.

Due to his fragile health Charlie approaches Lisa for help: his dying wish is to travel to the little seaside town in southern Spain where he spent part of his youth. Lisa, stuck in a dead-end job, finally agrees to take him but realizes the only way she can do it is with Derek's help. Charlie is dismayed when Lisa and Leonie arrive to pick him up in Derek's Ford Sierra with Derek at the wheel.

What ensues is a bittersweet journey of self-discovery, dealing with love and loss, and the revelation of a terrible secret. Charlie must confront his dark past while Lisa and Derek try to save their family.