Maggie Hobson (Patricia Routledge) decides to marry Willie Mossop (Michael Caine), the gifted but underpaid bootmaker in her father's shop. Despite Willie's objections, they marry and set up for themselves and, within just one year, take almost all of Henry Hobson's trade. Hobson (John Barrie), a heavy drinker, is told by his doctor that one of his daughters must return home to look after him but they all refuse apart from Maggie who, seeing her chance, agrees to help but on one condition: Willie is to take over the business, with Hobson relegated to the position of a sleeping partner with no say in the running of the shop.