Hettie is an orphan, taken in by Ellie Pride and her husband to their Preston home. But she has never felt she truly belonged. Hettie has a special gift, a beautiful singing voice, and, on the cusp of womanhood, she makes a choice that will alter the course of her life.
Amid the bright lights of Liverpool, she will follow her dreams. But once there, the only way to survive is working in the kitchens of a restaurant. Until, by chance, she is heard singing by the owner.