It's 1932 and middle-class Malcolm lives with his mother in Highgate. Though confident and capable at work, he is tormented by "beastly inclinations"?a strong attraction to young men. One drunken evening at Charlie Brown's pub in Limehouse he meets Alfie, a working-class docker?and the most beautiful young man Malcolm has ever seen. Alfie is friendly, kind and changes everything by making Malcolm's inclinations seem considerably less beastly?but in 1930s London, this can surely have no future. Alfie is younger, apparently "normal", and from the Isle of Dogs, far from Malcolm's cosy world of quiet privilege.

Nevertheless, Malcolm launches himself into Alfie's world of rough pubs, a dance club, and even a football match. Resigned to a platonic friendship, he is thrilled to find that Alfie has other ideas. But by offering him something he hadn't even dared wish for, fate may have called his bluff and he fears his own naivety and sexual inexperience will see him squander this unexpected shot at happiness. After some excruciating but sound advice from a more worldly friend, the relationship becomes sexual, and more emotional, but remains an unsuitable attachment that cannot last forever.

When Alfie is nearly killed in a fire at the docks, and war planes on maneuvers growl over the Docklands skies, both are reminded that life is too short to worry about "forever". During a police raid on an illicit West End club, Alfie's heroism saves Malcolm from ruin, convincing him that whatever the future holds, this boy loves him now. The disapproval of families and friends, a hostile society, Malcolm's insecurity, and Alfie's belief that he'll eventually get married because "that's what young men do" cannot thwart a love that grows in unpromising ground and endures no matter what is thrown at it.