Bridget McQueen shocks her family and scandalises their Tyneside neighbours when she returns home married to black merchant seaman, James Paterson.

Rose Angela has grown into a beautiful young woman, but her looks and colour make it difficult for her to keep a job and, with the area hard hit by the 1930s depression, work is not easy to come by.

Rose Angela and her father Jimmy are delighting in each other's company as they make up for lost years. She has to keep his return secret, even from Bridget, as an embittered Matt is still out for revenge.