Painter and decorator JJ's life is turned upside down when he discovers a pile of love letters addressed to his wife going back a number of years. He cannot read the letters, however, so he turns to schoolteacher Fiona for reading lessons. The two grow close, and decide to go away for a night together.

Mother-of-three Valerie gets a job at a pharmacy, where she meets regular customer Billy Cooper, an ex-boxer struggling to accept he has diabetes. When the pharmacy manager is rendered incapable by his drinking problem, Valerie is unable to properly check Billy's prescription with him, but she gives Billy the drugs.

After a successful interview, prospective teacher Sam goes out drinking with his friend Eddie. However, tragedy strikes when he slips and bangs his head. When he awakes, he finds that the injury has left him unable to read or write. Devastated by the prospect of losing his dream job, Sam decides to teach himself to read in time to start the job.

Kathleen enjoys being a lollipop lady at the local school, especially as it has led to her close friendship with 10-year-old neighbour Megan. Kathleen and Megan have been through tough times recently; Kathleen's mother has recently died, while Megan's mother has run off with another man. When Megan starts getting into trouble at school, the teachers suggest that she and her father read a story for the Christmas show.

Jackie and John seem to have the perfect marriage, but Jackie is restless for change; she has always struggled with her literacy, and this has resulted in her being reliant on John and missing out on opportunities with her friends. When Jackie starts pushing at the boundaries of their world, John cannot understand what has happened to her, and seeks solace in the attentions of one of his hairdressers, Stacey.