In northern England around 1900, the worker John O'Brien lives near poverty in a small house in the worker's district. He falls in love with Mary, the teacher of his highly intelligent younger sister Kathy and daughter of a rich family. Their love is doomed by the social difference, but the vigorous Mary refuses to allow outer circumstances destroying their love.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Owen TealeJohn O'Brien | John O'Brien |
 Sean BeanDominic O'Brien | Dominic O'Brien |
 Clare HolmanMary Llewellyn | Mary Llewellyn |
 Billie WhitelawBeatrice Llewellyn | Beatrice Llewellyn |
 Ian BannenPeter Bracken | Peter Bracken |
 Jane HorrocksChristine Bracken | Christine Bracken |
 Mark MulhollandFr. O'Malley | Fr. O'Malley |
| AAnny TobinMary Ellen O'Brien | Mary Ellen O'Brien |
 Leslie SchofieldShane O'Brien | Shane O'Brien |
| FFaye DannellKatie O'Brien | Katie O'Brien |
| GGillian HopeMolly O'Brien | Molly O'Brien |
| SScott FrazerMick O'Brien | Mick O'Brien |
 Frank WindsorJames Llewellyn | James Llewellyn |
| CColin BavidgeDavid Bracken | David Bracken |
 Barbara MartenHannah Kelly | Hannah Kelly |
| MMadeleine MoffatBella Bradley | Bella Bradley |
| JJean SouthernPeggy Flaherty | Peggy Flaherty |
| MMargery BoneNancy Kelly | Nancy Kelly |
| Mark MulhollandFather O'Malley | Father O'Malley |
| LLinda HuntleyPhylis | Phylis |
| DDavid WheatleyGilbert Culbert | Gilbert Culbert |
 Berwick KalerJoe Kelly | Joe Kelly |