Plot

Determined to have a normal family life once his mother gets out of prison, a Scottish teenager from a tough background sets out to raise the money for a home.

Liam is a young, restless teen struggling to realize his dream in the gritty and dismal streets of Greenock, where unemployment is rampant and little hope is available to the city's youth. He is waiting for the release of his mother, Jean, from prison where she is completing a prison term for a crime that her boyfriend actually committed. Her boyfriend, Stan, is a crude and obnoxious drug pusher is partnered by Liam's equally rough and foul-mouthed, mean-spirited grandfather. Liam is determined to rescue his mother from both of them, which means creating a safe haven beyond their reach. But first he's got to raise the cash--no small feat for a young man. It's not long before Liam and his pals' crazy schemes lead them into all sorts of trouble. Finding himself dangerously out of his depth, Liam knows he should walk away. Only this time, he just can't let go.—Sujit R. Varma

In the shipyard town of Greenock, Liam is a typical teenager, in some ways, causing trouble and absorbing everything which goes on around him like a sponge. He has already has his fair share of troubles however, his mother is unjustly in prison, with a drug dealing boyfriend awaiting her release. Liam dreams of taking his mother away from all the problems in their life and starting afresh in a caravan park in the quiet village of West Kilbride. This means Liam must find a way to get money quick to fund the caravan, which leads him into all sorts of problems with the law, and makes him all sorts of new enemies, who are looking for any way to punish him.—Stezo Tulliechewan

In the Scottish town of Greenock, teenager Liam (Martin Compston) and his friends exemplify the violent ned subculture: they no longer attend school, and instead wander aimlessly all day long. They earn money by illegally selling untaxed cigarettes in a pub. Liam's mother, Jean (Michelle Coulter), is currently in prison for a crime actually committed by her boyfriend Stan (Gary McCormack), who works as a drug dealer with Liam's grandfather, Rab (Tommy McKee). Jean is due to be released in a few weeks, in time for Liam's 16th birthday.

Stan and Rab attempt to force Liam to smuggle drugs to Jean during a prison visit. Refusing to cooperate, Liam is beaten up by Stan and eventually thrown out of Rab's flat. Liam then moves in with his older sister Chantelle (Annmarie Fulton) in nearby Port Glasgow. She urges Liam to do something constructive with his life.

When Liam takes Chantelle's young son Calum (Calum McAlees) for a walk along the Greenock Esplanade, his friend Pinball (William Ruane) arrives in a stolen car and insists on taking them joyriding along the coast. They drive up through the Cloch caravan park where Liam sees a caravan for sale. Liam dreams of starting afresh by purchasing a caravan to live in with his mother and sister, away from Stan and Rab. To afford it, he and Pinball steal a delivery of drugs from Stan's house and sell them. They soon raise several thousand pounds, which they pay as a deposit towards the caravan in Liam's mother's name.

Liam's efforts attract the attention of the local drug "godfather," Tony Douglas (Martin McCardie). Liam agrees to work with them after Tony tells him to "stay away from our shops." Pinball, meanwhile, is thrown into the health club showers due to his disrespectful behavior towards the dealer, and vows revenge. Liam and Pinball continue selling drugs locally, with the help of Liam's other friends who deliver pizzas. Liam and Pinball meet again with members of Tony's gang, and Liam joins them in their car. Pinball is kicked out, angering him further; the gang members advise Liam to "dump" Pinball for good. They take Liam to a Glasgow nightclub and inform him that he has to kill someone to join the gang. Liam attempts to do so, but is stopped by the gang, who inform him it was a test --- which he has passed.

Liam, Chantelle, Calum and Suzanne (Michelle Abercromby) (Chantelle's friend) drive to the caravan for a picnic, only to discover that it has been burned down. Liam believes Stan did it. That evening, Pinball turns up in Tony's stolen car, telling Liam that he wants revenge. He proceeds to crash the car into the health club. Liam speaks to Tony in the morning and is ordered to kill Pinball. The next morning, Pinball --- aware of Liam's intentions --- tries to stab Liam, before proudly revealing that he burnt down the caravan. He then cuts his own face in rage. Liam reassures his injured friend after phoning for an ambulance, but he then notifies Tony that the deed has "been done," implying that he has indeed murdered Pinball.

Tony promises to buy Liam an upscale apartment, and on the day before his birthday, Liam's mother is released from prison and taken to this new house on the coast of Gourock where she is welcomed with a party. She appears uneasy, and the next morning is found to have escaped to Stan's house. Liam blames this on Chantelle, who is now fully aware that Liam is dealing drugs. She attempts to warn him about their mother probably not being so thankful for Liam's efforts because she is too devoted to Stan, but this only provokes Liam further. An enraged Liam goes to Stan's house, trying to convince his mother to return to their new home, only to be insulted by Stan. In a struggle, Liam stabs Stan.

Liam walks alone on the beach. He is phoned by Chantelle, who reminds him that it is his 16th birthday on that day, meaning he can be tried in court as an adult. She also tells him that the police have been looking for him, and that despite everything that he has done, Chantelle still loves him. He walks towards the sea.