Written by Jack Rosenthal as part of the First Love series, it is a coming-of-age film set in a grammar school in the outer London suburbs of the late forties (1948).

Alan's thoughts are voiced by real life BBC Radio cricket commentator John Arlott in the style of a match commentary.

Alan daydreams throughout his day (often with a voiceover by cricket commentator John Arlott), showing up late for school and making little academic progress.

Meanwhile, Miss Land (Alison Steadman) is worried she is pregnant with Tommy's baby, something that would result in her having to resign from her job as an English teacher.

It is revealed that the stories he has told Alan about fighting at Dunkirk, El Alamein, the Battle of the Bulge and Burma are untrue: he deserted from the army three weeks after being called up.