Clydebank, 1911. Ellen works at the Sewing Machine factory. So does her sister, Bridget, Bridget's fianceĢ Malcolm, and her new friend Sadie, who has recently come home after the death of her father to help her mum look after her siblings. For Sadie, the factory is a way to make ends meet. But Ellen has sewing in her veins, even making Bridget's wedding dress on her beloved sewing machine. But then Ellen discovers that the work of the cabinet polishers - her job - is to be reorganised, and they will be doing more work for less pay. Ellen feels like it is a betrayal whilst Sadie is more pragmatic. But she tells Ellen about trade unions and how at the factory she worked in before, there was a strike. And Ellen gets an idea...