
Huw Morgan, the academically inclined youngest son in a proud family of Welsh coal miners, witnesses the tumultuous events of his young life during a period of rapid social change. At the dawn of the 20th-century, a miners' strike divides the Morgans: the sons demand improvements, and the father doesn't want to rock the boat.

A crippled Huw, youngest son of patriarch Gwilym Morgan, is told that he will one day walk, while his eldest brother battles for a union in the mines, to their father's chagrin.

Huw is bullied on his first day of school; Ianto receives surprising help from the Reverend, concerning the creation of a work union at the mines.

The mine owner's son Iestyn Evans courts Angharad to the chagrin of Ifor. Meanwhile, Dai Bando teaches Huw how to fight his bullies; however, standing up for himself only gets Huw punished by pompous teacher Mr Jonas.

Angharad is engaged to Iestyn Evans, so Bronwen consults Reverend Gruffydd's help to intercede.