Marilyne et Bruno Caron arrivent dans un village de montagne pour emménager dans un chalet qu’ils ont loué à Patrick Castang, promoteur et propriétaire de nombreuses habitations dans la région. Contents de quitter le nord de la France pour démarrer une nouvelle vie, ils acceptent sans sourciller quand Castang leur annonce qu’il va les loger momentanément dans un autre chalet de grand standing car le leur n’est pas terminé. S’ensuivra alors une succession de déconvenues qui va les conduire à déménager de nombreuses fois, avec le sentiment grandissant d’être traités sans aucune considération, alors même que les Castang multiplient patiemment et avec bienveillance les efforts envers eux. Les relations entre les deux familles vont se tendre. Bruno et Marilyne Caron ne supportent plus d’avoir sous leurs yeux le bonheur et l’abondance de biens des Castang. Leur amertume, alimentée par la jalousie, l’envie et la frustration, finira par devenir de la haine.
Autumn 1977. Derek Springfield is an 18-year-old misfit, who 5 years earlier was plucked from his home in the industrial outskirts of Leeds to attend Public School on a scholarship. He has just returned home at the end of his studies to await his Oxbridge results that he's hoping will result in his permanent escape. Life at home is awkward for the brainy lad and embarrassing for his working class family who can't relate his feckless dad, no-nonsense mum and two older brothers, one a football hopeful and the other a distinctly dodgy acquirer of flash consumer goods. Derek kills time by walking a no hope greyhound, Slapper, and loving out-of-his league Chrissie from afar. But under Derek's loving care Slapper gets faster - so fast she's stolen for her racing potential. Derek despairs at being completely alone once more but Chrissie gets the local community to keep watch. Slapper eventually escapes from her furious captors at an illegal flapper track. Exhausted, she somehow finds her way back and is reunited with Derek who tries to nurse her back to health his bedroom without his family finding out. Derek, Chrissie and Slapper disguise themselves to avoid the dognappers and try their luck at racing her at a proper dog track. The dognappers and all the Springfields converge on the stadium for the exciting climax. Its also the day Derek's results are due...