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---- Jamie, Ste and Leah; three teenagers
kicking their heels one long, hot summer, neighbours on Thamesmead
Estate in south-east London.
---- In the middle flat Jamie lives with
his pub manager mum, Sandra. Jamie's going through a few problems
at school, much to the chagrin of the gutsy Sandra. Sandra's
holding down a relationship with the dippy, hippy new man in
her life, Tony, whilst dreaming of promotion.
---- Next door lives Ste, sporty and good
looking, with his brother and alcoholic father. The atmosphere
here is tense at the best of times.
---- On the other side live Leah and her
mum. Leah's been kicked out of school and passes her time listening
to her mum's old records - she's become obsessed with the music
of the Mamas and the Papas and particularly with Mama Cass.
---- Life drifts along for the three friends,
until one night Ste is beaten up by his brother and flees next
door to the safety of Sandra's flat. Sleeping embarrassed head-to-toe,
Jamie realises that he is in love with Ste. As the bullying continues,
so Ste sleeps over with Jamie even more. Here Ste finds a motherly
tenderness he has so far missed out on in life. He finds himself
drawn more and more to Jamie.
---- But it is not as straightforward as
that. How can you be gay on this tough estate? As Ste and Jamie
are sorting things out in their heads, Sandra discovers what
is going on. But she knows she can't kick Jamie out. Her love
for him is too strong, and she decides to try and understand.
She has recently been promoted and is about to start running
her own pub. But it is clear that while things will always be
different, Ste will never tell his dad or brother that he too
is gay.
---- The film ends on an optimistic note
with Jamie and Ste slow-dancing in the sunshine, and Leah and
Sandra, usually at each other's throats, reconciling their differences
and slow-dancing alongside them.
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