David, a prosperous trader in London, is intensely dedicated to his career. However, beneath his assured exterior, he is haunted by past memories and resists any attempts at assistance. Through flashbacks, we see his upbringing in South Africa, where he was subjected to the whims of his domineering father, Donald, and his powerless mother, Joanne. The trauma of physical and sexual abuse he endured jeopardizes his potential for happiness in the present.