A young man journeys from a difficult childhood to maturity, exploring social injustice, personal development, and the complexities of human relationships. A co-production with Time-Life Television Productions, the miniseries was first broadcast on BBC 1 in weekly parts from 1 December 1974 to 5 January 1975. It is the earliest BBC adaptation to exist in its entirety; the 1956 adaptation is completely lost, whilst only four of the 1966 adaptation's eight episodes are known to exist.

When a widowed mother falls in love with an American sailor, her troubled young son is pressured by the bullying leader of his clique to seek revenge.

A spoiled little rich boy learns what life is really like after he falls overboard in the middle of the ocean and is picked up by a crusty old sea captain.