Two sisters living in London's tough East End ... will Jennifer and Kathy be tough enough to survive?

Katherine and Jennifer Finch are like chalk and cheese: Katherine is a midwife, dedicating her life to helping others - and Jennifer is a prostitute.

Leaving home age 15, Jennifer must learn to live on her wits in London's notorious East End. Soon, however, she is battling drink and drugs, and is pregnant with a child. Her labour is nearly fatal, but her sister steps in to save the day.

Kathy continues to tend to the poor of the East End and help her sister - and she of all people knows that the society that Jennifer keeps is damaging her. Despite her best intentions, however, she begins to fall for an East End wide boy. She knows that he is no good, but her heart will not listen to her head - and what's more, he has promised to change ...