There are two characters in this short fictional film - Eddie and Marie. Eddie comes from a working class London East End family, and has no fixed occupation, and no interests outside of his motorcycle, coffee-bars, girls, and rock-and-roll. We see Eddie and his friend Neil wandering about the town in search of distraction. Eddie is young, good looking, outwardly assured, and enjoying himself. Then he meets Marie, a painter, alone and recently come to London. Though quieter than Eddie, she has more confidence and is living a richer life materially and culturally. By chance they talk and strike up an acquaintance. Finally Eddie goes back with Marie to her studio flat and spends the night with her.
When Eddie wakes in the morning he finds himself alone in Marie’s bed. He begins to doubt himself and his own experience. In a resentful, perhaps envious mood, he explores the bedroom and the kitchen. Then he finds Marie at work on a self-portrait. In the background of the picture she has painted Eddie standing with his leather jacket. In a blind flash Eddie grasps a knife from the table and slashes the canvas. Marie looks blankly at the painting and slowly touches the gash. Through the deserted early morning streets, Eddie runs away as fast as he can to get back to his bike. He flings himself onto the machine and madly bashes the kick-starter, but the engine is cold and dead. The camera tracks back until all we see is a tiny figure, kicking, stroke after stroke, senselessly defeated.