Nigel Barton accompanies his father Harry to work. Harry insists on walking in the middle of the road, while Nigel stays on the pavement. When Harry realises that he has forgotten to take a clean work towel with him, he lies about it to a neighbour as it would be considered bad luck to go back and get it. Nigel realises that he lied and the two quarrel.
At a University party, Nigel is taken aback by the 'loose' behaviour of the other students. He meets Jill, who mocks his severity and patronises him. He leaves in disgust. Nigel remembers an incident when at school the class comic, George, was chosen to read from the bible. He picked a suggestive passage and was punished by the stern teacher. She then picked her best pupil, Nigel, to read a more appropriate section. In the playground, Nigel was bullied by Bert and George for being a 'teacher's pet'.
Jill goes to see Nigel in his rooms as he prepares for his debate at the Student Union. He reveals his desire to succeed, even though he thinks the University environment is artificial. She offers to go to bed with him and then makes fun of him. He slaps her.
Nigel's mother chides Harry for not being proud of their son anymore and accuses him being jealous of his success. At the Working Men's Club, Nigel watches Bert and George tell jokes and amuse the audience from the stage. Harry's friend Bill criticises Nigel, claiming that he has forgotten his roots. At University Nigel is fined £10 by the Proctors for singing one of the songs from the Working Men's Club while drunk. Nigel remembers an incident at school in which he cut a flower from the teacher's flowerpot and let George get blamed for it.
At the Union, Nigel debates the importance of class in British society. He later agrees to appear on a television programme on the same topic. His parents watch the broadcast with Nigel and are horrified when he admits on air to feeling that he belongs neither at University nor at home, where even his parents are suspicious of the changes in him. Harry storms out. Nigel talks to his mother and then goes out to find Harry. The two go to the Club together, walking side by side in the middle of the road.
