On his sickbed, an elderly Dickens recalls his life. He remembers his father John as someone who is a bit larger than life. A great storyteller, he enjoys performing monologues in ale houses and even has the young Charles sing or recite from time to time. John works as a clerk but with a growing family, he has fallen behind in his payments to the local shopkeepers. He borrows a bit of money from a cousin but he has to make plans to relocate to a less prosperous part of London. Before he can do so however, he is visited by a solicitor seeking payment on behalf of his clients.