Wally Greene is the man behind the scenes, the creator of sets and properties for The Phoenix Theatre on Granville Island, of which his wife, Georgia, is the artistic director and oft-leading lady.

As a favour to his old friend, Peggy McLean, who is dying, Wally has reluctantly agreed to take on her youngest son, Ned, as an apprentice in his workshop as part of the lad's community service requirement for a misdemeanor.