Sydney. 1920. Working class, 45-year-old Eugene is married to Lizzie, a pious housekeeper. Lizzie is very much in love with Eugene. Eugene, on the other hand, had an intense love affair with a woman named Annie in the past and is the father of 21-year-old Josephine. Today, from the outside, everything seems calm and peaceful. Yet, Eugene is haunted by nightmarish images of forests, flames and crows with their legs covered in blood. Eugene is overcome with guilt, but why? Annie has a son, Harry, who returns from his travels at sea. Now, Eugene's past resurfaces as Commissioner Robson accuses him of murder. Eugene flees. But why run if he is, as he claims, innocent? Perhaps he is afraid of losing his dignity another time?