I've put the belt in for when he's bad. Tom soon discovers that Willie is covered with scars and that his spirit is completely broken. Completely immersed in his unexpected role as parent, Tom finds that his own scars are healing-the painful wounds suffered with the loss of his wife and child to scarlet fever while he was serving in the previous war. But one day Willie receives a telegram from his mother telling him to return home. Reluctantly, Tom puts him on the train.
Weeks go by.
Suspecting that something terrible has happened, Tom travels to London and arrives in the midst of a bombing raid. He makes his way to Willie's address and discovers the true depths of horror experienced by the boy he has come to regard as his own son. It was adapted by Brian Finch from the novel by Michelle Magorian. Executive producers are Ted Childs and Lewis Rudd. Pulitzer prize-winning writer Russell Baker is series host.