Segment 1 Opening credits. An intertitle reads, 'This film was made for all those who were disabled in the two world wars.' Street scenes of London are shown and the narrator says that he likes to watch Londoners in the morning as the city comes to life. The film is seen from the narrator's point of view as he walks along. He gets into a friend's car, who gives him a lift to work. He explains that he is on his way to work at the Ministry of Pensions where he is a welfare officer. He says that over a million people are war pensioners. The headquarters of the Ministry of Pension is seen. A photograph of a new ministry building that is only built on the ground floor to allow disabled access is seen. The narrator takes the lift upstairs. A man with one arm also gets in the lift and lights a cigarette with a match using only one hand. The narrator gives directions to his office to a man with both legs amputated who is walking with the aid of prosthetics and sticks. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:05:00:00 Length: 00:05:00:00
Segment 2 The narrator says that this disabled man reminds him of a glider pilot in WWII, Joe Anderson. Joe and his flight partner are seen readying their glider for the Rhine-crossing in 1945. They tape a drawing of a pin-up girl to their plane and climb in. Joe is seen 10 weeks later, with both legs amputated; his plane crash landed. He has also lost the power of speech. He is in hospital in Roehampton and this morning will try walking with prosthetic legs for the first time. He is carried to a room where other amputees are performing 'stump exercises'. A doctor fits him with short prosthetic legs and explains that he will eventually go on to use full-size legs. An older man stops to chat to Joe, saying that he finds the shorter legs easy but that his wife insists he keep a pair of the long ones for 'special occasions'. Joe practises walking with the prosthetics. Time start: 00:05:00:00 Time end: 00:09:50:22 Length: 00:04:50:22
Segment 3 Joe pushes himself through a hospital corridor in a wheelchair and has a series of encounters where he overhears people using the word 'walk'. At night, he cannot sleep and hears the phrases over and over again. The narrator says though that Joe has no time for pity. The physiotherapy room at the hospital is seen, with many men exercising their stumps and arms. Outside, they play a game of basketball in wheelchairs. Other pension hospitals around the country are seen, with specialities in different injuries and illnesses. A man whose eyes were injured is seen. Joe is seen learning to use full-size prosthetic legs. A man falls over whilst practicing but the doctor does not help him up; the narrator explains that the men must also learn to get up after falling. An onlooking group of European visitors say that these methods are 'brutal', but the director says that they are practical. Time start: 00:09:50:22 Time end: 00:14:53:00 Length: 00:05:02:03
Segment 4 Roehampton's prosthesis factory room is seen, where the legs are manufactured to fit each patient individually. Joe is seen again; his walking is improving and he is smiling. The records office in Blackpool is seen. A staff member opens a letter and complains that the only details are 'F. Smith' - the records office has over 3,000 F. Smiths. A WWI pensioner visits for a pension review after having seen a government leaflet asking people to make sure they are on the right pension. Time start: 00:14:53:00 Time end: 00:19:17:12 Length: 00:04:24:12
Segment 5 Joe Anderson leaves hospital and goes home with his wife. Joe is emotional when he sees their house again. He goes to a London welfare office for a medical examination. His wife talks privately to the doctor and asks if they will try to help Joe regain his speech; the doctor explains that it's a mental block, not a physical one. After the meeting, Joe and his wife have tea in the canteen and then go to meet the welfare officer, who helps Joe get a job in a factory office. Time start: 00:19:17:12 Time end: 00:24:45:10 Length: 00:05:27:23
Segment 6 Other disabled men are seen returning to their former professions, including farming and building work. A man who was blinded and lost both his hands is seen working in a tobacconist's. Rest homes for paralysed men are shown; the men are provided with motorised wheelchairs and cars with hand controls. Every year they hold a disabled vehicle rally; a race is seen. Advisory committees are also seen, with disabled men attending. Next, Joe is called back to the welfare office, but is not told why. His welfare officer and doctor discuss their plan, saying that they hope it works. Time start: 00:24:45:10 Time end: 00:29:05:02 Length: 00:04:19:17
Segment 7 Joe arrives at the office and the welfare officer takes him to the cafeteria to meet the doctor. The doctor is with another man, who turns to face Joe. Joe reacts in shock; it is his fellow pilot from the glider crash, Lofty. Joe remembers the crash; Lofty calls for Joe and then loses consciousness. Joe is crushed under the plane and cannot reach him. Joe had thought Lofty had been killed in the crash and had been feeling guilt over not being able to get to him. Joe cries out Lofty's name and rushes to meet him; his speech has returned. Joe telephones his wife, who picks up the phone and begins crying. The narrator says that Joe eventually trains as a welfare officer, wanting to help other men like himself. Having finished telling the story of Joe Anderson, the narrator walks along the corridor to talk to the disabled visitor, who recognises him from Roehampton hospital. The camera moves out and the narrator is seen to be Joe. End credits. Time start: 00:29:05:02 Time end: 00:33:34:12 Length:00:04:29:10