Description

Eight-year-old Archie is sent away to boarding school when his army father is posted overseas. From the arms of his loving family, he is suddenly thrown into an environment where the teachers are vindictive and cruel, bullying is rife and corporal punishment comes as standard. Even the housemaster's pet dog turns out to be a threat.

When he is forced to stand up for himself against the dormitory thugs, Archie becomes the focus of unwelcome attention, cementing his role as a scapegoat amongst his peers. Seeking solace after an unfair beating, he escapes to the woods where he encounters an orphaned fawn. Over the weeks that follow, Archie sets out to befriend the animal and begins to rely on his companionship to relieve the trauma of school. However, the school bullies have other ideas and eventually circumstances conspire to jeopardise Archie's relationship with the only creature he can truly trust.