To the outside world David has a tough exterior, but for Muriel, his sister, he’s got a heart of gold. When Muriel drags David to a jumble sale he discovers a small dirty painting of a woman (Gloria) standing beside a cottage. Despite himself, David buys the picture and learns it came from the family home of his lost love. He hangs the painting in his house and admires it. The picture appears extremely life-like.
At the pub, Friends talk to David, but his mind is elsewhere. He returns home, stares at the picture: it changes, becomes alive. He steps into it. At the pub, Muriel dashes in, worried – no sign of David for days.