Emma is a 35-year-old mother who lives in Manchester, England, with her son, 13-year-old Sean. Her husband died of cancer early in life, and she is a single mom struggling to raise her son on her own. Without a father figure, Sean is unusually unconfident and timid, and Emma has always worried about this. One day, Emma is contacted by a teacher at school. It turns out that Sean is being bullied and assaulted by Rooney, a boy in his class. Emma is very surprised and upset. To make things right, Emma rushes to Rooney's house. At Rooney's house, both her parents are out at work and she is alone playing an Xbox game. Emma tackles Rooney like an adult and tells him to stop bullying Sean, but he snorts and sarcastically says, "It's because your son is so weak." Emma bursts into tears and begs him to stop the bullying. Rooney smirks and makes a deal: "I'll stop if you obey everything I say." Emma decides to make a sacrifice for her son.