A pair of hoodlums steal a car in which there is a note - a ransom letter - directed to a wealthy man whose daughter has just been kidnapped. The two gangsters stole the abductor's car and when they find the note, they decide to take advantage of the situation and collect the money.

Greg Davies travels to the small mining town of Hoyland Common near Barnsley to visit locations and meet the people who inspired and who have been inspired by the book "a Kestrel for a Knave" and the film of the novel, "Kes".