Winnie of the waterfront

the long version

Crippled by polio, young Winnie Malloy's father, Trevor, adores her, but she is neglected by her feckless mother, Grace. When Trevor is called up he persuades Sandy Coulson to wheel her to school each day, where Sandy sticks up for Winnie and promises to be her lifelong friend. Grace loses her job because of her heavy drinking and she takes Winnie out begging. When Trevor is reported 'Missing Presumed Dead', Grace gets drunk, has an accident and dies. Little Winnie is sent to an orphanage, and at fourteen is sent out into the world to fend for herself...