Eighties of the XX century. Twelve-year-old Eli Bell lives with his mum Frances and stepfather Lyle in suburban Brisbane. At first glance, he has an ordinary Australian childhood: the boy rides a bicycle, plays on the streets and is a fan of his favorite rugby team. But with a closer acquaintance with Eli's life, it turns out that everything is not so simple: his older brother Augustus stopped talking a few years ago after a traumatic event, his mother and stepfather are drug dealers, and he looks after the children and is a former criminal nicknamed Houdini.