None But the Lonely Heart

Ernie Mott, a restless Cockney with perfect pitch, visits the tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey. The memorial honors those who died in World War I, including his father. The visit stirs his longing for a life that isn’t merely a chase, a life with purpose and stakes beyond survival.

Back home, Ma asks why he has returned after so long and what his plan is. She delivers an ultimatum: he must stay home now or leave forever. The confrontation sets the stakes for his next choices and his loyalty to family.

He tells Ma that he will leave the next morning, then goes out to get a drink to clear his head. The night atmosphere reflects his inner conflict between exile and responsibility. The bar becomes a crossroads for the choices ahead.

Outside the bar, Ernie is drawn to Ada Brantline, the fickle former wife of a gangster. He finds himself smitten, despite Ada’s reputation and the risks that come with courting someone tied to crime. The encounter marks a potential turn toward romance and danger.

Ernie reveals he plans to leave town soon and asks Ada for a date before he goes. Ada rejects the proposal, signaling a mismatch between his desires and her willingness to commit. The moment deepens his sense of loss and loneliness.

The next morning, Ma tells pawnbroker Ike Weber that she has cancer. The admission shocks the family and escalates the urgency of Ernie's responsibility toward his mother. The revelation shifts the family dynamic toward protection and care.

After a tense moment, Ernie agrees to stay and help Ma run the shop. Ike reinforces the idea that Ma needs him, not just for support but for keeping the family together. The decision anchors Ernie in a new, duties-bound path.

A month passes and Ernie continues to pursue Ada, hoping for a future with her. Meanwhile, Ada’s life remains entangled with the gangster world and Mordinoy’s influence. The tension between aspiration and reality grows.

Gangster Jim Mordinoy informs him that Ada is still his wife, prompting Ernie to doubt Ada’s denials. He cuts Ada off socially and becomes more involved with Mordinoy’s activities. The allure of crime draws him away from his former life.

Ernie begins stealing cars as part of Mordinoy’s operations. He ends up in a high-speed pursuit with the police, and his car crashes into a truck, exploding into flames. The chase marks a plunge into spiraling danger and consequence.

Ada implores him to run away with her, but Ernie refuses, choosing to remain with his dying mother. The decision cements his sense of duty over escape and personal happiness. It highlights the conflict between loyalty to family and love.

Ike bails Ernie out of jail, and he learns that Ma has been arrested after the police discover his platinum cigarette case. Ma has been imprisoned for shaming the family, an event that deepens his sense of guilt and loss. The incident foreshadows her looming fate.

Ma begs for forgiveness for shaming the family and dies in a prison hospital. Her death leaves Ernie to confront the consequences of his choices and the cost of staying with his mother. The loss intensifies his isolation and sense of responsibility gone awry.

Ernie returns home to learn from Ada's letter that she has chosen to stay with Mordinoy. Crushed, he wanders to Aggie's door and ultimately enters Aggie's home, seeking some human connection or refuge. The ending leaves his path uncertain, shaded by grief and loyalty.