The Selfish Giant

Arbor and Swifty are suspended from school after a fight, leaving them with little to do. With no classroom to attend, they decide to make money by collecting and selling scrap metal. They soon realize that stealing copper from telecom, railway, and power utilities can be surprisingly lucrative.

They begin selling scrap to Kitten, a local scrap dealer who owns at least two horses and competes in amateur harness racing. Kitten welcomes Swifty to work with one of the horses and even lets the boys rent a horse and cart to collect more scrap. This marks the start of their relationship with Kitten and Swifty's growing affinity with horses.

Arbor grows envious of Kitten's kindness toward Swifty and embarks on a plan to steal scrap from Kitten. He also tries to offload the stolen pieces to a dealer in Huddersfield, hoping to cash in. The scheme backfires when the Huddersfield dealer refuses him, and others who agree to buy the scraps realize they are stolen and keep the money.

Kitten confronts Arbor and intimidates him into stealing a specific piece of high‑voltage transmission wire to make up for his losses. The boys underestimate the dangers of high‑voltage lines. They set out to take the wire, with Swifty helping to lift it.

Arbor cuts the wire and Swifty helps lift it, not fully understanding the risks. The high‑voltage wire kills Swifty when the current surges through him. Arbor is left devastated by the catastrophe.

The law closes in as Kitten takes responsibility for the events and confesses to the police, allowing Arbor to escape blame for the death. The consequences of the act begin to ripple through the community. Arbor must face the magnitude of what happened without clear guidance.

Arbor sits outside Swifty's mother's house after the tragedy, trying to cope with the aftermath. He is overwhelmed by guilt and unsure of what comes next.

His own mother finds him and takes him home, though he resists contact and hides under his bed at first. The process of rebuilding begins slowly, with no easy answers in sight.

Swifty's mother finally comes to Arbor, offering forgiveness and support as he faces his mistakes. This visit marks a tentative step toward healing for both boys and their families.

In the final scene, Arbor tends to the horse that Swifty adored, honoring his friend's memory. The act signals his gradual return to responsibility and a quiet, hopeful closure.