We are introduced to Mrs. Johnstone, a woman in serious debt living in the ’60’s. She has multiple children but can only afford to live in a small council house. In order to earn money as a single parent she has a job with the Lyons family as their maid. Mrs Johnstone discovers that she is pregnant again with twins, however given her lack of finances this cause her huge stresses and problems. 

There is a consistent them as she sings songs about these issues, which the audience feel sympathetic towards her. Mrs. Lyons on the other hand would love to have a child, but her husband who doesn’t really want the added responsibility. When Lyons discovers her maid is pregnant, so she asks for one of the babies (in song).

This evokes strong emotions from Mrs. Johnstone, however after long consideration she agrees, swearing on a Bible to Lyons that she will give one child to her, only to then immediately regret her decision. She worries what her children will think, so lies and says that one of the babies died. When Johnstone gets attached to both kids and doesn’t want to give one up, Mrs Lyons fires her giving her a healthy severance and convincing her to let her keep the child.

Later on, in the musical (7 years later), Mickey and Eddie meet. They are fraternal twins, however they are unaware of this. They discover they have exactly the same birthday, so they make a pact between them. When Mickey goes over to the Lyons house to hang out with Eddie, however Mrs. Lyons realises who he is and kicks him out. 

Eddie and his “mother” argue, and he curses at her, so she slaps him, only to then immediately regret her actions. Eddie later sneaks out to hang out with Mickey and their friend Linda, but they get in trouble for throwing rocks. Eddie ends up being permanently banned from their friendship. The act ends with the Johnstone family end up moving into the Liverpool projects.