Oliver's adolescent life
The plot begins with Oliver playing his piano and thinking about his love for Imogen. He suddenly gets a visit by a bruised and drenched Evie. Evie is a local promiscuous girl. She asks Oliver to go help Robert, Evie's current fling, to get his car started. The next day Evie asks Oliver to try and find her cross necklace that she lost the previous night by the Old Bridge. While Oliver is on his task, Evie and Robert come by on a motor bike. Robert and Oliver have a quarrel.
Oliver and Evie start seeing each other more and more. Oliver finds himself constantly thinking about her. Knowing what kind of girl she is Oliver wants to have her as well. Robert gets into an accident that leaves him hospitalized and he might not be able to ride the motor bike again. On his walk Oliver discovers Evie in the old church. Determined to satisfy his sexual urge and have Evie he forcefully takes her to a nearby forest. He loses his virginity with her. They see each other for a few more nights. Oliver is scared that Evie might be pregnant and is relieved when that isn't the case.
On one of his dinner nights with his parents he discovers that his father knows about his relationship with Evie. Both of his parents urge him to go to Oxford to college. Evie leaves the town soon as well. A few years later Oliver meets Evie again. They talk about their mutual past and Evie confesses to Oliver that her father raped her. Oliver finally has a better understanding of Evie
Analysis
In this part of his life Oliver is divided between his inner thoughts and what he shows on the outside. On a few occasions he calls himself wicked for it. He also faces the urges of his adolescence and feelings of shame that come after. He is aware of leaving the safety and comfort of his childhood and innocence with his parents and entering adulthood.
Oliver is aware of Evie's promiscuity and knows that she isn't the girl that he might be serious with. He refers to her as an object, a thing rather than a living being.
Oliver's young manhood
Oliver returns after college to Stillbourne, his hometown. He discovers that his mother revived the Stillbourne operatic society. This organization is known to make people drift away from each other rather than organize them together. Mother urges Oliver to take part in the opera play. He reluctantly agrees. Oliver's old love Imogen and her husband are also a part of this. The play is directed by Evelyn de Tracy, an old kind and intelligent man. Oliver immediately takes a liking into Mr. de Tracy. The ridiculousness of the play and of Imogen's husband is unbearable and humorous.
Oliver has a conversation with Mr. de Tracy about the true meaning of life and Evelyn relates some things about himself to Oliver, primarily that Mr. de Tracy is homosexual. After the play Oliver searches for Mr. de Tracy and finds him drunk in a pub. He sends him off to his home by bus.
Analysis
In this part Oliver learns that things are not what they seem and that he isn't rare or wicked for having different true face to what he showcases on the outside. Honesty is what constantly troubles Oliver and he is never able to speak his true mind.
Oliver's childhood
As a middle aged man Oliver returns to his home town once again. He goes straight to Mr. Henry. Henry is the richest man in the town. Henry informs Oliver that Ms. Dawlish, or so called Bounce, died.
Oliver remembers his childhood when he had to take violin lessons from Bounce. She was a robust woman with a mean look and strict teaching. Oliver was always scared to go into her house. Bounce, at some point, started seeing Henry on the excuse of having driving lessons with him. This is soon denied by Henry bringing a wife and a child to town. Henry even starts living with his family in Bounce's house. Eventually, Bounce gives all of her fortune to Henry. As her last resort of getting Henry's attention Bounce starts to make a fool out of herself with crazy behavior. Surprisingly, it is during her insane episode that Oliver saw her smiling and happy for the first time.
Many years later, after Oliver got married and had kids he saw Bounce for the last time. His mother convinced him to go talk to her about the many cats she has. This last meeting of theirs wasn't pleasant.
Going back to present Oliver is standing by Bounce's grave and reading the inscription on it that says Heaven is Music. He then tells her out loud how he always hated her and was scared of her. He goes back to her now empty house and find remnant of burned photos and music albums. Oliver realizes that she probably did it while she was insane.
Oliver walks outside and thinks about the many shoes that walked the pavement he is walking on now. He thinks about how he would pay a price, reasonable price though, to give them power to choose their future. Oliver gets into his car and drives off.
Analysis
This last part is the most humorous showcasing the gossiping culture of the small town. This is reflected on Oliver's mother who uses her innocent child to gather information for gossip. It is a sort of disturbing enjoyment in knowing other's misery and not being in their shoes. As a young child Oliver was never able to express his true feelings and had to endure Bounce's torturing lessons. Only after she died was he able to say his true feelings out loud.
