West London. In a neglected and decaying neighbourhood, a young black man is crouched against a wall in an expression of lost hope and boredom.

Images of derelict, broken down housing melds with the sounds and vision of reggae sound systems while a narrator comments on territories, class and the decline of urban, industrial centres.

Two women watch video snapshots of a carnival on a monitor. The narrator describes the approach of conventional documentaries, how the images are neutralised and aestheticised into the same old story. There is another approach to tell the history of the people, an approach that is aware of the rules and subverts them.

A toaster ('DJ') performs at a turntable, painted masks from 'masquerade' in the old countries (Africa and the Caribbean), a UK flag is in flames, two men lovingly embrace and poetic voices intone a strategy for deciphering image from action.