Faced with crowded prisons and a potential break-down of law and order, Britain adopts a radical new scheme. Privatised Community Service is the official name; "slavery" is the more accurate term.
As Penal Education Officer, Steve becomes quite blase about his work of breaking in the new clients - until he meets 128-397, whose happy smile leads to undreamed of complications. Worst of all, it turns out that she may be innocent and Steve has to cope with losing the slave with whom he has become besotted.