Tally's Blood: Plot Summary (SQA National 5 English): Revision Note

One of the studied texts on the SQA National 5 English Critical Reading Paper is Ann Marie di Mambro’s play, Tally’s Blood.

Below you will find:

• An overview of the play

• A plot summary broken down into sections of the play

Overview of Tally’s Blood

The play, Tally's Blood, written by Scottish writer Ann Marie Di Mambro, is set in Italy and Scotland between 1936 and 1955. The play examines the tragedies and loves of an Italian immigrant family before, during, and after World War II. 

The play begins when Massimo Pedreschi’s Italian niece, Lucia Ianelli, goes to Scotland to be raised by the Pedreschi family after her mother’s death. The Pedreschi family, Rosinella and Massimo Pedreschi and his brother Franco, run two cafés in Glasgow. 

The play explores Italian and Scottish culture through relationships that form between Franco Pedreschi and his Scottish girlfriend Bridget Devlin, and between Lucia and Hughie Devlin, Bridget's brother. Rosinella, though, attempts to discourage both relationships in an attempt to maintain Italian tradition.

When World War II breaks out, Italy enters the war as an ally to Germany. Franco, however, joins the British army. Despite their integration and eight years in Glasgow, the Pedreschis' shop is attacked by an angry nationalistic mob. Massimo is arrested as a prisoner of war despite his years living in Scotland. 

In Act Two, after the war, Lucia returns to Italy to live with her father, Luigi. Bridget, who has lost Franco to the war, becomes frustrated with Rosinella for keeping the young Hughie and Lucia apart, and for persuading her to have an abortion in Franco’s absence. When Hughie confronts Rosinella and offers support, she begins to feel guilt for her meddling. To make up for her past behaviour, appease her frustrated husband, and save Lucia from an arranged marriage, Rosinella takes Hughie to Italy and helps them to elope together. This reunites her with Massimo and represents her acceptance that love transcends cultural boundaries.

Tally’s Blood: Act-by-act plot summary

Act One 

Scene One

• The play opens in Italy in 1936 where Luigi, Rosinella, and Massimo have gathered to mark the death of Luigi’s wife

• Luigi kisses his baby one last time before Massimo and Rosinella leave with her

Scene Two

• It is now 1939: the scene opens in Rosinella and Massimo’s shop in Scotland  

• The baby, Lucia, is five years old and Massimo and Rosinella fuss over her 

• Massimo’s brother Franco enters the scene (he owns another shop in Glasgow)

• Rosinella asks about Luigi and expresses her disapproval over his new marriage

• Franco expresses frustration about working in a small shop and bemoans the lack of opportunity in Scotland

• Franco tells Rosinella he has a date with Bridget Devlin, a Scottish girl

• Rosinella’s disapproval of the Devlin family is worsened as the Devlins have eight children and Rosinella has been unable to conceive

Scene Three

• Franco and Bridget’s romantic relationship develops

• Franco gives the financially-struggling Bridget a good luck charm

Scene Four

• Lucia’s refusal to speak English leads to family conflict 

• She swears at Massimo who slaps her for her rudeness

• Rosinella slaps Massimo for his actions towards Lucia

Scene Five

• Massimo gives Hughie a job in the shop and encourages him to teach Lucia English 

• Lucia and Hughie dislike each other initially but their antics watching Franco and Bridget dancing begins a hesitant friendship

Scene Six

• Hughie and Bridget’s father is killed in a mine explosion

• Lucia comforts Hughie and their friendship deepens as they share their experiences of loss

Scene Seven

• Rosinella disapproves of Franco and Bridget’s romance 

• The outbreak of war brings worry for Massimo and Rosinella

Scene Eight

• Franco’s decision to enlist with the British army creates tensions with Massimo

• Massimo reminds Franco he is Italian, but Franco considers himself to be British 

Scene Nine

• Franco and Bridget consummate their relationship and he prepares for war

Scene Ten

• Rosinella is convinced Bridget has influenced Franco to join the British army

• Massimo worries about Italy joining the war and considers returning to Italy

Scene Eleven

• When Bridget visits the shop for news of Franco, Rosinella tells her that Franco will marry an Italian girl and that his feelings for her are not genuine

Scene Twelve

• Hughie and Lucia work at Massimo’s ice-cream stall, but there are disagreements

• Bridget secretly borrows money from Massimo, which we later learn paid for an illegal abortion

• Massimo’s shop is attacked by a mob shouting anti-fascist slogans

• When police arrive, Massimo is arrested as an enemy alien

Scene Thirteen

• The family experience prejudice from outsiders:

  • Lucia confides in Hughie

Scene Fourteen

• News reveals that Italian prisoners have been killed when their ship is torpedoed

• Massimo’s father, the family hear, was killed aboard the Arandora Star

Scene Fifteen

• It is 1943 and Hughie and Lucia, now nine years old, become blood-brothers to symbolise their close friendship

• Rosinella grieves about her absent husband and worries about Franco

Scene Sixteen

• The family learn that Franco has been killed in the war

• When Bridget reads Rosinella the last letter he wrote, Rosinella is distressed that he did not write to the family:

  • She justifies that her illiteracy may be the reason

Scene Seventeen

• To Lucia, Rosinella relates the story of her marriage to Massimo:

  • They elope to escape an arranged marriage

• Massimo returns from Canada

Act Two

Scene One

• It is 1955 and Massimo visits his father’s old home in Italy

• Luigi is jealous of Massimo’s success and takes advantage of his kindness

Scene Two

• Hughie wants Lucia to come to his brother’s wedding but knows Rosinella will object

• Rosinella plans for Lucia to marry an Italian man, Silvio

• Massimo tries to convince her otherwise

Scene Three

• A mourning Bridget urges Hughie to avoid the conflict and spend more time away

Scene Four

• Bridget accepts Hughie’s love for Lucia and encourages him to express his feelings 

• Hughie is hesitant and fails to tell Lucia how he feels

Scene Five

• Hughie writes Lucia a love letter, but Rosinella takes it away and threatens to have him fired if he attempts any more contact with her

• Luigi asks for Lucia to return to live with him in Italy and prepare for marriage

Scene Six

• Hughie is unable to express his love for Lucia before she leaves Scotland:

  • He tries to see her before she goes but is too late

Scene Seven

• Both Rosinella and Hughie struggle to deal with Lucia’s absence

Scene Eight

• Rosinella urges Massimo to fire Hughie: he agrees to talk with him

• When they meet, Hughie declares his love for Lucia:

  • At this news, Massimo offers him higher stakes in the family business

  • A distraught Hughie refuses

• An angry Bridget visits the shop and confronts the grieving Rosinella about her decision to separate Lucia and Hughie:

  • She reveals her pregnancy and abortion to a horrified Rosinella 

• Tensions arise between Massimo and Rosinella:

  • Although Rosinella begins to feel guilty about her past actions, an angry Massimo offers her no sympathy 

  • Rosinella decides she wants to return to Italy to see Lucia

  • Massimo believes this to be a selfish act and storms off

• When Hughie arrives, Rosinella apologises and he offers her some comfort

Scene Nine

• In Italy, Lucia struggles to adjust to tough, rural, Italian life

• Rosinella and Hughie arrive: Hughie asks Luigi if he can marry Lucia

• A greedy Luigi has other plans: he wants Lucia to work in the house, and to marry a wealthy neighbour’s son

• Rosinella, though, takes Lucia away from Luigi’s house

Scene Ten

• A reunited Lucia and Hughie talk with Rosinella 

• She explains to them that Bridget, now working in the shop, wanted to help Lucia and Hughie be together 

• She also reveals her worries about her own relationship with Massimo

Scene Eleven

• Rosinella argues with Luigi about the arranged marriage planned for Lucia

Scene Twelve

• A determined and passionate Hughie plans with Rosinella to save Lucia from the forthcoming arranged wedding

Scene Thirteen

• During a celebration at Luigi’s, Rosinella and Hughie arrive:

  • Hughie calls to Lucia who is near an upstairs window in the house

  • He puts a ladder against the wall for her to escape

• Rosinella gives them her blessing as they leave together 

• Massimo arrives and forgives Rosinella

• The play ends with Lucia and Hughie reenacting Massimo and Rosinella’s own elopement many years before

Works Cited

Di Mambro, Ann Marie. “Scottish Set Text Guide: Tally's Blood for National 5 English.” Hachette Learning (opens in a new tab). (Accessed 10 November 2025)