From Ashes to Ashes tells the story of Peter Morrison, son of a school teacher in rural New South Wales. When Peter's beloved teacher is pushed to enlist in World War II by his father, his boyhood is fractured by trauma and doubt. As he comes of age, Peter veers from the values of his conservative parents and begins a life-long march to the beat of two different drummers. While one leads him to teaching and family, the other draws him to illicit love and classroom scandal. With maturity, Peter rights his choices, retiring as a respected school principal. However, finally verging on dementia, he hears again, the beat of the other drummer.