Butterfly

Vicky and Stephen are separated parents, they're uncomfortable around each other but there's clearly still a spark between them. Stephen is an attentive 'weekend' dad, but Vicky is unnerved to see that he's in a new relationship with younger woman, Gemma. Stephen plays football with his 11-year-old son, Max, who seems to love it. But it's soon clear that Max is suppressing his true identity as a girl, in order to earn his father's approval. Stephen is unaware that within the confines of the family home, Vicky allows Max to dress and behave as a girl. Once Max begins secondary school, he soon becomes a target for bullies. As the onset of puberty intensifies, his feelings around gender become distressing and he deliberately cuts himself. Vicky and Stephen meet with a child psychologist and are referred on to a gender clinic. Determined to be a role model for Max, Stephen tells Vicky he never stopped loving her. Vicky isn't sure if she can forgive Stephen for leaving. We see in a flashback Stephen recalling the night he left. Stephen moves back in, hoping to encourage male bonding, and to win Vicky back. They begin to fall in love again.Encouraged by his sister, a nervous Max presents himself to his parents dressed in a girls' uniform. Lily explains that Max wants, from now on, to be known as Maxine. Vicky is conflicted, Stephen however, is angry. Stephen admits he didn't leave Vicky, he left Max because he couldn't cope with his feminine behaviour. But will Stephen be able to face up to the reality of Max's true self?

In an attempt to understand and support Max, Vicky and Stephen attend a support group for gender nonconforming young people. Vicky finds it encouraging, in stark contrast to Stephen who is obviously out of his depth. At school, Max is still dressed like a boy and the focus of more bullying. That night, Stephen breaks down the bathroom door to find Max distressed and holding a broken glass to his erection. It's a chastening sight for Stephen, while Vicky is resolute - they must allow Max to identify as female. At school, Maxine is palpably happier. She receives both negative and positive responses but by the end of the day, she's made her first real friend, Molly. Barbara is appalled when she sees her grandson dressed like a girl in public. After months on a waiting list, the family finally attend their first appointment at the gender clinic. Despite her initial enthusiasm, Maxine struggles to articulate her true feelings to the clinicians. And as Vicky and Maxine push for puberty blockers it's clear that Stephen is still not 100% on board. Upset and conflicted, he ends up in bed with Gemma. After assessing the family, the clinicians don't feel it's the right time to refer Maxine on for medical intervention. Vicky is furious and blames Stephen for his lack of support. With all the focus on Maxine, Lily is feeling increasingly invisible to her family. So when a boy from school starts paying her some attention, she finds herself in a situation she isn't ready for. Vicky steals the money that Barbara has invested in their new business and uses it to take Maxine to Boston for treatment, without Stephen's consent. Vicky is determined to help Maxine become who she really is, but will she tear her family apart in the process?

In Boston, Vicky watches as an optimistic Maxine is assessed for puberty blockers. Vicky is determined to support Maxine and forges Stephen's signature on the consent form. Whilst at home, Lily helps Stephen search for their whereabouts. Barbara and Paula are furious when they learn that Vicky has stolen the money intended for their business. Lily feels abandoned and Stephen struggles to cope. He reports Vicky to the police and she's arrested at the airport. Once it becomes clear that Maxine was capable of making an informed decision, the case is dropped. But the family dynamic is strained and once again Stephen moves out. Both the school and the police report their concerns to the local authority. Stella, a court appointed social worker, will be assessing the family to work out what's best for Maxine. With Vicky and Stephen divided, both parents come under scrutiny and both could face losing her. Vicky makes peace with Paula, she admits she acted out of desperation and hasn't got enough money to take Maxine back to Boston. Stephen reports Vicky to Stella, for misleading Maxine. With their relationship at breaking point, both parents agree to work together and challenge the gender clinic's decision. Stella is sceptical, throughout her assessment she's observed a family in distress. She intends to recommend a care order as well as an order preventing any further treatment for Maxine until the family can work together. The family return to the gender clinic to appeal their decision. And with the support of her family, Maxine is finally able to articulate her true feelings. The series ends with Stephen, Lily and Vicky looking on as a GP administers Maxine's first puberty blocker injection. It's the end of a difficult journey, and the beginning of a new one.