The Upton family returns home only to find much of their furniture stolen and most of the rest smashed to pieces. John Upton suspects Harry Somers, who has been seeing his daughter Ruth a lot against his wishes. The Uptons move to the Aidensfield Arms while their home is repaired, but Ruth is attacked, when she returns to the house in the evening. The upcoming artist Moira Hamilton has rented a cottage in the village and is very interested in some of Greengrass' old car parts. She even paints a portrait of the old scoundrel - well sort of. Greengrass and Bernie Scripps decide also to try their luck in the world of modern art.

An unidentified man is found badly injured by the roadside near Aidensfield and PC Mason thinks he was assaulted. A complaint about a van blocking the way in Back Lane leads not only to the identity of the unknown man, but also to a load of condemned meat which has now disappeared. And soon they have the first case of salmonella poisoning. Aunt Peggy is asked to keep an eye on a mansion for three weeks. And being Aunt Peggy she cannot see why she should not make a little extra money on it herself and do some bed and breakfast in posh surroundings. Her first customer is a very surprised Alf Ventress. He had outstayed his welcome at the Aidensfield Arms - and one of the cells at the police station - and was asked to move out by Sergeant Nokes, who is filling in for Sergeant Miller. Alice Howarth asks Nurse Cassidy to look after her mother Edna who is so old it is not safe for her to be living alone anymore. But Carol is surprised to discover that the old lady is not so alone after all. Her son - Alice's brother - has returned to the area and visits her every night. Only he committed suicide twenty years ago. Dawn finds an old sewing machine and soon the only thing on her mind is sewing.