A ban-the-bomb demonstration outside the nearby Fylingdales radar station has been announced and sergeant Blaketon turn down an offer of outside help believing it will only be a small gathering. But matters are complicated by the visit of the American ambassador to the area and the arrival of the prominent activist Paul Melthorn. Melthorn is assaulted at the protesters' camp site on lord Ashfordly's field - courtesy of Claude Greengrass - by troublemakers working at Fylingdales.

PC Rowan gets assigned to special duty with the CID in Whitby. He will be investigating reports of smuggling among the local fishermen. Ventress is asked to help him, but unlike Rowan he has to pay all expenses by himself since he is on holiday. Rowan's main suspect is Cedric Shanks, but to get close to him Rowan needs the help of young Jake Stirling, who is in dire need of a job because he has gotten his girlfriend Liza pregnant. Blaketon takes over Rowan's patch while he is away and uses the opportunity to keep an eagle eye on Claude Jeremiah Greengrass.

An illegal radio station is transmitting from a ship just off the coast outside Whitby. When nurse Bolton starts seeing a young man called Danny the villagers are hearing wedding bells already. But a bit too soon it seems as he turns out to be her brother. Danny helps PC Rowan get a position as a DJ at the illegal radio station. Joe Norton is out of prison after serving a sentence for arson. He wants to turn a new leaf and has sent in an application to join the paratroopers. While he waits for an answer he helps out in PC Rowan's garden and hangs out with old friends. They fix him with a new drug that really sends him flying. Joseph and Greengrass think that George is charging too much for his drinks and decide they can do better end cheaper themselves.