The whole village and especially Mike Bradley mourn over the death of Dr. Summerbee. She is temporarily replaced by Dr. James Alway. Gina refuses to serve Bobbie Gray, because he is underage, but when he refuses to leave he gets into a fight with PC Bradley and PC Bellamy. The case ends in court, but Gray is acquitted by the presiding judge Charles Robertson. When Gray is arrested for a robbery he has committed Robertson confirms his alibi, because Bobbie Gray is actually his son. But it would have been healthier for Gray to stay in jail. On his way from Robertson's estate to the village he is the victim of a hit-and-run accident. Maggie Byrne turns up in the Aidensfield Arms and asks for her old friend Vernon Scripps. She is short of cash and asks Vernon to sell her engagement ring for her.

Martin Beldon has recently been released from jail after serving a 5-year sentence for rape. But somebody is out to get him, and since his lawyer gave the victim Judy Wharton such a hard time during trial that she committed suicide her father Tom and sister Linda are the most likely suspects. Then Linda's friend June claims that Beldon has raped her too. Aunt Peggy accidentally runs down the drunk, Sid Vickers. Vickers is one of her old friends and she decides to get him back on his feet again. There is a new face at the police station in Ashfordly. DS Rachel Dawson who is one of PC Walkers old friend. The London criminal Barry Flynn has escaped and she needs two officers to help her watch his cousin's cottage in case he would hide himself there.