Sammy Maxton is found injured on Shafton Moor and witnesses heard a shot and saw Barry Rooksby running from the scene and driving away with is daughter Suzy. Rooksby has recently lost his job as game keeper and blames Maxton for telling lies about him to get the job himself. Alice Jessop is released from hospital after a stroke and hires the butler Alan Lester to look after her. A couple of days later Eileen discovers that a valuable clock is missing from Mrs. Jessop's home Gina is nervous because she has to appear in court to apply for the license to run the Aidensfield Arms. Steve tries to comfort her, but his mind is more occupied by the American pool match, which Greengrass is arranging. But his pool table is confiscated as evidence when it turns out that it was stolen, and Greengrass is under pressure to get a new one. He soon finds out that American pool tables are rare in North Riding. The preparations for Nick's and Jo's wedding are in full swing, and Phil is hoping that Nick will ask him to be the best man. A ghost from nurse Bolton's past arrives in Aidensfield. Her husband Neil who hopes they can back together again.

Linda Rollins has developed a serious drinking problem since her husband Mal went to Aberdeen to work. She also pops pills to help her cope. She has two sons Barry and Michael. Michael is the brighter of the two, but will much rather hang out with Barry and his friend Frankie. That brings him into trouble with the law. Pete has lost a lot of money in gambling and when his sister Christine cannot help him out he kidnaps David and holds him to ransom. Gina and Phil have returned from their romantic holiday in Scotland. They bring back a little more than they brought with them. Gina is pregnant!

A stranger collapses on the lawn of Ashfordly Hall. He is called Mickey Todd and has been beaten up pretty badly, but is very reluctant to talk to the police. Later Nurse Cassidy sees a pregnant, young woman in the village, who also shows all the signs of a thorough beating, and patches her up. Is she the victim of the same assailant? At least she belongs to the same group of traveling hippies as he does. PC Wetherby is doing some private investigating of his own and discovers that his wife is having an affair. He takes it out on Lord Ashfordly's game keeper Frank Kelly who is found dead the next morning with his throat cut. But Kelly may also have had a clash with the hippies who falsely accused him of assaulting Mickey Todd. David has to fight the competition from another taxi company and also has problems with his own taxi. It turns out that his taxi was sabotaged, and Aunt Peggy is sure that the owner of the other company - Ma Barker - is behind it.