The Frankie Rio Trio once belonged at the top of the charts, but popularity has dropped and now they are struggling for a comeback. Now finances are so low they have to skip a hotel bill. They are on their way to Aidensfield, where they will stay with their old friend Vernon Scripps until an important gig in Whitby. On the way pick up a young woman, Rachel Godwin, and her baby and give her a lift to Aidensfield where her parents live. She has run away from a maternity hospital because she does not want to give up the baby for adoption and is now on her way to her parent's house in the village. While she calls her mother to prepare her Frankie is scared off by the sight of PC Walker and the trio drives off without knowing they have an extra passenger.

Major Beecham gets arrested for disturbing the peace. During the night he complains about back pains and PC Younger gives him some of Alf's painkillers. But Younger may have given him the wrong pills because the next morning PC Bellamy finds him dead in his cell. Tristram Johnston is researching for the BBC programme "Down Your Way" and he has lots of likely prospects because everybody in Aidensfield wants to get on the radio. Aunt Peggy even gives him a tour of some of the sights of the area. Nurse Cassidy discovers that some of her patients have seen the herbalist Stephen Lansbury and decides to have a talk with him. Gina is busy organizing her wedding to Phil and persuades Oscar to take over the licence for the Aidensfield Arms.