The arrival of a young American, Charlie Dameron, divides the population of Aidensfield in two. Some think he is only dodging military service in Vietnam while others do not mind his presence. Among the former is Fred Manchester, who also blames him for causing an accident. Among the latter is Claude Greengrass, who sees yet another opportunity to make some money - by selling classic motorcycles to Dameron. Only, Greengrass does not have any motorcycles to sell - yet!

Dr. Kate Rowan is spending several nights per week in Whitby while she works in the Whitby practice. Nick isn't happy at being left alone. Nick gets rebuked by Blaketon because his shirt isn't ironed. Blaketon says it shows lack of respect for the job. Lead has been stolen from the roof of a farm house and some out-buildings. Smoke pours from Greengrass' house and three young men who are camping on his land see the smoke and rush to help. Kate has discovered that she is pregnant and she thinks about the way a baby would affect her career, and Nick's. Lead has been stolen from a church roof. Blaketon has realised that there is something wrong in the Rowan household and he goes round to see Nick for a personal chat. Nick confides in him that he thinks he and Kate are drifting apart. Kate is back in Aidensfield and she runs into Nick. She tells him that she is pregnant. They have an emotional, heart-to-heart conversation. Kate Rowan has to make a tricky climb on to a church roof to give aid to a badly injured lead thief. Music in this includes "We Can work It Out", "Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye", "Magic Bus".

A fire breaks out at Webster's Hotel. Fortunately the fire is discovered in time and damages are limited to a work shop. The manager Ralph Webster is not satisfied that it was caused by faulty wiring and asks PC Rowan to look into it and especially Brian Rogers. When Webster sacks Rogers he gets drunk and threatens a taxi driver. Rogers even points a gun at PC Rowan, who has come to investigate, and barricades himself in his flat. Posh fashion photographer Jansson is scouting for locations and also wants to hire both Gina and Greengrass in addition to his regular models Michelle and Sylvie. Nick Rowan and Jo Weston are planning on going away on a romantic weekend together.

PC Bradley and PC Ventress are forced off the road by a blue lorry. They locate the lorry at the house of Tom Lowson, his new bride Mandy and teenage daughter Sandra. PC Ventress, who is acting sergeant in Craddock's absence, is convinced that Lowson is up to something, because he was the biggest black marketer in the North Riding area during the war. To prove it he orders his colleagues to inspect Lowson's lorries whenever they get the chance. Meanwhile Sandra is having a bad influence on her friend Alison Hartley, who is certain that she is pregnant. Sandra arranges for Alison to have an abortion, but the girls are late for the appointment and steal nurse Bolton's Land Rover. Faith Trueman is ill and ask her friend Greengrass to sell a valuable Georgian clock and other stuff for her so that can stay at the same hotel, where she and her late husband spent their honeymoon, once more before she dies. Only the stuff is not nearly as valuable as expected.