Vernon Scripps has become a more or less permanent chauffeur for the unpopular business man Jim Pinder. Pinder even hires Vernon to haul a boat on a trailer for him. The lorries from Pinder's quarry are a nuisance to a lot of villagers in Aidensfield, but many of them also depend on the quarry to make a living. Things heat up when one of the lorries has braking trouble and almost hits some school children and protesters block the access to the quarry. Somebody has vandalized Lily Barton's boundary wall and two dozen sheep are missing. She is also ill and PC Crane asks Dr. Merrick to have a look at her. But the old lady does not want a doctor thank you very much. And she does not want to move to a home either.