Blaketon and Joyce Jowett become rivals in the election for parish councillor, with both doing their utmost to outdo and discredit each other. David becomes caught in the middle of their battle when they both ask him to help raise support from villagers. Meanwhile, the officers are on the trail of a burglar who only steals objects of sentimental value from people's homes, and Tricia's health takes a turn for the worst when she and Jenny organise a fitness class for the local women.

Merton and his men deal with a protective father who turns to crime to make his young daughter happy and puts a schoolteacher in serious danger when a schoolgirl crush escalates out of control. Meanwhile, Vernon is driven mad when David inherits a ventriloquist's dummy and decides the show must go on when the dummy comes with a list of bookings. Elsewhere, Gina takes a shine to a charismatic guest at the pub.