Joe prepares to take up his new post in London, although he secretly doesn't want to leave Aidensfield, but with the arrival of Rob Walker's permanent replacement Don Wetherby, it seems it's too late for him to change his mind. Carol is administering vaccinations at the local school when she notices extensive bruising on a boy's body and suspects he is being abused by his stepfather, just as his biological father returns to the area and demands custody of his son. However, tragedy strikes when a violent conflict outbreaks between the angry father and stepfather - with Joe, Bellamy and new recruit Wetherby caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, Gina and Blaketon organise a charity quiz night on Lord Ashfordly's urging, but the evening is fated to be a disaster when Peggy's competitive streak gets the better of her.

Wetherby is far from happy when a face from his past arrives in the Aidensfield and it soon becomes clear that the women is a deranged stalker who contributed to the end of the officer's marriage and the circumstances leading to his placement at Ashfordly station, forcing him to ask Joe for help in getting rid of her when she makes a serious accusation against him. Meanwhile, Bernie's dating weekend with a widower coincides with Ventress and Blaketon's private investigation into a spate of burglaries when they all find themselves staying at the same hotel, whilst Gina resolves to pick up the pieces of her shattered life after a heart-to-heart with Aunt Peggy and returns to work at the Aidensfield Arms, and Carol finds herself attracted to a new doctor at the hospital.