Kings Cross, 1969: An ambitious midwife returns from London to uncover a system of forced adoptions at the local hospital. A pregnant country girl, Viv, wakes to find she's been drugged by her parents and sent to a home for unwed mothers.

Joan risks her career to help Annie get her baby back, unaware of the implications for Dr McNaughton. Patricia's mother visits from Melbourne and offers her daughter an early exit from Stanton House.