A struggling dockworker's wife is forced into making a difficult decision about her upcoming birth, also putting pressure on Barbara who faces the test of her career so far. Nurse Crane makes a new friend. Evangelina has to take action as a mistake from the past comes to light.

Sister Julienne is on secondment and is amazed by the medical advances in use at a busy local hospital. A traumatic birth however soon leads her to question moral issues. Ian is overjoyed when he is accepted into university, but Linda falls pregnant and could throw his plans into jeopardy. Trixie and Tom try and help Linda and Ian out, as the family begins to fall apart.