Siegfried discovers that a gift given in good faith can deal out death. James discovers that dealing out death can accidentally be the gift to life.

James returns to Angus Grier and, to his shame and Grier's pleasure, is coerced into giving the wrong treatment. Grier's triumph is short-lived as James discovers his guilty secret.

What can a country vet do when a herd is struck by a disease for which there is no cure - especially when a man's life savings are at risk?

Richard Carmody, a superior student, accompanies James on his rounds to learn, but it becomes clear that there is very little that he doesn't know.

Some farmers like to do their own vetting, but James discovers that sometimes the vet can cure the farmer.

The Dalby family fortunes dwindle even more until, almost by accident, James stumbles across the reason for the herd's illness.

James' temper is fraying fast -- what with two car accidents in the space of a week, an inauspicious meeting with Helen's family and his rival still lurking around Helen like a "big glossy spider".

The veterinary practice goes from strength to strength, but James fears he has wrecked his chances with Helen after a disastrous first date. Tristan decides that a blind date is all James needs to hone his courtship skills.

The practice in Darrowby goes from strength to strength - unlike James's private life. Tristan decides to remedy matters and arranges a double blind date.

Siegfried has a major victory, and his brother Tristan has to deal with pigs in more ways than one. James discovers he has a rival for Helen's affections.

Sigfried declares that the business is in shambles financially, and his solution is Miss Harbottle, a meticulous secretary who rules the cash box with an iron hand. Amid a relentless succession of new faces - many gruff, some eccentric - James meets the lovely Helen Alderson.

James finds that long hours and rough conditions can make a veterinary work a dog's life, but some dogs, like Mrs. Pumphrey's Tricki-Wu, have it so well that they can afford to spread the wealth.

Life for a newly qualified vet like James Herriot is not at all easy. He travels all the way to Darrowby, Yorkshire to secure a job, but by the time his prospective employer, Siegfried Farnon, turns up for the interview, James has fallen asleep!