Ruth suffers the devastation of losing her baby as her pregnancy comes to an abrupt end, prompting husband Simon to turn to Peggy for support. Passionate feelings emerge between Alison and Stephen, and a medical crisis forces two elderly brothers to reach the conclusion that life's too short to be perpetually at each other's throats.

Jacqui is wrongly suspected of stealing from the hospital, leaving her wondering whether she can manage by herself after all, while Stephen heads off for university - despite being somewhat preoccupied with other matters.