A pregnant woman from out of town admits herself to Wandin Valley Hospital with signs of foetal distress. Despite his reluctance, Terence is forced to operate when another doctor is unable to reach the town in time. Delivering a baby girl, the hospital staff are surprised by Mrs Myers' disinterest and apathy toward her daughter, whom she says is "not mine". Meanwhile, Simon has to refuse local girl Jenny Secombe's request for the birth control pill. At fifteen, Jenny needs parental consent to obtain the pill, but is afraid to ask her father. Shirley finds she is receiving unwanted attention from the recently widowed Frank Gilroy, while Simon continues to pursue Vicky, despite her insistence that they remain friends.

A pregnant woman from out of town admits herself to Wandin Valley Hospital with signs of foetal distress. Despite his reluctance, Terence is forced to operate when another doctor is unable to reach the town in time. Delivering a baby girl, the hospital staff are surprised by Mrs Myers' disinterest and apathy toward her daughter, whom she says is "not mine". Meanwhile, Simon has to refuse local girl Jenny Secombe's request for the birth control pill. At fifteen, Jenny needs parental consent to obtain the pill, but is afraid to ask her father. Shirley finds she is receiving unwanted attention from the recently widowed Frank Gilroy, while Simon continues to pursue Vicky, despite her insistence that they remain friends.

Ladies' Auxiliary President and part-time hospital administrator Elaine MacKay is killed in a car accident at the Five Mile Bridge. As the town grapples with the loss, speculation begins as to why Elaine was in a car with her husband's friend - Ian Sutton - heading out of town. Molly and Brendan Jones arrive in town.

Frank awaits Peter Gleeson's blood results to see if he was driving under the influence of alcohol when the accident that killed Elaine MacKay occured. Gossip begins to circulate in town that Ian and Eliane were having an affair. Andy, increasingly speculative as to why Elaine was traveling in Ian's car (which was heading to Sydney), goes to see Ian in the hospital. Molly adjusts to nights alone on the farm.

Tension is high between some members of the community and the seasonal fruit pickers, who are in town for the orange harvest. While making a house call at the Cameron farm, Terence spots one of the picker's children, Lexy Popovich. At first thinking that the child has malnutrition (because of his swollen stomach), Terence comes to the conclusion that the child has a hydatic cyst. After much convincing, Lexy's mother Sandra allows Terence to operate. The operation is a success. However, Sandra - who is attempting to hold down her job, regularly visits Lexy at the hospital, and, resultingly, is not taking adequate care of her health - collapses whilst working. Meanwhile, Shirley tries to dissuade Frank's interest in her by cooking for him (showing, she thinks, that she would be a bad wife). However, the plan backfires when Frank announces that he can cook and proceeds to whip up a gourmet meal.

Dr. Elliott fights to save a child's life despite opposition from the boy's mother who is leery of doctors since her husband's death. Hoping to deter Frank, Shirley makes an attempt at preparing an exotic dinner, but Frank's culinary prowess more than compensates for Shirley's poor cooking skills. Molly barters her hand-made clothes in exchange for services. Doris eats the rose bush Frank gives to Molly as a house-warming gift. Bob brawls with fruit pickers who are in town for the harvest. Molly disturbs a prowler. Simon Bowen faces making a decision about a difficult patient whom he believes to be a drug addict. Molly tries to get Doris to mate with Jerry Percival's pig but Doris kicks the unworthy beast out of her pen. Brendan cheers up a young patient by playing super-nurse.

Simon meets former nurse Emily Page, who knew his grandfather Charlie. Befriending Emily who is beginning to feel the effects of crippling arthritis he is shocked to learn that she plans to commit suicide when she feels the illness has progressed to such a point that living would constitute a burden to those around her. Terence persuades Pat Turner to admit her belligerent father Artie to the hospital so that she can have a long-overdue vacation. While at the hospital, Artie engages in a war of wills with his nurse, Brendan. Bill Ferguson continues to visit Sandra at the hospital. Molly buys an old, sick cow, much to the disappointment of Vicky.

Simon meets former nurse Emily Page, who knew his grandfather Charlie. Befriending Emily who is beginning to feel the effects of crippling arthritis he is shocked to learn that she plans to commit suicide when she feels the illness has progressed to such a point that living would constitute a burden to those around her. Terence persuades Pat Turner to admit her belligerent father Artie to the hospital so that she can have a long-overdue vacation. While at the hospital, Artie engages in a war of wills with his nurse, Brendan. Bill Ferguson continues to visit Sandra at the hospital. Molly buys an old, sick cow, much to the disappointment of Vicky.

On her rounds as district nurse, Matron Kertesz meets Lachie Hughes, a young man paralysed from the waist down as the result of a recent accident. Lachie's doting parents are a challenge for him but he makes friends with Molly and Brendan. Frank meets Jack Bates while fishing. Jack, a businessman who's returned to the valley after a forty year absence, talks Terence into performing a practical joke on Frank. Simon runs over a wombat and is forced to adopt it after Vicky finishes treating it. Marta pulls Lachie from a dam when he tries to go swimming by himself. Lachie takes a shine to Marta but she tells him she wants their relationship to remain strictly professional. Simon looks for the cause of a young girl's illness and weight loss. Lachie rushes his mother to the hospital when she suffers a spontaneous pneumothorax. Sgt. Gilroy gives Simon a rough time over his keeping the wombat (given the name Fatso by Simon). Shirley Dean receives special treatment from a real man about town and the policeman about town has his nose put out of joint. Marta tells Lachie the story of how she escaped from Hungary. Marta sleeps with Lachie after first consulting Terence about the logistics. Simon and Vicky's date is sidetracked when Vicky spots a cow stuck in a mud hole and asks Simon to help her get it out. Jack Bates has a heart attack and dies. Lachie makes plans to return to Sydney after receiving a letter from his girlfriend who wants to give their relationship another go.