In Part 1, war is a remote prospect as 18-year-old Vera dreams of escaping the stuffiness of her parents' house and attending Oxford.

Vera decides to become a nurse and Roland is sent to the front.

Vera is anxiously awaiting Roland's Christmas visit.

Vera requests to be sent to a hospital at the French front.

The war is over and a shattered Vera (Cheryl Campbell) returns to Oxford. Winifred: Joanna McCallum. Mrs. Brittain: June Wenham. Mr. Brittain: Emrys James.