Ruth invites members of a failed community to join the Whitecross settlement, despite the fact that they have been exposed to a disease. When Arthur and Jack contract the illness she fears she may have made an error in judgement. Meanwhile, the self appointed leader of the young new arrivals, Mark Carter (Ian Hastings), advises Charles on where he is going wrong agriculturally and draws up a new plan for him to examine...

When Sally becomes pregnant by Alan, Charles is overjoyed, thinking this will encourage a baby boom at Whitecross. Sally wants to live with Alan as his wife but he has other ideas. As the situation becomes more tense, Charles crosses swords with Melanie, Ruth and even Pet...

There is a much excitement when a balloon passes over Whitecross. However, when the balloon comes down and its occupant is found dead a mystery is left behind. The man is discovered to be a Norwegian and he has in his possession various items that suggests he has been mapping the nation's settlements. When Melanie and Alan meet one of the ballonist's acquaintances, Seth, they learn that the man had been travelling with his daughter Agnes. When Agnes eventually arrives at Whitecross things will never be the same again for our survivors...