Jane and Philip celebrate their engagement with a party for the whole of Bridehaven. Mike believes that he is powerless to intervene, but when an old friend of Jane's revives painful memories for her, she finds herself hesitating.

Mike returns from his travels to find that half the inhabitants of Bridehaven have left the town due to a group of racketeers who have the place gripped in fear. And they now own the debt Mike owed for the purchase of his boat.

Mike takes the law into his own hands when Steve is accused of the murder of his wheeler-dealing uncle, Martin. Tensions mount as Mike's jealousy over Melanie's new boss, Nick, threatens to cloud his judgement.