In 1928 Glasgow, Alan Finlay studies to become a qualified doctor, and dreams of becoming a surgeon. His landlord goes missing and Finlay follows a hunch which leads him to the town of Tannochbrae and a meeting which will change his life.
Outbreaks of scarlet fever worry Arden House and Finlay suspects milk may be at the root of the problem.
While in Glasgow to collect a leg brace for a young patient, Finlay encounters a showman 'doctor' who later comes to Tannochbrae and treats the same patient with his 'scientific' methods, much to Finlay's chagrin.
Finlay falls in love with an older woman, local schoolmarm Miss Malcolm, at the Village Ball and begins considering marriage.
Called to treat a local landowner who is a patient of Dr Cameron, Finlay is offered shares in a South African gold mine by way of payment.
A local miser and his wife are shocked to discover his live-in mother has passed away through the night after being treated by Finlay the previous day.
Tam, a patient of Finlay's, is a local character, fond of a dram, and lives a rustic lifestyle on the outskirts of Tannochbrae. There is more to him than meets the eye though, and visitors from Glasgow may force him to confront his past.
Finlay is called to a cave-in at the local pit. Meanwhile, back at Arden House, Dr Cameron is concerned when the insurance man takes an interest in housekeeper Janet.
Dr Cameron's gardener Alex Dean is behaving strangely out of character. Is he certifiable, as Dr Snoddy believes or could Finlay's more left-field diagnosis be correct?
Hypochondriac Mrs Paton rules her house with an iron fist. However, she is oblivious to her live-in niece's health issues. Dr Cameron has high hopes to be gifted Mrs Paton's much prized Dragon Plate, by pandering to her various ailments.
A boy breaks out in spots but is it chicken pox or smallpox as Finlay fears? Dr Cameron fears the worst for a young man who's been having dizzy spells. Meanwhile, Mistress Niven meddles again, and a local disaster brings out the best in the medics of Tannochbrae.
Finlay's erstwhile girlfriend Mary comes to an important decision about her future. Dr Cameron calls on two elderly spinsters who haven't spoken to each other in fifteen years.