It is 1951 and the Scheme is still in the planning stages but the small township of Cooma is beginning to attract new arrivals and sooner or later, they all find their way to Mick's Café. Molly and Jack's daughter Kate returns home from Sydney unexpectedly and catches the eye of engineer Gordon King. School teacher Lilian Anderson arrives in Cooma and makes an immediate impression on Michael. East German refugees Wolfie and Eva get married before he and Max leave for Australia to work on the project. Eva will have to wait two years to join them.©tz

Stuart's arrest divides the community and scandal is brewing over Michael and Lilian's love affair. Kate nurses Wolfie back to health but he is deeply depressed by the forthcoming hearing. Michael tries to reach some understanding with Wolfie. To avoid dismissal Lilian takes a job out of town and Max tries to hide the truth about Wolfie from Eva.