The Collins family move into Brookside Close after Paul's redundancy has forced them to downscale. On moving in, they find that their home has been vandalised, and Paul immediately suspects the son of their new neighbours, the Grants.
The Collins give the Grants a lift to church after Bobby's car breaks down. Roger has still to get to know any of the neighbours, but is caught spying on them, and turning off his car alarm with only a newspaper for modesty.
Paul registers for benefit, Lucy struggles at the local comprehensive school, realising that her posh voice and background will be a disadvantage. Barry has a dodgy suggestion for Annabelle.
Roger tries to assemble a shelving unit, despite having not enough screws and no instructions. Bobby plans a strike at work, and there are cookers on the move on the Close.
Paul's digging amuses Damon and his friends. Barry tells a horrific tale of an accident on the building site. Karen brings home her new boyfriend, Demon Duane.
Heather wonders why Paul is always at home, Roger is becoming agitated about the cookers in the next garden, Karen's period starts, and a strike looks imminent.
New neighbours arrive in a large frozen meat truck. Karen wants to persuade Bobby and Sheila to allow her to go on holiday, and Heather gets her revenge on Roger.
Barry makes Duane understand that boasting about his "conquest" of Karen was really not a very good idea. Meanwhile, Lucy is being physically intimidated at school.
The whole close is burgled. Despite Petra working for an insurance company, her house contents are not covered. Lucy exacts retribution upon her tormentor at school.
Lucy is rescued from a kiss under the mistletoe by one of her class-mates. Karen wants to go to a party instead of attending the midnight Mass. Derek makes a pass at Heather.
It is an upsetting Christmas for the Collins family, while Karen has a hangover, Bobby has an emergency meeting, Roger's burglar alarm goes off again, and Damon has no presents.
The Grants invite all their neighbours to their New Year's Eve party. Roger and Heather return home, and discover that their alarm has been tampered with, and Gavin has erected a multicoloured shed to house his cookers.
Paul has a job interview, and is confident that he has done well. Annabelle starts making clothes for Lucy as part of her economy drive. Bobby goes back to work after the strike, and finds that some of his co-workers are angry.
Karen and Sheila go shopping, while the rest of the family go to watch a football match. Roger joins a badminton club, and Paul suggests a trip to the Lakes to visit Annabelle's mother - but Lucy refuses to go.
Annie's financial worries begin to trouble Sheila, and Barry discovers that he may also have some money problems. Lucy is amused that, without Paul knowing, Annabelle is looking for work.
Damon almost reveals that Karen is on the Pill. Paul wants Annabelle to stay at home, but she would prefer to do some supply teaching. There is more bad news at work for Sheila.
Roger's attempt to take up jogging are not successful. The boys' school reports are not good, so Damon has some serious grovelling to do. Sheila confronts Annie, although Barry has no sympathy.
Barry has to back down in a heated argument with Victor, but then finds himself being propositioned by Eric's wife. Meanwhile, Sheila finds contraceptives in his bedroom, and is determined to find out whose they are.
Barry's denies it when Eric confronts him after hearing rumours of liaisons with Irene but he can't explain to Sheila why he has contraceptive pills in his bedroom. A TV Enquiry Officer visits the Close, and someone hasn't got a licence.
Sheila is told that Damon has been playing truant. Gavin and Petra have a row, and he storms out, telling her that she will see him in the morning - if she's lucky. Petra's response is to throw a tray through the glass door after him.
Petra awakens in the morning to discover that Gavin has died in his bed during the night, and has to be comforted by her brother-in-law George, her neighbours Roger and Heather, and - especially - Barry.
Annabelle becomes exasperated when her car is caught behind Gavin's funeral cortege and she runs out of petrol. Paul resolves to be more decisive and find himself a job.
Lucy attends a meeting at school, expresses her grievances and tries to stir up some action. Sheila is not convinced that Karen should be on the Pill, and goes to speak to her doctor. Jeff reveals that Duane has been badly beaten up.
Barry tries to set his relationship with Carol on a firmer footing. Redundancies look certain to occur, as one plant at Bobby's work is to be closed down. Sheila seeks advice from her priest.
Gordon is invited to an all-night party, but Paul wants him to be home by 10.30pm. Matty receives a redundancy notice, and is disappointed when Bobby seems unwilling to use his influence to help him.
Annabelle has an unexpected visitor, while Roger and Heather battle over Derek's dinner party. Damon steals Karen's Valentine card, and takes it to show to everyone at school.
Matty and Teresa have dinner with Bobby and Sheila, and end up arguing over redundancies. Meanwhile, Heather and Roger dine with Derek and Angela and their other guests.
Annabelle tries to convince Paul that he cannot claim free meals for Gordon at his private school. Barry and Frank plan a surprise for Petra, but she has a bigger surprise for Barry.
The Huntingtons are burgled again, and Roger sets off around the Close to interrogate his neighbours. The Educational Welfare Officer visits the Grants to find out why Damon has been missing school.
Redundancy in the Grant household forces Damon and Karen to think of ways of earning cash. But Barry brightens the day by bringing home paint for the planned redecoration.
When Petra's boss makes a pass at her, Michelle suggests that Petra tells him that she is pregnant. There are differing views over how a ratepayers' association should be run.
The Huntingtons suspect that they have another intruder, and they're right. Damon is stranded in the bungalow after arguing with his mates. Lucy tells Gordon of her doubts about her relationship with Jonathan.
Roger's parents visit for Easter, and his father's offers to help around the house don't go down too well. Gordon suggests that Lucy should give Jonathan a taste of his own medicine.
It's time for church, but Karen and Damon have gone missing. Sydney sees Barry laying paving stones for Petra, and asks whether he could get some for Roger. Lucy drops Gordon right in it.
After Michelle expresses doubts that they should be spending so much time together, Petra and Barry talk things over. Meanwhile Sydney makes Damon pay when he catches him doing something naughty in church.
Alan measures the bungalow, but can he find anybody who knows enough geography to help him out? Roger invites everyone for a drink to celebrate his and Sydney's birthdays. Lucy practices for her stint on "What The Papers Say".
Paul suspects Barry of stealing his paving stones. Samantha resists Alan's invitation to more into the bungalow with him. Karen is threatened with suspension from school for swearing at a teacher.
Barry resorts to drastic action when his boss, Ted, confronts him about removing materials from the building site. Alan chats to Michelle, and invites her to come and look at his computer. Lucy makes a new friend.
Heather is studying for her exams and feeling tetchy. Lucy decides to go to a CND rally. When she hears that Barry and Terry are planning to go into business together, Michelle suggests that Petra could do their secretarial work.
