A Place to Call Home

George is rushed to hospital having been shot, and the only witnesses are René and Regina. Elizabeth rushes to her son's side and initially confronts Sarah before realising that Sarah has probably saved his life. Anna and Gino are enjoying their honeymoon when she reveals that she has read the malicious letter given to her by Andrew Swanson, and Gino is horrified to learn the contents about Olivia and James. An increasingly disturbed René is arrested by Sergeant Franklin for George's attempted murder.

On returning to Ash Park, George tells the family that he is going to make an important announcement at dinner and invites James for a private chat beforehand. Gino is reluctant to face James, knowing his secret. René has another seizure, while Sarah is haunted by memories from the war.

Finding that Sarah is also in Sydney, Elizabeth arranges a meeting at which she is able to thank her for saving George's life. Elizabeth's desire to make her life meaningful finds her meeting a charming gentleman. Gino outlines his dream to Anna of becoming a successful wine maker, and Ash Park welcomes a charismatic painter. Olivia and Carolyn make preparations for a card-party for Sir Richard, and George finally discovers who Anna's real father is.

Sarah attends a back-street abortion doctor but cannot go through with the operation. A young girl she crosses paths with at the clinic is later brought to her for help. Carolyn gets the offer of the job as an art critic for one of Sir Richard's Sydney newspapers. Elizabeth returns to Douglas Goddard's refuge, Olivia is increasingly attracted to portrait artist Lloyd Elllis Parker and Anna realises that Gino's dream means a lot of hard work.

Olivia expresses her reservations about artist Lloyd Ellis Parker to James, but he insists that they retain him to paint their portraits. René is distraught on learning of Sarah's pregnancy and tells her he wishes she had never found him again. Carolyn confronts George about Regina, informing him of the threats she has been making about revealing James' secret. Elizabeth has lunch with Douglas Goddard but his romantic advances cause Elizabeth to withdraw. Regina tactically retreats to the Walker Farm, Olivia pleads with Anna not to tell James the truth about baby George, and Sarah and Jack have the abortionist arrested and Sarah reunites with René.

George comes across Sarah, who has been taken ill at the side of the road, and takes her to the hospital where he learns of her pregnancy. Caroline teases her mother about Douglas Goddard but Elizabeth decides to visit his servicemen's club again. Olivia continues her relationship with Lloyd but she is determined to end the affair as her guilt intensifies. She is distraught when James discovers the affair and after their argument, Olivia discovers baby George missing. In Sydney, Douglas visits Elizabeth and puts his heart on the line, declaring he has feelings for her. René's health deteriorates as he puts Sarah's life in danger.

Jack has arranged for René to have his brain operation but Sarah, concerned about the risks involved refuses to give her consent. George withdraws his nomination as The Country Party candidate and attempts to face his demons regarding his strained relationship with his father. Regina hatches a plan to reinstate herself in George's esteem. Jack continues to warn Carolyn regarding Sir Richard's intentions. Elizabeth helps Sarah make a difficult decision. Meanwhile, James is still hiding away in Sydney, Gino is worried about his vine saplings, and Olivia is trying to maintain a facade on the eve of Baby George's Christening.

It is the morning of baby George's christening and Olivia is distraught over James' continued absence and locks herself in her room unable to face the thought of going to church without him. Regina travels to Sydney to bring James back and is rewarded by George who invites her back to stay at Ash Park. Anna discovers the extent of their financial problems as Gino's dreams die with the vines and the distance between them grows further. In Sydney, René undergoes neurosurgery while an anxious Sarah is comforted by Dr Henry Fox. Regina is determined to keep George and Sarah apart forever.

Regina and George return to Ash Park from their wedding, where both Elizabeth and Carolyn warn both parties about their marriage of convenience. Sarah is flustered in her attempts to arrange Rene's funeral but Roy and Doris Collins offer their support. With her family in tatters, Elizabeth refuses Douglas' offer of a deeper friendship. Gino is upset when he finds and reads Ann's unpublished novel. As their romantic dream finally shatters, Anna returns to Ash Park. Regina takes extreme measures to further ensnare George.

Regina sets out to destroy any chance of happiness for George and Sarah. Elizabeth takes a remarkable step towards happiness while Anna questions her relationship with Gino. Carolyn finally confides in Jack just as his career is on the line and James and Olivia reaching breaking point.