The first New Year of peacetime brings the hope of new beginnings. A 'chance encounter' changes Donald McIntyre's life. The Burns and McIntyre families find themselves linked together. Charlie Burns surprises Mary with an unsuspected insight.

Bessie McIntyre receives another telegram. Donald McIntyre has been keeping secrets from his mother. A chance encounter brings matters to a head.

The long years of war are weighing heavily on Mary Burns. Like many others, she is waiting for it to end.  Pearl's mother Peggy seeks her out and brings shocking news. Ellen receives a letter that takes her on a long and personal journey.

Ellen Burns's romantic life becomes complicated while Betty's improves. Mary Burns discovers that having two teenage daughters can be just as trying in wartime as in peace.

Bessie McIntyre receives two telegrams on the same day. One brings good news. A letter ends a romance. 

A small group of surviving ships seek shelter in the Matochkin strait to prepare for the final dash to Archangel. Donald McIntyre finds himself caught up in the struggle to save his ship.

Pearl Lafferty confronts her bigoted father. Ellen Burns receives a visitor who brings troubling news. The reality of war is made plain to Mary and Betty Burns.

The convoy is ordered to split up. Each ship finds itself in a desperate struggle for survival.

Ellen Burns and her friend Pearl attend a dance with consequences that change both their lives. Jimmie Gow has news he knows his mother will not want to hear. The neighborhood of Maryhill finds that in war there is no safe place.

Donald McIntyre joins a new ship and finds himself on a convoy heading into Arctic waters. 

Mary Burns has had no word from Charlie. She discovers that his ship has been sent to Dunkirk and spends many sleepless nights. A neighbor receives news that shocks Mary and Ida.

The enemy mount ferocious attacks on the beaches and the harbor of Dunkirk. The losses are increasing. Charlie Burns find help from an unlikely source.

Donald McIntyre has had a troubled relationship with his mother. Nothing he has accomplished appears to please Bessie. Then, a gift he brings back from America awakens memories in Bessie and leads them to a different place.

Charlie Burns's ship sails to Dunkirk with critically needed petrol for the British Expeditionary Force. He finds himself stranded on the beaches with thousands of soldiers. The fate of Britain hangs in the balance. 

Bessie McIntyre is out of place in her tenement. Her refined manner grates on her neighbors. Ella McLennan sets off to visit her daughter and new grandson and finds herself in one of the worst air raids of the war, the Clydebank Blitz. In the process, Ella finds an unlikely friend.

Mary Burns had quite enough on her mind never mind the coming of war: a troublesome daughter, an ailing mother and a husband seemingly always away at sea. Family issues do not disappear for the duration of the conflict. Just how will Mary handle these and other situations that life will place in her way?