Jack Sugden has come home for his father's funeral after a 9 year absence. The rest of the family resent him because his father left him the farm. New neighbours Marion Wilks and her father Henry, want to build a road through the Sugden farm. Jack has taken a shine to Marian Wilks, but she wants nothing to do with him.

Wilks lawyer Peters says he has the right-of-way on the Sugden land. Joe chats with Marian and they become friends. 250 hens have to be destroyed because of a disease. Joe and Jack find a shot bird on the property and suspect Henry Wilks is poaching.

The hens have been disposed of but Jack refuses to get any more. Having discovered an old mill house on the land, he decides to live there and give the farm to Annie, Peggy and Joe. Peggy discovers she is pregnant and wants to leave home. Joe teaches Marian how to fish.

It is revealed that Jack has a secret life with "Lynn" in London, and is hiding from something. Marian's car breaks down and Jack helps her out. It starts to rain and they run for an abandoned farm where he tells her that he likes her. He gets a letter to meet with Wilks lawyer about access to his land.

Joe finds out from Amos that Jack was seen coming out of the barn with Marian. He goes to the Wilks farm to find Jack is there. Since Marian broke Matt's fishing rod that Peggy gave him, Joe borrows money from 3 people to fix it. When Annie finds out, she confronts Joe. Peggy is angry that Matt is doing all the work while Jack and Joe are chasing Marian.

Jack does not want to work so he asks Matt to hire someone. Joe overhears Jack telling someone on the phone to meet him at the Feathers on Wednesday. The Wilks are looking for a gourmet cook and Marian asks Annie. She also asks if there is a good restaurant, and Joe recommends the Feathers for Wednesday, hoping Marian will catch Jack with another woman. The right of way issue is solved, but Jack tells Wilks, that if he opens a road, the rovers also have the right to pass through the Wilks manor.

Jack tells Wilks if he uses the new road, it must also be open to the public to use. Wilks doesn't want people passing through his property, so he decides to scrap the whole lawsuit. Joe is having a quiet drink, when Ruth joins him to ask about Jack. Her jealous husband comes in and tells her to get home to the children.

Matt has a job interview in Bradford in two days. Jack goes to the Feathers to meet Lynn. She has registered under Sugden. The Wilks are also at the same hotel and Henry spots Jack and Lynn together. He inquires at the desk and finds out she is Jack's wife, and gets Marian out of there before she sees them. Joe shows up and finds out too.

Tom tells Ruth about a car accident between Henry and Joe. Matt talks to Jack about a new van. Tom asks Jack for a job. PC Ball asks Amos if Joe had been at the Woolpack drinking before the accident.

Matt has his interview today. Ruth goes to see Jack and realizes that there is nothing between them. Joe has woken up and is in bad shape, While Wilkes has a compound fracture in his leg. Tom starts work at the farm and is not pulling his weight.

Matt tells Peggy that he did not get the job and she goes after Jack for money. Matt tells Jack that Tom is lazy. Tom gets Ruth to go to the Woolpack because he wants to bump into Jack. He shows him pictures of his eldest son also named Jack. PC Ball questions both Joe and Henry in the hospital.

Tom starts throwing threats about Jack being the real father of Tom's son Jackie. Ruth begs Jack to sack him. Marian breaks off with Jack, then he sacks Tom. Ruth has packed up, and asks Tom if he is coming with her to her sisters to live.

Henry is home from hospital. Jack buys a new van for Matt and Peggy. Annie realizes Jack has more money than he is letting on. PC Ball is back to tell Joe that his insurance has expired. Janie visits Joe.

Jack makes an enemy in Janie after embarrassing her in front of his family. Meanwhile, Henry is knocked unconscious after having a fall, and is later found by Marion and Norman.

Joe tells Marian that Jack is still married, whilst Henry tells Jack to stay away from Marian.

The police find the Sugdens Land Rover. Norman proposes to Marian but gets turned down. Meanwhile, Peggy disowns Jack, Marian ends her affair with him and Annie tells him he has two weeks to decide if he wants to stay or go.

Peggy and Matt discover they will have twins, whilst PC Ball prosecutes Jack and Joe. Janie flirts with Frank but he doesn't reciprocate.

Jack has decided to return to London. Janie asks Frank on a date but ends up going out with Joe. However, it doesn't last long when he begins going on about Marian.

Jack changes his mind and invites his friend Bart to Emmerdale Farm. Frank warms to Janie and asks her out, and Marian is unwelcoming to Joe.

Matt finds an unconscious Sam in the cowshed and rushes him to hospital. Meanwhile, Frank and Janie have a great first date, and even have their first kiss.