Simon Gaskell works as a college English teacher who specialises in poetry and also has a secret. His alter ego is a transvestite called Tracie Tremarco, who is looking for love. Tracie falls head over heels in love following an altercation with some men out on a stag night. Tony and Tracie become smitten with each other and hesitatingly their love affair begins. Tony also has a secret though, he's married to a local beautician called Karen. Before long Tracie becomes entangled in a triangular love affair that leads to a shocking crime of passion and the dock.

Hairdresser Mo Murray refuses to be intimidated by a local gang and, supported by her best friend Sue but against the advice of her own family, decides to disregard its leader's instruction to close her salon on the day of a member's funeral. Retribution follows when a youngster is shot and killed, and matters escalate until members of the Murray family find themselves in the dock.

Seventeen-year-old Stephen Cartwright stands charged with a serious offence as his anxious father Peter looks on. We see the family months earlier as Peter tries his best to help his sons, Stephen and Dom, face the imminent death of their beloved mother. When palliative care nurse Charlotte arrives, Peter is grateful of her help at this most painful and stressful time for them. Stephen is less sure of this efficient nurse assigned to see his mother through her final days. When his mum passes on, Stephen becomes more suspicious of Charlotte's motivations.

While admitting new inmate Stephen Cartwright into the young offender's institution where she works as a prison officer, Tina Dakin senses that something does not seem right. Notifying her senior officer, Tina is distracted by another emergency, but on returning to Stephen's cell she discovers that the boy has taken his life. After her attempts to resuscitate Stephen fail, Tina's troubles multiply when a series of betrayals and cover-ups result in her becoming the victim of a crime.