Having been called out to see bed-bound Helen Pratt, her husband, Phil, accuses Doc Martin of killing her when she dies mid-examination. Pauline's attention is distracted from surgery work when she's invited to join the Portwenn volunteer lifeboat crew.

Irate husband Phil Pratt accuses Martin of killing his wife when he comes to their house to treat her. The doctor is in the middle of examining Helen when she suffers a suspected stroke, and before an ambulance can be called she's dead.

The Pratts' next door neighbour is Martin's Aunt Joan. She's devastated to discover her good friend Helen has died. Mr Pratt's anger leads to a feud between him and Joan, which begins with him spraying pesticides near her land. It's not long before an horrific accident on the farm leaves Mr Pratt desperately needing the doctor to save his life.

Meanwhile, back at the surgery, Pauline's attention is distracted from her job as a position has opened on the local lifeboat's volunteer crew, and she's next in line to try out for the position. Can she get fit in time? Ross seems to think she already is.

PC Mark has concerns of a very different kind when a road incident involving new villager Julie puts the pair back in each others' paths...