 Judge John Deed has to judge a case concerning Jo s boyfriend, paedaetric consultant Marc Thompson. Marc wants to take the decision not to resuscitate a two-year old patient at his hospital who has a weak heart and is in a coma, if the child s heart stops again, but the parents disagree. In another case, Deed has to sentence a young thief, and the youth then dies in custody. All this brings back Deed s memories of his own traumatic childhood. He is spoiling for a fight and argues with Jo - who announces that she has decided to marry Marc. He then picks a fight with Neil Haughton at a dinner party and Sir Ian Rochester is still looking for ways to get rid of Deed.