It is 1939 and the peaceful Barsetshire village of the Brandons and their neighbours is due for dramatic change - a London school is to be evacuated to Barsetshire. The village rallies round to supply huge numbers of cockney children with rabbit stew and the local characters are seen in their true colours. There are problems of black-outs, staffing a military hospital, stretching food supplies and - with the arrival of some extraordinary refugees - attempting to keep peace in the rural heartland. Despite everything, life - and love - continue in their own sweet way...