The mystery of Frank's fall is being pursued by BOB REID (Earl Hindman), who is Frank's brother-in-law, campaign manager, best friend, and former police partner. He sees no reason for the fall and is bewildered by $6,500 found on Frank, which has subsequently disappeared. Bob is also bewildered as to why Frank visited NICK SZABO (Michael Fairman), a traction patient in the hospital, who, heretofore, has been known as a loan shark.

JACK FENELLI, an investigative reporter, was interviewing Mary about Frank at the time of the fall, and he too is concerned with finding out just what happened and why, especially since he feels that Frank is too good to be true. While interviewing Mary he finds out that Frank's candidacy was prompted by a group of poor citizens whose tenements he had saved from demolition. Winning the primary, Frank then won the* party's backing proving that he had the zealous support of these people. The $6,500 looms as a mystery because Frank has refused the support of large special interest groups. Bob asks Dee to see their bank book when she denies knowledge of the source of money, revealing that Frank never gave her any money.

Frank is found by ROGER COLERIDGE (Ron Hale), resident in neuro-surgery, who uses life-saving procedures in the rescue. His father, ED COLERIDGE (Frank Latimore), acting head of the hospital, makes the diagnosis on Frank and performs surgery. FAITH.COLERIDGE (Faith Catlin), Ed's youngest child, is an intern along with Frank's youngest brother, PAT (Malcolm Groome). Faith is in medicine because it pleases her father, whom she adores, and conversely, because it irritates her brother Roger, whom she dislikes. JILLlAN COLERIDGE (Nancy Addison) is a lawyer working for the hospital and teaching law. She grew attached to Frank when he was one of her students and she has had an affair with him.

Without family knowledge, Roger has borrowed money from Nick, but when Roger does not make his pay date, Nick has a bowling ball "accidentally'' fall on Roger's foot. The reason Frank visited Nick was to tell him to lay off Roger, who suddenly pays Nick back when Frank is admitted to the hospital. Nick, fearful of further questioning from Bob Reid about Frank, intimidates Roger into ordering no visitors.

Faith is being pursued by BUCKY CARTER (Justin Deas), another intern. But he is advised by Pat Ryan that Faith is only interested in medicine. But Bucky manages to get Faith to have dinner with him on his houseboat and he reveals his relationship to the Buckminsters and the Carters, the money behind Riverside Hospital. Faith explains to Bucky that she only wants friendship because she was once burned by a man. Bucky, in the interim, is surprised by a visit from his aunt, DR. NEL BEAULAC (Diana Van Der Vlis). She has come for a position as a neurological radiologist and to do research because the hospital has an image intensifier. Her cousin, MARSHALL WESTHEIMER, hospital administrator, has arranged for an interview with Ed Coleridge. Ed tells Nel that he has no money for her position, but pressure is applied on Ed who finally agrees to put her on, but resents the pressure placed upon him. Nel .has left her husband, DR. SENECA BEAULAC (John Gabriel), a prominent researcher, because she has had to postpone her own ambitions in favor of his projects. But against her wishes Seneca follows her to persuade her to return. Nel refuses but says that she doesn't want a divorce. He promises to wind up his work in Minnesota and return to her son. But Nel has some conflict with Dr. Moultrie and NURSE GONZALES (Ramona Gonzales), causing Ed to reprimand her staff relations. But Nel tells him she'll do as she pleases.

Frank finally begins to regain consciousness, responding to sound but showing no reflexes. Because Frank's fever is up, Ed asks Nel to do chest x-rays and to help evaluate his broken neck; She isn't hopeful. Frank utters two words in periods of consciousness--"Delia" and "pushed."  Hope for Frank ultimately rests upon finding an effective antibiotic to counteract his newly developed pneumonia.

Delia, once again in hysterics, is forced to shape up by Mary Ryan. Dee notices the similarity between Frank and Mary, in their unabiding sense of optimism.

Dee asks Pat to see if he can find out what is meant by "Delia" and "pushed." She reminds Pat of her equal interest in him and Frank and that she married Frank because he asked her to and Pat didn't. She asks him to hold her, but he's afraid of talk. When a nurse comes out of  Frank's room to say that he is going to make it, Dee is visibly shaken.

Bucky Carter's pursuit of Faith hits a snag when, unable to, awaken her after a playful fun day, he calls her brother Roger to see if there is  a medical history which would explain it. Upon waking, Faith is furious and she storms home to a puzzled Jillian, her sister, who is visiting, and to Roger.

Ed Coleridge changes his opinion of Nel when he sees her compassion exhibited for Frank Ryan. H invited Nel to his house for dinner. He :kisses her, but she tells him of Seneca and her concentration on her work. But she concedes that they can take things slowly.

Bucky tells Faith that he loves her, but this enrages her and she leaves his houseboat. Faith wants an uncommitted relationship.

In the meantime, Jack Fenelli, the reporter (Jillian's former lover), is accused by Mary Ryan of not letting himself get involved. He takes Mary to meet someone he loves who could hurt him . . . the man who raised him, FRANCESCO MORENO.

Delia Ryan goes to confession and tells the priest that she married Frank simply to become a Ryan and to get back at Frank's brother, Pat, when their relationship was seeming to lead nowhere. When Frank began seeing Jill Coleridge, Delia had the baby to end the affair, but then discovered it had started up again. She promises the priest to find a positive penance in every moment with Frank and their child. When she tells Frank of her contrition, he tells her that they are passed the point where her turning over a new leaf will make any difference. For Se sake of Delia and his son, and to keep alive his chance of keeping the campaign alive, he pretends to have no recollection of the time preceding his.fall, and of Delia pushing him. Frank reveals to Jack Fenelli that he was in the hospital looking for his brother Pat to invite him to a party. But, in fact, Frank was at the hospital to give Jillian's brother, Roger, $6,500 to enable Roger, who knew of his affair with Jillian, to pay off his debt to Nick. Frank also tells Jack that he had been to see Nick earlier because he was an old friend Of his father's. He insists that Nick called him about a campaign contribution which he turned clown.

Further questioned on the money, Frank says that it was part of his $10,000 pension fund and he had it with him in cash because he intended to use it for a mailing in his campaign. But despite all of these explanations, Fenelli remains unconvinced.

Mary Ryan and Bob Reid are concerned over unanswered questions, but are certain that once Frank makes his mental recovery his memory will improve and the facts surrounding the disappearance of the money will emerge.

Delia asks Jillian to submit a claim to the hospital for the missing money. Jill prepares the claim and tells Frank about it, but he tells her to withdraw it and not to say a word about it. He also tells Delia to forget about the claim for a while and not to speak of it to anyone. Later Frank tells Roger that making a claim when he knows Roger took the money would be fraud and that he expects Roger to repay the money. But Roger, unbeknownst to Frank, has began to build up another gambling debt to Nick.

Jack Fenelli, after filing his story, takes Mary to meet his mentor, Sr. Mary Joel, who prevails upon him to arrange a job for one of his troublesome charges. While Jack makes a phone call, Sister Mary Joel reveals that Jack short-circuits efforts at communication, but assures her that Jack is worth the effort. But upon returning to Ryan's Bar Mary read with shock what Jack has written on her brother.

Fenelli's story has implications concerning Nick, and when Nick injures his back he insists on calling Roger to his room. He gets Roger to admit that he knows something embarrassing about Frank, but, when Roger insists that the matter is minor and of a personal nature, Nick doesn't press him--at least not yet.

Having forgotten to return the key to the drug cabinet after administering a shot of pain killer to Nick, Bucky returns to the hospital leaving Faith and Pat Ryan together on his houseboat. In his absence, Pat succeeds in teaching Faith to relax and enjoy dancing. The next day, Johnny tells Faith and Pat that Frank has moved his toe, a sign that his spinal pathway is clear. Johnny witnesses Nick go into convulsions and Faith and Pat cope with the emergency brought on by a nurse who read the wrong chart and administered insulin to Nick.

Nel soon learns that her husband has forced his way into becoming Chief of Neurosurgery, replacing Ed Coleridge, whom she has been seeing. Seneca insists that Nel Js being irrational, but Nel says that she will live her life her own way.

With Jack Fenelli's story and Frank's health causing concern, the party decides that they need a new candidate. But Mary gets them to postpone the decision for ten days.

When Jack comes to see Mary she tells him that she never wants to see him again. Jack expresses his regret to Mary telling her "Only' those you really love can hurt you."

While this is going on, Bucky tells Faith that she must come to a decision about marrying him: Faith explains that she cannot give in to pressure. They both agree to keep a distance, but Bucky tells Pat that he handled the entire thing all wrong.

Faith add Nel argue and Ed Coleridge comes into the middle of the thing. It appears that Nel has been living with the knowledge that she can die at any moment (she has shown him x-rays of two aneurisms of the brain, one inoperable, one ultimately terminal). Ed takes Faith aside and cautions her not to upset Nel, a very sick lady.

Jack Fenelli calls a friend about Frank's failure to file a claim against the hospital when the money disappeared. With further investigation it is revealed that Frank was having an affair with Jill. Jack confronts Frank with this.

In order to prevent Fenelli from finding out that Frank was assaulted by his own wife, Frank confesses the cover-up and the affair without disclosing Roger's identity as the blackmailer. Mary Ryan is badly shaken by the disclosure. On reflection Mary tells Frank that Jill is the wife she would have wished for him. Mary assures Jill of her friendship and Jill tells Mary that she will give Frank up if she has to.

Mary apologizes to Jack, but he tells her that just coming there is all that was needed. After a discussion Mary and Jack are able to resume their relationship.

To allay fears of Frank's health, he makes a personal appearance. At the rally, Frank is ready to go onstage in an electric wheelchair, when Delia drops her purse and deftly disconnects the battery. But Frank makes a determined effort and operates it manually.

Seneca finds out about his wife's condition and recommends a new procedure of treatment which could increase her chances by better than fifty percent. Nel refuses. Bucky tries to convince her.

Faith tells Jill that there is an emotional stirring within her, but it's not Bucky, it's Pat Ryan that she favors. But Pat, unsuspecting, tries to maneuver Faith and Bucky together. Bucky finally asks Pat not to try and promote them as a couple.

Jack Fenelli catches Frank and Jill together at a tender moment. Fenelli heads straight to Delia and confronts her. She weakens and admits his accusations are true. Delia becomes terrified with the thought that Fenelli will uncover the whole mess. Fenelli pays Jill a visit, but She is able to deal with him.,

Roger informs Frank that he made enough money at the race track to pay off his debt to Nick, with same leftover money to pay Frank. But Frank wants to tell everyone the truth. Roger cautions him that people will quicker forget about the money than they will the affair that's been going on between he and Jill. Roger will reveal this if Frank discloses the fact that he gambles, for if people find out about his habit, his career might suffer.

Jack pays Frank still another visit and threatens to do more probing concerning he and Jill. Not wanting his parents to get involved, he tells Jack the entire story, leaving out Roger's name. Jack tells Frank to tell Mary the entire story, which Frank does. Mary seems to understand.

Ed Coleridge finds out about Nel's condition by accident, but promises to keep her secret. Bucky soon finds out about Nel and is stunned, for she is his favorite aunt. He drowns his sorrows in Ryan's Bar.

Frank undergoes physical therapy with Mary's assistance. Frank is well enough for a rally; early election results show Frank behind. Soon the race is neck and neck, but a forecast predicts Frank will be councilman.

Nel is rushed to the hospital for delicate surgery. In the meantime, Mary tells her mother of her love for Jack. Maeve tells her not to give herself all at once. Mary spends a love-filled night with Jack. Mary tells her mother what has happened and Maeve cannot understand how her daughter could give herself to a man who will not make a commitment; her father cannot understand how she could give herself to a man who has caused her brother so much grief. Mary defends herself, but bites her tongue when her father holds her brother Frank up as the portrait of the happy family man.

Bucky accepts Faith's decision not to take their friendship to a deeper level. But he does not realize Faith's involvement with Pat Ryan. Eventually he does become aware of what is happening. He tells Pat of his feelings.

Frank can return home. But in the meantime a new young man has come on to the scene, KENNETH CASTLE. He is very strange.

Nel's life is saved, though she does suffer some impairment of movement on her right side. At first Nel chooses to ignore the impairment, but gradually her anger engulfs her. She has come to the realization that there is no preparation for death. Nel does improve and she goes home with Seneca and a nurse. But she is depressed and she begins her flirtation with death.

She scares Seneca by being careless with her safety on a balcony rail high above a busy street; she upsets Bucky in a car by going over 100 miles per hour on the Long Island Expressway. Things take a turn around Thanksgiving time when Nel relates a story about her beloved dog, "Ollie.' She concludes her story with a quote from her father about the dog's dying. "I'd be grateful if he'd just admit what's happening to him," she says. "I don't want to pretend anymore."

It turns, out that that strange young man, Kenneth, is hired by Seneca to assist his wife. Ken has taken a liking to Faith whom, he feels, reminds him of his mother. He watches Faith and spies on her with Pat, who, are now lovers. (Faith shows signs of even wanting to marry Pat.)

Kenneth steals Faith's hospital I.D. card and has the picture blown up. Then he steals her room key and has a copy made. He sneaks into her room going through her drawers and hugging her garments. As a souvenir, he slips one of her scarves into his pocket. Faith and Pat arrive accidentally early, and he hides in the closet. After Pat leaves, and Faith is asleep, Ken places a rose on Faith's Pillow. A chill comes over Faith when she finds out that Pat did not leave it.

Going over some blueprints, Ken discovers that the hospital was built over the basement of an old one, and he is overjoyed when he finds a cobwebbed forgotten room. He cleans: it up and puts Faith's picture in a prominent place and christens it "Our Room."

Roger is badly beaten and confesses to Jill of his gambling habit. He was beaten at Nick's command in an effort to get him (Roger) to tell all of what he knows of Frank Ryan. Jill gives Roger additional money to get Nick off his back, But Nick won't let up and eventually Roger does tell him about Frank and Jill.

Frank's homecoming is overshadowed by Nick's ultimatum . . . knuckle under or face public scandal. He tells Frank to keep his mouth shut about sale of five buildings to the hospital. Nick sweetens the pot by promising Frank $25,000 dollars, if the deal goes through. If Frank makes a stand everyone will know about his affair with Jill.

Delia urges him to give in to Nick, and Jill urges him to do what is right . . . face up to Nick. Frank decides to meet Nick head on. Frank goes to the party committee to tell all, but Delia makes a surprise appearance. She saves Frank's career, but does it with lies. She tells the committee that Jill is in the past, and that she and Frank are closer than ever and that in a few months all of this will die down. The committee gives Frank another chance. Jill is left with costing Frank his career or giving him up. She tells Frank if he would have left his wife, it would have happened already. Apparently, Delia has won.