James is appointed as attending vet at the Darrowby Show – but Siegfried and Tristan warn him that the job is a poisoned chalice and expect him to quit after the first day. Mrs Hall has more faith in him, however, and makes a wager with the Farnon brothers. James finds himself surrounded by pushy farmers offering bribes to help them cheat their way to victory and faces a dilemma when the Aldersons desperately need his help in securing the sale of their prize bull.