Out of work and struggling to just put food on the table, John comes up with a scheme for he and his mates to make some money by fixing pigeon races. Finding success, they move up to horses.
John West hires an expensive barrister to represent his men who are facing gaming charges. Fortunately, the man's ethics are in line with John's and he suggests paying off the police's main witness.
With pending gaming legislation that could shut down his tote, John shifts his focus to politics and backs an independent candidate in the local by-election.
Eddie Corrigan is among those wanting to unite the country's Socialist parties into an official Communist Party of Australia linked to the international movement.
Sugar Renfrey is in line to be the next mayor of Carringbush. Snoopy Tanner is bootlegging booze into the United States for John West but their business association ends when Snoppy's gang steals from John's warehouse.
Labor's election victory has made Jimmy Summers the nation's new PM. A letter from Marjorie announces the birth of John and Nellie's first grandchild but it's not enough to soften John's heart and accept her back into his house.
The Depression has hit the country hard, although some are affected more than others, a fact made increasingly clear to Mary as she continues to live her lavish lifestyle.
Frank Ashton is driven from the stage while speaking before a meeting of the Unemployed Workers Movement. Disheartened, he resigns his seat in Parliament and retires for politics.
John drops his support for the current mayor of Melbourne amidst allegation of corruption but he won't go quietly. At the behest of her Communist friends, Mary convinces her father to provide his stadium for a rally against fascism.
John, a milk marketer, is upset by allegations in the newspaper about his influence over the Victorian parliament in efforts to prevent passage of the Milk Supply Bill.
A letter arrives from Germany with unsettling news from Marjorie - Andreas has left her and the children. Nellie wants to help her daughter come home but John won't do anything unless his daughter asks him for help herself.
The war is over but it's still business as usual for John West who is championing a new candidate for the state by-election. However, a new challenger poses a problem.