Political passions run high and divide the townspeople of Silkwood due to a proposed federal referendum to outlaw communism. Bluey and Dusty’s marriage flourishes as does Bluey’s career. He designs a mechanical loader which will revolutionise work in the canefields. When Elsie decides to adopt Shorty, his real mother comes to Silkwood with the intention of bribing her before granting permission. Bluey overloads his crop dusting plane, causing it to lose balance and crash.