Greg Monaghan

At Christmas, cruel landlord Alan Rawlings wants to evict his tenants and tangles with tenant Tom McCabe, a cynical disabled Korean War vet and street Santa. Rawlings is murdered with a paperweight and McCabe is accused.

"You take the good, you take the bad ... ." Originally set at the prestigious Eastland School for Young Women, housemother Mrs. Garrett is the caretaker and confidante of a special group of girls. Over time, this group shrinks to be centered on only four young women: wealthy and spoiled Blair, gossipy Tootie, eager-to-please Natalie and tough girl Jo. Over the years, the girls graduate from school, and the story lines evolve with them.

A survival trip for Higgins and a group of boys from prison camp tests Higgins' skills in the survival of the fittest.