Edith's dreams of retirement to the sun with her long-term suitor Phil are shattered when her 50-year-old son Roger arrives home, seeking to recapture the happiness of his boyhood.

Edith is about to celebrate her 70th birthday, and Phil and Roger are determined to outshine each other with their gifts. However, Edith is far from impressed with her son's present - tracking down the family's former cleaner. Meanwhile, Roger tries to disrupt his mother's new romance by bringing up Phil's past.

Mrs. Gale gives herself the task of being an unofficial marriage guidance counsellor to Roger and Wendy, whom she advises to practice being nice. Edith and Phil seize the chance to get away for the weekend. But they soon receive an alarming phone call from their cleaner, who has hijacked their house as a venue for a party.

As tensions grow between Roger and Wendy, a midnight break-in brings Edith face to face with a ghost from her past. How can she explain the raffish Bob to Phil?

Bob gives Roger the idea of applying to be a paid carer for Edith. However, Edith is perfectly well, so who can Roger persuade to stand in for her?

Phil is worried that Edith's old flame Bob may be gaining ground and that his own one-time floozy Desiree may put in an unwelcome appearance.