Dave Rafter was looking forward to a 'second youth', alone again with his wife Julie, after daughter Rachel and lately successful son Nathan's marriages and 'immature' adult son Ben moved out - to help next-door Greek neighbor mate Nick 'Carbo' Karandonis house-sit his parents' home, only neither knows how to run a househol

Dave still finds his new situation stressing: barely can he cope with giving up his electrician job, or the fact that his wife dumps her father on him - the father wanders through their house as silent as a ghost, only Dave finds out his 'unmanly' secret.

Ben enjoys living 'free' without his parents, despite the empty fridge and total mess. Realizing nurse Melissa is a guy-like house-mate only makes her more attractive, so mates Ben and Nick are suddenly rivals - parading macho and undressed - while warning each-other she's off-limits.

Nathan Rafter recounts how, in the past 18 months, his dreams seem to have come true and then fall apart again. First Sammy Westaway becomes his date and lover, then she turns out to be the daughter of real estate baron Tony Westaway, ideal for a young agent like him.

Julie worries incessantly about the financial strain of supporting the entire family as Dave struggles to get referrals for his electrical contracting business. Meanwhile, Ben is uncomfortable with keeping a secret about Rachel from his family.

After grandpa finds a dirty tape, Rachel tells him how she instantly fell for Daniel Griggs at her first job in advertising. At first he charmed the whole Rafter family but soon proved to be a hopeless substance addict - Rachel doesn't quite manage to break up with him