Hamish Ordway is newly retired from a long life's service to the water board, and looking for his own private rented accommodation for the first time. After aggravating an estate agent he is pointed in the direction of The Laurels...

Mann and Ordway meet at a local tea shop to discuss the details of the latter's running of The Laurels. Their meeting is brought to a premature end, before Ordway is shocked by lodger Irvin's suicide threats.

As Ordway moves in, Irvin contracts Duncan to become his bodyguard. As Hamish tries to begin to bring some order to the house, he suggests Dolly move out and gets off to a poor start with Irvin.