Judith opens the front door, sees Alistair and says "Not today, thank you." She closes the door. Alistair protests -- "It's me." Judith reopens the door and tells him she's sorry, she mistook him for a brush salesman. She lets him in and says she was trying her hand at a little gentle sarcasm. "Yes, but a brush salesman?" He wants to know where "Big L" is. "Big L" and "Big J" are both upstairs. He tells her he came to see "Little J." He asks how she'd like to toss a coin into the Trevi fountain -- he's inviting her to go to Rome with her that evening. She starts to go and get ready. She pauses and asks if this is a romantic thought or an afterthought. A romantic thought, naturally, he says -- then he comes clean. He has an appointment with a boring writer in the afternoon, but if he has this night to look forward to.... She turns around and sits down. "Enjoy your spaghetti," she tells him. Alistair is obviously not accustomed to being turned down and, at first, he thinks she's joking. When it finally sinks in, he says "okay, whatever." She tells him if he throws a coin into the Trevi fountain, he should take care not to fall in after it. He has a puzzled look on his face.

Jean is clearing out some things. She picks up an old doll and starts talking to it, noting that it's in quite a bad state, but at least it has no gray hair. Lionel asks what's wrong -- usually when women have a clearout, they are going through a depression. "Is that a fact," Jean asks. She thinks he must have known some peculiar women. He tells her he was thinking of his ex-wife. She says she's not having a clearout because she's depressed, she's doing it so that she can turn the spare room into an office for Lionel. She tells him they'll move the bed into the corner and when Lionel has worked himself into a state of nervous exhaustion, he can just fall onto it. He thinks the bed will have to go -- he doesn't think he can work in a room with both Mrs. Flack and a bed in it. She wonders if this has to do with the fact that he's a man and Mrs. Flack is a woman. Yes, somewhat. She tells him he really has to drag himself into the twentieth century. He tells her she wouldn't be so cavalier about it if Daisy were still his secretary. She'd have the bed out of there before she could say Jack Robinson. She gives him a dirty look. In fact, if it was Daisy in here, he tells her, she'd probably take the hinges off the door as well. She tells him to help her and drag a box out of the corner.

Judith walks in. She loves a good sortout, she says. Jean finds a bizarre troll-like doll in the box. She can't remember where she got it. Is it Judith's? Judith asks her to credit her with having some sense. The telephone rings and Jean asks Judith to get it -- it could be some time before she or Lionel are able to get up off the floor. Jean is still puzzled about where the troll came from. Lionel suggests that perhap's it is the doll's love child.

Jean comes downstairs and asks if there's any room in the cupboard for the junk she's collected. No. Judith is putting her coat on and obviously getting ready to leave. Jean asks who was on the telephone. It was Sandy. Judith's on the way to see her now. Jean wants to know if everything's okay. Even though Judith tells her everything is fine, Jean doesn't believe her. Judith leaves and Lionel walks downstairs with a box. He asks Jean where to put it and she tells him she doesn't know. He says he'll just walk about with it then. Jean tells him that Judith is on the way to see Sandy and that Judith told her everything is all right. He says good, but she says she doesn't believe it. They both circle around carrying their boxes. Jean is frustrated. She suggests they have some coffee. Lionel likes that idea.

Lionel looks under the cabinets and tells Jean there's no room in there for the box he was carrying. She says she doesn't want junk in the kitchen. He asks where she keeps her junk. In the spare bedroom, she says. But we've just taken it from the spare bedroom, he reminds her. That's the problem in a nutshell. She tells him to just sit down and have his coffee. The little troll is sitting on the table between them. She still wants to know where it came from. Lionel tells her to ask it. Suddenly she remembers. It was the from the first year when she and David were married. They designated a day on which to give each other awful presents and he gave that little doll to her. She says she thinks she'll throw it away. Lionel asks her not to -- it's sort of like erasing something. He brings up the fact that David's picture is still being kept in the drawer. She's wondering why this always seems to bubble up just below the surface. Lionel says he can't help feeling that he's living in David's house. To be accurate, she says, you are. And sleeping with his wife, he adds. She says he makes it sound as though David materializes every night at the foot of their bed and says "Begone Lionel Hardcastle -- get out of that bed and leave my wife alone." They laugh. She throws the troll into the box of junk. She's sorry she ever found it. She tells him she wants to change the subject. He says that Daisy was very pretty, wasn't she? Not that subject, Jean tells him.

A taxi pulls up in front of Jean's house and Judith and Sandy get out with suitcases in hand. Sandy looks up at the house and says she's not so sure that this is a good idea. Judith tells her it's only temporary -- just until she can find another place.

Meanwhile Jean is just putting the finishing touches on the spare room. She tells Lionel that it hardly even looks like a bed now -- in fact, she doesn't believe it will inflame Mrs. Flack's passions one bit. The bed is against the wall in an alcove. There are pillows at the back of it and it looks like it might be a couch. He tells her he wasn't talking about Mrs. Flack's passion. If it's his passion he's worried about, Jean tells him there's nothing she can do about it. Judith shouts upstairs and tells her mother to come downstairs. Sandy's here, she says. Jean looks at Lionel and reminds him that she said something must be wrong. He's amazed because Jean hasn't even talked with Sandy yet. Jean tells him that if he were a woman he'd understand. If he were a woman, Lionel tells her, he wouldn't be worried about being in a room with Mrs. Flack and a bed in it. She shakes her head at him.

Jean walks into the living room and looks apprehensively at Sandy. Jean asks Sandy where she's going -- she saw the luggage in the hallway. Sandy stutters and Judith tells her that Sandy has had another row with Nick and walked out. Sandy tells Judith that she should be telling this. Judith apologizes. Sandy says "I've had another row with Nick and walked out." Jean suggests they sit down. "...and you want to stay here while you find a place of your own." Sandy is nervous and says it's all very embarrassing -- everyone is saying what she should be saying and she just wants permission to use the phone and call a cab so she can leave. Jean tells her she cannot phone for a cab and that of course she can stay there -- she can sleep in the... . She remembers what she's just done to the spare bedroom. She just stops that line of thought and says she can stay there. Thanks, boss, Sandy says. Judith tells her that they should consult Lionel. Yes, he may hate the idea, Sandy says. Jean appears stunned at the thought that Lionel might object. Jean tells Judith to tell him to come downstairs. Judith leaves. Jean sits next to her on the couch. No tears? she asks. Not this time -- Nick blows too hot and cold. There was no safety, no feeling of permanence in it.

Lionel comes into the room and all three of them stare at him. The long and the short of it, says Jean, is that Sandy has left her boyfriend. How would he feel about Sandy's moving in with them? He answers that he is in an untenable position. Obviously they are all in favor of it, why consult him about it? Common courtesy, Judith says. He thinks this is none of his business. He says "Welcome, Sandy" and walks out of the room. Jean tells her she knew Lionel wouldn't mind. Sandy asks if she can ring for that cab now. Jean tells her that she knows Lionel is not an effusive sort of man. He likes her. You heard what he said -- Jean tells her: "Welcome Sandy." Which translates to "I'd sooner you cleared off," says Sandy. Jean says she'll have a word with him. Sandy doesn't want to start a row. Judith says she'll have a word. Not even a quieter row, Sandy says. They come to the conclusion that it is Sandy who must have the word with Lionel. Jean knows that she won't be happy staying there without Lionel's blessing. She's not in the mood to try to cozy up to anyone. She just wants to use the phone, she says. Jean tells Judith that if Sandy touches the phone she should restrain her. She goes upstairs.

Jean walks into the spare bedroom to find Lionel moving the bed away from the wall. He kicks the bed. "Well, that was a display," she says as she watches from the doorway. "It's a bed, not a person," he says. She was referring, she says, to what went on downstairs. Talk about bad grace. He tells her he thought he took it very well, considering. What does that mean, she wants to know. It was like having a bucket of water thrown over you and then being asked if you minded. He has no say in the matter, so what he thinks is of no importance. She feels that he's being very petulant. He tells her that he really likes Sandy -- but another woman in the house -- he doesn't function very well with masses of women about. She insists that three is not a mass. When they go to work on Monday the only mass he'll have to deal with is Mrs. Flack. She starts pulling the bed towards the wall again. He asks what she's doing. Turning it back into an office, she says. They start pushing the bed around, he pushes one way, she pushes back. She pretends that he hurt her shin when he pushed. He comes around the bed to see how she is and she laughs at him and is able to move it. All's fair in love and war, she says. Which one is this? he asks. A little of both. They start pushing again. Finally she says "Pax." They both sit on the bed. Sandy and Judith walk in to see what all the banging was about. A little bit of horseplay, they say. Lionel says they were just getting Sandy's room ready. They all sit on the bed surrounding Lionel. Sandy says she knows that her coming there was a bit of a cheek. Judith says it was her idea, so that was also a bit of a cheek. If you don't want me here, says Sandy, I'll understand. Jean gasps. Judith says that Sandy will just have to find somewhere else to stay. Lionel wants to know why they're all sitting on the bed. Jean says he's feeling hemmed in. Lionel gets up and says he's going to bring Sandy's luggage up. Only if you're sure, says Sandy. He's sure, Jean tells her. He's not going to get the luggage by himself, he says. Judith and Sandy go downstairs to help with the luggage. Before Lionel can leave Jean stops him at the door and says "Thanks." He gives her a dirty look.

Jean is in the garden pruning and Lionel is seated at the patio set reading his newspaper. Judith comes out with with a little something for Lionel and tells him that Sandy wants to know if he'd like some Crisps. He says no. Jean is staring at him and feels he's being waited on like some sultan or something -- Abu Ben Hardcastle, she calls him. He thinks he deserves a bit of pampering for giving up his office. She reminds him that he wasn't very keen on it to begin with. He tells her it's going to be chaos in the morning with everyone trying to get into the bathroom.

He hears Sandy's voice -- she's not sure if she should sunbathe in that, she says. Lionel gulps and stares straight ahead. She assures him that she's quite respectable, which she is. She's fully clothed and was just having a bit of fun with him. She asks if he minds that she sits down next to him. He doesn't. She looks around and says -- "However nice it is, it isn't yours, is it?" She never should have moved in with Nick. She tells him that she left her own flat to be with Nick. They should have gotten a flat together. That might have made the difference. She asks Lionel what he thinks. He wonders if she asks him that because he did the same thing. No, Sandy says, she asks because Lionel is older and more settled. He's surprised. You think of Jean and I as being settled? Yes, she says, don't you? Of course he does. She points out that he doesn't look very happy about it. That's his normal expression, he tells her. She's sorry she brought it up. She wasn't talking about Lionel. Yes, he says, he's a different sex and several hundred years older than she is, but the situations aren't that far apart. She gets up and says she thinks she'd better go somewhere else. You've just moved in, he says. She says she just meant to a different part of the house. She leaves.

Jean is sitting in the living room going through the contents of a cardboard box. Lionel comes in and says he thinks he's going to go out for a swift half. He tells her that once she takes things out of that box she'll never fit them back in again -- that's the rule. Judith and Sandy walk in and ask what's going on. Jean tells them that Lionel wants them all to go out with him for a swift half. He looks shocked. Judith and Sandy see the look on his face and decline politely. He looks at Jean -- what about you darling?. She teases him a bit and then says no thanks. He'll see them all later. He walks towards the door, stops, turns around and says "And don't say 'Did you see the relief on his face.'"

Jean asks them what they want to talk with her about. They swear she must be psychic. They got to talking and figured that since Sandy is looking for a flat and since Jean already has Lionel, that perhaps Sandy and Judith ought to look for a flat together. They get on well together most of the time. Jean tells them if they can get on without driving each other mad, they should go for it. Sandy goes out to the patio to get the paper so they can read the want ads. Jean wonders what Alistair will think of this. Judith says she doesn't care what Alistair thinks about it -- his idea of playing house is having women move in with him. She says she wouldn't do that even if he asks. Arrangments like that, she says, are best on a 50-50 basis. Not that that applies to you and Lionel, of course, Judith says. Of course not, says Jean -- but it's apparent that it bothers her. That's a totally different thing. Jean tells her she knows. Judith leaves and Jean looks at a packet of letters tied with a red ribbon. She sighs.

Jean puts dinner in the oven. Sandy comes in. She's disappointed because she and Judith were going to cook dinner. Jean tells them that they can do it tomorrow. It's more suited to younger people to cook on a weekday. Jean thinks it's time they had their swift half. The glasses are in the cupboard, she tells Sandy. They sit down at the kitchen table to have a drink. Jean asks if there were any flats in the newspaper. There were some, but none of them suitable -- either too far, or too expensive. Jean asks if there were any more that were interesting. They say no, but she notices that some of the ads are circled. They look and say that they didn't circle those ads.

Lionel comes into the bedroom and comments on how quiet everyone was during dinner. He gets into bed and Jean quickly rolls over on her side, away from him. He asks her what's the matter. Who says anything is the matter. He tells her that whenever he gets into bed and she does that there's always something the matter. Nothing's the matter, she says. He starts to read. She rolls back over and sticks the newspaper at him. Did you do this? she asks. He tells her it didn't come like that. She means why did he do this. He says he was at that page and just passing the time by circling the sort of places that they might move to if they ever decided to move. So you want to move? she asks. He tells her it isn't a matter of pressing urgency. It does no harm to think about it, he says, "if we got a place of our own...." "We've got a place of our own," she says. Hardly our. "It won't go away, will it?" she asks. He's got it in his head that he's some kind of lodger. He tells her they can think about it for some time in the future. Lionel changes the subject.

What time will the girls get home? She tells him she doesn't know and wants to know if he's going to call them into his study and chew them out because they came home late. He can't do that, he tells her, because Sandy sleeps in his study. He says he wants to go to sleep now, unless she has something else under her pillow that she wants to confront him with. As a matter of fact, she says, she does. She pulls out the packet of letters that she found in the cardboard box. He tells her he's not interested in other people's letters. She says they aren't other people's letters -- they're the ones he wrote to her before he got posted to Korea. They look at the letters -- Lionel asks if he could read one, but Jean says they're half his. The letter started out "My Darling Pooh." He wants to know if she showed them to anyone. No, she says. She didn't keep earlier ones because they started out Dear Jean and ended up Yours Sincerely. She only kept the smolderers. He can't believe he ever sent any letters that were smoldering. Then he reads one and shows her what he wrote. She smiles like a kid. He asks for the letter back. It's positively lurid, he says. For the 1950s, she says. For the 1990s, he answers. She asks if he kept any of her letters. He didn't. He says he'd like to read the rest of them sometime. He sighs. She asks why. It was less complicated then, he says. Seems like such a long time ago. She agrees it does. She rolls over and turns out the light. He rolls over the other way and before he reaches the light switch he notices that Jean has placed the little troll doll on his nightstand. He makes a face at it, turns out the light and lays back to go to sleep.