Lionel is standing outside the bathroom door. He knocks once, twice, coughs. No response. He coughs again. Jean walks past the door and tells him he has a nasty cough. He says he's trying to find out if anyone's in the bathroom. Well, she's not, she tells him helpfully. He was referring to Judith or Sandy. Jean knocks, opens the door and asks if anyone is in there. Nothing. She tells him no-one's in there. He tells her he didn't know that and she says she should have thought that the silence spoke for itself. She doesn't understand why he just stood there coughing instead of asking "Is anyone in there?" He replies that he wouldn't like anyone standing outside the bathroom while he was in there shouting "Is anyone in there?" It's very inhibiting. She says that someone inside could just assume that someone outside was passing by and coughing. No they couldn't, he argues. He was coughing at the door. She's never before heard of anyone actually aiming a cough. He thinks this whole conversation is peculiar. Sometimes he's peculiar, she says. He's amazed -- does she call not wanting to burst in on a lot of naked women peculiar? Not much chance of that, she informs him -- if she hadn't passed by he'd probably still be standing there at lunchtime -- with a very sore throat. Jean tells him it's only for a short time until Judith and Sandy can find a flat. Lionel says all he wanted was a shower. Go ahead and have one, she says. Lionel goes into the bathroom and closes the door. Jean starts to walk away and then comes back. She knocks on the bathroom door, shouts "Is anyone in there?" and runs away laughing.

Jean's in the kitchen having coffee with Judith and Sandy. She says she doesn't ususally have a suspicious nature, but she just wants to know why the two of them got up so early. Judith says it's sheer enthusiasm for work. Sandy says she wants to leave the bathroom clear for everyone else. They also want to get to the newspaper early so that if there are decent flats advertised they can be on the estate agent's doorstep first thing. Jean tells them that they are perfectly fine with the arrangment and there's no need to rush until they find the flat they really like. And Lionel? Sandy asks. Well, Lionel does get annoyed at some things, but as long as Sandy doesn't pinch his custard tarts (which is a capital offense) everything should work out. Jean tells them that Lionel is not the king of the manor and they live there with rights as well as he does. They hear Lionel coming and quickly get up to leave. Now Jean says they are treating him like the Giant coming down the Beanstalk. He complains that women always leave the newspaper in disarray. "Cheerio, then," they say and leave. Jean asks if he is going to say goodbye to them. He shouts "Goodbye" long after they've left the kitchen.

Jean bangs the coffee cup on the table. He wants to know if that's some sort of statement. Yes -- she's annoyed at all the fusses he's been making. It's all the women in the house, he says. She says they they're all going to work and wonders when the next lot of women will arrive. He tells her it's just Mrs. Flack, but she seems like a lot sometimes. Jean observes that he's never really come to terms with Mrs. Flack. He tells her that it's not possible -- she never listens -- just talks and talks.....and talks. She asks if she should have a word with Mrs. Flack. Lionel tells her that's not really right -- Mrs. Flack works for him and when all is said and done would you?

The doorbell rings. Jean answers it and is surprised to find Mrs. Flack, who is very early. She comes in and asks if it's okay to go into the living room. Jean tells her to go ahead and she apologizes for being so early. It's because of the bus strike. Mrs. Flack tells her there was a bus strike in New York. Apparently Mrs. Flack had the radio on and didn't realize that it was New York and just assumed it was a local strike. She left the house early to walk to Lionel's house and once she realized the buses were not on strike she hopped on one -- which is why she's particularly early. Jean sits down and says as long as she's here she'd like to have a word with her about Mr. Hardcastle. It just passes right over Mrs. Flack who asks first, if she's ever been to New York and second, if she was mugged while she was there because most people apparently are. Jean says she must be the exception. About Mr. Hardcastle... Jean starts again. Oh, he's been to New York, hasn't he -- to talk with the American People about the script he's writing. Los Angeles, actually -- she corrects Mrs. Flack. About Mr. Hardcastle's work...Jean tries again. Mrs. Flack tells her that he's doing very well, except that sometimes he loses track of what he's saying. Perhaps something makes him lose track of what he's saying, Jean suggests. "You've gone with him," answers Mrs. Flack. She wants to know if they saw any film stars. Jean tries to explain that when you're working you can't really afford any distractions. Mrs. Flack takes that to mean that they didn't seek out film stars because they would have been a distraction.

Jean hears Lionel outside the living room coughing. She goes into the hallway to talk to him. He wants to know if she had a word with Mrs. Flack. Sort of, she says. She got sidetracked. She does that to him all the time, he says. But she feels that she's laid a foundation for a really sensible discussion. Which, she tells Lionel, she can't have now because she has to go to work. Why is she so early? Lionel wants to know. Jean tells him that she's sure she'll explain it to him. Mrs. Flack tells him that he won't believe that she was early because of a bus strike in New York. He's not sure that he heard her correctly. Jean smiles, says bye and leaves. Lionel shakes his head.

Judith and Jean are at the agency. Judith wants to know why Mrs. Flack didn't just check to see where the bus strike was? Jean didn't ask and by the time she would think of asking that question Mrs. Flack would have moved the topic of conversation to something else. Once that happens it's no use going back. Poor Lionel, says Judith. Jean says that he just has to be firm with her. Like you were? asks Judith. Sandy comes in and says Daisy (Lionel's dream secretary, says Judith) is there to talk with her. Daisy sits down at Jean's desk and asks that she be transferred to Jean's office rather than remain at the branch. Jean wants to know why. Judith says "Sally Curtis." Jean says she was talking to Daisy. Daisy says "Sally Curtis." She's bothered because she feels as though Sally Curtis is using her as a showpiece. She's always sent to male clients and always described as being "bright and attractive." She tells Jean that she would never describe someone as "bright and plain," and she doesn't see where "attractive" is relevant to a secretarial position. Judith is sitting behind and to the left of her and Daisy can't see her without turning around. She's mouthing words to Jean which indicate that Jean should get Daisy to work for Lionel. Daisy notices that Jean is distracted and turns around nearly catching Judith at it, but Judith flashes a big grin at her. Jean tells Daisy that when she was a young nurse the male patients used to flirt with her and she was offended if they didn't do it. Daisy tells her that was a long time ago. Jean does a double-take and says she wasn't in the Crimean with Florence Nightengale. Jean agrees, however, that times have changed and she'll put Daisy down on her books and describe her only as "bright". Judith holds up a sign that she has written which says "GIVE HER TO LIONEL." Again Daisy sees that Jean is distracted and she turns back. Judith puts the sign down but not before Daisy can read it. She wants to know what it means and when she's told she remembers that she was considered "unsuitable." Jean tells her that Lionel already has a secretary. Judith says he is being driven up the wall by her. Jean tells her that, incidentally, Lionel found her to be attractive. She says she doesn't mind being found attractive. She minds being pre-sold as attractive. Jean thinks it's a fine point, but says she understands. Judith's glad that's settled, but Jean says you just can't replace Mrs. Flack for being talkative. Daisy agrees. She calls Sandy in and asks her to see if there's a job for Daisy. Sandy leads her out into the front office saying that they'll see if they can find some harmless old man.

Judith thinks Lionel is a harmless old man. Jean tells her he's not old and he's certainly not harmless. She reminds her that the first time he saw her, he tried to seduce Judith. She says he didn't try very hard and he also had no idea that she was Jean's daughter. Anyway, Mrs. Flack is perfectly efficient, she says and if Lionel can't straighten her out, it's his affair. Judith muses: if things had worked out between Judith and Lionel, he might be calling her "Mum."

Alistair arrives at Lionel's house. Mrs. Flack excuses herself and says she'll find something to do. Alistair doesn't know where she's coming from. Lionel only wishes she'd go back. Alistair tells him to give her the "Big E" -- the elbow. Just look her in the eye, he says and tell her "hey, we don't mix, let's jump into different bowls." Lionel tells him he can barely understand that he and doesn't think Mrs. Flack will. He tells him to try something subtler -- like saying "you're sacked." Lionel tells him that Mrs. Flack means no harm, but Alistair accuses him of getting too cuddly. Alistair tells him that he never has staff problems -- they please or they leave. Period. He wants to move on to more interesting areas -- like sex. He's been talking to Mike and Sol in LA (which Alistair pronounces "lah"). Lionel says he understands "Lah" means L.A., but he thought it was Mike and Sy. Seems Sy is no longer on the team, but Sol has replaced him and is even keener on the miniseries than Sy was. He loves it. But? says Lionel. Alistair says it's only a mini-but, which brings them back to sex. Sol feels that the scene in which Lionel and Jean "hey hey" for the first time is very dull. Lionel feels that Sol has no imagination. Alistair says Sol thinks it should leap out off the page and hit him. If it doesn't, says Lionel, that's his hard luck. Alistair says he re-read it and to be honest it really doesn't say what happened. "We made love," says Lionel. Alistair pulls the script from his briefcase and looks it over -- it's a love scene, he tells Lionel, and the sexiest line you have in it is "shall I ask for a morning wake-up call?" Alistair asks as a favor to him to just have another look. Lionel tells him he won't be explicit. Just "X", he tells him. For him and Sol and the money.

Lionel walks out of the living room and gets Mrs. Flack's coat. He says goodnight Mrs. Flack. She comes out behind him (he rolls his eyes, disgustedly) -- what about something like "She trembled as he slowly unbuttoned her blouse, slid unnoticed to the floor as his hands moved towards...." "Mrs. Flack, please," he interrupts her. He tells her he's not going to write anything like that and he helps her into her coat. Alistair is still there and he says she's got the idea. Mrs. Flack asks if he's sure he doesn't like her idea about putting lots of gasps in. She's sure he'll think of something. That'll give them something to look forward to tomorrow. There's always tomorrow the late Mr. Flack used to say. Then, of course, one day there wasn't a tomorrow. Not for him.

Mrs. Flack leaves and walks down the front stair just in time to meet up with Jean, Judith and Sandy who are getting out of their cab. They offer it to her, but she says no. All she wants to do is get home and be with her cat, Herriot, who she says is her best friend. She walks down the street and Judith observes that Mrs. Flack is quite indomitable. Her best friend is a Yorkshire Terrier, says Sandy. Jean tells them that she's lonely -- do they still think that Daisy is a good idea? Judith and Sandy look at one another, but say nothing. They go into the house.

Alistair is walking through the hallway just as Jean comes through the door -- he tells her not to move. Framed in that doorway, he says, she doesn't look a day over 30. Jean rolls her eyes. She says she has two children with her. This is too much, he says. He walks up to Judith and tries to kiss her, but she pulls back, asking where he's been lately. "Around," he tells her. She walks away. Sandy's the only one left with Alistair. He wants to know if he's said something. He didn't, she tells him -- that's the problem. She tells him she's going upstairs to change. He says he should ask her if she needs help. He doesn't know what's going on -- has she moved in? She tells him it's only until she can find a flat. He can't believe that Lionel is living with three beautiful women and is still unhappy.

Jean walks into the room where Lionel is at work. He tells her that Sol is the new guy on the project and wants some rewrites. Alistair says it is just one scene, which he probably would have finished by now except that Mrs. Flack keeps on distracting him. Jean tells Alistair that she's thinking of getting Judith and Sandy an espresso machine for their new apartment. Alistair seems rattled. She tells him that the girls are planning on moving in together. Alistair stutters a bit and excuses himself. Jean tells Lionel that Alistair's feathers appear to be ruffled.

Alistair finds Judith in the kitchen looking at the want ads. "Flat hunting?" he asks. That's what she's doing. He tells her he would have thought she'd prefer somewhere on her own. She tells him that she doesn't do very well on her own. He says that if she moves in with Sandy... Judith interrupts him and tells him to clear off. He can't believe she said that and asks her to repeat it, which she does. She tells him that she's tired of his taking her for granted. He wants to know when he's ever done that. She tells him that come to think about it she can't remember a time when he doesn't take her for granted. "Hold on Baby," he says. No -- You hold on baby, she says. She's just supposed to be available. He doesn't show up for weeks and she doesn't hear a peep from him and when she does see him he says he's been "around." And he doesn't like that she's moving in with Sandy because that might interfere with his life. She tells him that she has her life too and if leading it will deny her the pleasure of his not-so-perfect body, well tough.

Sandy walks down the stairs just in time to see Alistair leaving. "Are you off?" she says. "Positively rancid, apparently," he says and leaves. Judith walks out of the kitchen right behind him. "Row?" asks Sandy. Major, she says, but she's not going to throw herself on her bed and cry. Sandy says good -- she'd like Judith to come upstairs and take a look at her own room to see if she notices anything.

Jean walks into the study area where Lionel is writing something. "Rewrites?" she asks. No, he's writing something to Mrs. Flack. Jean reminds him that Mrs. Flack was just there half an hour before, but he tells her that he can't say anything to her because she never listens. He's hoping that the written word will hold her attention. Jean is horrified and tells him he can't do that. Either she goes, Lionel tells her, or he'll wind up on the funny farm. She can't believe that he's the same man who stood up to a hostile mule in Korea. She thinks he's really being childish. She says he can't just sack her. He wants to know what he can do, but she hasn't formulated a plan, yet. Just then Sandy and Judith walk in, looking very serious. Can we have a word, they want to know? She says yes, but they just stare at Lionel. He looks at them, and suddenly says he gets it -- girlie talk. He walks away.

They're embarrassed. It's really quite awkward, they say. Someone's been going thru Sandy's things. And Judy's things. Jean says they don't suspect Lionel, do they. Well no. But why did you want him out of the room, she asks. We know we didn't do it. And you didn't do it. Jean tells them that of all things she hasn't got him down as a cross-dresser. They hear Lionel cough. Jean tells him to come in. He doesn't mean to interrupt but something strange happened in the kitchen. He couldn't find his custard tarts. And then he noticed that a drawer has been rearranged. And then another drawer. Seems like everything's been changed around. Sandy says she didn't do it. He knows she didn't. The women have been gone all day. That leaves Mrs. Flack, he says. He says there's something he doesn't know, isn't there? They tell him that someone's been going through their things. Mrs. Flack? he asks. But she's been with you all day, they say. Well not while he was talking with Alistair. Nothing has been stolen -- it just turns out that Mrs. Flack is a compulsive tidier. He wants to know if this is what they wanted to tell Jean. Yes. Then why did they want him out? If I thought for a moment.... he begins. Jean interrupts and says don't be silly, they just thought it was a bit personal. Fair enough, he says. He wonders where all this will end. He certainly doesn't want Mrs. Flack rearrangiing his pants. She'll have to go, says Jean. "At last!" says Lionel. Jean says Lionel will tell her in the morning.

It's the next morning. Lionel is in the kitchen and is unhappy about the state of the newspaper -- it is possible to read it, he says, without getting it into such a mess. Jean says she'll tell them. He says he's never seen the house empty so quickly before. Jean says she'll see him later - you will talk to her and not write another letter. He doesn't know what to say. She tells him that he could say that they are "professionally incompatible." He certainly won't doesn't want to go into why she rearranges women's underwear, he says. Jean suggests he mention the custard tarts, but he claims that's in the same area. She tells him to let her down lightly. She'll leave it up to him. He threatens to lock Jean in the cupboard until it's done. Jean tells him that there's a reward in it for him -- Daisy. He beams. Jean says that Daisy is now on her books and he can have her if he'd like her and if she's pretty, she's pretty. She can live with that. So can he, Lionel says and smiles. And she's very bright, he adds. Hopefully you can get on with your rewrites, Jean tells him. Hopefully. She's been meaning to ask -- what scene is he supposed to rewrite? Just a scene, really, he says. What scene? The bedroom scene, he tells her. "Oh, I see," she says. He reminds her that she did ask. She turns and walks towards the front door. Lionel follows her. They open the front door and stand just outside at the top of the stairs. Jean tells him she'll talk to Daisy. She asks him to promise that he won't go soft on Mrs. Flack. He tells her not to worry -- nothing she can say or do will make him ... He stops and looks past Jean. "Oh, Lord..."

Mrs. Flack is walking towards the house on two crutches. Look at me, she says. It's all Herriot's fault. His leash got twisted and she went over -- fell down and broke an ankle. And here she is, ready to go. I've gone soft, says Jean. "So have I," says Lionel. They each take an arm and help Mrs. Flack up the stairs.