Lionel and Jean are walking in the country. He tells her that as honeymoons go this was rather good. She wants to know just how many honeymoons he's had. Only the two, but this was definitely the best. "You're not just saying that because you like the porridge up here, are you?" she asks. He admits that this does have a bearing. She pushes him, prompting him to ask if the intends to do that throughout their marriage. She tells him she doesn't plan to do it on a regular basis. They're walking uphill and beginning to run out of breath. He wants to sit down because he figures that they've already walked ten miles. She estimates it is more like two. 
They agree that it's been a wonderful week -- just the two of them. Jean tells him that she'd like to come back on their anniversary. Not on the golden one, he tells her -- he'll be about 130 years old about then. She asks him how he heard of the hotel they are staying in. Rocky told him about it -- he and Madge stayed there about three years earlier. He didn't recommend it, so Lionel knew they'd like it. Jean suspects it was much too quiet for Rocky. She tells Lionel that next time they go away they should ask Rocky to not recommend somewhere else. This is the last day of their honeymoon and they have a train to catch to take them back to reality. Neither of them wants to go. They get up. He gives her a kiss and says "Come on, Mrs."
Now they're back at home. She asks if he can manage. He can, but the suitcases are much heavier on the way back. 
She tells him not to bring the cases upstairs just yet -- she's too young to be a widow. Sandy hears them and comes out of the kitchen to greet them and tells them she's got a kettle on. Jean wants to know how everything is at the office. She tells her everything's fine -- it burned down, but they're working from a tent. In actual fact, says Sandy, everything's running like clockwork. Sandy gets them some tea and Lionel points out that he told Jean she was not indispensable. Jean tells him that she never claimed to be. Sandy wonders if they're about to have their first row as a married couple. Couldn't be, says Jean -- they had that on Tuesday. Sandy must go to work -- she tells them that there's plenty of food in the fridge, the dishes are immaculately stacked in the dishwasher and there are plenty of custard tarts. Jean wants to know if Judith has gone in to work already. Sandy tells her that Eric gave her a lift to the office. She realizes that she just said something she probably shouldn't have and she stops talking for a second, but not before Jean can notice. Who's Eric? Oh, just someone she met while they were both away. 
Her voice is slightly higher than usual and she's being obviously evasive. Sandy is about to walk out and Jean tells her she'll probably pop into the office later. Sandy says there's no need, but that doesn't discourage Jean. She asks her what Eric is like. "Well...." Now Jean is worried because she started the sentence with "Well." Lionel says that lots of people start a sentence with "well." Jean doesn't want the subject changed -- all she asked was what's this Eric like -- that's all she wants to know. "Well..." starts Sandy. There you go again, Jean says. Sandy tells her that it isn't for her to say. And she runs out quickly.
"Well," Jean says at what just happened. Lionel, bless him, comments that now she's doing it. She doesn't think it's funny. She wonders why Sandy was so evasive. Lionel suggests that perhaps she thinks it's none of her business. "Meaning it's none of mine?" says Jean. Lionel asks her if they should have a cup of tea. Jean won't stop. She thinks that there is obviously something wrong with this Eric. He thinks he'll have a cup of tea. Jean feels that he's very good at not being helpful when he wants to be. He tells her that Judith is a grown woman and she can do whatever she wants to do and if Eric doesn't fit Jean's picture that's just a bit of hard luck. "Then you admit he doesn't fit my picture?" she says. He doesn't admit anything, he's never met the man and neither has she. She tells him she'll reserve her judgment then. The doorbell rings. Lionel says that will be Alistair. Jean asks him how he knows that and he tells her "we've been home all of ten minutes, haven't we?"
Lionel was right. It's Alistair. He looks at Jean strangely, walks in, peeks into the living room to see if anyone's watching, straightens the knot of his tie, smiles and says "hello young lady, is your mother at home?" He tells her that it must be love because she looks great. She gives him a big kiss and tells him it must be love if she looks great at this time of the day. They go into the kitchen. "Hi Hubby," he says to Lionel. Hubby? Alistair asks how his "main married man" is. Lionel tells him he's rather well. "Are we talking woof honeymoon?" Lionel tells him his was referring to the honeymoon, yes. This reminds Jean that they should apologize for sneaking off like that after the wedding. She knows that he put so much work into organizing everything and then they never turned up at the restaurant. She hopes he wasn't offended. He tells her that he wishes he had thought of it himself. Everyone really had a good time. And now for the "cherry on your custard tart" -- the miniseries is now in production. Lionel is surprised that they're actually making it. He supposes they know what they're doing. Alistair tells him not to question their sanity -- there should be a very large check in the post. Lionel tells him he hasn't yet read the mail and nods towards the pile of mail that Sandy has placed on the table. 
"May I?" asks Alistair. Lionel tells him to go ahead. Alistair picks up a stack of mail, sniffs until a letter pops out of the group. He picks it out and tosses it to Lionel. "That should be the one," he says. Lionel laughs. He opens the envelope, gasps, smiles and says he's suddenly warming to these people. He's very pleased and shows it to Jean. She simply says "that's good, isn't it?" and turns to Alistair. "Talking of Judith..." she says. Alistair reminds her they weren't talking about Judith. Well, not strictly speaking, but she wants to know if Alistair saw her while they were away. He tells her he spoke to her briefly because he wanted their honeymoon phone number to tell them about the filming. Jean wants to know how she seemed. "Happy enough," he tells her. Lionel observes that Judith obviously didn't give him the number. "More than her life was worth...." is what she said to him when she asked. Lionel says she quoted him exactly. Was she "extra happy?" Alistair says that he only saw her for about five minutes. He changes the subject and tells Lionel he really should see some of the filming -- it'll knock him sideways. Lionel says it would probably knock him flat on his back. Jean thinks that "happy enough" can be deceptive. Sometimes people just try to make it seem like happy enough when it's only really happy.
She confuses Alistair. "Right," he says. He changes the subject again, telling Lionel that next weekend would be a good time to go down to Madge and Rocky's place to see the filming. Lionel says he just hopes they know what they've let themselves in for. "Madge and Rocky?" No, says Lionel -- the film crew. We've all done it, haven't we, says Jean. Put a brave face on it when we know there's something wrong. Alistair tells her there's nothing wrong. Mike Barbosa is absolutely delighted. She says she's not talking about the filming, she's still talking about Judith. Alistair asks if she means that something is wrong with Judith's life. She tells him it's about the new chap. Alistair tells her he doesn't know where she's going with this. Jean tells Alistair that something's wrong with the man, but she doesn't know what. Lionel says there is absolutely no evidence of that. She wants to know, then, why Judith was being so evasive. Alistair suggests that Jean simply ask. Lionel thinks that she should go into the office and ask what this new chap is like. "And come across as a nosy mother? No thank you," she tells them.
Sandy and Judith are in the office talking. Judith asks her why she didn't just tell her mother about Eric? Sandy tells her she knows perfectly well why not. She would have ended up trying to justify him and that is her job, not Sandy's. Judith says she doesn't have to justify him to anyone. Well, explain him, then, suggests Sandy. What's to explain? Judith says. Jean walks into the office.
Sandy tells Judith she's on her own. Sandy closes the door to Jean's office and tells her that she may be out there for some time. They hug and Judith tells her she'll hear all about the honeymoon, but she's got to go out now because she's late already. She walks out and then slowly walks back in. She tells Jean that she's going out with him later and will bring him around for a drink when he picks her up. Jean says "who?" Judith shakes her head and says "Mom." Jean tells her she doesn't have to bring him over, but Judith thinks they'd better get it over with. She leaves Jean with her mouth hanging open.
Lionel is reading the plans for the filming and trying to distract Jean, who is cleaning and pacing and worrying about meeting Eric. Sandy pops into the living room and says she's leaving and going nowhere special. Jean thinks that's "significant" and that she doesn't want to be there when Eric arrives. Lionel says he's beginning not to want to be there when Eric arrives either. Jean worries that he might be too short, or too tall. Lionel wants to know why she completely discounts the possibility that he might just be a very average person. 
Because Judith told her that they have to get it over with. Lionel says "she could have just meant..." He searches for the word. "...meant..." Just give me a minute, he says. Now he's having his doubts, she notices. He wishes they were back in Scotland. And have all of this going on without their knowing about it? All what? he wants to know. "Whatever it is," is the answer. The doorbell rings and startles her. Sandy shouts that she'll get it. Jean is frantic. This is no good, she says, because they look as though they're waiting for him to come in. "We are," Lionel reminds her. She goes from chair to chair trying to look casual. She tells Lionel to spread out a bit. Judith walks through the door. "Mom, Lionel -- say hello to Eric," she says.
Eric walks in. If he's not as old as Lionel, he's very close to it. They stare at him. He walks over to shake hands and tells them that it's nice to meet them both. They appear to be speechless and Judith says it is customary to say "hello" back. They smile. 
They make some awkward small talk about how well each of them is. Judith says that Eric would like a drink and both Lionel and Jean want to go make it, but Judith tells them to all sit down -- she's already near the liquor and she'll make the drinks. Jean motions to Eric to sit in Lionel's leather chair. "A soft one, please," he says. Jean is surprised, but he says he's referring to the drink, not the chair. Jean tells Judith to make him a soft one. He says he doesn't want to blot the old escutcheon after 35 years. "Escutcheon?" says a surprised Lionel. Yes, driving license. They have a drink. Awkward silence. Jean says, "So Eric, you've been driving for 35 years?" Eric tells her he took it up rather late. Jean looks startled. 
More silence. She nudges Lionel with her elbow and nods towards Eric meaning that Lionel should say something to him. They make a toast to Eric. Lionel asks how he "found us." Eric tells them he's been there before. Judith tells them that they can't stay long, but Eric says there's plenty of time. "Is there?" she asks, looking very disappointed. Lots of silence. Eric says there was lots less traffic on the roads when he learned to drive. "Well there would be," says Jean. She's embarrassed that she said anything and can't really get out of it. Lionel agrees there's more traffic now. Eric wonders what the increase in volume is. Jean and Lionel and Judith all stare at him. It is not going well.
Jean and Lionel are sitting up in bed. He tells her he thought it was Scotland all over again when she said she wanted to have an early night. That was the last thing on her mind, she says. "So I found out," he tells her. Jean tells Lionel that they have a situation here. It's Eric: he's ancient. Lionel says that Eric is about the same age as he is. Well, a bit ancient for Judith. Lionel says that he seems nice enough, but he's a bit quiet. He closes the book he's reading and says he is going downstairs for a cup of tea. Jean asks him not to go downstairs. He wonders if she thinks he might have a fall or something, but she tells him that they might come in and think he went downstairs on purpose. He says that would be a good assumption -- he's going downstairs with the purpose of making a cup of tea. She says that he knows very well what she means. That's exactly why she suggested that they go to bed early. 
She doesn't want Judith to think that they are overinterested. "We?" he says, incredulously. She wonders if he doesn't care. He tells her that that isn't the point. She hears a sound and thinks it might be the car. She pokes him and tells him to have a look out the window. He walks to the window and she tells him not to make it obvious. He ignores her. There is a car, but he can't see who's in it. She gets up and pushes him out of the way. It's a red car, she says. Lionel wants to know if he should write that down somewhere. Does Eric have a red car? Lionel says he doesn't know -- he never saw Eric's car. He tells her that they should be rational. What exactly is she supposed to be doing? She's not sure. He asks her to come back to bed. The car drives off -- it couldn't have been Eric, she concludes. Lionel asks what she would do if she did see something -- tell him to take his hands off her daughter? She sighs, sits down and says that Eric is too old for Judith, isn't he? Lionel tells her that it is none of their business. Jean thinks that of course it's their business, they're her parents. "We are not." She tells him that that is no excuse to stand back in a family crisis. He does not consider this to be a crisis. "What if he proposes?" Lionel reminds her that they've only known each other for a week. Eric "hasn't got time on his side," she protests. "Oh, for goodness' sake," he says. Jean hears them parking so she shuts the lights out and jumps into bed. Lionel points out that he was reading. She doesn't want Judith to think that they're spying on her. She hears the car door close. Jean observes that he didn't stay very long. Lionel suggests that perhaps they've changed their minds -- perhaps they've driven off to a hotel. Jean hears something and shushes Lionel -- "she's coming upstairs." Lionel points out that if she wants to get to her bedroom she'll have to come up the stairs.
Judith opens their bedroom door and turns on the light. Jean moans and rubs her eyes as if she's just been awakened "Hello, love, we didn't hear you come in," she says. Lionel just lies there with his eyes opened. Judith tells her she saw the lights on. She thinks perhaps they'd like an update on Eric. Lionel says it is none of their business. Judith tells him that she knows that but still she wants to tell them that they shan't be seeing each other any more. "A row?" asks Jean. 
Judith tells her that they didn't have a row -- it was just their faces when she brought him in that evening and their faces when she left with him. She says that Eric is not without sensitivity and the result is that he doesn't think they should see each other any more. All right, she says and walks back out of their room. Jean sighs, "Oh Lionel, what have we done?" "We?" Lionel asks, but he really didn't have to.
Lionel opens the door and Alistair comes in. "Any luck?" Lionel asks. Alistair believes it's actually a matter of skill, rather than luck which allowed him track down Eric. He runs a small bookshop. Alistair gives Lionel a piece of paper with the address.
Lionel tells him that he never ceases to amaze him. He has that effect on a lot of people, he says. Jean comes into the living room and Lionel tells her that Alistair found Eric in record time. Jean wants to know how he found someone so quickly that they only knew as Eric. It was simple, once they told him that the man mentioned he had a bookshop. If they need more information like his school years, previous convictions, and so forth, it will take him another hour or so. Jean says that the address is just fine -- they only want to talk with him. Alistair says he can help them if the man needs warning off. Even though he and Judith are no longer an item, he's still very fond of her. Lionel tells him that they don't want to get into Mafia territory. They only want to apologize, Jean says, for creating a situation in which the man felt it was ncessary to warn himself off. Alistair tells them he'll work that out in his head later, but now he's in a hurry to leave. Jean looks at the paper with the address. She tells Lionel that they could phone him. He agrees, but they both know that they'll actually have to visit.
They go to Eric's bookstore and open the door. He's reading and says "Good morning." He looks up and notices that it's Jean and Lionel and he puts down his book and gets up from his desk to greet them. "It's Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle," he says. Oh no, she tells him -- actually it's Miss P.... She interrupts herself, "oh yes, so we are." Lionel tells him that this is not a coincidence. Eric says that he'll just close up for a bit and he turns the sign in the window to "keep the throng of customers at bay."
It's a small bookshop, one which probably never had a throng on a good day. He brings a chair for Jean and asks if they'd like a glass of sherry. Jean tells him no and says she wants to come straight to the point. She says that they feel very badly about what's happened. He tells them he knows he came as a bit of a shock to them. Jean tells him he's wrong. "Yes, you did," admits Lionel. Jean agrees, but tells him that that is no excuse for the way they acted. He thinks that they did remarkably well under the circumstances -- a girl like Judith turning up with an old wreck like him. To tell the truth, Eric says, he never understood what a young girl like Judith ever saw in him. He says that he's not exactly a sparkling sort of person. He tells them that he's been a widower for the last ten years and he hasn't gotten out very much in all that time. Being with Judith made him feel as though he were looking at life again and liking it. Jean points out that he keeps talking in the past tense. He assures them that if that is what they've come to see him about, he's a man of his word. He will not be seeing Judith again. 
The last thing he wants is to cause friction in the family. Jean tells him that they came to apologize. For what? For having reservations which they have no right to have, says Lionel. But you do have reservations? he asks. Lionel says "well...", but Jean says "no, none at all." What is age? she asks. It doesn't matter if two people get on well. If there are any problems, then they are up to he and Judy to work out. Eric starts to protest, but Jean tells him that he should call Judith. She thinks he should go on seeing her. "We want you to, now don't we Lionel" she asks. "Seems we insist on it," Lionel says.
Jean is doing some needlework in the living room. She observes that Eric is a truly nice man. Lionel says "you are the woman I slept with last night?"
She says she never doubted his niceness. Everything is okay now, she says. Judith walks in and says that she's turned the potatoes, but they've done too many because Sandy is going out tonight. She sits down and apologizes for being ratty last night. Lionel tells her that she had a perfect right to be. She knows that, but still is sorry that she was. Jean tells her that now everything is fine because they went to see Eric today. Judith is stunned. Why did they go to see Eric? He's a nice man, Jean says. Judith knows, but why did they go to see him? To apologize. Lionel tells her that when they first saw him, their chins hit the floor and they never quite managed to get them back in place again. So they apologized. So now everything's fine. Judith supposes so. Lionel tells her -- as her mother said, what's age -- if two people get on it doesn't matter. "You said that?" Judith says. She tells her she knows Jean doesn't believe that for a minute. I do. You don't. She doesn't. "Well, not completely," says Jean, but she's doing her best. Jean repeats that he's a nice man. Judith tells them that they saw his shop -- she didn't go out with him for his money. He is a nice man, she tells them -- kind, thoughtful, gentle. "A bit like me," says Lionel. Jean tells her that it is her life and if Eric is back in it, well then he's back in it. 
"Back in it?" Judith asks. Jean tells her what they said to Eric. Judith sighs and drops her head into her hands. Jean wants to know what she's done now. "I don't want Eric back in my life," she tells them. When he said they wouldn't see each other any more she was relieved. She just didn't have the heart to give him the push. Jean's surprised. Lionel says he thinks he'll have another drink and he gets up. Jean says that she's been going on about how nice and thoughful he is. Judith confirms that that's the truth, but after going out with him a couple of times she realized that he's also "deadly, deadly dull." Jean tells Lionel to say something. He asks if they want a drink. Jean doesn't understand -- if Judith was so glad to see him go why did she tell them off the night before? "On principle," she says. Jean says she sees, but Lionel says he doesn't get it. Judith laughs and tells him he just got dragged into all this. Lionel tells her that he is now part of this family and should have been involved because this is a family he cares about. Judith gives him a kiss. Jean wants to know why he always gets let off. 
The telephone rings. Jean answers it. It's Eric and she tells him that Judith isn't in, but Judith peeks in and tells Jean that she'll take it downstairs in the kitchen. She wants to sort it out. She should tell him, she says. Jean says she was only trying to help. Jean says this is a coincidence, but Judith's just walked back in and she'll take it on the other line. She tries to make small talk until Judith can pick up the phone "How are your books?" she asks. Judith picks it up and Jean hangs up but does so slowly. Lionel says "Put it down." Jean hangs up the telephone. Lionel tells her that none of this would have happened if she had kept out of this in the first place. She promises not to do it again. The doorbells rings. Jean says she'll get it.
It's Kong. Digby, actually, he says. Doesn't she remember him? They never actually met, she tells him, so she doesn't quite remember at first, but it comes back to her -- "you found my husband's parents." 
. He tells her that he's come for Sandy. They're going out. "Not on a bike?" she asks. 
He tells her that he'll be very careful. "You won't go far will you?" Sandy comes downstairs and says hello to Digby. They start to leave. Jean says "Sandy?" Sandy gives her a dirty look. Jean sheepishly says "Good Night." They leave. Lionel comes around the corner and asks who that was. "Kong." She tells him that Kong is going out with Sandy. "I see," he says. She wants to know if that's all he can say. "What are we going to do about it?" Lionel turns and walks away. She runs after him: "Lionel? Oh, Lionel..."