Bill is locked inside a wardrobe wearing only a fur coat. Ben is facing a midlife crisis.

Bill, Ben, Rona and David end up as stowaways on a cruise ship. Jenny is stuck at home with Bette and Aunt Pearl, who set about making Christmas dinner.

Bill's not keen to agree to owning a family pet. Ben suggests they create an imaginary dog for two weeks - but they end up with three real ones.

Rona turns up with an abandoned baby, which crawls under the floorboards. Ben finds a novel way of coping when he starts to feel depressed about his age.

Bill is looking forward to a quiet, relaxing time at home, but fate intervenes.

Bill tells Rona not to heed the dire predictions of Psychic Sadie's latest horoscope. But following a worrying phone call from her eccentric Aunt Belle, she is not so certain.

Ben is bored and missing the football season, while Bill and Rona are also feeling listless. Meanwhile, Jenny's boyfriend sets off to buy a ring.

Ben's disaffection with his age leads him into a vulnerable situation when he applies to join a plumbers' secret society known only as the Brotherhood of the Plunger.