Brian Drake has a terrible day: he's knocked down in traffic, made redundant, and his wife wants a divorce. He decides to dedicate his life to being a hermit, helped out by new friend Tommy, a recovering pyromaniac.
Brian and Tommy pick up a couple of hitchhikers on their way to the country - Angie, looking for a lift to the coast, and Maurice, a postman who wants to travel the world on a giant inflatable ball.
Brian Drake moves into his new countryside retreat of Tangledown Cottage - yet so do his three new friends, while his soon-to-be-ex wife sends a detective down to spy on him.
Brian meets his new neighbour, the snobby Venicia Kelly, who he thinks might be a good connection to have. Yet the others, particularly Angie, are far from impressed by her presence.
