Ramona and Barney Pank have been married for 25 years but have rarely seen each other. Barney has been at sea as a Chief Steward in the Merchant Navy, while Ramona has set up her own hairdressing salon in Willesden. As Ramona has learned to cope without Barney, it is no surprise that on his return they find they are practically strangers to each other. To make matters worse, Barney has to compete for his side of the bed with Ramona's pet dog Scampi!