Joshua Pledge, owner of Pledge's Purer Pickles, has all but turned his toes and shuffled off to the great pickling shed in the sky. And although he has promised his set of false teeth (with plenty of wear still in them) to Bert Taylor, the factory, along with £917s 6d, is to be shared amongst his adult children, Nellie and Eli.

Eli announces to all that he is simply back for the money, then he's off again and he only left the first time, 15 years ago, because he couldn't stand the pong. However, the squabbling siblings discover they are joint heirs to £20,000 - but only if they can run the factory and the house together for the next five years.