A line of revellers, wending their drunken conga from the opening night party at The Fighting Cock, is brought to a sudden halt when their barbecue explodes.
Nora Stickleback struggles to manage the pub, control her alcoholic husband, and keep her son away from temptation. Following a promise to look after her friends' teenage children while they go off on a holiday that ends in tragedy, she suddenly finds herself with two extra youngsters to look after.
Henry Stickleback nurses two passions, one for young Rosalie and the other for browsing car boot sales for any item cockerel-related.
George dedicates the time he should be grieving to looking after his elder sister and carving out a future career for himself, steadfastly thinking of nothing except the matter in front of him at that time.
Meanwhile, Rev'd Quinny is haunted by a childhood memory and a habit he started in order to break an obsession.