The Oakwoods, a family of city slickers seeking a new life by the sea, set out to disrupt the tranquility of Portwenn. They manage to gatecrash an intimate dinner Louisa has prepared for her and Martin. With their romantic dinner plans ruined, the disgruntled doctor decides to make a hasty exit leaving Louisa to deal with the neighbors from hell. A car vandal is on the loose in Portwenn. Cars belonging to the doctor, his Aunt Joan and Bert Large have all been damaged. The doctor reports the vandalism to PC Penhale, but he seems strangely reluctant to investigate. He has to confess he is suffering from agoraphobia and can't leave the police station.