Fear, Stress and Anger
Episode synopses
Episode One: The Job List
Ad man Martin Chadwick comes unstuck when his job is downsized, forcing him to work from home and be answerable to his former assistant.
He hates his new life and misses the stress of work. His money is far less but his expenses are still too high as he has a mother in a nursing home and two daughters in their twenties who won't leave home.
In the first episode, all his angst and frustration comes out in one day when his working wife Julie gives him a list of domestic chores to do.
He not only manages to cock them all up but also has his dog taken into care, has to rescue his mum from the nursing home and finally get through an awful dinner party with their best friends.
Episode Two: Sex and Friends
Martin and Julie's friends, Duncan and Sarah, have marital problems brought on by Sarah's habit of sleeping with her husband's best friends.
Evicted by Duncan, Sarah comes to stay - which not only drives everyone insane, but forces Martin and Julie to examine various aspects of their own relationship and sex lives.
Meanwhile, one of the daughters is having a ding-dong with a Polish decorator. All about sex.
Episode Three: Stress and Drugs
As his daughter smacks up another car whilst learning to drive, Martin is getting more stressed than usual.
Julie suggests they seek advice from their friends, Duncan and Sarah, as to what they should do to reduce the anxiety levels.
Duncan suggests that Martin gets a completely new job and Sarah suggests that Julie feeds Martin her leftover prescription drugs to help him through the job interviews.
Not a good idea. Martin gets very strange in front of a very straight interview panel.
Episode Four: Julie's Interview
Julie's boss at the Town Hall retires, so she is in line for Head of Planning on the town council. She asks Martin and their daughters to help her campaign for the post.
They plan various events to raise Julie's public profile, but only succeed in making her look like a total liability.
Martin is also trying to write an ad campaign for condoms but has 'issues' with the product.
Episode Five: Health and Gran
As Martin and Julie get smashed and have a Friday night bop at home, Gran quietly drinks herself into a coma and ends up in hospital - which forces Martin and Julie to examine their own physical states.
Martin decides that not only must they give up drink, but they must also embrace a whole new physical and mental lifestyle which includes telling people how they really feel about them.
Julie looks on as he tells everyone he loves them and manages to alienate them all.
Episode Six: Menopause
Julie starts to lose the plot as she thinks she's starting the menopause and that her life is now over and she might as well die.
Friend Sarah suggests more sex to shake up the system, but after a horrible night at a restaurant, Martin fails in the sack and things get worse.
Julie, despairing of her lot, decides to go on a trek to the North Pole and become a celebrity lesbian.
Martin just about saves the day with a romantic dinner à deux in their kitchen.
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