May to December

- Season 1

(1989)

Middle-aged widower Alec Callender is a solicitor, acting for twenty-something Zoe Angell in her divorce proceedings against her philandering husband Kevin. Not realising Alec's situation, Zoe accuses him of being hostile to people with marital problems and storms out. However, Alec's son Jamie explains the truth to Zoe and contact is resumed. Miss Flood, the firm's senior secretary is concerned that Alec's partner Miles, who is acting for Kevin's pregnant girlfriend, is also leading on new office junior Hilary.

Zoe and Alec meet up to discuss the divorce and discover a shared interest in stage musicals. Miles suggests Alec asks Zoe on a date but Alec believes he is too old for her. However When His daughter Simone attempts to match-make him with very merry widow Avril Dawlish, a situation from which he is rescued by Jamie,he comes to see that a date with Zoe might be very pleasant and they agree to go to see a musical version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' together called 'Bottoms Up'.

Alec and Zoe are about to go and see 'Bottoms Up' but she sprains her ankle and so he takes a reluctant Miss Flood instead,to the bewilderment of Jamie. in order to cheer Zoe up Alec borrows the donkey's head from the show and goes to see her,wearing it whilst serenading her and presenting her with flowers. Unfortunately her parents walk in on him and it is all rather embarrassing.

Alec feels stupid after the encounter with Zoe's parents and asks her for dinner. Knowing that she is a P.T. teacher he swots up on sports to enable conversation. She does something similar, reading up on his idol Perry Mason. When she arrives they are initially halting as the topics of conversation are clearly false. However the ice is broken when they discuss their shared love of stage musicals.

Alec is fifty-four and is given a birthday present from Zoe,a man made up of sugar lumps whom she calls her Sugar Daddy. She is invited along with Alec and Jamie to a birthday tea with Simone,Alec's daughter,a vicar's wife with two children. Simone is perfectly pleasant when she thinks that Zoe is Jamie's girlfriend but becomes hostile on learning that she is with Alec,believing her to be a gold digger. Alec and Zoe begin to see that their relationship may be harder than they expected.

Alec is about to have a word with Miles after Miss Flood expresses disapproval about his taking Hilary away for a weekend. Fortunately,before Alec can jump in he learns that Miles is lending his weekend cottage to Hilary and her boyfriend. Zoe is rather over-awed by all the memories of Alec's late wife at his home so they agree to have a night at a hotel. On the way there she falls asleep so he drives her home,only to find that Jamie and his girlfriend are hoping to use his bedroom.