Based on the British situation comedy Rising Damp, which aired on ITV from 1974 to 1978. Stingy landlord Rigsby (Leonard Rossiter) manages to scam his lodgers, arts student John Cooper (Christopher Strauli) and medical student Philip (Don Warrington), making both pay for a room they must share. Rigsby's favourite lodger, Miss Jones (Frances de la Tour), flirts with Philip much to Rigsby's annoyance and when new upper-crust lodger Seymour (Denholm Elliott) arrives she falls completely under his spell. It seems Rigsby's love for her will forever be unrequited.