Meanwhile camp lavatory designer Charles Coote (Charles Hawtrey) has designed a bidet, while W.C.'s son Lewis (Lew) Boggs (Richard O'Callaghan) has secured a large order to purchase bidets. It is a deal that could save the struggling firm, but W.C. objects to the manufacture of such distasteful items as bidets.

Vic's dim stooge Bernie Hulke (Bernard Bresslaw) provides bumbling assistance in both his union machinations and in his attempts to woo Sid's daughter and factory canteen worker Myrtle (Jacki Piper) away from love-rival Lew Boggs.

Unusually for Sid James his character is a faithful husband albeit a sorely tempted one. Sid's wife is Beattie (Hattie Jacques), a lazy housewife who does little but fuss over her pet budgie Joey that refuses to talk despite her concerted efforts. Sid's neighbor and co-worker Chloe Moore (Joan Sims) contends with the endless strikes and with a crude, traveling salesman husband Fred (Bill Maynard) who neglects her and leaves her dissatisfied. She and Sid enjoy a flirtatious relationship.

Sid and Beattie find that their budgie can correctly predict winners of horse races; Sid places the bets and makes several large wins before being barred by his bookie.

At a works outing to Brighton Lew Boggs manages to win Myrtle from Vic Spanner. A good time is had by all on the outing with barriers coming down between workers and management, thanks largely to that great social lubricant, alcohol. W.C. becomes intoxicated and spends the day with his faithful secretary Miss Withering (Patsy Rowlands). After arriving home late after the outing and with Fred away, Chloe invites Sid in for a cup of tea. They fight their desires and ultimately decide to not have the tea, fearing that neighbors might see Sid enter Chloe's home and get the wrong idea.

At work the next day Spanner gets his comeuppance and the workers and management all pull together to produce the order to save the firm.