If you are a leading surgeon in London’s most prestigious hospital, delivering the “Lecture of the Year” to two hundred of the world’s leading neurologists, the last thing you want is a mistress from 18 years ago arriving unexpectedly.

Just as Dr Mortimore is preparing for his big moment, Jane Tate, a former nurse and long‑forgotten romantic fling, turns up and drops a bombshell: that their brief affair produced a child, now 18, who is currently in the hospital looking for his father.

Dr Mortimore, desperate to protect his reputation, tries to hide the truth. But in true Cooney fashion, every outrageous lie spawns three more, and the situation spirals into a whirlwind of mistaken identities, slamming doors, and frantic improvisation.

Typical madcap complications ensue, involving faithful friend, Dr. Bonney, a police sergeant, Dr. Mortimore’s wife, a severe hospital matron, Dr. Bonney’s mother and a patient who makes the most of being dragged into the whole maelstrom.