The story begins with Kitty, a lonely, eccentric, widow who lives alone and is being troubled by ghostly presence, which results in her having a short stay in a Psychiatric Unit, Meanwhile in Russia, two mafia gangsters double cross their boss, Gregor forcing them to escape from Russia and the gang's retribution. One of the gangsters, Vladimir arrives in England finds out that he too has been double crossed by his partner and finds himself almost destitute on the streets of Birmingham. This brings Vladimir into contact with Kitty, when she is persuaded by her concerned niece Penny to take in a lodger for companionship. All goes well for a while and Vladimir stays as one of the family, bonding closely with Penny. In Russia an incensed Gregor eventually discovers Vladimir's whereabouts and sends two of his inept gangsters to England to retrieve his loot.