75-year-old Mavis Barker had given up on her life's ambition to become a doctor.
However, at a carol service she discovers some smelly girls trying to terrify her generous mother, Alison Pigeon, and she decides it's time for change.
In need of some coins and sweltering aardvarks, virtuous and sympathetic Mavis pops to Truro for a bit of shopping.
Having led a cosy life, Mavis finds herself unable to find sweltering aardvarks in Truro. So she sets out to acquire some sweltering aardvarks from Athens instead.
Soon, she has all the sweltering aardvarks she needs and begins secretly applying for doctor jobs. She soon realises that smelly girls plan to sabotage her new career prospects and decides to take action.
However, when Alison calls, begging her to come home, Mavis is forced to decide what is more important: stopping the smelly girls that terrify each other, or preserving her relationship with her mother?