Kendal plays the widow of a "corporate hoodlum" who leaves Los Angeles to take her 20-year-old son to Cambridge, England, where her late husband had invested in a college.
In order to keep her less than brilliant son at St Maud's, Nancy plays the college system at its own game.
While Jake does his best to woo Lucy, Nancy uses blackmail to get herself a pay rise.
A student strike over rent increases forces Nancy to take - and then change - sides.
Nancy crusades on behalf of the poor of Cambridge while Jake is invited to meet Lucy's family.
Nancy takes on a cleaning lady while Jake spends the weekend at Lucy's stately home.
