Mid-September in Arcadia Waters Council and it's only days to the local government elections. The mayor of Arcadia Waters, Col Dunkley, has a few problems. The local newspaper has run a story about his wife leaving him, a new showpiece bus shelter is way behind schedule and a member of staff is threatening to reveal something shocking about his past.

When entrepreneur Max Werring tells Col he can get Dame Kiri Te Kanawa for the Arcadia Waters Festival, Col's grand plan to put Arcadia Waters on the cultural map looks as though it is about to be realised.