1920s: In the coastal English village of Tilling, Miss Elizabeth Mapp sits like a watchful bird of prey at the bow window of her garden-room: perfectly situated to give an uninterrupted view of the main street. For her main occupation is observing and guiding the local inhabitants - from Irene Coles, the town bohemian who strides about the place in gentleman's clothing; to Isabel Poppit, who dares to infringe upon Miss Mapp's own patented recipe for iced red-currant fool - besides attempting to coax Major Benjamin Flint into the snare of matrimony. . .