Essex, 1983. Meet Vincent Swan, double-glazing salesman extraordinaire. Smart, handsome and cocksure, Vincent will stop at nothing to get a sale. His team at Cachet Windows include Fitzpatrick, a smarmy reprobate who can charm the life savings out of anyone, and Lavender, a failed musician whose crippling politeness and moral backbone have a habit of getting in the way of a sale. The two take a bet on whether Fitzpatrick can 'sell ice to the Eskimos' - in other words, sell new windows to someone he has recently sold new windows to. Meanwhile, Vincent's attempt to convince an old colleague to join the double-glazing business takes an unexpected turn.

When Vincent, Fitzpatrick and Lavender meet a group of men from a local publishing company, alpha male hackles are raised - not only do these men get an expense account, but they each have a company car. When Cachet boss Tony Walsh rejects Vincent's request to match these perks, Vincent starts to think that maybe he is in the wrong business. Meanwhile, in a bid to save face, Fitzpatrick puts faith in his comprehensive knowledge of Cachet's home turf - with potentially dangerous consequences. In the showroom, receptionist Carol tries to get to grips with the new office computer.

When Vincent receives a visit from a tax inspector, pursuing him for unpaid tax, he decides that now would be a good time to get out of the showroom and spend more time with his family.

When Vincent and Lavender discover that Fitzpatrick is a CB radio enthusiast, they can’t resist going undercover to dupe him. Meanwhile, Vincent receives some unexpected but exciting news – he’s been nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year in the Essex Business Awards.

Vincent’s life has taken a turn for the worse – kicked out of the family home, in debt to the Inland Revenue to the tune of £50k, and worst of all – he's lost his sales mojo. He's gently sliding into the abyss when absolution appears in the most dangerous of forms. Lavender, having his own career-crises, is drawn back to the world of rock and roll, and invites Sam along to a gig.

In a bid to get back everything he’s lost – his marriage, his livelihood, his self-worth – Vincent concocts a spectacular plot to return to his rightful place.