A shy, introverted young girl takes a summer job at a seaside resort in Wales, where she finds the staff, the owners and patrons unlike anyone she has ever met before.

When a new pupil arrives at a comprehensive school, he decides to take his video camera to film the bullies at work.

Wondering what has happened to herself, now feeling stagnant and in a rut, Shirley Valentine finds herself regularly talking to the wall while preparing her husband's chips and egg. When her best friend wins a trip-for-two to Greece Shirley begins to see the world, and herself, in a different light.

Mobsters and the IRA chase a stagestruck London cabby (Tim Curry) who has found a briefcase full of cash.