Mr. Courtney's Brood

'Mr Courtney's Brood' introduces us to the badly mannered Courtneys of Badley Manor: The spritely Patriarch, Alfred is fast approaching his ninetieth birthday and showing no signs of shuffling off anything, much to the annoyance of most of his children whose rise in polite society has been accompanied by a corresponding fall in moral certainty: Robert, the eldest, runs the family steel works with an iron hand, Edward, the hapless Barrister, has yet to win a single case, Charlotte, serial divorcee and socialite, has yet to find Mr Right, although a rich Mr Wrong will do in the meantime.

When the youngest, Francis, overlooked and overworked, arranges a surprise birthday party for his cantankerous father, events take an unexpected turn and he needs all the help and guidance he can get from Symes, the family's admirable and totally superior butler.