Season 1

Episodes

1. 1

   1. The King Shall Not Die

   16 Oct 1987

   To manage his out-of-control bills and correspondence, Charles hires an attractive society lady as a secretary. Lydia accepts a role in the play that lacks a role for Charles. When Lydia learns of his new secretary, she moves out and threatens divorce. Since he has not been offered good roles, Charles stages a play that everyone else thinks is mediocre. Lydia's play is a hit, while Charles' doesn't even cover expenses - until a special visitor shows up.

2. 2

   2. Driving Ambition

   16 Oct 1987

   Charles and Lydia purchase a motorcar. Thomas is thrilled when Jean likes his play, but Sutton thinks she doesn't know her place. Charles wants to purchase the Princess Theatre so his son can take over the starring role in 'The King Must Not Die.'

3. 3

   3. Vagabonds and Thieves

   23 Oct 1987

   Since Thomas' play has been a success, Brewster wants his next play to be produced in the Princess and Charles wants him to rewrite it with a suitable part for himself. Thomas faces a shocking discovery.

4. 4

   4. Full House

   30 Oct 1987

   Charles' father (George) and mother come to stay after an illness. Thomas moves out of the house and into the theatre. New theatre manager Piers finds expensive work needs to be done on the building, and starts an affair with Martha. George is suspicious of Piers.

5. 5

   5. Moving Pictures

   6 Nov 1987

   Charles, Lydia, and Martha start work on a new play. Flora reveals to the family that she saw Edwin in a movie, which causes great consternation until Laszlo offers Charles a screen test. Charles, forced to see himself onscreen, gracefully declines the role. Laszlo offers Sutton a job as his assistant, and Sutton contemplates taking it.

6. 6

   6. Broadway, Here I Come

   13 Nov 1987

   An American songwriter comes to visit. Charles is jealous of Gerard's attention to Lydia, but Martha is the one he pursues. Lydia has to ask Charles to help with her enormous tax bill, and contemplates returning to Broadway.

7. 7

   7. Revenge Is Sweet

   20 Nov 1987

   Offended by a particularly vicious review of their new play, Edwin pours a drink into the critic's lap at a gentleman's club. Lydia comes back from New York, but Charles is jealous of her Broadway co-star. As the newspaper continues to publish innuendo about the Bretts, Charles receives valuable information from an unexpected source.

8. 8

   8. Get Me to the Church on Time

   27 Nov 1987

   Edwin is smitten by Martha's friend Diana. Sutton brings lady friend Polly home for tea but is disappointed his romance isn't progressing. Gerard wants Martha to come to America with him, but she doesn't want to lose her career.

9. 9

   9. The Actress and the Bishop

   4 Dec 1987

   Martha's injury closes down "Scram!" A mysterious cleric writes a shocking play for Martha, but Charles and Lydia see a copy by mistake and steal it. Jean resigns unexpectedly. A Bolshevik union organizer grabs the coincidence to sue the Bretts for damages. Martha finds Jean and wants to help, but Jean insists on going her own way.

10. 10

    10. Forbidden Fruit

    11 Dec 1987

    Focusing on the complicated romantic lives of the three young Brett siblings.

11. 11

    11. Forbidden Fruit: Part Two

    11 Dec 1987

    Martha, distraught over Gerard's death, turns to cocaine. Tatyana helps her forgive herself for old wounds. Edwin's love life gets him kicked off his picture.

12. 12

    12. All Right on the Night

    18 Dec 1987

    The entire clan is busy rehearsing a charity event, and Charles hires a new secretary. The staff thinks Charles is cheating on Lydia and the family thinks Lydia is cheating on Charles.

13. 13

    13. Grand Finale

    27 Dec 1987

    After fire damages the Princess Theatre, the Bretts plan a Christmas pantomime of "Cinderella" to stave off financial ruin.