Nothing But The Best

The Second World War removed many of the old social barriers in Britain. The established order of society had been shaken but, being Britain of course, this apparently revolutionary state of affairs wasn't quite what it seemed - and nobody knew this better than Jimmy Brewster. He knew in the swinging 1960s there was only one way to get up where it really mattered in the affluent, welfare Britain. He had a fresh lesson each morning at Horton's, the elegant estate agents in St. James's where he worked. It wasn't what you could do, or how you did it, but what you were and where you came from that gave you the important things in life. To get what he wanted he needed the style of the young public school men whom he instructed in property development, only to see them take the positions of importance he felt he could so easily fill himself. But how to acquire the style? He had all the talents. What he needed was the tutor and the opportunity.

Which came when he met, by chance, Charlie Prince, a well-bred layabout, in whom he sees the key to his life's ambitions. After some impressive chatter from Charlie, Jimmy offers to share his lodgings with him in return for some education on how to join the strata of the social elite. Charlie readily agrees, and as time passes, Jimmy learns the fundamentals of finesse, facts on vintage wines, rare foods, clothes, speech and general characteristics of the select few in the upper reaches of society.

In return for Jimmy's affections, his landlady, Mrs. March, promises to say nothing of two guests sharing the same room - as long as he is amorous, she remains agreeable.

Progress is equally swift at Horton's. Jimmy charmingly knifes his way upwards, watched by the perceptive and opportunistic Horton and his beautiful and observant daughter Ann. In her, Jimmy recognises everything he desires. Unable to love, he can appreciate her, as a professional; her qualities are the same as his. Their attraction is mutual, and they have few delusions, realising they are stronger together than apart.

Jimmy masterminds an important series of property deals, much to Horton's satisfaction. He proposes to Ann and is accepted. Jimmy then arranges for his pleasant but working class parents to emigrate to live with his brother and family in Australia.

Everything is, in fact, going his way - until one evening in the Horton home, his wedding imminent, when Jimmy makes a startling discovery.