The Pallisers

Bonteen is livid at being denied the Exchequer. He vows revenge on all. But, in the meantime he goes to Prague to find Emilius' first wife. Phineas speaks well against the Conservatives, but is still denied office. A bad row blows up between Plantagenet and his sons just before their return to Eton, but, at Glencora's insistence, apologies all round smooth things over. In fact she seems to be able to cure all ills except Finn's. On his return from Prague, Bonteen is confronted by Emilius and battle lines are drawn. Later Bonteen, angrily, confronts Finn at the Liberals Club, on the very night of the Prince of Wales visit. They, along with Lord Fawn, leave the club at the same time and a lethal attack on Bonteen leaves Phineas in the worst straights that he has ever experienced. His arrest closes this episode.

Mr Chaffanbrass begins his defense of Finn by showing that there was another who had a stronger motive for murder, and by pointing out that no one saw who actually committed the murder. Mr Monk and Plantagenet stand as character witnesses. The prosecution manages to slander Finn the Irish and many others in its summing up. In the time honored tradition of courtroom drama, Marie shows up at the last moment with a man who is able to prove that Emilius had made a key that would allow him to leave his boarding house without being seen. When Peter Praska recognizes Emilius the trial is brought to a close and Finn is totally exonerated. The trial has come close to unhinging Phineas. It is Plantagenet who brings him back to his senses. Finn's return to Parliament is a triumph. He, at last, realizes just how special Marie's love for him is. This, inevitably, leads to an ugly scene with Laura. Glencora finds a way, with Marie's help, to assist in getting Adelaide and Gerard married.

It is four years since the end of last episode. The Liberals are returning to power, sort of, in a coalition with the Conservatives until the country's money woes can be sorted out. The Prime Minister of this coalition is to be Plantagenet!!! Planty is full of doubts, but accepts the post. Of course, Glencora is well suited to be the hostess of the country. Planty does find Finn office in Ireland, but Glencora manages to keep Marie close to her as she plans to open Gatherum Castle, for the entertaining that will need to be done, and will need her help. We are introduced to Ferdinand Lopez, one of those young men whose success in making money has allowed them to move into the corridors of power, and is always so irritating to those already there. He, later, displaying his powers of persuasion, and mysterious undertakings, as he talks Sextus Parker into signing a bill for 750 pounds. We, also, learn that he has set his sights on Emily Wharton, the sister of his friend Everett. Her fa

We open at a reception where we see that it will be Glencora's ability that keeps the coalition together by smoothing over any feelings that Platagenet's natural indifference may ruffle. Silverbridge (the son) is to be sent on the grand tour of the continent, but before then his friend Frank's stay is cut short when it is found that he is paying too much attention to Mary. Lopez charms Glencora into assisting him in his plans. She even hints that that Silverbridge (the seat in the House of Commons)may come his way. Sir Orlando Drought, the main Conservative in Plantagenet's coalition, begins to push for his own plans. He, later, asks to have his nephew given the seat at Silverbridge. The Duke refuses outright. When Glencora asks the same for Lopez he again refuses. She circumvents him by going directly to Mr Sprout (one of the prominent men in Silverbridge) which, only makes things worse. Everett is attacked after leaving the Liberals Club and Lopez saves him which gives him an i

We come in on the Lopez's honeymoon in Rome. At the same time Silverbridge and Tregear are in Venice where they meet Lady Mabel Grex and Miss Cassewary. Ferdinand begins to show his true colors as he presses Emily for money. Her father comes through and Lopez thinks that he now has free access to all her fathers wealth. Plantagenet rebels and asks that no more people be invited to Gatherum. Reluctantly, at first, Glencora agrees Lopez returns to find that his ready seat in Parliament is not so ready. In fact, he gets trounced as the seat goes to the Conservatives. Once again he turns to Mr Wharton for money, and receives it. He, then, tries to get more money from the Duke, who feels duty bound to pay it. The Duke is aware that this will be open to the most base of interpretations, but, his love for Glencora obligates him to pay. Silverbridge's family visit him in Venice where Mary and Frank are thrown together again. All of Lopez's business ventures are failing. He hopes tha

Plantagenet has worries aplenty in the form of resignations and scandal. Phineas is named the First Lord of the Admiralty and his wife will accompany him on his tour of the Navy, taking away Glencora's most loyal confidant. She insists that she take the blame for the troubles over Mr Lopez, but Plantagenet refuses absolutely. In an attempt to extort 20,000 pounds from her father Lopez threatens to take Emily to Guatemala, and away from her family. Wharton agrees to settle all debts and set up Lopez in a new career on the condition that he leaves, alone, for Guatemala, and never returns. Lopez agrees. This leads to an exquisitely acted scene between Lopez and his wife, with delicious recriminations all round. Silverbridge returns from Italy and agrees to go into politics, as a Conservative! Glencora insists that he keep this a secret from his father. As the scandal deepens Plantagenet's friends and allies, including Phineas, return to London and rally round him. Indeed Phineas s

Phineas comes close to being the first official victim of the Lopez affair as a vote of censure is called against him in Parliament. It is roundly defeated. Even so, Plantagenet's time as Prime Minister is winding down. At the end, the things that he desires to accomplish become Utopian. We are introduced to Major Tifto, whose knowledge of horses and ladies has attracted the friendship of Silverbridge. We learn of a previous relationship between Lady Max and Frank. He has, clearly, moved on. The Duke of St Bungay presents the cold facts to Plantagenet and he accepts the inevitable, at last. As we leave politics we enter the world of the Palliser children and their romances. Silverbridge offers himself to Mabel. She declines, for now. Frank's love for Mary progresses, in spite of Silverbridge's warning that it just won't wear. Silverbridge prepares to run for the seat at Silverbridge, which causes him to limit his friendship with Tifto to the horses only, and to tell his fathe

Silverbridge is bringing the Boncassen's to tea. We are allowed to enjoy a mystifying explanation of the British caste system. Glencora has a razor insight as to why her son has chosen to run, and win, as a Conservative. Mary admits to her mother her love for Frank. Remembering her past, Glencora vows to let all of her children follow their hearts. A walk in the same ruined church where Glencora caught a chill, to avoid spending Christmas in the same house as Burgo Fitzgerald, finds an important discussion between her and Plantagenet brought up short by a fit of coughing. Silverbridge wants to drop his friendship with Major Tifto, his father tells him to let him down easily, but, when Tifto, drunkenly, dares him to bet big, he lays down 40,000 pounds on the Prime Minister, their horse. The horse goes lame before the race even begins, but Silver's money is still forfeit. It is likely that Tifto nobbled the horse to make more money then he possibly could have on bets. Worse tha

Glencora's health is of concern to all (including us as viewers). She is determined to make sure that her children, especially Mary, have the ability to control their own future. Nothing can stop her passing, but she is among those who love her, and gets to bid each a special farewell to each, almost. Several months have passed since the funeral. Mary returns from a trip, with Marie, to the continent. Mrs Finn is convinced that Mary pines for something more than she can provide but the Duke convinces her to stay. Marie knows that the Duke must be told, but Mary understands that Frank must ask her father first. Silverbridge proposes to Isabel and she insists that he tell his father before she can give her answer. The Duke can barely deal with these two circumstances. Just when it looks like he will be defeated by his children's desires, Marie helps to remind him that they are Glencora's children also, and they deserve to achieve their hearts desire. Silverbridge discovers the