A Touch of Class (Fawlty Towers)

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'A Touch of Class' is the pilot episode in the first series of the BBC television sitcom Fawlty Towers.

Plot[]

While attending to chores, Sybil challenges Basil about an expensive advertisement he placed for the hotel. Basil insists he is trying to bring in a higher class of guests, and knows that they should be expecting an aristocratic couple, Sir Richard and Lady Morris, later that day.

Later that day, a Cockney guest, Danny Brown, arrives and requests a room. Basil reluctantly gives him one but gives him no attention, just as Lord Melbury, a well-dressed aristocrat, arrives. Basil immediately caters to Melbury. As part of his check-in, Melbury gives Basil a briefcase of valuables to store in the hotel safe. Basil sees to Melbury's every need, ignoring the other guests, and even begs for apologies when he accidentally drops Melbury to the floor while trying to seat him for lunch. Melbury obliges, and later asks Basil to give him £200 in exchange for a cheque. Basil agrees, and has Polly run to the bank to deposit the cheque before Sybil finds out. In town, Polly encounters Brown, who reveals he is a detective inspector, tracking Melbury as a known and dangerous confidence trickster. He hopes to make the arrest outside the hotel after catching Melbury in the act.

During the afternoon, Basil tends the bar but continues to ignore the other guests to impress Melbury. Basil brings up his coin collection, and Melbury offers to take it to be valuated by the Duke of Buckleigh that evening. Polly returns and informs Basil that Melbury is an impostor, but he refuses to believe her and suggests Brown is merely spinning tales of intrigue in order to woo her. She then tells Sybil who, despite Basil's fervent protests, takes Melbury's previously surrendered suitcase of "a few valuables" from the safe, and reveals the contents to be simply a pair of house bricks.

Enraged, Basil confronts Melbury in the lobby, forcing Brown to arrest Melbury immediately, drawing the other guests to the lobby. As Basil is fighting with Melbury, retrieving the stolen money from his pockets and kicking him, Sir Richard and Lady Morris arrive, see how Melbury is being treated, and leave immediately, vowing never to return. Basil chases after them, but fails to change their mind. Basil returns to the lobby, where one of the other guests complains about having not been served at the bar. Finally losing his patience, Basil drags the guest back to the bar, and frantically serves him.

Cast[]

Show cast[]

Main cast:

• John Cleese as Basil Fawlty
• Prunella Scales as Sybil Fawlty
• Andrew Sachs as Manuel
• Connie Booth as Polly Sherman

With:

• Ballard Berkeley as Major Gowen
• Gilly Flower as Miss Abitha Tibbs
• Renee Roberts as Miss Ursula Gatsby

For this episode[]

• Michael Gwynn as Lord Melbury
• as Mr. Wareing
• Robin Ellis as Danny Brown
• David Simeon as Mr. Mackenzie
• as Mr. Watson
• Martin Wyldeck as Sir Richard Morris
• Pat Symons as Lady Morris (uncredited)
• and as Policemen (uncredited)
• An uncredited actor plays a C.I.D. officer who restrains Basil from hitting Lord Melbury
• as Mrs. Wareing (uncredited)^[1]
• as Master Wareing (uncredited)^[2]

References[]

External links[]

• "A Touch of Class" at BBC Online