A Touch of Class (''Fawlty Towers'')

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

Plot

The episode introduces Basil Fawlty, the cynical, sharp-tongued owner of Torquay's Fawlty Towers hotel; his henpecking wife Sybil; Manuel, the eager but hapless Spanish waiter; Major Gowen, a semi-senile and often whisky-soaked permanent resident; and Polly Sherman, a maid/waitress who is the only sane and sensible employee of the hotel.

The episode opens with Sybil reminding Basil of many chores he must do: prepare the bill for some guests in a hurry to depart, hang a painting in the lobby and type the lunch menus. Sybil confronts Basil about an expensive advertisement that he has placed in an upscale magazine. He explains that he is trying to attract guests of a higher social class, and that an aristocratic couple, Sir Richard and Lady Morris, will be arriving that evening. Soon after, a leather-jacketed Cockney guest, Danny Brown, turns up asking for a room, much to Basil's annoyance. Basil – who has claimed to speak "Classical Spanish" – is further put out when Mr. Brown shows that he can communicate better than he with Manuel, as he speaks Spanish.

While Basil is on the phone to complain to a local builder, Mr. O'Reilly, Lord Melbury, a well-dressed aristocrat, turns up out of the blue. Basil immediately becomes infatuated by Melbury's air of class and breeding. Embarrassing incidents follow, where Basil fawns over Melbury and treats him better than the other guests. Basil even asks a family, in the middle of their meal, to move tables Melbury, but accidentally deposits Melbury on the floor in the process; Basil deals an undeserved blow to Manuel's head, primarily as a distraction from Basil's own ineptitude. Basil grovels to Melbury for forgiveness, which Melbury grants him.

After lunch, Melbury dismisses Basil's incessant apologies for the accident. When Basil asks if there is anything he can do to make it up to him, Melbury asks him to cash a "small" cheque for £100. Despite being inwardly aghast at such a large sum, Basil obsequiously asks if that would be enough; he is even more aghast when Melbury takes him up on this and revises his request to £200. Too late to backtrack, Basil agrees to cover the large cheque. Basil hides the act from Sybil and confides in Polly, asking her to go to the bank and collect the money for Melbury. However, when Polly goes into town to withdraw the money, she comes across Danny Brown – who is revealed to be a policeman – and a fellow detective inspector. They explain that Melbury is a confidence trickster pulling off a large scam in town.

Meanwhile, Basil continues to ignore his other guests, a middle-class family called the Wareings, whilst attending to Melbury in the bar. Melbury offers to take Basil's coin collection to have them valued while dining with the Duke of Buckleigh that evening, to which a deeply honoured Basil agrees. 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 impress 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.

Basil finally realises he has been conned and exhibits manic anger. Despite Danny planning on arresting Melbury outside the hotel, Basil confronts and spooks Melbury, leading to a physical altercation and arrest in the lobby. In a cruel twist, Sir Richard and Lady Morris arrive to witness Basil taking his money from Melbury's own pocket and kicking a winded Melbury while he lies on the floor. The couple leave in a huff, vowing never to return to such a terrible hotel. Basil hypocritically curses Morris' snobbish behaviour. A dejected Basil re-enters the hotel and begins to hang the picture featured at the outset. When very angry Mr. Wareing shouts his order, for which he has been waiting in the bar for some time, Basil finally snaps: he smashes Sybil's painting and frog-marches his guest back to the bar to be served at last.

Cast

Episode-credited cast:

• John Cleese as Basil Fawlty
• Prunella Scales as Sybil Fawlty
• Andrew Sachs as Manuel
• Connie Booth as Polly Sherman
• Michael Gwynn as Lord Melbury
• Ballard Berkeley as Major Gowen
• Gilly Flower as Miss Abitha Tibbs
• Renee Roberts as Miss Ursula Gatsby

Also starring:

• Terence Conoley as Mr. Wareing
• Robin Ellis as Danny Brown
• David Simeon as Mr. Mackenzie
• Lionel Wheeler as Mr. Watson
• Martin Wyldeck as Sir Richard Morris
• Pat Symons as Lady Morris (uncredited)
• Dennis Plenty and Ian Elliot as Policemen (uncredited)
• An uncredited actor plays a C.I.D. officer who says "Sorry Mr Fawlty" at the end and restrains Basil from hitting Lord Melbury

References

External links

• "A Touch of Class" at BBC Programmes