The Bretts

Matinee idol Charles Brett and his glittering wife, Lydia, turn on the charm when the curtain rises in 1920s London. But at home-after the lights dim and the applause stops- they play dramatically different roles. How can the Brett family keep up their glamorous public act when raging rivalries and dangerous love affairs consume their private lives? Crisp dialogue, lavish costumes, evocative settings. All 19 episodes, as seen on PBS Masterpiece. Newly restored.

Season 1, Episode 1: The King Shall Not Die
Original Air Date-16 October 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.

Season 1, Episode 2: Driving Ambition
Original Air Date-October 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 Theater so his son can take over the starring role in 'The King Must Not Die.'

Season 1, Episode 3: Vagabonds and Thieves
Original Air Date-23 October 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.

Season 1, Episode 4: Full House
Original Air Date-30 October 1987
Charles' father (George) and mother come to stay after an illness. Thomas moves out of the house and into the theater. New theater manager Piers finds expensive work needs to be done on the building, and starts an affair with Martha. George is suspicious of Piers.

Season 1, Episode 5: Moving Pictures
Original Air Date-6 November 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.

Season 1, Episode 6: Broadway, Here I Come
Original Air Date-13 November 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.

Season 1, Episode 7: Revenge Is Sweet
Original Air Date-20 November 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.

Season 1, Episode 8: Get Me to the Church on Time
Original Air Date-27 November 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.

Season 1, Episode 9: The Actress and the Bishop
Original Air Date-4 December 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.

Season 1, Episode 10: Forbidden Fruit
Original Air Date-11 December 1987
Focusing on the complicated romantic lives of the three young Brett siblings.

Season 1, Episode 11: Forbidden Fruit: Part Two
Original Air Date-18 December 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.

Season 1, Episode 12: All Right on the Night
Original Air Date-27 December 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.

Season 1, Episode 13: Grand Finale
Original Air Date-January 1988
After fire damages the Princess Theatre, the Bretts plan a Christmas pantomime of "Cinderella" to stave off financial ruin.

Season 1, Episode 14: Home and Away: Part One
Original Air Date-January 1988
Told he needs a vacation, Charles and family visit Edwin's villa in the south of France. Perdita sneaks home once the family is gone to be able to carry on with her boyfriend.

Season 1, Episode 15: Home and Away: Part Two
Original Air Date-1988
Charles' heart attack scares the family, alerts the press, and leaves Charles considering an offer for the Princess Theatre. Hegarty's nephew Fergus Ryan appears, impressing Emily. Silverstein suspends Edwin for the rest of his 3-year film contract. New cook Mrs. Dean wows the family after the vegetarian mush served by the unlamented Gladys.

Season 1, Episode 16: A House Divided
Original Air Date-1988
Hagerty discovers Fergus is on the run from Irish thugs. Charles refuses to use Equity contracts and threatens legal action. Eduardo attacks Martha, but Oliver Mortimer shows her that going to court would shred her reputation and then asks her out.

Season 1, Episode 17: The Luck of the Irish
Original Air Date-1988
Doing research on hospitals for a play, Thomas meets a cheeky medical student. Fergus is still terrified that the killer he saw will come after him. Oliver wants Martha to campaign with him, and Thomas' new flame Meg turns out to be the sister of Oliver's opponent. Lydia talks Charles into playing Romeo opposite her in a radio play.

Season 1, Episode 18: I've Got You Under My Skin
Original Air Date-1988
The staff are still grieving Hegarty's death, and Sutton blames himself. Charles' and Lydia's touring companies are doing badly because everyone prefers "talkies," but Charles refuses to believe people won't come if the show is good. Oliver continues to pursue Martha. Edwin's proposal to turn some theatres into cinemas angers Charles. Claudia tries to help Sutton stop blaming himself for Hegarty's death. Guy Benson wants to screen test Perdita even though she says she wants a stage career, but Charles and Lydia mistrust his motives.

Season 1, Episode 19: The Golden Dustman
Original Air Date-1988
Edwin and Diana continue their affair, but Diana becomes more jealous as Edwin spends more time filming and dining with his co-star. Oliver proposes to Martha. Edwin and Charles agree to appear in Douglas Barron's movie of "Our Mutual Friend" in return for distribution rights for their cinema chain. Meanwhile, Lydia stars in "Strike Up the Band."

Directed by Ronald Wilson, David Reynolds, John Bruce, Baz Taylor
Written by Rosemary Anne Sisson, Frank Marshall, Herb Schmerz
Produced by Tony Charles
Executive Produced by Ted Childs, Frank Marshall
Original Music by David Cullen, David Mackay
Costume Design by Val Metheringham, Stuart Currell