The Norman Conquests

Welcome to a disastrously funny weekend in the British countryside. Ever hopeful, the irrepressibly charming Norman (Tom Conti) woos all three available women, including his two sisters-in-law and his wife. Based on Sir Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy of plays about unrequited lust and a tryst gone awry. Also stars Richard Briers (Good Neighbors) and Penelope Keith (To the Manor Born) in another BAFTA Award®-winning performance.

Description: Three plays by Alan Ayckbourn, interwoven in plot and time, giving different views of the same weekend. The action takes place in the family home, now occupied by Annie. Norman tries to bring a little happiness to his wife, Ruth, his sister-in-law, Annie, and their sister-in-law, Sarah.

Table Manners
Sarah and Reg arrive at mum's house for the weekend so that invalid mum's care-giver, Reg's sister Annie, can get away for the weekend. But Annie ends up staying, their brother-in-law Norman shows up unexpectedly, and not long after, so does Norman's wife Ruth (Annie and Reg's sister). Sarah tries her best to organize a family dinner for the five of them plus Tom, a slow-witted neighbor whom everyone expects to propose to Annie. Sarah can't get much cooperation and doesn't realize that Annie had planned to sneak off with Norman. Norman is incorrigible, Annie is caught between Tom and a fling, mum is upstairs demanding attention, and there aren't six proper chairs.

Living Together
In Annie's living room. Upstairs is her demanding, invalid, mother. Annie's chatty brother Reg and his anal-retentive wife Sarah arrive to give Annie the weekend off, little knowing that she's arranged an assignation in East Grinsted with Norman, the husband of Ruth, Reg and Annie's successful sister. Their plans go awry and Norman stays there for the weekend, trying for a grope here or there with Annie. Ruth also arrives unexpectedly, so Norman flirts with her as well, while Sarah tries vainly to keep things organized and the dim veterinarian neighbor Tom comes by the see Annie and chat. As people pass in and out of the sitting room, Norman even makes a pass at Sarah.

Round And Round The Garden
In Annie's garden on a weekend she is supposed to go off for a secret tryst with her brother-in-law, Norman. Annie's gotten tired of waiting for dim veterinarian neighbor, Tom, to sweep her off her feet. Her brother Reg and wife Sarah arrive to care for Annie and Reg's mum, so Annie can leave. Norman shows up, hiding in the bushes, and before he can signal Annie, he's spotted and has to pretend he's come to visit. Tom pops round for food, and Norman's wife, the cool and tough Ruth, comes to visit mum. In the garden, Norman tries to spirit Annie away, Reg and Tom speculate on who Norman's got as his "bit on the side," and Ruth sunbathes. Will peace ever return to the garden?

Directed by Herbert Wise
Written by Alan Ayckbourn
Produced by Verity Lambert, David Susskind
Cinematography by Peter Coombs
Costume Design by Anne Salisbury