In 1976 the missing heir to the enormous Tichbourne fortune, Sir Roger, is reported as being in Australia, & his brother Alfred sets out to investigate, accompanied by black manservant Andrew Bogle (John Kani). When Alfred dies of drink on arrival, the family deny Andrew the funds necessary to return, & so he advertizes for the missing heir. Butcher Thomas Castro (Robert Pugh), responds, & on the way back to England Andrew instructs him on the etiquette & deportment skills he will require in order to convince. However, although Lady Tichbourne accepts the claimant as her own, influential lords Arundell (Charles Gray) & Seymour (James Villiers) see that he is an imposter, & embark on a lengthy campaign to have him stripped of his new-found wealth & status & imprisoned for fraud.