Presiding over the blitzkrieg on his equilibrium is the baleful figure of his sister Connie with whom he shares the house; at her shoulder is Clarence&s brainless younger son Freddie & a panoply of friends enemies servants spongers private detectives bookies & confidence tricksters Only Beach his loyal & long-suffering butler provides consolation Storm-battered Clarence somehow never vanquished occasionally makes everything right through an inspired or accidental intervention