Blandings

Anxious to impress the wealthy Schoonmakers, Connie hires Baxter, a personal secretary, to put a shine on Blandings. But a freshly fertilized rose bed and Freddies attempts to sell dog food to the guests make the visit anything but sophisticated.

Notoriously uptight Baxter is trying to weasel his way into permanent employment at Blandings, but Clarence has bigger problems. His grandson George is terrorizing the estate with an air rifle, and Freddie is being pursued by East End gangsters.

Connie insists Clarence spruce himself up for a visit by the sophisticated Lady Daphne and her spoiled brat, Huxley. But when Daphne takes an unusual interest in Clarence (and his prize pig), Connie becomes suspicious.

Clarence and Connies even more terrifying sister, Charlotte, is threatening to take up residence at Blandings permanently. Freddie comes to the rescue with an audacious plan to steal the Empress.

Clarence has grown an appalling beard, to the dismay of Beach and Connie, but Freddie needs Clarence to convince Hollywood starlet Pauline Petite of his bona-fides.

Hannibal Didcot is bullying Clarence over a fake painting. Connie encourages Hannibal to propose to wealthy American Vanessa Polk, but Galahad and Freddie have other ideas.