The Buccaneers

In this lavishly produced BBC adaptation of Edith Wharton's famous novel, you'll share the excitement and heartache of four beautiful American heiresses who journey to England in search of love and adventure. Too nouveau riche for the Gilded Age society of Newport and New York, the young women hope their large dowries will snag suitably upper-class English husbands. With help from a glamorous friend, they soon have their pick of suitors. But will marriage guarantee happiness? An acclaimed five-part miniseries starring Academy Award®-winner Mira Sorvino (Mighty Aphrodite) and Michael Kitchen (Falling, Foyle's War), as seen on Masterpiece Theatre.

Snubbed as nouveau riche by elitist New York society, three free-spirited American beauties set out to try their luck in the London season. Sisters Virginia and Nan St George are accompanied by a radical English governess, Laura Testvalley, and their friend Lizzie Elmsworth, who is also on the lookout for an advantageous marriage.

Sponsored by their glamorous friend, Conchita Closson (newly married to a lord), the girls descend on the impoverished English aristocracy, charming all with their vivacity, spontaneity and wealth. Offers come flooding in, and the greatest prize of all goes to Nan, who catches the eye of the Duke of Trevenick, the most eligible man in England.

But each fairytale romance turns sour when the independent-minded young Americans are exposed to the grim realities of English stifling convention and Victorian hypocrisy. And when Nan discovers her husband in bed with the stable boy she is provoked into a shocking rebellion.

Invasion - In Newport, Rhode Island, the daughters of the ‘new money’ families are enjoying the summer of 1873, while their mothers, snubbed by the elitist New York society, ponder how they can make an entrée into the higher social echelons. So the engagement of the sultry and unconventional Conchita Closson to the dissipated English aristocrat Lord Richard Marable, second son of Lord and Lady Brightlingsea, causes a stir among her companions, Virginia and Annabel (Nan) St George and their friend Lizzy Elmsworth.

Nan, the youngest of the girls, awaits the imminent arrival of her new English governess, Laura Testvalley.The two soon realise that in each other they have a soul mate, as - supported by a mutual love of poetry and art - they share a view of the outside world.

The ruse of sending Virginia and Lizzy disguised as Lord Richard’s sisters to the Parmore ball, pinnacle of the Newport season, sees the girls even more isolated on the fringes of the New York set, and Mrs St George’s society aspirations are now totally exhausted. However, Laura Testvalley suggests a solution: “You do realise that Conchita will soon be part of one of the finest families in England. If Virginia and Annabel ever wanted to do a London season, knowing the Brightlingseas would be an enormous help. It might be much easier than New York, and if they got on well over there, when they came back to America, they would be invited everywhere”. And so, accompanied by Laura and Mrs St George, the girls set out to take London by storm.

At his ancestral stately home at Allfriars, Lord Richard’s introduction of his exotic new wife causes consternation, although Lady Brightlingsea has to admit to Laura and her American friend Jacky March (whom Lord Brightlingsea once jilted): “She’s very beautiful. One can quite see why Richard lost his head. Dogs adore her.” Hoping to wean her eldest son Lord Seadown away from his mistress Idina Hatton, she is intrigued to hear of the other new beauties from America, and especially the Wall Street triumphs of their fathers. Virginia and Nan are invited to Allfriars. Even Lord Brightlingsea – rooted in his dislike of all things American – falls for their charms.

Nan too is charmed – by Allfriars. But then she visits Honourslove, home of Sir Helmsley Thwaite and his ambitious but poverty-stricken son Guy, who stirs her heart.

As the Americans take over Idina Hatton’s Thameside cottage at Runnymede - and are joined by Lizzy Elmsworth - the stage is set for their invasion of the English aristocracy.

“You know what Miss March calls you?” Laura asks. “The Buccaneers. She says the English invaded America; now it’s your turn.”

Conquest - Runnymede becomes a magnet for the eligible young men of England, including the young Tory MP Hector Robinson. Conchita schemes with Virginia about landing Lord Seadown, while taking advantage of her husband Richard’s prolonged absences to flirt with the bachelors.

Only Julius, Duke of Trevenick, seems ill at ease there.The only thing that ever seems to animate him is his collection of clocks at the family seat of Longlands. But while he is at his ancestral home,Trevenick Castle, he encounters Nan St George, who is on a visit to Cornwall with her governess and is overwhelmed by the rugged grandeur of the place.

Meanwhile at Runnymede, the indolent atmosphere is shattered when Idina Hatton suddenly appears.To her chagrin and against her express wishes, Seadown is one of the group paying court to the Americans.Worse is to come. As she loses a emotion-charged game of cards, in front of her eyes, Lizzy sets up the bethrothal of Virginia and Seadown. The marriage will elevate Virginia to first marchioness of England, a fact her mother loses no time in reporting to Mrs Parmore in New York.

Julius wants Guy Thwaite to stand as a member of Parliament for their area, and is disheartened to hear of his plans to make his fortune working on the railways of South America. Guy can think of no other way to save Honourslove.

At Honourslove, Nan is shocked to hear of Guy’s imminent departure from England. She is still reeling from the news when Julius calls. He has been told by Laura that Nan is planning to return to New York with her parents after Virginia’s wedding.The news has spurred him into action and he proposes.

Ambush - Virginia has done her duty and provided a son and heir for the Brightlingsea dynasty, unaware that her husband is still seeing his mistress. She is looking forward to a visit from Nan, now returned from her honeymoon with Julius.

As Nan tries to settle into Longlands, she is instructed by the Dowager Duchess on the running of the household. The bewildering array of aristocratic etiquette is daunting enough, but Nan had not realised that she and her new husband would be occupying separate bedrooms. She is still a virgin. Her confidence is further dented by overhearing Julius tell his mother that they would be able to mould her to their requirements, then shattered when the uneasy marriage is finally consummated in a brutal rape.

News arrives that Colonel St George has been ruined by Wall Street (“a fickle friend and a murderous enemy”). Virginia is left destitute, dependent on the poverty-stricken Brightlingseas, who only accepted for her wealth in the first place.

Lizzy Elmsworth marries the rising politician, Hector Robinson.

Conchita is told by her husband, Lord Richard, that he has syphilis. She too has a lover – Miles Dawnley – and now discovers that she is pregnant by him.

Nan too is pregnant, but loses the child after intervening – against Julius’ wishes – to try to save a family on the estate from the ravages of typhoid. Reunited briefly with Laura, she remembers the idealism they talked about in Newport. Only the news from Sir Helmsley that Guy is on his way home to Honourslove raises Nan’s spirits.

Capture - At Longlands, an unhappy Conchita is complaining: “tied in one of those awful English marriages which strangle you in the noose when you try to get away from them.”Trapped in the mausoleum-like atmosphere of the Trevenick family home, Nan agrees.

At Christmas, Nan scandalises family members and guests by retiring to her room with Guy, where she tells him: “I’m not the Duchess. But I’m not the Annabel you used to know either. I’m a stranger even to myself.”

Conchita needs money from her friend for an abortion, and Julius reluctantly comes up with the money. He regards it as part of a bargain to restore their relationship, a ploy which alienates Nan even more. She is bitterly regretting her marriage.

Escaping to London to stay with Lizzy and Hector Robinson, she pays regular visits to Westminster to see Guy. Julius follows her and insists that she play by the rules and continue their façade of a marriage. Leaving London, she tells Guy: “I don’t want a life of lies and hypocrisy. At Longlands I know what my role is, and it has substance and honour. Can’t that be enough to make up for my unhappiness?”

Virgina’s financial standing becomes more secure when her father joins business forces with Hector Robinson. She is expecting her second child, and visits Idina at Runnymede.There she is shocked to hear that her lover has deserted her for a younger woman.

Plunder - Guy Thwaite is summoned back to his constituency by his sponsor, Julius, after he voices his opinions on the abolition of the House of Lords.The two old friends come to blows:“You’re an ambitious man with only one foot in the stirrup,” the Duke taunts him. “Your arguments are third-rate; they’re the arguments of a political adventurer. Or should I just say adventurer?”

That night Nan discovers that her husband is homosexual, and the next day she confronts him over his refusal to allow his sister Gertrude to marry the man she loves. Fleeing to Allfriars, she pours out her heart to Laura, before being told that Guy is also at Allfriars. Heedless of everyone, the two drive off together.

Although Sir Helmsley is in love with Laura, he now abandons her, accusing her of being the go-between for “that little American upstart and my son”.The scandal reaches the newspapers, which announce that Julius is suing Nan for divorce on the grounds of adultery. Meanwhile, Guy delivers the political speech of his life. But he cannot sweet-talk his father and he is disinherited.

The ruined Lord Brightlingsea dies, and Nan arrives at his funeral to say farewell to her family and friends. She and Guy are leaving England for South Africa.

Dismissed from her post, Laura takes refuge with her old friend, Jacky March.

“When I called our girls The Buccaneers, I didn’t imagine piracy on such a scale,” Miss March says wryly. “One’s best creations have a life of their own. I’m proud of each one of them,” Laura tells her.

Nan St. George	---	Carla Gugino
Conchita Closson	---	Mira Sorvino
Virginia St. George	---	Alison Elliot
Lizzy Elmsworth	---	Rya Kihlstedt
Mrs. St. George	---	Gwen Humble
Laura Testvalley	---	Cherie Lunghi
Col. St. George	---	Peter Michael Goetz
Mrs. Closson	---	Elizabeth Ashley
Mr. Closson	---	James Rebhorn
Lord Richard	---	Ronan Vibert
Mrs. Parmore	---	E. Katherine Kerr
Lord Brightlingsea	---	Dinsdale Landen
Lady Brightlingsea	---	Rosemary Leach
Fisher	---	Bev Willis
Lady Honoria	---	Sophie Dix
Lady Felicia	---	Sienna Guillory
Lady Georgina	---	Emily Hamilton
Idina Hatton	---	Jenny Agutter
Lord Seadown	---	Mark Tandy
Miss March	---	Connie Booth
Guy Thwaite	---	Greg Wise
Sir Helmsley Thwaite	---	Michael Kitchen
Hector Robinson	---	Richard Huw
Miles Dawnley	---	Gresby Nash
Lord Percy	---	Matt Patresi
Lt. James	---	Stephen Billington
Julius Folyat	---	James Frain
Duchess of Trevenick	---	Sheila Hancock
Lady Gertrude	---	Diana Blackburn
Mrs. Lindfrey	---	Karen Ascoe

Written by Edith Wharton
Screenplay by Maggie Wadey
Directed by Philip Saville
Produced by Philip Saville
Executive Produced by Rebecca Eaton, Phillippa Giles
Original Music by Colin Towns
Cinematography by Remi Adefarasin
Film Editing by Greg Miller
Costume Design by Rosalind Ebbutt

Glorious locations include Castle Howard?featured in Brideshead Revisited?and Newport mansions Marble House and Chateau-sur-Mer.