Gosford Park

In November 1932, the grand estate of Gosford Park played host to a weekend shooting party, replete with esteemed guests. Sir William McCordle, a wealthy English industrialist, welcomed his wife Lady Sylvia, their daughter Isobel, and an assortment of family members, acquaintances, and strangers into their opulent country home. The gathering included Louisa and Lavinia, Sir William's sisters-in-law; Lord (Raymond) Stockbridge and Commander Anthony Meredith, their husbands; Constance, Countess of Trentham, Lady Sylvia's aunt; the Honorable Freddie and Mabel Nesbitt; actor Ivor Novello; and American film producer Morris Weissman. Additionally, the weekend saw the arrival of latecomers Lord Rupert Standish and Jeremy Blond. As the guests settled in, Mrs. Wilson, the housekeeper, efficiently assigned the visiting servants to their quarters, taking note of Robert Parks, Lord Stockbridge's valet, who spoke candidly about his humble beginnings in an orphanage. Meanwhile, Head Housemaid Elsie guided the inexperienced Mary MacEachran, Lady Trentham's maid, through the intricacies of social etiquette and the complexities of the estate's labyrinthine layout.

As the evening unfolded, a sense of unease permeated the atmosphere, sparked by the discovery that a silver carving knife had gone missing. Henry Denton, Weissman's valet, raised suspicions among the staff with his probing inquiries, while also indulging in a clandestine tryst with Lady Sylvia. Isobel confided in Elsie about her troubled affair with Freddie, who was blackmailing her over their illicit relationship and the subsequent termination of her pregnancy. Freddie, meanwhile, exhibited a callous disregard for his wife Mabel, whom he had married under false pretenses, having grossly overestimated her wealth. As tensions mounted, Rupert began to court Isobel, further complicating the already precarious dynamics at play.

The following morning, the men set out on a pheasant shooting expedition, leaving the ladies to their own devices. Sir William suffered a close call when a stray shot grazed his ear, prompting him to withdraw from Anthony's dubious business venture and leave the commander financially ruined. Lady Sylvia later informed her aunt Constance that Sir William might reconsider her allowance, setting off a chain reaction of emotions.

As dinner drew to a close, Elsie inadvertently exposed the affair between Sir William and Lady Sylvia, prompting her abrupt departure from the room in shame. The situation was further exacerbated by Sir William's hasty exit to the library, where he became increasingly agitated and demanding of whisky from Mrs. Wilson. As the guests retired to the drawing room for an evening of music and merriment, provided by Ivor Novello on the piano, the servants gathered outside, listening intently to the revelry within. Amidst the festivities, four individuals - Freddie, Anthony, Robert, and footman George - slipped away unnoticed. It was during this momentary lapse that one of the men, seen only from the waist down, retrieved the missing knife and entered the library, where Sir William slumped in his chair, ultimately succumbing to a fatal attack.

As the discovery of Sir William's lifeless body sends shockwaves through the estate, Inspector Thompson and Constable Dexter arrive on the scene, their ineptitude and competence a stark contrast that sets the tone for the investigation to come. Meanwhile, Henry (an American actor masquerading as Weissman's Scottish valet) continues his clandestine affair with Lady Sylvia, his true identity revealed in a moment of passion and deception.

The truth about Sir William's demise begins to unravel, revealing a toxic legacy of abuse and exploitation that has left its mark on the estate's inhabitants. The staff is shocked by the revelation that Mrs. Croft, the head cook, had been forced to abandon her own child after becoming pregnant as a result of Sir William's unwanted advances. This dark history serves as a catalyst for Isobel's generosity towards Freddie, whose subsequent anger and tears only add to the growing tension.

As Inspector Thompson hastily releases the guests without conducting thorough interviews with the staff, Mary begins to piece together the events surrounding Sir William's murder. Her suspicions are confirmed when she confronts Robert, who reveals his true identity as Sir William's illegitimate son, driven by a desire for revenge and proximity to his father. Despite his protestations of innocence, Mary is convinced that he could not have committed the crime, given the circumstances of Sir William's poisoning.

As the guests depart, Freddie pursues a business opportunity with Anthony, while Isobel rejects Rupert after overhearing his discussion about her inheritance. Meanwhile, Elsie accepts a ride to London with Weissman, Novello, and Henry, as the evening wears on and secrets begin to unravel.

Lady Trentham and Lady Sylvia engage in a conversation that sparks Mary's curiosity, leading her to uncover a web of deceit and long-standing feuds between the estate's inhabitants. She learns that Mrs. Wilson, Robert's mother, had been forced to give up her child after becoming pregnant at Sir William's factory, while her sister, Mrs. Croft, had suffered a similar fate. The revelation prompts Mary to confront Mrs. Wilson, who confesses to poisoning Sir William in order to protect her son from committing murder.

As the truth comes to light, Mary must navigate her feelings for Robert and her newfound understanding of his motivations. With the last of the guests departing, she says goodbye to Robert, choosing not to reveal his mother's secrets or the true circumstances surrounding Sir William's death. The curtain closes on a tale of love, betrayal, and redemption, as the characters disappear into the night, forever changed by their experiences at the estate.