This was the initial episode of the SHADES OF GREENE series. Paul Schofield is a con-artist, who happens to have a learned countenance and personality - his con games are usually connected with academia. He has moved to one of England's university towns, so as to give an air of truth to his bogus college degree scam. He will, for a fee, assist the people who write to him to get degrees to impress potential fiancés or employers. He also is willing to give information for term papers or learned inquiries (the latter can prove troubling at times: when Schofield and his assistant get a request from someone wanting to build a bomb, Schofield suggests that they pocket his money and send him a plan to build a bomb, just leaving out some detail that will prevent it from functioning).
One of the people who contacts Schofield is Roy Kinnear, who is a nobleman. At least he says he is a nobleman. He actually is as much a con-artist as Schofield, but he has been taken in by Schofield's advertisement, his learned presence, and his offices in the University town. Schofield helps this along by somehow getting to leave one of the main University buildings with a mortarboard and gown on, in Kinnear's sight. Not that Kinnear is any the less likely to cast stones about this - his dress makes him look like a tweed wearing Edwardian squire.
Kinnear, supposedly, originally wanted Schofield to educate his son, but as soon as he sees what looks like the polish of high class academia in front of him, he suggests that maybe his son and Schofield's unmarried daughter might make a good couple. Schofield likes the idea (thinking his daughter will be marrying into the wealthy gentry). Initially the son and daughter, when told of the plans by their respective fathers, hate the idea, but then they meet. Both kids find they like what they see. They get to know each other, and both blurt out that they are not what their fake fathers are pushing. Suddenly they are both aware that they are in the same boat, but they can be in it together. They can also get rid of those two old fogies who have been pulling them into their out-of-date con-games for years. The last scene is of Schofield and Kinnear smiling benignly at their two children (soon to be married), and the son telling his future wife, "The poor old sods won't know what hit them!"
One of the people who contacts Schofield is Roy Kinnear, who is a nobleman. At least he says he is a nobleman. He actually is as much a con-artist as Schofield, but he has been taken in by Schofield's advertisement, his learned presence, and his offices in the University town. Schofield helps this along by somehow getting to leave one of the main University buildings with a mortarboard and gown on, in Kinnear's sight. Not that Kinnear is any the less likely to cast stones about this - his dress makes him look like a tweed wearing Edwardian squire.
Kinnear, supposedly, originally wanted Schofield to educate his son, but as soon as he sees what looks like the polish of high class academia in front of him, he suggests that maybe his son and Schofield's unmarried daughter might make a good couple. Schofield likes the idea (thinking his daughter will be marrying into the wealthy gentry). Initially the son and daughter, when told of the plans by their respective fathers, hate the idea, but then they meet. Both kids find they like what they see. They get to know each other, and both blurt out that they are not what their fake fathers are pushing. Suddenly they are both aware that they are in the same boat, but they can be in it together. They can also get rid of those two old fogies who have been pulling them into their out-of-date con-games for years. The last scene is of Schofield and Kinnear smiling benignly at their two children (soon to be married), and the son telling his future wife, "The poor old sods won't know what hit them!"