Synopsis:

The Butlers have been big lottery winners and from the proceeds have bought Little Woltard Hall, much to the chagrin of Councillor Violet Montague who is doing her level best to destroy the Butlers standing with the villagers.  She is always up at the hall complaining, dragging her policeman nephew Rupert along.  Delvis Butler and his wife Sharleen play up to her pretending to be uncouth mindless people, when in fact he runs a successful business and she is a recognised artist. 

The Butlers are hoping to host a high-end diamond exhibition and are awaiting the arrival of Jane the jeweller’s representative, to view the facilities at the Hall.  Jane is bringing with her a very expensive individually designed necklace, to show the standard of what to expect in the exhibition.  However, when Delvis’ estranged sister Miranda, who has an ‘interest’ in all things sparkly, arrives unannounced, and Iggy Butler starts brewing homemade rhubarb wine from grandmas’ recipes events take unexpected turns. 

Rupert has an unfortunate incident over a shrinking uniform and pots of paint, the rhubarb wine has an interesting effect on the Councillor, and her sister, Ada Bissett, has an unusual side-line to her day job as Editor of a High-End Magazine, which necessitates police investigation.  
The necklace is said to be a fake, or is it, and who knocks Miranda over the head with something heavy and what has happened to the diamond necklace?
 

Cast:

Henry Lucas (m, 50+) – the epitome of a butler, Henry is also a bit radical, slightly camp, sporting ear studs and always dressed in an old-fashioned butler’s outfit which doesn’t fit that well. Over the years, Henry has not looked after his personal finances and Sir Willoughby paid a pittance so a bit of additional income would always be welcome…

 

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Councillor Violet Montague, J.P. (f,60+) – acid tongued Violet is waspish and thinks she is top dog in the village, disappointed that she did not get moved into Little Woltard Hall on the arms of the late Sir Willougby. Always dressed sensibly in two-piece suit, white blouse, bead necklace, thick tights and flat brogue shoes. If Violet made trouble for the Butlers, perhaps by making a piece in the collection to be exhibited at the house disappear, that might be a way of getting them out…

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Police Constable Rupert Hare (m,20+) – PC Hare is the nephew of Violet, not the sharpest knife in the drawer, awkward and shy, Rupert cow tows to his aunt. He fancies the socks off LaToya who teases him mercilessly but is secretly waiting for him to pluck up the courage to ask her for a date. Note that Rupert will need to undress down to shirt, boxer shorts and socks. Maybe it is all an act and Rupert wants to be able to be financially free and leave the Force, where he is constantly taunted…

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Delvis Butler (m,50+) – larger than life, Delvis is a self-made man from East London, a rough diamond who through a big lottery win has managed to buy up Little Woltard Hall. Delvis has married “above himself” to the successful artist Sharleen and is trying to better himself and lose his cockney accent. He delights in taunting Violet and reverts to his best “Eastender” to wind her up. He has a kind heart but is none to pleased when his sister Miranda turns up

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Sharleen Butler (f,40+) – Sharleen is a successful modern artist and met Delvis on one of his “bettering meself” expeditions to her gallery. After marrying Delvis, she and her daughter LaToya and son Iggy / daughter Izzy (TBC) moved in to Little Woltard Hall with Delvis and Sharleen is now busy modernising the place, much to the dismay of Violet. Sharleen is well-spoken, but happy to play along with Delvis’ winding up of Violet by pretending to be an alcoholic from the slums of the East End.

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Iggy / Izzy Butler (f/m, 20+) – son / daughter (TBC) of Sharleen, Iggy/Izzy is a free spirit and exudes a Goth/Hippy (TBC) vibe. Iggy/Izzy is keen to experiment with various substances including the production of some very special Rhubarb wine…  Iggy/Izzy is accused by Violet of skinny dipping in the river running alongside Little Woltard Hall. Without access to his/her mother or stepfather’s wealth, Iggy/Izzy could really do with some funds to acquire some extra special substances…

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Miranda Pickersgill (f, 40+) – Miranda is Delvis’ sister and holds firmly onto her roots and is astonished to learn that Delvis has married Sharleen, gently poking at his attempts to better himself and lose his “common” accent. Miranda is a light-fingered lady who has made her way through life by relieving others of their wealth. The obvious person to have committed the crime…. Or is she?!?

 

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LaToya Butler (f,18+) – LaToya is Sharleen’s daughter and Iggy/Izzy’s sister – very much into fashion she reluctantly relocated to Little Woltard Hall and is bored with the country life, preferring a party life. Very much the opposite of her brother/sister, LaToya is into fashion, makeup, glued to her smartphone. She is hoping that Rupert will overcome his shyness and ask her out. Sharleen has always made it clear that LaToya needs to make her own way in the world, so if LaToya really wants the very latest iPhone, smart dresses, Jewellery, cashing in some baubles could be a quick way to get there…

 

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Jane Cottingley (f, 25+) – Jane is your archetypal upwardly mobile City professional, smartly dressed and well spoken. Jane is assistant to the world famous jeweller Karina de Blandezkill and is planning to present the latest jewellery collection at Little Woltard Hall. She has brought a diamond necklace from the collection to see how it looks in the light and setting of the Hall. 

 

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Ada Bissett (f,50+) – Ada is Violet’s sister and is a younger version, albeit more “mutton dressed as lamb” with a dark two-piece suit, dark silk blouse, tottering on high heeled shoes, heavy looking beads, ear-rings and bracelets. A gold-digger, Ada has managed to dump her first husband and marry into old money and get a position as Editor of Stately Homes and Formal Gardens Magazine. She is planning to ensure that her sister, Violet, gets to see the exhibition by insisting that she models for the photo shoot for the magazine piece featuring the collection at Little Woltard Hall. She does have a reputation as a bit of a jackdaw though, so any backup insurance in case the current marital arrangements go south would be welcome…

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