The newly-appointed Cabinet Minister for Administrative Affairs soon finds many of his ideas for reform openly opposed by the civil servants whose job it is to implement them.
Government Ministers come and go, but Civil Servants are in the Ministry forever. Therefore it is the job of every responsible Government bureaucrat to ensure that meddling politicians do not rock the boat.
If the PM gives false information to Parliament, should the Cabinet Secretary support him, or should he tell all? As Sir Humphrey ponders the ethics, he finds that he, too, has something to hide.
A major City crisis seems set to rock the Government. With the Party Conference upcoming, it is time for firm action by a decisive Prime Minister. Sir Humphrey could not disagree more.
The Minister is in possession of some embarrassing information on the sale of British arms to Italian terrorists. It takes all of Sir Humphrey's skill to convince Jim not to do anything foolish with the news.
At the Ministry of Administrative Affairs the conflict of interests continues. The Minister's and Sir Humphrey's concerns do not overlap, but they are becoming adept at compromise.
At the Ministry the conflicts of interest continue when the Minister is asked to approve the departmental recommendations for the honours list. Meanwhile, Sir Humphrey tackles government policy on the tuition fees of overseas students.
Sir Loren is caught ill-treating a blacksmith, and is banished from his home by his father. Then, Loren kills his young brother in the forest and Robin and Little John are the only witnesses.
In a fit of jealousy, an evil brother murders his virtuous sibling.