Masterpiece Theater

About a World War I British regiment (composed of workers at the royal estate at Sandringham), which goes into combat at Ballipoli in 1915.--from TV Guide.

Part One opens with Davids birth, which occurs shortly after the death of his father. Great Aunt Betsey arrives for the event, eagerly anticipating a girl. Thwarted in her wishes, she leaves in disgust, never to return. Young David has a happy childhood, with a memorable visit to his nanny Peggottys relatives, who live in a ship house on the coast. On his return, he finds his mother has married Mr. Murdstone, a paranoid disciplinarian. After David bites Murdstone during a beating, the boy is sent to a boarding school run by the severe Mr. Creakle. There, he falls under the protection of Steerforth, an older student. The school is the least of Murdstones torments, for when Davids mother dies the stepfather sends him to work at a sweatshop in London. Again, David finds a patron--this time Mr. Micawber, a profligate family man with whom he lodges. But Micawber is soon sent to debtors prison, and David is homeless. Destitute, he walks to Dover where he has heard his Aunt Betsey lives. She offers him a nurturing home, shared with her lovable, lunatic lodger, Mr. Dick. The first part closes as David matures into a young man, with bright prospects before him.

The plot thickens in Part Two, which finds David residing with Aunt Betseys lawyer, Mr. Wickfield and his daughter, Agnes. Wickfields obsequious clerk, Uriah Heep, lurks malevolently on the margins. Meanwhile, David is apprenticed to another lawyer, Mr. Spenlow, who has a charming if flighty daughter, Dora. Oblivious to the charms of Agnes, whom he treats as a sister, David falls in love with Dora and begins courting her, although her father disapproves. Unbeknownst to all, Heep has his eye on Agnes and on Wickfields business. By chance, David encounters his old schoolboy hero, Steerforth. Together they set forth to visit the ship house, where reside Davids old nanny, Peggotty; her taciturn husband, Barkis; Peggottys fisherman brother, Daniel; his nephew, Ham; and Hams cousin and fiance, Little Emily. Secretly enamored with Emily, the unscrupulous Steerforth convinces her to run away with him. Daniel sets out in hot pursuit, following them through many countries. More villainy unfolds as Heep ruins not only Wickfield but Aunt Betsey, who, with Mr. Dick, comes to live with David. Meanwhile, Micawber has reentered the picture as Heeps reluctant clerk. Wickfield expires, leaving Dora penniless and hence a fitting match for the equally destitute David. They marry and David pursues his new career as an author, but Dora, too, soon dies. All is not lost, for Micawber exposes Heeps financial fraud, restoring Aunt Betseys wealth. And Daniel finally tracks down Emily, who has been abandoned to an appalling life by Steerforth. Just as David arrives at the ship house with news of Emilys rescue, Ham dies in a storm while trying to rescue a drowning man, who turns out to be Steerforth. Dickens ties up loose ends by seeing that David and Agnes are married; that the Micawbers, Daniel and Emily start a new life in Australia; and Aunt Betsey finally gets that niece