Alberto is the eleventh episode of the fifth and final series of the period drama

Period piece

-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres...

 Upstairs, Downstairs

Upstairs, Downstairs

Upstairs, Downstairs is a British drama television series originally produced by London Weekend Television and revived by the BBC. It ran on ITV in 68 episodes divided into five series from 1971 to 1975, and a sixth series shown on the BBC on three consecutive nights, 26–28 December 2010.Set in a...

. It first aired on 16 November 1975 on ITV

ITV

ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...

.

Background

The Understudy was recorded in the studio on 15 and 16 May 1975. This episode marks the final appearance of Gareth Hunt as Frederick Norton.

Cast

• Simon Williams
  Simon Williams (actor)
  Simon Williams is an English actor known for playing James Bellamy in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs. Frequently playing upper-class roles, he is also known for playing Dr...
  
   - James Bellamy
  James Bellamy
  Major The Honourable James Rupert Bellamy MC is a fictional character in the ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, that was originally broadcast for five series from 1971 to 1975...
  
  
• Joan Benham
  Joan Benham
  Joan Benham was an English actress best known for her portrayal of Lady Prudence Fairfax in the ITV period drama series Upstairs, Downstairs...
  
   - Lady Prudence Fairfax
• Angela Baddeley
  Angela Baddeley
  Angela Baddeley, CBE , born Madeline Angela Clinton-Baddeley, was an English actress best remembered for her role as Mrs Bridges in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs...
  
   - Mrs Bridges
• Jean Marsh
  Jean Marsh
  Jean Lyndsey Torren Marsh is an English actress, occasional screenwriter, and co-creator of the television series Upstairs, Downstairs and The House of Eliott....
  
   - Rose
• Lesley-Anne Down
  Lesley-Anne Down
  Lesley-Anne Down is a British film and television actress, former model and singer.Down achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the ITV drama series Upstairs, Downstairs...
  
   - Georgina Worsley
• Christopher Beeny
  Christopher Beeny
  Born in London, Beeny began his career at the age of six when he danced for the ' Ballet Rambert. He spent several years at the ' Arts Educational School before later progressing to 'RADA.His first screen role was in the 1952 film The Long Memory...
  
   - Edward
• Gareth Hunt
  Gareth Hunt
  Alan Leonard Hunt was an English actor, known as Gareth Hunt, best remembered for playing the footman Frederick Norton in Upstairs, Downstairs and Mike Gambit in The New Avengers.-Early life:...
  
   - Frederick
• Jacqueline Tong
  Jacqueline Tong
  Jacqueline Tong is an English actress who is best known for playing Daisy Barnes in the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs from 1973 to 1975. In 1975, she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in the Primetime Emmy Awards.-Early life:Tong was born in Bristol,...
  
   - Daisy
• Madeline Cannon - Lady Dolly Hale
• Seymour Green - Paul Marvin
• Rowland Davies - Assistant Director

Plot

It is June 1927, and Lady Prudence accompanies James to Royal Ascot, and they stay down there for five days. Edward, who is Under Butler

Butler

A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its...

 while Hudson

Angus Hudson

Angus Hudson was a fictional character in the ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs, portrayed by actor Gordon Jackson from 1971 until 1975.-Biography:...

 is in Berlin

Berlin

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

 with Lord and Lady Bellamy, goes with them.

Meanwhile, Lady Dolly Hale invites round Paul Marvin, a film maker

Film director

A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...

, to see Georgina. Marvin arranges for Georgina to star in one of his films, Paris by Night. Lady Dolly takes a liking to Frederick, and they soon become secret lovers. When James returns from Ascot, and he dislikes the idea of Georgina starring in a film, and is worried when she tells him he is going for a costume fitting alone with Marvin. However, James and Lady Prudence go to the film studio to see Georgina's scene, unbeknownst to her. However, Lady Dolly has planned for Frederick, who is also in the film, and Georgina to have to kiss in the scene. Both Georgina and Frederick are unaware of this until the scene is about to be filmed, and when James see he is furious and shouts at Lady Dolly, who has come to watch. Frederick then leaves, as do James and Lady Prudence. Georgina stays, but Marvin advises she go back to her dressing room.

When James and Lady Prudence get back to Eaton Place, James admits that he is jealous when Georgina has fun, and Lady Prudence correctly guesses that he is in love with Georgina. Shortly after, an unrepentant Frederick gives in his notice, which a furious James accepts. Frederick then leaves the same day, telling the other servants that he has seen a new life for himself, starring in films and going out with rich women.