Set during World War 2 , this deeply ironic tale is, deep down, a story of Anglo Irish relations posing as a love story, come upstairs/downstairs comedy.
Englishman Charlie Ruance is the under butler at widow Mrs Tennant's country mansion in Ireland, a post he savours since here he can avoid the war. But then his superior, the butler, dies and Charlie comes into his own. Not only can he now insist that he be called "Mister" but, he can boss everybody about and fiddle the accounts.
Amongst those trapped with him in the house are the two housemaids and it is one of them, Edith, who brings about his downfall from super butler to man in love.