A Yank at Oxford

Lee Sheridan, a cocky American athlete, earns a scholarship to Cardinal College, Oxford, in 1937. He hesitates due to his father's limited income but eventually travels to England. On the train to Oxford, he brags about his victories to Paul Beaumont, Wavertree, and Ramsey, which triggers a prank that drops him at the wrong stop. He presses on and makes his way to Oxford, setting the stage for his clash with the college's traditions.

The students try to trick Lee again, making him think he is receiving a grand reception. An impersonator poses as the Dean, but Lee sees through it and, after chasing him, ends up kicking the real Dean. This incident seeds a tense, early strain in Lee's relationship with Cardinal's leadership that will influence his stay at Oxford. He later reports to apologize, beginning a cautious reconciliation.

Lee contemplates leaving Oxford, but Scatters, his scout, convinces him to stay. He meets Elsa Craddock, a married woman who helps new campus students, and begins a complicated relationship with Molly, Paul’s sister. These personal entanglements complicate his fledgling acceptance within the college.

Lee earns a place on the track team and quickly proves himself by outrunning rivals while wearing a tweed suit, cap, and gown. His flashy success helps him fit in with campus life, though it also stirs resentment among some students and referees. The mix of athletic triumph and flamboyant style marks his early dominance on the field.

In a pivotal track meet against Cambridge, Lee refuses to rest and pushes Paul out of the way to secure victory. The crowd reacts with shock at his ruthless conduct, underscoring the growing rift between his ambition and team loyalty. The episode foreshadows the mounting tensions behind the scenes.

That evening, Lee is hazed with the traditional Oxford funeral march and debagging, a ritual the Dean seems to enjoy as part of the culture. Scatters explains that the supposed win is not a real victory in the eyes of the college. The hazing further strains Lee's relationship with the Dean and the student body.

Lee confronts Paul in a pub, leading to a fight that drags in the Oxford University police, the Bullers. Lee punches the Buller to escape, and Paul faces a disciplinary hearing with the Dean for his associations with Elsa. Paul takes the rap, and Lee's standing with Paul's old friends begins to shift again.

Months pass as Lee becomes involved with Molly, and Paul grows closer to Elsa, who is seen secretly pursuing others. The tangled relationships intensify the social dynamics at Oxford, affecting trust and camaraderie among the boys. Elsa's scheming adds another layer of tension to Lee's college life.

Lee begins rowing for the Oxford University Boat Club and is selected as Cardinal's stroke for the bumps race. His discipline and physical prowess position him as a leader, yet personal entanglements keep threatening his focus. The rowing choice cements his central role in Oxford's athletic narrative.

After a win, Lee tries to mend fences with Paul, but Paul rejects the offer of friendship. Elsa intensifies her flirtations and begins seducing another student, with her husband pursuing and interrupting her schemes. The tensions between loyalty, desire, and reputation come to a head.

Lee hides Elsa in his room, and the Dean expels him from Oxford. A crowd of Cardinal students escorts him to the train station, while Dan arrives to watch Lee row against Cambridge, unaware of the expulsion. The immediate consequences shock the college and set the stage for a reunion plan.

Dan Sheridan and Molly devise a plan to get Lee back into Oxford. Dan convinces Elsa to speak with the Dean and, by flirting and claiming Lee hid her from Wavertree, aims to soften the punishment. The family-driven strategy highlights the power of personal leverage in the university's politics.

Elsa's intervention persuades the Dean to allow Lee back into Oxford, ending his exile. Wavertree learns that his own punishment will be minor, a blow to his plans for an inheritance. The social tides shift as Lee’s status begins to rebound.

Oxford wins The Boat Race, and Paul faints from the strain and emotion of the moment. The Craddocks move to Aldershot, near the Officers Club, signaling a new chapter in Lee's life beyond the university. The outcome cements a fragile reconciliation among key players.