No Kidding

David and Catherine inherit a large, rundown country house and debate what to do with it. David proposes turning it into a summer holiday home for the children of the wealthy. Catherine is wary due to his previous failed ventures but agrees the plan could give the house a purpose and keep the family busy. They begin to imagine a new livelihood built around the estate.

They advertise in The Times and hire a matron and a cook to manage the house. The venture is meant to project a respectable, well-run operation. But they quickly anticipate resistance from locals, including a wary councillor. The stage is set for early friction between the project and the community.

The children arrive, presenting a mix of demeanor from polite and helpful to wild and spoiled. An American brother and sister and an English girl who falsely claims mistreatment at home stand out. Staff struggle to maintain order as boundaries are tested and episodes of misbehavior begin to emerge. The house fills with both warmth and tension as the program begins.

David pushes for a tougher regime to restore discipline, while Catherine advocates giving the children more freedom within limits. The cook is frequently drunk, undermining authority and complicating management. Tensions among the adults rise as they disagree on how to handle disruptive behavior. The atmosphere becomes unsettled and fragile.

During a clandestine midnight trip to a nearby café, some children slip away from supervision. They are grounded for two days as a consequence. Staff and parents realize control over the group is slipping and that misbehavior risks spiraling. The incident tests the family's resolve and the viability of the venture.

News arrives that the local council intends to send an inspector to assess the operation, and Mrs Spicer advocates possibly purchasing the house. The looming inspection raises the stakes for the Robinsons and their staff. They brace for a formal evaluation that could end the venture or validate it. The situation casts a shadow over the summer project.

The Robinsons rally the staff and children to present a well-managed image for the inspector's visit. They organize routines and rehearsed behavior to avoid any slip-ups. The inspector and Mrs Spicer observe with careful, formal scrutiny. The day becomes a test of their ability to run a compliant, orderly program.

When the parents arrive to collect the children, David explains that the children refuse to depart unless their parents promise to spend more time with them. The parents pause, then commit to being more involved, reframing their children’s stay. The children depart with their parents, leaving the house quieter but with a new undercurrent of unresolved hopes. The staff watch the exchange, sensing a turning point.

Impressed by what she has seen, Mrs Spicer says she will no longer oppose the holiday home business. The inspector’s concerns appear less daunting after the children depart and the parents’ commitment is demonstrated. The decision signals a possible grant of legitimacy for the venture. The community reaction is cautiously optimistic.

The Robinsons’ son voices his disappointment at losing his playmates to the holiday operation. Catherine reminds David that the children’s needs could shape their future, not just the business. The family considers the emotional fallout and what it means for the house’s future. The scene underscores the personal stakes of the experiment.

Catherine suggests that perhaps they should have more children of their own to fill the house with warmth and to justify the venture’s purpose. David contemplates the idea, weighing personal desire against business practicality. The couple imagines a future where family life and the holiday program reinforce each other. The possibility marks a hopeful, unresolved note to end on.