School for Scoundrels

Henry Palfrey travels to Yeovil to enroll in the College of Lifemanship. He arrives with a mix of nerves and ambition, hoping to learn how to gain the upper hand in life. The journey marks the start of a program that will challenge his view of power and influence.

At the College, Principal Mr. S. Potter questions Palfrey about his motives for joining. He suspects Palfrey's interest may be tied to a woman and asks for his backstory before enrollment. Potter lays out the college's philosophy of 'being one up on your opponents' and pressures Palfrey to be honest.

Palfrey confesses that he feels like a loser who cannot control his own firm. He explains how his senior clerk Gloatbridge commands respect and makes all decisions. He notes that meeting April Smith has sparked a longing to change his life.

Palfrey meets April Smith, a striking woman, and quickly falls in love. The romance gives him a sense of purpose and a desire to impress. This new love becomes a catalyst for his ambition and the later lessons from the college.

On their dinner date, a casual acquaintance Raymond Delauney appears and seduces April. He steals Palfrey's moment and makes a play for her affections. Palfrey witnesses his rival's easy charm and feels both humiliation and resolve.

The following day Palfrey tries to buy a car to impress April but is conned by two second-hand dealers. They sell him a dilapidated 1924 car that undermines his self-esteem. The incident crystallizes his sense of being taken advantage of and outclassed.

To add insult, Delauney challenges Palfrey to a tennis match at their local club and wins easily. Palfrey leaves the court humiliated, more determined to reinvent himself. The defeat underscores his need to master new methods of advantage.

Potter assigns Palfrey to take a sequence of courses designed to teach ploys for gaining the upper hand. Palfrey proves a capable pupil, absorbing strategies to manipulate situations in his favor. He prepares for a demanding final exam that will test all he has learned.

Back in London, Palfrey's field test is observed by Potter. He uses the new techniques to induce the car dealers to part with an Austin-Healey and 100 guineas, insisting the car is vintage. The deception serves as a practical demonstration of his growing control over others.

With his new confidence, Palfrey puts Gloatbridge in his place by staging a pretend merger with a larger firm and convincing him that his bookkeeping is sloppy. The ruse provokes fear and yields greater respect from the other employees. He begins to feel the rewards of his new authority.

Palfrey challenges Delauney to a rematch and employs more ploys to frustrate him, hoping to undermine his hold on April. Delauney loses the match and his influence over April wanes as Palfrey's tactics seem to work. The triumph cements Palfrey's belief in his methods, at least for the moment.

After drinks at Palfrey's home, Delauney barges in with Potter and forces Palfrey to reveal the truth behind his manipulations. Potter suggests he might use another ploy, but Palfrey confesses all and explains his genuine love for April. April embraces Palfrey, understanding that his feelings are sincere and not merely a tactic.

Potter breaks the fourth wall, addressing the audience directly to apologise for Palfrey's actions. He expresses disapproval of the manipulation and moral compromise shown. The moment functions as a meta-commentary on ethics and performance.

As the end credits roll, Delauney travels to Yeovil intent on enrolling in the College of Lifemanship. The closing shot hints that the cycle will continue with new students pursuing their own versions of being one up on others. The film ends on a note of ongoing competition and ambition.