- Lord Whitebait's plan to save his sinking fortunes is to open stately Whitebait Manor to the public
- Lord Whitebait (Naunton Wayne) is in serious financial trouble and his plan to open Whitebait Manor to the public for 2/6 each (half price for children) results in just 5½ visitors - two of whom turn out to be bailiffs, there to value his possessions. So he and butler Spankforth (Charles Heslop) come up with a scheme to have his most valuable painting, Vincent Van Gogough's 'New Zealand Geyser', stolen by prolific cat burglar Jim Barger. Barger (Leo Franklyn) is due to be released from Wormwood Scrubs the next day, but the pair mistakenly proposition plumber Wilfred Sapling (Brian Rix), who is leaving the prison after doing some maintenance work. Whitebait and Spankforth don't explain themselves properly, and Wilfred thinks they want him to take out a hot water geyser from the bathroom. He therefore doesn't understand why he can't just come in the front door. As luck would have it, Barger has set his sights on Whitebait Manor anyway, but both he and Wilfred are apprehended and, while Wilfred is bound over, Barger is sent back to prison. Learning of Lord Whitebait's plan, and falling for his daughter Kate (Ann Firbank), Wilfred determines to break Barger out of prison, so that he can steal the painting after all. Although he inadvertently breaks out the whole of the prison choir, after wandering the London sewers, they are all eventually apprehended, and Wilfred, Lord Whitebait and Spankforth join Barger in the Scrubs, sewing mailbags. However, they are all allowed out for Wilfred's wedding to Kate, and attempt another escape.
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