Splitting Heirs 1993

Infant abandonment and disappearance in the 1960s

In the 1960s, the aristocratic heir to the Dukes of Bournemouth is abandoned in a restaurant as an infant. By the time his parents remember him, the boy has vanished. The unresolved disappearance casts a long shadow over the family history.

Tommy Patel grows up in Southall

In the 1990s, Tommy Patel is raised in an Indian family in Southall. He stands out for his height, fair hair, blue eyes, and light skin, yet he never fully embraces curry culture. He helps at the family corner shop before entering the City workforce.

Tommy works for the Bournemouth stockbroking firm and hosts Henry Bullock

Tommy works for the Bournemouth stockbroking firm and is tasked with hosting its visiting American representative, Henry Bullock. Henry turns out to be the son of the firm's head, and a rapid friendship develops between the two men. This unlikely alliance becomes the engine of the story.

Henry Bullock becomes Duke after his father's death

After his father dies, Henry inherits the title and becomes the Duke, reshaping a lot of the power dynamics around Tommy. The close friendship between Tommy and Henry persists into this new era. The question of true succession intensifies the plot.

Resemblance and adoption story reveal possible heir

A series of Bournemouth family portraits suggests Tommy's facial likeness to the missing heir. His Indian mother recounts the adoption story, deepening the suspicion that Tommy is the rightful heir. The growing evidence unsettles the clan and fuels conflict.

Tommy consults Raoul P. Shadgrind

Tommy consults Raoul P. Shadgrind, the family lawyer, seeking guidance about his status. Shadgrind tells him legal routes are slim, but plants the idea of a more direct path to power. He engineers the possibility that Tommy could claim the throne by removing Henry.

Shadgrind plots to remove Henry

Shadgrind outlines a plan to engineer a run of 'accidents' to remove Henry from the line of succession. He assumes Tommy will share in the spoils if the plan succeeds. The supposed partnership in crime casts a pall over Tommy's relationship with Henry.

Love triangle forms around a shared lover

Tommy and Henry fall for the same woman, who becomes their shared lover. Her eventual rise to the Duchess ties their fates together. The love triangle complicates loyalties and drives the narrative forward.

The woman becomes Duchess and the Dowager Duchess's influence

That woman becomes the new Duchess, and the Dowager Duchess—their mother—remains a key presence. This family dynamic adds tension about rightful ownership and affection within the clan. Personal and dynastic lines blur as the plot advances.

Escalation of accidents and moral tension

The accidents engineered by Shadgrind begin to occur, raising the stakes and putting Henry's life in danger. Tommy wrestles with the morality of the plan and the pull of his own uncertain claim. The line between ambition and loyalty becomes dangerously thin.

Truth and misconceptions collide; fortunes shift

Revelations about Tommy's true parentage collide with the family's long-held beliefs. The characters confront their past, and relationships are remade around new facts. The finale promises happiness 'for a bit,' with the future left uncertain.