Laurence lands the head of his department, Donald Halifax, in the hospital with food poisoning after cooking him a meal of French cuisine. Eager to prove that The Mansion is a forward-thinking school committed to the European ideal, Headmaster Piper undertakes a search for a dynamic new head of languages in Donald's absence. When debonair, accomplished applicant Dr Chambourcy interviews for the position, it seems Donald is in danger of being put out to pasture; however, left to his own devices, Laurence can be relied upon to smash the Headmaster's dreams of progress, and a few other things in the process.