- A top salesman with a U.K. toy firm foolishly brings an expensive watch back from a German trip for his wife's birthday. This is illegal in 1950's Britain and when Customs discover the watch he is charged and, unusually, given a prison sentence. Not having the money to appeal he has to serve his time hoping the details don't get out and he won't lose his job.—J-26
- Tony Britton has been on a business trip to Germany. He is a highly regarded salesman in his company, and he has been acting as a buyer of mechanical toys on this trip. On his return we see that he has bought an expensive wristwatch for his wife, and he has decided not to declare it to customs on arrival in the UK. Moreover he intends to pay for it by sterling cheque after arrival; both these actions are illegal.
The customs officer at his arrival airport in the UK is intrigued by one of the mechanical toys and in operating it, he releases the watch that Britton has concealed in it. Britton is arrested and taken into custody. He is told that he will face trial the next day, and he tries to get a solicitor to represent him. After one refusal, he finds someone who will defend him, but the trial goes badly and he is sentenced to three months in prison.
He is immediately taken to a prison, where he finds that as a common criminal, his middle-class background does nothing to protect him from the realities of being a convicted criminal. In fact he finds it difficult to accept his position as a convict among prison officers, and he seems to resent being told what to do by people he considers his social inferiors.
His employer doesn't yet know about his arrest and his wife lets them know that he has a severe influenza. Britton intended an appeal at first, but reality strikes home when it is evident that an appeal would cost him money he doesn't have, and it would have little chance of success, as he has pleaded guilty.
His wife does some work as a photographic model to keep the family finances afloat. A colleague from Britton's company calls, obviously seeking information, and he discovers the truth, that Britton is in prison, and he ensures that this fact becomes widely known. Britton's company is rather stuffy, and was grudgingly prepared to accept his absence as long as the fact of his imprisonment does not become well known, but now that fact is in the public domain.
After two months, with good behaviour, he is released, and at last he is reunited with his wife. He discovers that his employer will not allow him to resume his former position, and he applied to a large number of other companies. As he discloses his prison history, he is repeatedly unsuccessful, and eventually his wife advises him to conceal the fact. he is accepted by a company and is overjoyed, but the new employer telephones his former company. The managing director gives him a glowing reference over the telephone, but he is pressed by non-executive board members to add the fact of the prison stretch.
The new company having promised a job now withdraws their offer by post, and Britton is devastated. But the old company's managing director has made a spirited defence of Britton against considerable hostility on the Board, and in the same mail delivery as the rejection from the other company, Britton receives the news that he is to be reinstated in his old post.
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