The Forsyte Saga (2002 TV series) S01 E01

The Forsytes are a well-established, upper middle-class family. Soames Forsyte is a solicitor in practice with his father James. A handsome man, he is nonetheless something of a cold fish. His heart skips a beat however when on a business trip to Bournemouth, he meets Irene Heron. Over an extended period of time, he asks her several times to marry him. She eventually relents on the condition that should the marriage prove to be an unhappy one, he would let her go. Soames' sister Winnifred is to marry Montague Darty, someone with a reputation for the high life, despite the fact that he has no money. Another Forsyte is Young Jolyon, someone with an artistic bent who, when rumors falsely suggest he is having an affair with his daughter June's governess, discovers the true affection he has for her. After telling his wife Frances that he wants to end their marriage his father, known as Old Jolyon, banishes him from his house and his family. Many years later, 17 year-old June Soames is madly in love with an up and coming architect, Philip Bosinney, who takes an obvious interest in Irene Soames.