The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff - 1 ª Season

In Victorian London foundling Jedrington Secret-Past has his shop of stuff confiscated and his wife and children jailed in the Skint debtors' prison by wicked lawyer Malifax Skulkingworm, who claims that Jedrington has inherited a debt from his supposed grandfather, which must be paid by Christmas day - eleven hours' time. Denied help by his austere adopted aunts, Jedrington's kindly uncle provides the money but Skulkingworm attempts to kill the shop keeper. He is rescued by the Artful Codger and his urchins and shown proof by Skulkingworm's clerk Fearshiver that he is not the descendant of a debtor but the child of Miss Christmasham, who deserted Malifax to marry Mr Fruitcake, the maddest man in the Skint. After the family has escaped from jail with jovial Mr Jollyforth, Miss Christmasham and Fruitcake marry on Christmas eve, thus giving Jedrington legitimacy and thwarting the evil lawyer.

Jedrington is approached by Harmswell Grimstone, who takes him on board as his partner and gets him to sign a contract which brings instant wealth. This enables him to send Victor to a grim boarding school and engage a fierce governess for Victoria. Conceptiva, however, is suspicious and unhappy with her new riches, which she wants to use to help the poor. To make things worse an anonymous letter forces her to tell Jedrington her secret - she is a French orphan adopted by an English officer after Waterloo. Jedrington is prepared to forgive but by this time Grimstone has pushed her into the docks to make it look like suicide.

Conceptiva is pulled from the river by Mrs Grumblechoop. She has lost her memory and, to raise money to pay her saviour, must pleasure gentlemen in a most bizarre way. Believing his wife to be dead Jedrington vows to carry on her charitable work and visits the East End to comfort the dying Jolliforth Jollington. Victor escapes from his school but Grimstone has Victoria abducted and persuades Jedrington to sell him the shop by faking a series of ghostly visits. Feeling bereft of everything the grieving Jedrington jumps into the same harbour where Conceptiva was pushed.

Jedrington is pulled out of a watery grave - by Mrs Grumblechoop again - but, believing his family to be dead, becomes addicted to gin, from which he is saved by loyal valet Servegood. Conceptiva is accidentally employed as a French governess to Victoria, who helps her regain her memory. Conceptiva escapes from Grimstone's house but he retains Victoria and Jedrington must go to court to reclaim her. Things look bleak with Grimstone's uncle as the judge, but Victor turns up with school drudge Smalcolm, who exposes Grimstone as the father who abandoned him and killed his mother, thus ending the case in Jedrington's favour. After Jedrington has delivered a stirring speech on love he is reunited with his family whilst it is Grimstone's turn to be thrown into the docks.