Plot Synopsis

Shot largely on location in Rajasthan and Delhi in India, BEECHAM HOUSE revolves around a house on the outskirts of Delhi, recently purchased by an enigmatic Englishman. Set in 1795, as the Mogul Empire is slowly losing its grip over a subcontinent it has dominated for the past two centuries, the story focuses on the struggle to control the lucrative trade with India. One contender is France. The other is Great Britain's East India Company, a private venture supported by mercenary troops. Three years before, John Beecham was an officer for the East India Company. Troubled by its rapine tactics, he quit. Since then, he has been trading as an honest private citizen, falling more and more in love with India and establishing strong local ties. Not incidentally, he has earned a small fortune and made influential friends. When Beecham appears at his newly acquired estate in Delhi, his entourage includes a mixed-race baby and its nurse, Chancha. The baby is not the only mystery. Beecham's undisclosed reason for moving to Delhi sparks intense interest from resident French General Castillon, not to mention Emperor Shah Alam and one of the emperor's kinsmen, Murad Beg, who happens to be Beecham's next-door neighbor. The neighbor's daughter has an English governess, Margaret Osborne, who is attractive, intelligent, unmarried, and also intrigued by the newcomer. The plot thickens with the arrival from England of Beecham's overbearing mother, Henrietta; her young traveling companion, Violet Woodhouse, who is Beecham's childhood friend with intentions to deepen the relationship; and Beecham's old army buddy Samuel Parker, now trying to restore his good name after being slandered in a trial involving the East India Company. Finally, rumor has it that somewhere on the subcontinent, Beecham's dissolute younger brother, Daniel, is serving as an East India mercenary. Mix in greed, treachery, and amorous entanglements -- plus the appearance of a mysterious woman whom Beecham believes is a risk to the baby's life -- and the stage is set for a gripping saga of far-flung adventure, suspense, and passion. PBS aired the U.S. premiere on BEECHAM HOUSE on Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 10pm (check local listings).
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On Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 10pm (check local listings), PBS premiered the season finale of BEECHAM HOUSE. In the season ender, Daniel, Margaret and Chandrika desperately try to help John, but only the Emperor can release him. When John finally returns home, he discovers the house has been attacked and tragedy has struck yet again.