Life thwarts Floyd’s goals sooner or later. A rival challenges his new invention. His buried gold is confiscated by HM Treasury. He is wrongly charged with arson. He is unfairly dismissed. He campaigns to change part of English punctuation, yet inadvertently continues to use it afterwards. Helping a friend lands him in hospital. What has he done to deserve all this?

Yet he is resourceful in dealing with his adverse situations, whether personal or confronting the might of the state. Other characters must eat humble pie to stay afloat. College lecturer Ed Beck forsakes his principles. And Matt abandons his business dreams to preserve an old friendship.