Army Captain Charles Ryder recalls former times at his new billet, Brideshead Castle, when he met Sebastian Flyte.

Sebastian (Anthony Andrews) invites Charles to Brideshead for the summer, where he meets other family members.

When Sebastian returns to school bent on his own destruction, his mother asks an Oxford don to watch over him.

While visiting Brideshead, Charles finds alienated Sebastian drunk in his room; Charles decides not to return to Oxford.

New Year at Brideshead furthers Sebastian's descent in the eyes of his family, and Charles angers the Marchmains when he attempts to help.

Rex Mottram visits Charles in Paris with news of the Marchmains; Charles discusses the relationship between Rex and Julia.