Based on the story of Guy Burgess, the Cambridge spy who defected to Russia. The film explores his time at public school in the 1930s, which many people say shaped his actions. Rupert Everett, playing Guy Burgess, runs foul of the prefects who suspect him of homosexual inclinations. Eventually they find an incident that can be misinterpreted. In contrast to the many avuncular masters, the prefectorial regime is depicted as very harsh. Here we see a prefect apply the cane ruthlessly.