House of cards: Francis Urquhart schemes and backstabs his way to the top in this malevolent satire of the highest realms of government.

To play the king: Manipulative and corrupted English prime minister, Urquhart, has reached the pinnacle of power as the leader of his party, but the succession of a king opposed to his policies challenges Urquhart's authority.

The final cut: Urquhart turns his attention to helping himself to a wealthy retirement and finds himself caught in a political power play of someone else's devising.