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Adapted for the screen by Andrew Davies, House of Cards is a spell-binding dissection of naked ambition, greed and rampant hypocrisy in the corridors of power. The series documents in thrilling detail the rise of Tory Chief Whip Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson), a man with unwavering contempt for those with "no background, no bottom.” With the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, a bitter internecine power struggle ensues within the Conservative Party. Urquhart schemes more devilishly than Iago to depose Thatcher's colorless John Major-style successor. And even Machiavelli would baulk at Urquhart's methods. Any and every act - including murder - is legitimate and the ends very much justify the means. (BBC)