LOST EPISODE - episode summary from The Avengers Dissolute website:
If you have the money, escape is easy from prison. Steed wants to know how, so he sends Dr Keel inside. Keel's information leads Steed to a finishing school, but he is captured. Keel arrives after a successful escape, but is exposed as an impostor. It is nearly the finish for Steed and Keel, but they outwit Neame and his associates.
1.14 - The Springers
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THE SPRINGERS
BY JOHN WHITNEY AND GEOFFREY BELLMAN
Production completed: 11 May 1961. First transmission: 13 May 1961
This episode summary is written from the original scripts and Leonard White's scrapbook of notes and Tele-Snaps as this episode is now lost. There may have been changes made during filming.
ACT 1
Dr Keel is transported to a regional maximum security prison in the guise of Doctor Fenton, the "junkie's friend" and a serial prison escapee. He finds his new cell mate, a tough guy called Straker (Charles Farrell) is not happy to have him there and Straker openly discusses his dislike of Fenton with their dim-witted cell mate Pheeney (David Webb). Straker warns Keel they don't like "narks who paul up to screws". Meanwhile, the prison governor (Ian Ainslie) is asking one of the warders, Elton (Michael Forrest), how "Fenton" is settling in. He learns that Straker doesn't like Fenton and asks Elton to bring the new prisoner to his office. Keel/Fenton is marched off to see the governor, who dismisses Elton after Keel enters his office. Steed is there to fill him in on the case and compliments him on the fake scare on his face that makes him look more like Dr Fenton.
He plays Keel a tape of a visitor to Fenton at his previous prison; they seem to be talking about horse racing tips, "Rumble's Hope" in the 3 o'clock on Thursday, and in case he doesn't make it, to back "Lock" who is having his fourth outing of the season - except it wasn't his fourth outing, so "fourth lock" seems crucial. This new prison is near a canal and the previous escapees were picked up in Stavanger, in Norway, so an escape route from the East coast across the North Sea is suspected. Keel returns to his cell and has an altercation with Straker, who is suspicious of him seeing the governor. The warder Haslam (Brian Murphy) breaks it up and threatens Keel. Later, Steed discusses the case with One-Ten and they focus on the seaside town of Belport. Steed plans a visit while back at the prison, Haslam is continuing to victimise "Fenton", much to Straker's delight.
ACT 2
Steed reports back to One-Ten, the canal itself is quiet and innocent but One-Ten is sure of Belport. He tells Steed that the runner captured on tape giving Fenton the tip cashed a £50 money order that morning, which had come from a man called Groves who is the principal of the Belport College for Young Ladies.
Sometime later, at the college, a student called Caroline (Margo Andrew) is telling Groves (Arthur Howard) that her father will be picking her up on Tuesday. When she bustles out, she almost runs into Steed and a young woman, who ask to see the principal so she leads them in to see Groves. Steed is in naval uniform and introduces himself as "Commander Kenilworthy" and his daughter, Melanie. He wants a school for Melanie while he's posted abroad and, after a brief discussion of the school's facilities, Groves rings for the Matron. The matron arrives, revealed to be a young, attractive woman named Lisa (Barbara Evans). Groves asks her to show Melanie and the Commander around the college when another parent, Neame (Donald Morley), interrupts, wanting to see the principal. Lisa leads them away, leaving Neame asking Groves who they were. He doesn't like strangers arriving now and insists that Groves accompany them at all times when they return tomorrow.
Steed and Melanie return to their hotel in Belport and Steed somehow rustles up champagne and lobster from the chef. They decide things went well but One-Ten rings to tell them the Norwegian contact, who has been trailed from Oslo, will be at the school in half an hour. Steed must return and plant a bug in the study.
Back at the prison, Haslam is picking on all three of the cell mates and singles "Fenton" out for a beating when Straker back-chats. Elton leads the other two away as Haslam orders Keel to remove his jacket - then reveals he's part of the escape route and Keel is to put on Haslam's jacket then knock him out. Once out of the cell he should head through the staff garden, turn left ad keep going - then head straight for the fourth lock if a car doesn't arrive in time. Dr Keel does so, bluffing his way past one warder and finds Lisa waiting outside the walls in a car...
Back at the college, Neame gloats over the escape, telling Groves that the police have a good description of the car. They'll find the car dumped the next day, with sand from the Dorset coast under the mats to lead the police in the wrong direction. Groves, however, is nervous and thinks Neame is taking too many risks. One-Ten, meanwhile, tells a detective to release a report about the car to the morning papers and to keep his men away from the canal for now.
Lisa and Keel hop aboard a barge sailed by Skewer with the lock keeper Jessup on board and they set off down the canal. Lisa offers to examine Keel's scar but he waves her away, afraid she'll discover it's fake. Neame is still talking to Groves in his study, expecting Everson, the Norwegian, to arrive and are startled when Steed arrives instead. He claims the college phone has been engaged and thinks he left his pipe behind earlier and would like to find it for good luck at sea. He searches for it and hides a tape recorder under the principal's desk then attempts to excuse himself from the search, saying, "I'm beginning to think I made a mistake". Neame saw him hide the device and replies grimly, "Yes, perhaps you did make a mistake Commander", pulling a gun on him as he rises back above the desk. Neame answers the phone and is relieved to hear it's Lisa and Fenton. Given Steed's presence, he wants her to come straight to the college and abandon the planned overnight stay at the lock keeper's cottage. Keel pretends he doesn't like the change of plan - neither do Skewer or Jessup who had other work to do as well, but Lisa insists and Jessup starts dropping the water level in the lock.
Melanie rings One-Ten to tell him Steed's been gone for two hours and she's moved out of the hotel in case the gang are on to him. One-Ten orders her to keep in touch and not to go in search of Steed - he'll have to take care of himself.
ACT 3
Groves and Neame are arguing, Groves forbids Neame to kill Steed on the school grounds but Neame kicks him out of the study. Steed reminds Neame that Melanie is still on the loose and he daren't eliminate him. Steed sneers at Neame and says they're a third rate outfit, poor old Groves and Neame's "love life", matron, mooning about the place. Neame gets angry and strikes Steed just as Lisa arrives with "Fenton" and Skewer. Neame leads Keel into the hallway and pulls a gun on him. He tells him they have to take precautions and he has to have his identity confirmed before they continue the escape route and Skewer follows them up the stairs to the attic.
Groves re-enters the study, nervous about a possible murder at the school, and insists to Lisa that Steed be taken to the storerooms upstairs. Meanwhile, Neame is upstairs, explaining to Keel that a man is on the way who can identify him. Melanie rings One-Ten, saying she got out of the hotel just in time, but One-Ten still tells her to hold back from finding Steed. Keel must be there by now as they went straight through the fourth lock.
Back at the school, Neame brushes off Groves' pleas for them to clear out just as Arthur (Max Miradin) arrives to identify Fenton. Neame reassures Lisa that Groves is too fond of his precious school and won't crack; they've been in thinner scrapes before, they're still two jumps ahead of the police. Groves meanwhile has gone to see "Fenton" and tells Keel he can relax, the police will be looking for him on the other side of England because of the sand in the car. Keel asks about "that copper downstairs" and learns that Steed is locked up in the next room. Their conversation over, Groves calls for Skewer who unlocks the door and lets him out. Keel waits a moment them calls for Skewer, but his calls are unanswered.
Out at the college gates, Melanie encounters Caroline who asks her to join her for a horse ride and leads her to Groves' study. Neame is in the study, telling Groves they will leave on the next tide. Groves is glad to hear they're leaving but still fears the worse, he'd only gone in with them because he was so deeply in debt. Neame tells him to bring Arthur and Fenton to the study. Keel meanwhile has tricked Skewer into entering the room he's been locked in and knocks him out by breaking a hockey stick over his head. Keel enters the corridor and whispers to Steed through the next door, asking if he's alright. Steed replies, "Yes, can you get the door open? I'm handcuffed to a pipe. Skewer's got the keys ... and get his gun". Keel replies, "I did" then goes to find the keys. When he re-enters the corridor, Lisa is coming up the stairs so Keel surreptitiously kicks the key under the door and turns to tell her he doesn't know where Skewer went.
Caroline and Melanie enter the study, looking for Groves and Neame has to tread a line of not revealing anything to the innocent Caroline while subtly menacing Melanie and trying to keep her in the study. He asks Lisa to find Groves as Melanie tries to leave the room, then Groves arrives and they are escorted out. Keel sees an opportunity as Arthur and Neame are at odds over the charade and he confiscates Neame's gun, brandishing the one he took from Skewer and saying, "I've had this rotten set-up and I'll relieve you of your gun for a start". In the hallway, Groves goes to fetch his hat and Melanie grabs Caroline's hand, saying, "Quick, come on - I'll explain later" and they run upstairs. Caroline leads her to the storerooms and they find Steed, who has just freed himself. Caroline is confused as to why he's up there at all.
Back in the study, Arthur is saying he met the real Fenton five days ago and Keel is not him. Neame is baffled when Keel recites the message about Rumble's Hope and the fourth lock and holds onto the hope that he is Fenton despite Arthur's protests. Groves meanwhile has found Lisa and says he's lost the girls so they go to tell Neame and are also captured by Keel who tells them to "join the class".
Neame is just about to make an attempt to disarm Dr Keel when Steed bursts into the study and says, "What's this? Parent's day?".
Keel looks at him and replies, "Where have you been - riding?"
Steed disarms his anger by saying to Groves, "May I use your phone, I seem to have missed your Norwegian friend", and starts to dial One-Ten's number. He then quips, "Busy surgery today, Dr Keel!"
BY JOHN WHITNEY AND GEOFFREY BELLMAN
Production completed: 11 May 1961. First transmission: 13 May 1961
This episode summary is written from the original scripts and Leonard White's scrapbook of notes and Tele-Snaps as this episode is now lost. There may have been changes made during filming.
ACT 1
Dr Keel is transported to a regional maximum security prison in the guise of Doctor Fenton, the "junkie's friend" and a serial prison escapee. He finds his new cell mate, a tough guy called Straker (Charles Farrell) is not happy to have him there and Straker openly discusses his dislike of Fenton with their dim-witted cell mate Pheeney (David Webb). Straker warns Keel they don't like "narks who paul up to screws". Meanwhile, the prison governor (Ian Ainslie) is asking one of the warders, Elton (Michael Forrest), how "Fenton" is settling in. He learns that Straker doesn't like Fenton and asks Elton to bring the new prisoner to his office. Keel/Fenton is marched off to see the governor, who dismisses Elton after Keel enters his office. Steed is there to fill him in on the case and compliments him on the fake scare on his face that makes him look more like Dr Fenton.
He plays Keel a tape of a visitor to Fenton at his previous prison; they seem to be talking about horse racing tips, "Rumble's Hope" in the 3 o'clock on Thursday, and in case he doesn't make it, to back "Lock" who is having his fourth outing of the season - except it wasn't his fourth outing, so "fourth lock" seems crucial. This new prison is near a canal and the previous escapees were picked up in Stavanger, in Norway, so an escape route from the East coast across the North Sea is suspected. Keel returns to his cell and has an altercation with Straker, who is suspicious of him seeing the governor. The warder Haslam (Brian Murphy) breaks it up and threatens Keel. Later, Steed discusses the case with One-Ten and they focus on the seaside town of Belport. Steed plans a visit while back at the prison, Haslam is continuing to victimise "Fenton", much to Straker's delight.
ACT 2
Steed reports back to One-Ten, the canal itself is quiet and innocent but One-Ten is sure of Belport. He tells Steed that the runner captured on tape giving Fenton the tip cashed a £50 money order that morning, which had come from a man called Groves who is the principal of the Belport College for Young Ladies.
Sometime later, at the college, a student called Caroline (Margo Andrew) is telling Groves (Arthur Howard) that her father will be picking her up on Tuesday. When she bustles out, she almost runs into Steed and a young woman, who ask to see the principal so she leads them in to see Groves. Steed is in naval uniform and introduces himself as "Commander Kenilworthy" and his daughter, Melanie. He wants a school for Melanie while he's posted abroad and, after a brief discussion of the school's facilities, Groves rings for the Matron. The matron arrives, revealed to be a young, attractive woman named Lisa (Barbara Evans). Groves asks her to show Melanie and the Commander around the college when another parent, Neame (Donald Morley), interrupts, wanting to see the principal. Lisa leads them away, leaving Neame asking Groves who they were. He doesn't like strangers arriving now and insists that Groves accompany them at all times when they return tomorrow.
Steed and Melanie return to their hotel in Belport and Steed somehow rustles up champagne and lobster from the chef. They decide things went well but One-Ten rings to tell them the Norwegian contact, who has been trailed from Oslo, will be at the school in half an hour. Steed must return and plant a bug in the study.
Back at the prison, Haslam is picking on all three of the cell mates and singles "Fenton" out for a beating when Straker back-chats. Elton leads the other two away as Haslam orders Keel to remove his jacket - then reveals he's part of the escape route and Keel is to put on Haslam's jacket then knock him out. Once out of the cell he should head through the staff garden, turn left ad keep going - then head straight for the fourth lock if a car doesn't arrive in time. Dr Keel does so, bluffing his way past one warder and finds Lisa waiting outside the walls in a car...
Back at the college, Neame gloats over the escape, telling Groves that the police have a good description of the car. They'll find the car dumped the next day, with sand from the Dorset coast under the mats to lead the police in the wrong direction. Groves, however, is nervous and thinks Neame is taking too many risks. One-Ten, meanwhile, tells a detective to release a report about the car to the morning papers and to keep his men away from the canal for now.
Lisa and Keel hop aboard a barge sailed by Skewer with the lock keeper Jessup on board and they set off down the canal. Lisa offers to examine Keel's scar but he waves her away, afraid she'll discover it's fake. Neame is still talking to Groves in his study, expecting Everson, the Norwegian, to arrive and are startled when Steed arrives instead. He claims the college phone has been engaged and thinks he left his pipe behind earlier and would like to find it for good luck at sea. He searches for it and hides a tape recorder under the principal's desk then attempts to excuse himself from the search, saying, "I'm beginning to think I made a mistake". Neame saw him hide the device and replies grimly, "Yes, perhaps you did make a mistake Commander", pulling a gun on him as he rises back above the desk. Neame answers the phone and is relieved to hear it's Lisa and Fenton. Given Steed's presence, he wants her to come straight to the college and abandon the planned overnight stay at the lock keeper's cottage. Keel pretends he doesn't like the change of plan - neither do Skewer or Jessup who had other work to do as well, but Lisa insists and Jessup starts dropping the water level in the lock.
Melanie rings One-Ten to tell him Steed's been gone for two hours and she's moved out of the hotel in case the gang are on to him. One-Ten orders her to keep in touch and not to go in search of Steed - he'll have to take care of himself.
ACT 3
Groves and Neame are arguing, Groves forbids Neame to kill Steed on the school grounds but Neame kicks him out of the study. Steed reminds Neame that Melanie is still on the loose and he daren't eliminate him. Steed sneers at Neame and says they're a third rate outfit, poor old Groves and Neame's "love life", matron, mooning about the place. Neame gets angry and strikes Steed just as Lisa arrives with "Fenton" and Skewer. Neame leads Keel into the hallway and pulls a gun on him. He tells him they have to take precautions and he has to have his identity confirmed before they continue the escape route and Skewer follows them up the stairs to the attic.
Groves re-enters the study, nervous about a possible murder at the school, and insists to Lisa that Steed be taken to the storerooms upstairs. Meanwhile, Neame is upstairs, explaining to Keel that a man is on the way who can identify him. Melanie rings One-Ten, saying she got out of the hotel just in time, but One-Ten still tells her to hold back from finding Steed. Keel must be there by now as they went straight through the fourth lock.
Back at the school, Neame brushes off Groves' pleas for them to clear out just as Arthur (Max Miradin) arrives to identify Fenton. Neame reassures Lisa that Groves is too fond of his precious school and won't crack; they've been in thinner scrapes before, they're still two jumps ahead of the police. Groves meanwhile has gone to see "Fenton" and tells Keel he can relax, the police will be looking for him on the other side of England because of the sand in the car. Keel asks about "that copper downstairs" and learns that Steed is locked up in the next room. Their conversation over, Groves calls for Skewer who unlocks the door and lets him out. Keel waits a moment them calls for Skewer, but his calls are unanswered.
Out at the college gates, Melanie encounters Caroline who asks her to join her for a horse ride and leads her to Groves' study. Neame is in the study, telling Groves they will leave on the next tide. Groves is glad to hear they're leaving but still fears the worse, he'd only gone in with them because he was so deeply in debt. Neame tells him to bring Arthur and Fenton to the study. Keel meanwhile has tricked Skewer into entering the room he's been locked in and knocks him out by breaking a hockey stick over his head. Keel enters the corridor and whispers to Steed through the next door, asking if he's alright. Steed replies, "Yes, can you get the door open? I'm handcuffed to a pipe. Skewer's got the keys ... and get his gun". Keel replies, "I did" then goes to find the keys. When he re-enters the corridor, Lisa is coming up the stairs so Keel surreptitiously kicks the key under the door and turns to tell her he doesn't know where Skewer went.
Caroline and Melanie enter the study, looking for Groves and Neame has to tread a line of not revealing anything to the innocent Caroline while subtly menacing Melanie and trying to keep her in the study. He asks Lisa to find Groves as Melanie tries to leave the room, then Groves arrives and they are escorted out. Keel sees an opportunity as Arthur and Neame are at odds over the charade and he confiscates Neame's gun, brandishing the one he took from Skewer and saying, "I've had this rotten set-up and I'll relieve you of your gun for a start". In the hallway, Groves goes to fetch his hat and Melanie grabs Caroline's hand, saying, "Quick, come on - I'll explain later" and they run upstairs. Caroline leads her to the storerooms and they find Steed, who has just freed himself. Caroline is confused as to why he's up there at all.
Back in the study, Arthur is saying he met the real Fenton five days ago and Keel is not him. Neame is baffled when Keel recites the message about Rumble's Hope and the fourth lock and holds onto the hope that he is Fenton despite Arthur's protests. Groves meanwhile has found Lisa and says he's lost the girls so they go to tell Neame and are also captured by Keel who tells them to "join the class".
Neame is just about to make an attempt to disarm Dr Keel when Steed bursts into the study and says, "What's this? Parent's day?".
Keel looks at him and replies, "Where have you been - riding?"
Steed disarms his anger by saying to Groves, "May I use your phone, I seem to have missed your Norwegian friend", and starts to dial One-Ten's number. He then quips, "Busy surgery today, Dr Keel!"
Last edited by dissolute on Sat May 15, 2021 11:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Frankymole
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Ah Thank you Franky, that was Neame gloating. I'll fix it.
"Oh yes, we get lots of gloaters here"
"Oh yes, we get lots of gloaters here"
Mrs Peel, you're needed!
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.
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Frankymole
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dissolute
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Blackadder II - HeadFrankymole wrote:I should know where that's from, but can't think of it...dissolute wrote:Ah Thank you Franky, that was Neame gloating. I'll fix it.
"Oh yes, we get lots of gloaters here"
Mrs Peel, you're needed!
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.
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Frankymole
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Just a small (typo) correction, there needs to be an "it" in the sentence when Keel says "I've had it with this rotten set up" (etc).dissolute wrote: Keel sees an opportunity as Arthur and Neame are at odds over the charade and he confiscates Neame's gun, brandishing the one he took from Skewer and saying, "I've had this rotten set-up and I'll relieve you of your gun for a start".
I know it sounds picky but it's such a perfect synopsis I don't want any flaws
There is another slight error on the "other" page as the TV Times listing used is for "Nightmare", not this episode:
https://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avenge ... html#other
A very enjoyable episode with some soon-to-be famous faces like Brian Murphy.
Last watched: "Mandrake"
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dissolute
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Thanks Franky, but that is how the script is:
Language must have been more straightforward then.
I'll fix the TV Times listing though, thanks!
Language must have been more straightforward then.
I'll fix the TV Times listing though, thanks!
Mrs Peel, you're needed!
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.