First broadcast 29th October 1992.
A well-meaning social worker takes custody of an eight year-old Timson girl charging that the family is involved with devil worship.
Leo McKern ... Horace Rumpole
Marion Mathie ... Hilda Rumpole
Peter Blythe ... Samuel Ballard Q.C.
Abigail McKern ... Liz Probert
Julian Curry ... Claude Erskine-Brown
Jonathan Coy ... Henry
Denis Lill ... Mr. Bernard
Camille Coduri ... Dot Clapton
Joanna Van Gyseghem ... Lady Marigold Featherstone
Rowena Cooper ... Marguerite Ballard
Christopher Milburn ... Dave Inchcape
Joanna David ... Mirabelle Jones
Chrissie Cotterill ... Roz Timson (as Chrissie Coterill)
Paul Bigley ... Cary Timson
Ron Pember ... Dennis 'Den' Timson
John Bardon ... Fred Timson
Amanda Dickinson ... Peggy Molloy
Jennifer Piercey ... Chairwoman
Julian Gartside ... Clerk of the Court
John Warnaby ... Charlie Wisbeach
Philip Anthony ... Master of the Temple
Sandra Tallent ... Isadora Fern
Celestine Randall ... Headmistress
Carly Maker ... Tracy Timson
Luke Nugent ... Dominic Molloy
A well-meaning social worker takes custody of an eight year-old Timson girl charging that the family is involved with devil worship.
Leo McKern ... Horace Rumpole
Marion Mathie ... Hilda Rumpole
Peter Blythe ... Samuel Ballard Q.C.
Abigail McKern ... Liz Probert
Julian Curry ... Claude Erskine-Brown
Jonathan Coy ... Henry
Denis Lill ... Mr. Bernard
Camille Coduri ... Dot Clapton
Joanna Van Gyseghem ... Lady Marigold Featherstone
Rowena Cooper ... Marguerite Ballard
Christopher Milburn ... Dave Inchcape
Joanna David ... Mirabelle Jones
Chrissie Cotterill ... Roz Timson (as Chrissie Coterill)
Paul Bigley ... Cary Timson
Ron Pember ... Dennis 'Den' Timson
John Bardon ... Fred Timson
Amanda Dickinson ... Peggy Molloy
Jennifer Piercey ... Chairwoman
Julian Gartside ... Clerk of the Court
John Warnaby ... Charlie Wisbeach
Philip Anthony ... Master of the Temple
Sandra Tallent ... Isadora Fern
Celestine Randall ... Headmistress
Carly Maker ... Tracy Timson
Luke Nugent ... Dominic Molloy
Category
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TVTranscript
00:00This is Rumpel and the Children of the Devil. This is perhaps a more unusual story and it
00:10comes from the fact that there was in England a time when probation officers, when child
00:16officers, people looking after the welfare of children, suddenly had or conceived the
00:22idea that these children were being brought up to be devil worshippers and the children
00:29were removed from their parents and put into children's homes, which is one of the worst
00:34things that can happen to any child, thinks Rumpel, because it happens to one of the Timson
00:41family's children. The child is removed at the dead of night and put into a home and
00:48Rumpel has to appear in again a different sort of court, a juvenile court, which deals
00:54with the problems of children. And Rumpel is trying to get to the bottom of this case
00:59and solve it as though it were a criminal case, which indeed it is in a way, but they're
01:06all thinking about the welfare of the children and how terrible it may be that this devil
01:11worship is going on and heartbreakingly keeping the Timson child away from its mother and
01:20father. And Rumpel thinks that a child should be with its parents.
01:51Whoa!
01:53Whoa!
01:55Whoa!
01:57Whoa!
01:59Whoa!
02:01Whoa!
02:03Whoa!
02:05Whoa!
02:07Whoa!
02:09Whoa!
02:11Whoa!
02:13Whoa!
02:15Whoa!
02:17Whoa!
02:20Whoa!
02:22Tracy Timson!
02:24Whatever possessed you?
02:28Stupid girl.
02:34Oh, no.
02:35What's that, Rumpel?
02:36Oh, a mere invitation, Hilda. The Scales of Justice Ball at the Savoy Hotel.
02:42Disgusting sight. Her Majesty's judges creaking around in a foxtrot.
02:47You wouldn't enjoy that sort of thing, would you?
02:49I suppose not in the circumstances.
02:51What circumstances?
02:53It's too humiliating.
02:55Oh, I quite agree. Not a pretty sight.
02:57The pirouetting bollards and the waltzing Erskine Browns.
02:59Claude and Filly dance rather well together.
03:01Well, perhaps that's because they don't do much else together.
03:05Why is it that you never lead me out onto the dance floor nowadays, Rumpel?
03:10Ah, well, now...
03:12I sometimes dream about it.
03:15We're at the Scales of Justice Ball at the Savoy Hotel.
03:18On my birthday.
03:20And you lead me out onto the floor.
03:23As the First Lady in Chambers.
03:25Hilda, I have, as you know, many talents, but I am not Nijinsky
03:28and we don't get much time to practice dancing down the old valley.
03:34Oh, Hilda, you're not...
03:36No, no.
03:38No, of course not.
03:40You must get to work. Go on.
03:43Work is the only thing that matters to you nowadays.
03:46You'd rather defend a murderer than dance with your wife.
04:08Oh, my God.
04:13Go to Ventus, the devil himself.
04:24Oh, Mum!
04:26Shut up!
04:32Mrs Malloy.
04:33Yeah, what is it?
04:34You're Dominic's mum, aren't you?
04:36What if I am?
04:38Well, I'm Mirabelle Jones from the local authority, Social Services.
04:42Do call me Mirabelle.
04:44I think Dominic is a little friend of my client, Tracy Timpsons, isn't he?
04:48You didn't say we were friends to Anita Timpsons, exactly.
04:52Well, shall we say a little classmate, then?
04:54We're making a few inquiries about Tracy.
04:57She in trouble, is she?
04:59Let's say she's having a few problems.
05:01Problems? I should think she is, her being a Timpson.
05:05What kind of problems, exactly?
05:07You remember the children wearing those horrid masks at school,
05:11They scared me.
05:12I'm sure they did.
05:14Did you see who was leading those children?
05:17In the end, I did.
05:18Who was it, Dominic?
05:20Trice.
05:21Tracy Timpsons?
05:22Yeah.
05:23Your mum said you went round to Tracy Timpsons a few times.
05:27After school, was that?
05:29Yeah, after school.
05:30Then you said you went somewhere else.
05:32Where else, exactly?
05:34Where they put people.
05:36A churchyard?
05:38Was it a churchyard?
05:41St. Elphick's.
05:42It was a churchyard.
05:45Was it dark?
05:48After school.
05:50It was late, a month ago.
05:53So it was dark.
05:55Did a grown-up come with you?
05:57A man, perhaps?
05:59Did a man come with you?
06:00He said we was to play a game.
06:02What sort of game?
06:04He put something on his face.
06:06A mask?
06:08Black, and horns on it.
06:11A devil's mask.
06:12Is that right, Dominic?
06:14He wanted you to play at devil's, this man did.
06:17He said he was the devil.
06:19He was to be the devil.
06:23And what were you supposed to be?
06:27Perhaps you were the devil's children.
06:30Was that the game you had to play?
06:33Dance around.
06:34Dance around?
06:38I want you to tell me, Dominic.
06:40When did you meet this man?
06:42At Tracy Timpson's house?
06:44Is that where you met him?
06:47Do you know who he was, Dominic?
06:52Who was he, Dominic?
06:55You've been such a help to me so far.
06:57Can you tell me who he was?
07:02Tracy's dad.
07:05It's a one-one.
07:07We've got two-two.
07:17All right, all right!
07:19Don't make a bleedin' joke now, will ya?
07:21What have you done, Terry?
07:23Shut up, Ros, will ya?
07:24Oh not again.
07:26Look, this is well out of order.
07:28Mr. Cary Timpson?
07:29Yeah, look, if it's about that shop down Gunter Avenue,
07:31I've told you what I know, which is bugger all, right?
07:33it's about your Tracy. Tracy? she's asleep upstairs in bed. isn't she asleep upstairs?
07:41are you mum? of course I'm mum. what do you mean? I'm Tracy's mum. what do you want? we
07:47want to look after your Tracy mum. we feel she needs rather special care. I'm
07:52sure you're both going to help us. we do rely on mum and dad to be very sensible.
08:01you've come to take her away haven't you? no no no. you're not bloody taking her away. we
08:05just want the very best for your little girl that's all. we do have a court order.
08:12now shall we go and wake Tracy up?
08:24now I don't think we'll be needing toys where we're going Tracy. I'm sure mum will
08:29look after her won't she?
08:59you always done your best for the Timpson family mr. Rumpel. we know that.
09:09well of course. Timpsons have been a source of gainful employment for many
09:14years. you are the prop and stay of my old age. you're not in trouble yourself
09:18are you mr. Carey Timpson? no nothing no no. they took me in for questioning about
09:22that shop that got done over down Gunter Avenue but that was well out of
09:26order cuz I got no evidence. it's young Tracy Timpson my clients are concerned
09:29about mr. Rumpel. bloody marvelous ain't it? eight years old and now Tracy needs a
09:33brief. eight? she's starting young. yeah mr. Rumpel. that's her when we was on holiday
09:39Marbella. I ask her does she have the look of a villain? well I'd say not a
09:43hardened criminal. childhood a difficult period from what I can remember. they
09:51wouldn't let her take her doll. not even her new Barbie. her new what? Barbie doll.
09:55she's got a collection of them see. she's really proud of her Barbies. what's her
10:00crime mr. Rumpel? that's what Rose and I wants to know. what they got on her charge
10:03sheet? nothing yet. oh well childhood is a crime in itself to some people. we can't
10:11seem to get any sense out of that miss Jones. Jones? officer in charge of case
10:15Tracy's social worker. ah one of the caring community. well what does Jones say
10:20that Tracy's done? all she'll say is that she's making further inquiries. I
10:24never discovered what I'd done either when they banged me up at the age of
10:28eight. really mr. Rumpel? yeah nobody ever explained the nature of my offense so
10:33there I was condemned to cold baths and cross-country running and a headmaster
10:38no doubt directly descended from Captain Blythe Bounty and all for the serious
10:44crime of being eight years old. Tracy's eight years old mr. Rumpel. yeah perhaps
10:48that's what they got against her. only just eight. all right Tracy we're going
10:55to play with dolls. you like dolls don't you? I haven't got no dolls here. well
11:01these aren't Barbies but they're very interesting. you and I are going to play
11:05with them. that'll be fun won't it? so look at this one. this is mum. that's not
11:13my mum. oh I know it's not your mum Tracy. I know that love. it's just mums in
11:20general. everyone's mum. see? look at her little apron. do you think she's going to
11:27do the washing up? no. why not Tracy? mum's got a dishwasher. she doesn't need
11:34no apron. well your mum's very lucky isn't she? and here's dad. he's got a
11:41moustache isn't he? and here's grandma. now do you call her grandma Tracy? or do
11:50you call her nan? I call her grandma. well she's got gray hair hasn't she?
11:56not my grandma hasn't. well here's grandpa. there. can you see him? now I want you to take
12:08any two of these dolls. any two of them.
12:15any two of these dolls. mum? yes she's lying down. I expect she's tired.
12:28grandpa? what's grandpa doing? he's kissing my mum. is he? oh yes I suppose he is.
12:44yes Mirabelle. I think you should show her the picture now Mirabelle.
12:58now I want you to think about something else Tracy.
13:18is there anything worrying you Tracy?
13:22you know who that is don't you? no. it's the devil isn't it? you know about devils.
13:32you put on a devil's mask at school didn't you Tracy? I might have done. so
13:39what do you think of the devil? he's funny. funny? he's got a tail. the tail's funny.
13:47when did you first hear about the devil Tracy? I don't know.
13:54did you hear about the devil at home? was that it? did your dad tell you about the devil?
14:03does that picture of the devil remind you of anyone Tracy? does it look like
14:10your dad at all? this is miss Clapton mr. Rumpole. hi. hello. taken over since Diane
14:21took leave of her senses. why? what's happened to Diane? married mr. Rumpole.
14:27oh. to a junior clerk in a bankruptcy set. I told her she'd live to regret it.
14:31well welcome to equity court miss Clapton is it? if you're very good you
14:35may get parole in about ten years. soft you know the firm is probate. what's
14:41that you're fondling there old love? what does it look like Rumpole? it looks
14:44suspiciously like a brief. got it in one. time marches on. my ex-pupil has begun to
14:52acquire briefs. what's it about? bad case of non-renewed dog license? a bit more
14:56serious than that. I'm for the Crockthorpe local authority Rumpole. are you
15:01indeed? I am suitably overawed. little girl we had to take into care in terrible
15:06danger in the home. father had a criminal record you know what it is. as a matter
15:11of fact it may be a name you're familiar with.
15:13Timpson. oh so they've taken away a Timpson girl have they? why? because of
15:18the father's criminal record? not just that. something rather awful going on.
15:22devil worship. devil worship? quite seriously the family were deeply into it.
15:27it's a shocking case. really? tell me miss Liz do you believe in the devil? of
15:33course I don't Rumpole. don't be so ridiculous. anyway that's hardly the
15:36point. oh isn't it? well it interests me. you see I am likely to be against you in
15:41the court of family proceedings. as you know I am by way of being the Attorney
15:46General for the Timpson family. you Rumpole? on the side of the devil? well
15:50why not? they tell me he has all the best lines.
15:57ah Horace. do you know Charlie Whizbeach? never heard of him. Whizbeach, Bottomley,
16:03Perkins and Harries. oh good god are they all here? I think Claude's talking about
16:07my dad's firm. you must be Rumpole. my father was wondering if he was still
16:11practicing. no I've stopped practicing. I think I can do it now. it would be a
16:15great experience to join you. to join me to what exactly? Charlie has done his
16:20pupillage in commercial chambers. he wants to come to us to sharpen up his
16:24advocacy. oh where would he like to sharpen it? I think there may be an inch
16:27or two in the downstairs loo. I thought we agreed there was no more room at the inn.
16:32there is your room Rumpole. yes and there is me in it. we thought you just might be
16:37prepared to share. Charlie has a very impressive CV. see what? curriculum vitae
16:43Rumpole. Eaton. Eaton? oh he's good at that too is he? I thought it was mainly
16:47drinking. Claude's probably referring to the old school.
16:51Slough. oh no really we thought that you'd be out and about in court most of the
16:57time and I'd be putting my brief in the golden handcuff share and flotation case
17:01onto the floppy disk. Charlie would drag your room Rumpole into the 20th century.
17:05I thought it could do with a spot of decorating. it's such a lovely old spot.
17:09Claude showed me. when? when you were out at Snaresbrook Rumpole. rather like you sir
17:16your room is part of history. fine views over the churchyard. don't you look
17:21straight down at dr. Johnson's too? Oliver Goldsmith as a matter of fact. no it's
17:26Johnson's. Goldsmith? want to bet? not particularly. let's face it it isn't an
17:32arrangement that would have to last forever. after such a magnificent career
17:35you must be thinking about retirement. must I? and in the meantime Rumpole
17:39think of the work Whizbeaches could send us. and I would like it to be known that I
17:42still have work to do and I do it best alone as a free spirit. wrongs are still
17:48to be righted. mr. justice Graves is still putting the boot in. inspector
17:52brush is still referring to his unreliable notebook and an eight-year
17:56old Timpson girl has been banged up against a will. not in Eton College like
18:01you master Charlie but into the tender mercy of the Crockford local authority.
18:07the child is suspected of devil worship. can you believe it? an offense I thought
18:13went out with the Inquisition and the burning of witches. is that your case
18:17Rumpole? oh yes indeed and I have a worthy opponent. none other than ms. Liz
18:22Probert with the full might of the local authority behind her. so while there are
18:27still such challenges to be contested let me tell you Claude and you too
18:33Charlie. what's it? Rumpole shall never sheathe the sword. never!
18:45funny old buffer. Henry where's mr. Ballard? just a moment if you please I'm
18:54just showing miss Clapton the ropes. what ropes? the ropes of chambers mr.
18:59Erskine Brown. you weren't here earlier which is unfortunate otherwise you'd
19:02have known that miss Clapton is joining us for secretarial duties. Diane having
19:06got it into her head to go and get married. well you can't tell some people.
19:09miss Clapton. welcome miss Clapton. I hope you'll be very happy here. very happy
19:15indeed. any problems? you know who to come to. she'll come to me mr. Erskine
19:19Brown as head of department. yes of course but any special problems? by the
19:24way miss Clapton's a bit of a mouthful. what shall I call you? call me early. as
19:29it so happens my name's Dot. Dot! what a beautiful name. Dot. now over here we have
19:36the appointment starring miss Clapton what I call the chambers by... Henry did mr. Rumpole have a
19:40conference with the parents of the child miss Proberts taken into care? with mr.
19:44and mrs. Timpson yes sir why? a conference in his rooms? in this very
19:47chambers? in mr. Rumpole's room yeah where else would he have it sir? in his
19:51rooms yes of course he did. where else? and where did you say mr. Ballard was? I
19:57didn't sir but he's had his lawyers as Christians group. it's their annual
20:01service. mr. Ballard is in the temple church. in church? how very appropriate.
20:09and the Lord said unto Satan whence comest thou? and Satan answered from going
20:14to and fro in the world. from walking up and down in it. sounds commonplace doesn't
20:21it? just like an ordinary person. but then we think of evil as a person don't we? as
20:26a he or a she not an it. from walking up and down. for Satan can be just another
20:36face in the crowd. and we must always be on our guard against him. for the fallen
20:42angel is the great enemy. we will now sing hymn 181.
20:51I say. Erskine Brown have you joined us? yes of course. subscriptions in the post.
20:56you need all our support. but I had to tell you about Rumpole as a matter of
21:01urgency. please Erskine Brown this is no place to be discussing such matters as
21:05Rumpole.
21:07with his wonders to perform. devil worshippers. footsteps on the sea. Rumpole's in with devil worshippers. on the storm.
21:24what did you say? Rumpole in his disgraceful way has taken on a case.
21:36about some devil worshippers. he's had them in your place. in your chambers I mean.
22:06hello hello it's Horace. Horace Rumpole. you told me to ring early. I was thinking
22:29about you. yes look could you manage lunchtime? I think I can get away. the
22:35usual place? yes of course. splendid. bye.
22:41the devil? Tracy don't know nothing about the devil. of course not. it's not as if we
23:08went to church mr. Rumpole. are you sure that you've never meddled in this sort
23:12of thing? Satan the spirit of evil. you're telling me the Timpson family
23:16knows nothing whatever about these matters. of course not. nothing at all.
23:20well when the bill came that night what did you think they were after? I thought
23:25they'd come about that shot that got done over you know wedges down Gunther
23:27Avenue. it made me down the neck time and time again about it. and that wasn't you?
23:31no straight up. would I lie to you? it has been known. no but I'll believe you.
23:36do you know who did it? yeah. who? no mr. Rumpole. I won't grasp. I won't do it. I've
23:42had enough trouble being accused on grasping on Gareth Malloy when he was
23:45sent down for the Toblerone supermarket. but the Malloys and the Timpsons are
23:48deadly enemies. how would you know what they were up to? well they thought I knew
23:53something you see because my mate Barry Pilgrim was driving for him on that
23:56occasion. they thought I grasped to inspect a brush. but I mean would I do a
23:59thing like that? no I don't suppose you would. so you thought the bill had come
24:05about some ordinary legitimate crime. you had no worries about young Tracy. she's a
24:10good girl mr. Rumpole. then where the devil did these ideas come from?
24:14oh sorry perhaps I shouldn't have said that.
24:22there they are. the devil worshipers. that's them. they've just come out of
24:28Rumpole's room.
24:36Rumpole you have had them in here. had who in here? those who owe allegiance to
24:45the evil one. oh you mean mr. Justice Graves fan club. no they haven't been
24:51either place. Rumpole you know perfectly well who I mean. oh yes yes yes they were
24:54all here yes. Mephistopheles, Beelzebub, Belial and high on a throne of royal
25:00state which far outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Inde or where the gorgeous
25:05East with the richest hand showers on her Kings barbaric pearl and gold. Satan
25:12exalted sat by merit raised to that bad eminence and from despair thus high
25:20uplifted without hope. oh grow up now lad. I'm representing an eight-year-old child
25:27that has been snatched from the bosom of a family and banged up without a trial
25:31and she doesn't even know the charges against her. you see before you Rumpole
25:35the protector of the innocent. the protector of devil worshipers. those two
25:40if necessary. Rumpole every decent chambers has to draw the line somewhere.
25:47there are certain cases certain clients even which are simply well not
25:52acceptable. oh I do agree. do you? oh yes yes defending a dubious bank for example
26:01as in the golden handcuffs share case. now that sort of thing would be quite
26:05unacceptable these chambers. don't you agree about that? Rumpole a young Charlie
26:10Whizbeach wants to come into these chambers. unfortunately we have no room
26:13for him at the moment. oh poor Charlie. has he thought of a cardboard box in
26:18Middle Temple Lane if they'll have him? Rumpole this is neither the time nor the
26:24place for one of your jokes. you are here on a tenancy and tenancies can be brought
26:29to an end. Rumpole there is something in this room that makes me feel uneasy. yes
26:40I know but perhaps you'll be going in a minute. I've given you fair warning
26:48Rumpole. I expect you to think about it. why don't you look up exorcism in the
26:54yellow pages. I believe there's an unfrocked Bishop in the Balls Pond Road
26:58that'll give you a very good price.
27:01return to Knightsbridge please.
27:31Come on, let's go.
27:48Hi, Nicole.
28:31Oh hello. Come in Horace. Thank you my dear.
29:00You just caught sight of him, did you Hildy?
29:24Knightsbridge station.
29:25Grandpa's got no business coming out of Knightsbridge station at lunchtime.
29:29Unless he was up to no good, which of course he was, up to absolutely no good at all, the
29:35devil.
29:36Well, what are you going to do?
29:39I'm going to think about it.
29:41Heavens Marigold, if I hadn't been on my way to have lunch with you here at Harrods, I'd
29:47never have spotted Rumpo.
29:53Are you going to face him with it?
29:56Why, of course I am.
30:00Not just yet perhaps, not quite yet.
30:03I shall choose my moment carefully.
30:05When will it be, Hilda?
30:11It will be exactly when it suits me.
30:14Which will be when?
30:18When he least expects it.
30:20One, two, quick, quick, slow, slow, now back and left foot, slow, quick, quick, slow, slow,
30:31quick, quick, slow, slow, chassis, chassis, chassis, now back, left, right, quick, quick,
30:41slow.
30:42Is that right, Dominic?
30:45He wanted you to play at Devil's, this man did?
30:48He said he was the Devil.
30:50He was the Devil.
30:55And what were you supposed to be, Dominic?
30:58Perhaps you were the Devil's children?
31:00I object.
31:02Mr. Rumpo?
31:03I object, ma'am.
31:05That was a leading question.
31:08The concept of Devil's children was being suggested to the witness.
31:13That evidence is entirely inadmissible.
31:15As your clerk will no doubt tell you.
31:20Mr. Rumpo, Miss Jones is an extremely experienced social worker.
31:25I think we can rely on her to put her questions in the proper manner.
31:29I was merely venturing to point out, madam, that on this occasion Miss Jones put the question
31:36in an entirely improper manner.
31:39My bench will see the film out to the end, Mr. Rumpo.
31:42You'll have a chance to make any points later.
31:45Her master's voice.
31:47My point, madam, is that you should not be seeing this film at all.
31:55We're going to continue with it now, Mr. Rumpo.
31:58Was that the game you had to play?
32:01Dance around.
32:02Dance around?
32:05I want you to tell me, Dominic, when did you meet this man?
32:10At Tracy Timpson's house.
32:12Is that where you met him?
32:14It's a leading question.
32:16Do you know who he was, Dominic?
32:19Who was he, Dominic?
32:22You've been such a help to me so far.
32:25Can you tell me who he was?
32:27Tracy's dad.
32:29Oh, madam, you are not going to allow this as evidence, surely?
32:34It is pure history.
32:36What a child said to a social worker,
32:38a child who has not been called as a witness
32:40and who we have not had the opportunity to cross-examine,
32:43is nothing but hearsay.
32:45It is absolutely worthless.
32:49Madam Chair.
32:50Yes, Miss Probert.
32:52Mr. Rumpole is used to practicing at the Old Bailey.
32:55And has a nodding acquaintance with the rules of evidence.
32:58And, of course, this court is not bound by such strict rules.
33:02Where the welfare of a child is concerned,
33:04you are not tied down to a lot of legal quibbles about hearsay.
33:08Legal quibbles?
33:10You are free, with the able assistance of Miss Mirabelle Jones,
33:14the social worker, to get to the truth of the matter.
33:18My learned friend was my pupil.
33:21I spent months, a year of my life,
33:24bringing her up with the rudimentary knowledge of the law.
33:27Mr. Rumpole,
33:29my bench would like to get on with the evidence.
33:33Speeches will come later.
33:35Oh, they will, Madam.
33:37They most certainly will.
33:42Let me give you a tip, Rumpole.
33:44What?
33:45I should keep off the law, if I were you.
33:47They don't like it in the Family Proceedings Court.
33:49Miss Jones, we're grateful for the thoroughness
33:51with which you have gone into this difficult case
33:53on behalf of the authorities.
33:55Thank you, Madam Chairman.
33:57And we have seen the interview you carried out with Tracy on the video film.
34:02Now, was there anything about that interview
34:04which you thought especially significant?
34:08It was when I showed her the picture of the devil.
34:11She wasn't frightened at all. In fact, she smiled.
34:14I thought perhaps it was because...
34:16Is there any point in me telling you
34:19that what this witness thought is not evidence?
34:23Please carry on, if you'd be so kind, Miss Jones.
34:26I thought it was because it reminded her of someone she knew pretty well,
34:30someone like her dad.
34:32Someone like her dad?
34:35Yes.
34:37Have you any questions, Mr Rumpole?
34:39Oh, yes, Madam.
34:42Miss Mirabelle Jones,
34:44you are, I take it, against cruelty to children?
34:47Of course. That goes without saying.
34:49Oh, does it?
34:51Can you think of a more cruel act for a child
34:54than to come at night with the old bill
34:56and snatch it away from its mother and father
34:58without even a Barbara doll as consolation?
35:01A Barbie doll, Mr Rumpole.
35:03What?
35:04I think your client said Barbie doll, Mr Rumpole.
35:07Well, yes. That or a single toy.
35:11We don't want the children to be disturbed by thoughts...
35:14By thoughts of whom?
35:15Well, yes.
35:17You wanted Tracey to concentrate on your dotty idea of devil worship?
35:22It wasn't a dotty idea, Mr Rumpole.
35:24I had to act quickly.
35:26Tracey had to be removed from the presence of evil.
35:29Oh, evil. Now then, what do you mean by that exactly?
35:33You ought to know, Mr Rumpole.
35:35Haven't you had plenty of experience of that down at the Old Bailey?
35:39Oh, well played, Miss Broubert.
35:42No doubt about it. Your pupiling days are over.
35:45Miss Jones, let us come down for a moment.
35:48From the world of gossip and hearsay and legend and fantasy
35:52to what we call down the Old Bailey hard facts.
35:55You know that my client, Carey Timpson, is a small-time thief and a minor villain?
36:00I have submitted in evidence the list of his criminal convictions, yes.
36:05Yes.
36:06Is it the sort of record, Mr Rumpole, you might expect a good father to have?
36:11Carey Timpson is a humble member of the Clan Timpson,
36:15a vast family of South London villains.
36:19Remind us, if you would, of the name of that imaginative little boy
36:24that you interviewed on primetime television.
36:26Dominic Malloy.
36:28Malloy, yes.
36:30And as we have heard so often, you are a widely experienced social worker.
36:36I think so.
36:37With a vast knowledge of social life in this part of South London.
36:42I get to know a good deal, of course I do.
36:45Yes, of course. So it will come as no surprise to you when I suggest
36:49that the Malloys are a family of villains of a rather more dangerous nature than the Timpsons.
36:55I didn't know that, Mr Rumpole, but if you say so...
36:59Oh, I do say so.
37:01Did you meet Dominic's mother, Mrs Peggy Malloy?
37:06Yes, I had a good old chat with Mum over a cuppa.
37:10And over a cuppa did Mum Malloy tell you
37:13that Gareth, Dominic's father,
37:16is in Wandsworth Prison as a result of the Toblerone supermarket robbery with violence?
37:23Mr Rumpole, my bench is wondering if this is entirely relevant.
37:28If your bench listens very carefully, it may well find out, sir.
37:33Did you know that?
37:34I didn't know that Dominic's dad was in prison, no.
37:37And did you know that Dominic's father
37:41suspects Tracy's dad here, as you would call him,
37:44of being the police informer who put him there?
37:47No, I didn't, Mr Rumpole.
37:50Miss Jones, are you telling this bench
37:53that as an experienced social worker you did not trouble to find out
37:57the deep hatred that exists between the Timpsons and the Malloys?
38:03A hatred which goes back over generations of villainy
38:07to the dark days when Crockthorpe was a village
38:10and the local villains swung outside Newgate Prison?
38:14I have nothing about that in my file.
38:17Nothing in your file?
38:20And has your file considered
38:23that young Dominic might be encouraged
38:26to put an innocent young girl from a rival family in the frame, as we call it, down the belly?
38:31It seems rather far-fetched to me.
38:34Far-fetched, Miss Jones?
38:38You who believe in devil worship?
38:43It's all very well to accuse the deeply caring Miss Jones
38:47of guessing, Bonnie Bernard.
38:49We've got to tell those old darlings on the bench
38:52where the hell those masks came from.
38:56Our client, Mr Carey Timpson.
38:58Oh, you mean Dad.
38:59Oh, yeah. Well, he denies all knowledge.
39:01Well, he would, wouldn't he?
39:03The honour of the Timpsons.
39:06Just a minute.
39:09What's the name of this street?
39:11It isn't by any chance...
39:23All right, who did rob Wedge's Carnival Novelty Shop?
39:26Mr Rumpole, don't ask me, you know I can't...
39:28Yeah, I know, you can't grasp the code of the Timpsons.
39:31Well, let me tell you, Mr Carey Timpson,
39:33there's something far more important than your precious code.
39:36Let's see that wallet of yours again.
39:38That photograph you were so pleased to show me the other day.
39:41Yes, that's the one. Take a good look at it.
39:45Is she less important than honour among thieves?
39:50Bloody joke shop!
39:52I told you it was daft robbing a joke shop.
39:55There was always money left in the till overnight.
39:58Our info told us that.
40:00Security was hopeless, straight through the back door.
40:03What do you want to leave the stuff around my place for, anyway?
40:06Well, Fred's place was under constant surveillance.
40:09So was mine.
40:10Seeing as how you and Ros were both in Marbella...
40:13Yeah, thanks very much.
40:14And don't know where you kept your garage key.
40:16Yeah, well, this lucky old Bill never thought of looking at them, would he?
40:19I meant to go back for the stuff sometime.
40:22Seeing as it's such a trivial matter, it slipped my mind, to be quite honest.
40:26Well, it was no trivial matter for our Tracy.
40:29No. No, I know that, Ros. I'm sorry about that.
40:32Look, Den, we're not asking you to put your hands up to Inspector Brush.
40:35Yes, we are, Carrie. That's just what we're asking.
40:38You've got to, for our Tracy.
40:40Hang about a bit. Who says we've got to?
40:43Mr Rumpole.
40:45Er, Julie.
40:47Oh, Rumpole, old man.
40:49Glass of bonnie?
40:50Oh, why? Oh, why not? Yes, what are we celebrating?
40:53Ballard asked me in for a chat.
40:55It seems there may be a vacancy in your chambers.
40:57Ah, where Ballard is, there is always a vacancy.
41:00What do you mean, exactly?
41:02Oh, I'm sorry. Haven't you had a bit of a falling out?
41:06I was not aware that we'd ever had a falling in.
41:09Well, you don't see eye to eye. He gave me that impression.
41:12Oh, really? What about exactly?
41:14Oh, um, some case you were doing about devils.
41:17I wasn't exactly clear.
41:19But he said you'd be taking yourself off to pastures new.
41:23I'm afraid it'll be a bit of a wrench, won't it?
41:25I'm afraid it'll be a bit of a wrench, won't it?
41:27Leaving that beautiful old room, looking down on the temple church
41:30and Oliver Goldsmith's tomb.
41:32Hi, Charlie.
41:34Oh, you, er, you mean Sam Johnson's?
41:38You told me it was Oliver Goldsmith's.
41:40No, no, no, I told you it was Dr Johnson's.
41:42Goldsmith's?
41:44Look, I've got ten pounds that says it's Johnson's.
41:48I'll give you odds.
41:50Three to one against, Johnson.
41:52Ollie Goldsmith, evens.
41:54Three to one, the field.
41:56Done.
41:57Look, why don't we check on it now, hmm?
41:59Thirty quid in my pocket, I'll take a taxi home.
42:02Ten quid down and you'll walk.
42:04All right.
42:05Come on, Arabella, bring the bottle, old girl.
42:08Oh, gosh, what a hoot.
42:10I'll catch you up, I just want to make a phone call.
42:14PHONE RINGS
42:18Hello.
42:19Oh, Ballard, I'm glad I caught you.
42:22Well, I saw the chamber's lights on.
42:24You said you'd be working late.
42:26Listen, Ballard, why don't you go into my room,
42:28take a look out my window across to the temple churchyard?
42:33Well, I think something absolutely appalling might be going on.
42:38No, absolutely nothing to do with me, but I thought you ought to know.
42:42They're fine.
42:47I can't see it.
42:48Shh, shh, shh.
42:49Six inches off the switch.
42:51Beg your pardon.
42:52Oh!
42:54Where is it?
42:55Here, here's something.
42:56Oh, fuck!
42:58What's this?
42:59Leave it out, leave it out, leave it out.
43:02Here lies Oliver Goldsmith.
43:07It's on!
43:09Well done, Charlie.
43:13Cheers!
43:21Well, I was after the money, really.
43:24And I suppose I got a bit greedy.
43:27So I shoved a few of those boxes in the back of the vehicle.
43:30I didn't want to take them back to my place,
43:32so I shoved them into Carey's garage.
43:37Now, why did you do that?
43:39Well, young Carey didn't have anything to do with the wedges job,
43:43so I thought they'd be safe enough there.
43:46Of course, I was under considerable pressure of work at that time,
43:50and, well, you know, it slipped my mind to tell Carey and Ross about it.
43:56Did you happen to see what was inside any of those boxes?
43:59Oh, yes, oh, yes, yes. I had a look inside.
44:02Oh, yeah, there just seemed to be a lot of carnival masks, you know,
44:05that sort of old rubbish.
44:07Tracey, getting a hold of the devil masks,
44:09that was just the usual cock-up, was it?
44:11What did you say, Mr Rumpel?
44:13Ah, just the usual stock-up for Christmas, Madam Chairperson.
44:21One more thing, Mr Dennis Timpson.
44:24Do you know why young Dominic accused Tracey and her father
44:28of fiendish rituals in a churchyard?
44:30Oh, yeah, yeah, of course I do, yeah.
44:32Well, Peggy Malloy told Barry Pilgrim's wife,
44:35and Barry's wife told my Doreen down at the Needle Arms last Thursday.
44:38You can't possibly have this evidence.
44:41Oh, really? Why ever not?
44:43What Barry's wife told Mrs Timpson is pure hearsay.
44:47Of course it is, and pure hearsay is permitted in the court of family proceedings.
44:52Where the interest of the child is at stake, we are not bound by legal quibbles.
44:58What exactly did you hear, Mr Dennis Timpson?
45:01Well, Gareth thought that Carrie had grassed him up over the Toblerone supermarket job,
45:06so they got young Dominic to put the frame around Tracey and her dad.
45:12So what you are telling us, Mr Timpson,
45:15is that this little boy's evidence was a pure invention.
45:19You can't trust the Malloys, can you, m'lady? Everybody knows that.
45:23They're a right family of villains.
45:31Look, she's got her best dress on, just for you. Quick.
45:34There's a big surprise waiting for you at home. Jump in.
45:44Hilda! Hilda! Good news, Hilda.
45:47Oh, excellent news.
45:50You seem very full of yourself, Rumpel.
45:52Surprised, my joy.
45:54Impatient as the wind, I turn to share the transport.
45:57Oh, with whom but thee.
45:59Been having a good time, have you, Rumpel?
46:01A great time, Hilda.
46:04I managed to extricate young Tracey Timpson from the clutches of the Caring Society.
46:10She is now back, safe in the bosom of her family.
46:14Oh, yes, I'll be getting another brief.
46:17Defending Dennis Timpson on a charge of stealing from Wedge's Carnival novelty shop.
46:22Oh, well, I expect I'll think of something.
46:26Rumpel, don't you think it's time we talked for once?
46:31Is there something that you feel you ought to tell me?
46:35Well, yes, Hilda, as a matter of fact, there is.
46:39And I suppose you've had time to think up some ridiculous defence.
46:43No, no, I plead guilty. There are no mitigating circumstances.
46:47Oh, Rumpel, how could you?
46:50Well, temporary madness, I suppose, but I did it.
46:54And it cost a fortune.
46:57You had to pay.
46:59You don't get that sort of thing for nothing, Hilda.
47:02I imagine not.
47:03One hundred smackers it cost to celebrate your birthday.
47:10Two tickets for the Scales of Justice Ball, Hilda.
47:16Happy birthday.
47:18Now, what was it you wanted us to talk about?
47:23Oh, perhaps some other time, Rumpel.
47:26MUSIC PLAYS
47:49It's too bad Gutted's sitting in Newcastle.
47:51Yes, he's so sorry to miss all the fun.
47:53Philly is away in Swansea. Prosecuting in the leisure centre.
47:57Never mind, Claude. I'll dance with you.
48:00Yes, Erskine Brown, you have my full permission to shake a foot with my wife?
48:04LAUGHTER
48:06Thank you very much.
48:08I say, I thought Charlie Whizbeach and his girlfriend were joining us.
48:12No, Erskine Brown, Whizbeach will not be joining us.
48:15Not at this table and certainly not in chambers.
48:17Really? I thought it was more or less fit.
48:20Er, no, Claude, more or less unstuck, I'm afraid.
48:25Have you faced him with it yet, Hilda?
48:27Well, I'm waiting for the right moment.
48:30It seems a long time coming.
48:32I was going to tell him and then he told me he'd come here and he behaved well.
48:35They do occasionally.
48:37Don't let it put you off.
48:41May I ask you why Charlie Whizbeach isn't joining us after all?
48:45Not on this otherwise happy occasion, Erskine Brown.
48:48I can only say, practices.
48:50Well, of course he practices, in the commercial court.
48:53Do you know anything about this, Rumpole?
48:55Who, me? Know anything? No, no, absolutely nothing at all.
48:58I have told Whizbeach we simply have no accommodation for him.
49:01I do not regard him as a suitable candidate to share Rumpole's room.
49:05Well, I must say...
49:06And I think it better that we never refer to the matter again.
49:09Now, as head of chambers,
49:11I think I should lead my wife out onto the dance floor.
49:14Er, no, fella, with all due respect,
49:17as the oldest serving chamber member's wife,
49:20she who is Mrs Rumpole should be led out first.
49:23Oh. Would you like to dance?
49:26Would you care to dance, Hilda?
49:30Rumpole?
49:32Are you sure you can manage it?
49:34Er, perfectly confident, thank you.
49:36Thank you.
49:46Rumpole, your chassis?
49:48Oh, yes, I do that quite a lot these days.
49:50Whatever did you learn?
49:52Well, to be perfectly honest with you, Hilda...
49:54If you're capable of such a thing.
49:56A former Southern Counties ballroom champion
49:59looked her up in the Yellow Pages,
50:02took a few lessons,
50:04a Miss Isidore of Perne.
50:06In Mowbray, Crescent?
50:09Hilda, you knew?
50:12Don't think you could ever do anything
50:14that I don't know about, Rumpole.
50:30Well, well, well.
50:31You're really quite nippy on your feet, Rumpole.
50:35Marguerite Ballard is looking absolutely greedy with envy.
50:42You are an old devil, Rumpole.
51:31You
51:34You
51:37You
51:40You
51:43You
51:46You
52:01You