This is a new original story for the BBC Play series.
Adapted for radio by Richmal Crompton in collaboration with Rex Diamond and Alick Hayes.
Script published by David Schutte in William the Terrible. ISBN: 978 0 9546802 4 4
As far as it goes, Mr Brown is in a jubilant mood. He has bested 'Old Colonel Hawkins' and his new steel-shafted clubs at golf with his old hickory clubs.
His mood is so good that when Miss Milton comes to complain that William has been in 'her pond', which in living memory has been public property, Mr Brown actually says that William is a 'fine boy', not only that but he has taken on Mrs Brown's favourite phrase that William has turned over a new leaf.
Miss Milton is most unpleased by this response. Now that a solicitor has confirmed that, historically, the pond belonged to her property, she has fenced it off.
We also have something here that is often missing in the books - continuity - which Crompton admitted she was lax about in an interview. Mr Brown mentions William has faultless behaviour since he broke the geyser and insulted the MP in previous weeks.
Of course, this 'faultless behaviour' must always come to an end; otherwise William wouldn't be our William!
In this case a golf ball crashes through a window and smashes a vase close to Miss Milton, upsetting her further.
With no damage done to Miss Milton, they eventually get rid of her. This leaves William and his father to have a most cordial conversation about golf, which Mr Brown is pleased his son is taking an interest in. Well, he was interested, until he realises that William has broken a cherished club.
Of course, in true William fashion, he goes for a walk before any consequences can be brought down upon him.
The eternally 'unwanted' Violet Elizabeth makes herself known to William, who has been muttering to himself during his walk, shortly followed by the addition of Ginger. Discussions about how to get back the pond from 'Milly', Miss Milton, are just beginning when Hubert Lane appears holding a white flag of peace and proposing an armistice between his and William's gangs until the pond is returned to their rightful ownership.
Options are discussed for the method by which the pond will be returned to them. Eventually, the idea of a message in a bottle, found at the bottom of the pond, will do the trick.
Hubert certainly knows his history and dictates a well considered letter to William. When this is complete, and a bottle found, the group decide to meet that very midnight to progress their combined mission.
Violet Elizabeth scares William when she appears as a ghost, which is actually a mackintosh that happens to be too large for the girl. We also discover that Hubert has been waiting for them, unseen. The reason for Hubert's early arrive is realised when William climbs the tree to deliver the bottle to the pond. A laughing Hubert confesses that he has sawn the tree branch almost clean through after William falls unexpectedly into the pond.
This commotion awakes Miss Milton, who is heard screaming at her window.
The final scene is full of suspense as Miss Milton arrives at the home of the Brown family talking about going to the police. William is desperately trying to squirm his way out of the room with the excuse of wanting to get to school (raising Mr Brown's suspicions). However, as things become clear, we realise that Miss Milton (who has Spiritualism as her current fad), has concluded that the 'thing' she saw at midnight is a tormented spirit that inhabits the pond.
An unsteady Miss Milton agrees that William can use the pond, which will now be unfenced from her garden. As William leaves in a rush to get to School to inform Ginger of their success, Mr Brown confesses that 'It all looks very fishy to me'.
Indeed!
| Cast |
|---|
| William |
| Mr John Brown |
| Mrs Brown |
| Ginger |
| Hubert Lane |
| Violet Elizabeth |
| Miss Milton |
