This is a new original story for the BBC Play series.
Adapted for radio by Richmal Crompton in collaboration with Alick Hayes.
Script published by David Schutte in William the Terrible. ISBN: 978 0 9546802 4 4
We are brought into the story at the Brown's house, as they are settled down to breakfast. The topic of discussion is that of Miss Gilpin and her worsening fortunes. From having many staff to care for her and her house, she is now needing to sell the unstaffed house to pay off debt, but cannot find the title deed. To this end, she has enlisted Mr Brown's help (and that of his solicitor).
Mr Brown is in a rush and, quite sensibly, considers the yellow-coloured liquid in his new jar of honey, to be actual honey. Unfortunately, it turns out to be bicycle oil, which all makes quite logical sense in the play, but not so much sense for Mr Brown's unfortunate taste buds.
Miss Gilpin is a friend of William. To be fair, anyone that feeds William, is a friend of William. This is a bond that William will not break, it is sacred to him. If William's friends are in any trouble, he will be there to lend a hand in making things right.
This is just so with Miss Gilpin. He enlists an unwilling Ginger to assist in searching Miss Gilpin's house for the 'doins' (title deed). Violet Elizabeth bribes her way into the search effort by way of offering William an ostrich's egg.
Fortunately, William knows a way into the house via the cellar. It isn't long until Hubert is discovered going through Miss Gilpin's things. The debt she owes is to Mr Lane. Hubert expects a commission for the repayment of this debt, if he is the one to discover the title deed.
William is about to 'slosh' Hubert for breaking the pedestal that held the bust of Miss Gilpin's father, made by her sister. However, Mr Brown steps in with Miss Gilpin before a single fist is thrown.
Mr Brown is in the process of replacing the bust onto the pedestal, despite protests from William, when the weight of the bust splits the pedestal apart. The result is unfortunately, a broken bust. The second result is fortunately, the title deeds - which Miss Gilpin's sister must have placed within the bust for safe-keeping.
Another happy ending for William. A joy to read the lengths that boy will go when endeavouring to help a friend.
| Cast |
|---|
| William |
| Mr John Brown |
| Mrs Brown |
| Ginger |
| Hubert Lane |
| Violet Elizabeth |
| Miss Gilpin |
| Announcer (Margaret Hubble) Note: This is the first time that the announcer has been mentioned in the cast list. |
