1. A Case For The Bishop

[The Bishop]

1. A Case For The Bishop

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=980

CAPERS

1. CELEBBERS

In this first episode we are introduced to the four main protagonists - Father Unwin, Matthew Harding, The Bishop and Mrs Appleby - who are all strong, well-rounded, believable characters. We also get a glimpse of the secret world of national security as we see Saunders, the Head of British Intelligence, and Patterson, his deputy, discussing the theft of the Healey mini-computer before assigning the case to 'Operation Priest'.

As usual, a number of established characters from Captain Scarlet appear in this story in cameo roles. We see Captain Ochre as the pilot of the Dreisenberg airliner and Captain Indigo as the officer in the police car. There is also a very brief, non-speaking part for Captain Magenta who sits in the congregation during Father Unwin's sermon.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=962

2. STORY TRIDDLYHOW

The agents of the Ambassador of Dreisenberg break into the offices of Healey Automation and overpower the security guard. They then blow open the safe and steal the prototype of the Healey Mini-Computer. The Century 21 Studios offices double up as the headquarters of Healey Automation which, of course, is of particular interest as you can see what the studios looked like when they were still in use.

British Intelligence know who is behind the theft but realise that the Ambassador will invoke 'diplomatic immunity' which means that his bag cannot be searched when he leaves England to return to his country. Saunders knows that it will take a resourceful and subtle operator to recover the valuable piece of equipment and turns to The Bishop.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=979

The plane carrying the Ambassador, his Aide and the diplomatic bag will take off the next day and so Unwin must somehow force it to land again before it leaves British airspace. He decides to miniaturise Matthew and place him on board the plane so that he can sabotage the engines during the flight.

The idea is to direct the stricken plane to a disused airfield where he can find a way to coerce the Ambassador into returning the computer. Unwin disguises himself as a mechanic and drives unchallenged into the hangars thus giving him the opportunity to smuggle Matthew into one of the engine cowlings.

After takeoff, and under instruction from Father Unwin, Matthew switches off the plane's engines one by one on the port wing forcing the pilot to land at Oakington Airfield. It is here, with the help of a police escort, that Unwin drives Gabriel and is then able to miniaturise the Ambassador who has come to the door to complain.

3. NE'ER DO WOLDS

The Ambassador of Dreisenberg is a larger than life character in that he is a big fish in a very small pool. He is greedy and self-important and is nicely voiced by David Healy (Shane Weston in Joe 90). Indeed, I could imagine that this puppet might have come close to challenging for the role of Shane Weston as there is definitely a resemblance.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=981

This puppet was also seen as Kruger in the superb episode of Captain Scarlet called 'The Heart of New York'.

4. RESOLVEY-HO!

Father Unwin doesn't use a gun to get the better of his enemies but he does use the Minimiser. On this occasion he uses it to shrink the Ambassador down to 2 feet tall and says he will leave him that way unless he hands back the stolen mini-computer.

The Ambassador's Aide seems a bit ambivalent about this maybe seeing the chance to get his own back on his employer, who is something of a bully. However, the Ambassador is desperate to return to normal size and pushes the case containing the mini-computer into Gabriel's leather seat.

You might think that this experience would put the Ambassador off but he hijacks the police car seen in the first screenshot above and gives chase. There is quite a bit of shooting, with the minisaturised Matthew in the back seat of Gabriel aiming at the police car's tyres. However, Father Unwin swerves round a corner and drives Gabriel into the Vicarage's picturesque garage making good his escape.

[The Bishop]

CONTAIN-ITS

5. IF YOU FOLLOW MY MEAL

Purpose

The purpose of the Unwinese on this occasion is to confuse the policeman so that he forgets why he has stopped Gabriel and to alter his train of thought so that he becomes disposed to help Father Unwin.

It reminds me of Fabio Capello's unintended early retirement of David Beckham where saying one half truth (through poor English) leads to another half truth and, rather than contradict what he has already said, Capello ends up compounding the misinformation. I bet you are glad I didn't try to explain that in Unwinese!

Transcript

Policeman: "What you do say may be put into evidence."
Unwin: "Ah, yes. Writey scribbly in your bookery. All uttery words speedy your pencilode must deceive my eyebold."
Policeman: "I, er, didn't quite catch that, sir."
Unwin: "Ah, pardlo. I'll explainy. Now Matthew, my gardener, is deep joy with green fingers in the garbage, you understay?"
Policeman: "I see."
Unwin: "Yes. Well now, we've got this urgent mission for the Bishop. Do you understand for the Bishop on that?"
Policeman: "Right."
Unwin: "You do. Well unfortunately Matthew is trabbered in the wingine's all rotatingmost."
Policeman: "Rotatingmost?"
Unwin: Yes. That's a rotating engibold. You spell it 'E, I, N, G, Engi, Engibold'. Right. Now this does a.."
Policeman: "E, I.."
Unwin: "Engibold."
Policeman: "Engibold?"
Unwin: "Trect! Now this is a caution of firebell in this aerdroves it might crash in falolloper. We must get there before it's too late. It's a matter of life and death."

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=978

Translation

Unwin: "Ah, yes. Write a note in your book. The speed with which you write down everything I say deceives the eye."
Unwin: "Ah, pardon me. I'll explain. Now Matthew, my gardener, has green fingers when it comes to the garden, you understand?"
Unwin: "Yes. Well now, we've got this urgent mission for the Bishop. Do you understand that it's for the Bishop?"
Unwin: "You do. Well unfortunately Matthew is trapped in the plane's engine."
Unwin: Yes. It's a propeller engine. You spell it 'E, N, G, Engine'. Right. Now this is the.."
Unwin: "Engine."
Unwin: "Correct! Now this is the cause of the alarm in this aeroplane which might crash land. We must get there before it's too late. It's a matter of life and death."

6. DEEP JOY OF THE MINIATURISATION

The Minimiser is used to shrink 2 individuals in this story. Firstly, Matthew is miniaturised so that he can secrete himself in the engine cowling of the Constellation aircraft which is mentioned by Gerry Anderson during his commentary on this episode in the English DVD boxset.

Later, Father Unwin uses the Minimiser to shrink the Ambassador and thus force his hand into giving back the stolen mini-computer. The below picture is an unusual one in that it shows one puppet shrinking in the foreground whilst other puppet characters are in the background. I think this may be the only instance of such an occurence in the entire series.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=984

7. THE MIKE SONG SINGERS

I don't know how the music would have sounded had Gerry used the Swingle Singers instead. What I do know is that it would have been virtually impossible to have bettered the performance of the Mike Sammes Singers.

8. PROPY

The amount of effort that has gone into making this Dreisenberg Airlines Constellation is very satisfying. I like the attention to detail when first one engine is closed down and then the second, both of which you can see clearly as the plane is coming in to make its emergency landing.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=982

9. SETLOADERS

Here is a shot of the garage at the Vicarage in which Father Unwin keeps his pride and joy, Gabriel, the Model T Ford. There is a nice picture of the garage on the inner pictorial display stand which comes with Dinky model number 109. Thanks to eBay I have a mint example of this lovely model.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=983

[The Bishop]

NAME DROPNY

10. GLINTY SCINTILLADES

As I mentioned in the Episode Guide, Saunders and Patterson are very infrequent visitors but the fact that they appear more than once makes them 'main' characters in my eyes.

Saunders

Saunders is the Head of British Intelligence and Patterson is his deputy. You will no doubt remember that the puppet cast as Saunders also played the part of Fearless Foley in the Joe 90 episode 'Attack of the Tiger'. Saunders' character always reminds me of the late Allan Cuthbertson who played the part of Colonel Hall in the Fawlty Towers episode called 'Gourmet Night'. He was also a regular baddie in The Avengers which was possibly the best TV show ever made.

Patterson

Patterson seems to be a fan of power dressing - either that or he got dressed in the dark. His suit and waistcoat match the colour of his tie while his black hair and moustache complete the image - but just look at those trousers! .

Maybe he has modelled himself on the golfer, Gary Player, who nearly always wore black. I remember commentators joking with him that he would be a 'Wow' at funerals. I don't recognise Patterson as being anything other than a member of the Repertory Company in previous series.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=997
Is that St Paul's that I can see through the window on the right?

11. AGENT BLAKE - O FOLLY TERRIBOLD!

I have heard that Agent Blake only works part-time for the Bishop so this must be one of his days off.

12. SUPPORTY CARPS

Here we have a glimpse of Captain Magenta who is never seen for any length of time in this series. As you can see from the Hall of Fame (above), Magenta is joined in this episode by his erstwhile colleagues Captains Ochre and Indigo. They are reused in later stories so I will leave screenshots of them for another day.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=985

13. CREASEY UNIFOLDERS

In 'A Case For The Bishop', Father Unwin can be seen wearing a cassock and then white overalls followed by a nightgown and cap and finally his official robes. This sort of thing adds depth, authority and humour to the proceedings and helps to establish the eccentricity of his personality.


HOUSE & GARBIDGE

This section affords an opportunity to pick up on some of the live action shots and locations which are a characteristic of this show.

14. LIVE HAPPENY

There is a sequence when Father Unwin disappears into a building at London Airport in ecclesiastic attire and emerges some minutes later in white workman's overalls. While waiting for him to come out the sequence of events is sped up to indicate the passage of time. Various members of the public enter and leave this building like extras from a Benny Hill comedy.

Later we see a close up of Unwin's legs and feet as he puts down the case containing Matthew. The idea is that, under cover of darkness, Matthew will hide himself aboard the Dreisenberg Airlines plane that will be carrying the Ambassador.

In just about every episode we also see Stanley Unwin driving the Model T Ford out of the drive of Foxlea Manor, the building doubling up as the real life Vicarage. I visited this address a few years ago and was surprised to find that the gravel drive had been partly grassed over.

15. TIMELY PARPS

When I was a boy I used to lie in bed at night with the curtains open and see both propeller and jet engine aircraft in the distance as they flew over Windsor Castle having taken off from Heathrow a few minutes earlier. The red sunsets and approaching night skies were very evocative and I loved the droning sound of the propellers.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=989

16. GRANDLY ARCHITEPS

There are no grand edifices in this story although there is a visit to Heathrow Airport which looks something like a building site at the time that Gabriel arrives at the terminals.

17. MOTYCARS CLASSICOLD

Here is the Riley police car which has been commandeered by the Ambassador and his Aide. As they chase after Father Unwin and Matthew, who are high-tailing it back to the Vicarage in Gabriel, they drive through some picturesque locations including this ford.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=991
Notice the little wooden plank footbridge on the left.

[The Bishop]

SUM UPPERLY

18. ALL UTTERY WORDS

I first saw a clip of The Secret Service when Gerry was doing his one man shows in 1992. My son and I went to the St Albans event which ran an extra hour over its allotted 2 hour schedule - Great! The highlight of the show - or at least the slot that got the most laughs and reaction - was the very clip criticised by Lew Grade where Stanley confuses the police officer. From that moment I was hooked on both The Secret Service and also Unwinese.

When the first 2 ITC videos finally came out it felt like Christmas Day - the artwork on the covers was beautifully presented. 'A Case For The Bishop' was a strong first episode and definitely one of the best. This was in sharp contrast to 'The Most Special Agent' from Joe 90 which was a big disappointment on first transmission.

The aforementioned scene when Stanley is stopped by the police was surprisingly powerful. I think this was a combination of 3 things - firstly, the masterful yet compassionate expression of the Father Unwin puppet, secondly, the hypnotic power of the Unwinese, itself, and finally the slightly raised position of the puppet as he looks down on the officer which enhances his authority.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=1009

19. QUANTICOST

When the series was first released on video, 'A Case For The Bishop' was arguably my second favourite episode. However, when the DVD boxsets were released the picture quality was greatly improved and my list of favourites became less clear.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=68&pictureid=947
Rating: Five stars + 4 Minimiser lights


TRIVIAL

20. MICRO MATTHEW

Matthew and the Ambassador are both shrunk but we do not see the mini-me version of Matthew this time around.

21. SPLODEY BANGERS!

There are no explosions in this story although I dread to think how many bullets Matthew has in his gun. The gun is 1/3rd normal size so the bullets must be tiny.

22. LESSON LEARN-IT

Father Unwin talks about the late Professor Humbolt and also about his own life's work: "Trying, in my own small way, to bring the maximum good to mankind that I can. That's something we should all try to do." That sounds like the sort of thing that Stanley, himself, might have contributed..

23. JUDGE NOT, MRS APPLEBOD

Mrs Appleby gets in her customary dig by telling Father Unwin that Matthew 'took another day off work yesterday' and complaining that Unwin never saw bad in anybody.

24. WHIMSY CHUCKLODES

This is a comedy adventure series but there were no comic set pieces in this particular story.

The following screenshot shows the offices of Century 21 Studios. According to Gerry Anderson's commentary on the UK DVD boxset the room that is lit up is Gerry's own office. However, the David Lane commentary in the US DVD boxset says that it is David's office and that the 'security man' in silhouette is Alan Perry, the episode director.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=998

I am guessing here but maybe they are both right. Gerry left David in complete charge as the Producer of The Secret Service so maybe it was originally Gerry's office but had been taken over by David?

25. COMPETIGAMES

This is a thread with a difference in that it incorporates a competition for members of the public Fanderson Forum. The winner will receive a small prize consisting of a resin Matthew Harding head which was taken from the original puppet.

The Bishop will soon be retiring on a nice, fat Civil Service pension. To win the Matthew headcast you must answer the following question: What is The Last Errand Of The Bishop?

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=993
6 Across: A senior priest in charge of the work of the Church in a city or district.

Within the threbbers of this page there is a story told
Of saboteurs and crooks and spies and tales of ne’er do wolds.
Bishop all retirey-ho from Whitehormone Throo Fi Fo,
To solvey one last missionload with Matthew you must go.
Father Unwin is the wordysmith, eyebold lookyhow,
If riddload to be sort-it out, then county-hup right now.

[DukeDexter]

The amount of effort that has gone into making this Dreisenberg Airlines Constellation is very satisfying. I like the attention to detail when first one engine is closed down and then the second, both of which you can see clearly as the plane is coming in to make its emergency landing.

Doesn't Alan Shubrook's book say that it was a display model from a travel agent which they painted and dirtied down? It's impressive stuff. :)

[Steve Gerard]

I like the extensive use of live-action in Secret Service.
The Bishop excellent analysis as usual.:) namesake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpX3XdU-V9o

[Derek Eaton]

Great review - great spotting St Pauls never noticed this before.

Amazing how much live action there is at the beginning of the episode including the titles before we see a puppet. Amazing detail in the settings - just look at the realisim of the radiator when Father Unwin is in bed.

[Picasso61]

That's a superb review, Bishop. It is amazing how much real life there is in that opening sequence of the first episode.:)

[air terrainean]

17. MOTYCARS CLASSICOLD

Here is the Riley police car which has been commandeered by the Ambassador and his Aide. As they chase after Father Unwin and Matthew, who are high-tailing it back to the Vicarage in Gabriel, they drive through some picturesque locations including this ford.

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=991
Notice the little wooden plank footbridge on the left.

A slightymost correctibole your Bishygrace -

The police car in the episode is actually a Wolseley - and is reproduced beautifully in miniature in the scene where it approaches the Dreisenberg airliner at the airfield.

[Derek Eaton]

MOTYCARS CLASSICOLD - whats the car that is driven at the airport is it some sort of Vauxhall.

Deep joy with the buttonoid of replyious.

[The Bishop]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=1003
Hello Mr Dexter,

Thank you very much for providing this vital intelligence - we need men like you in 'Operation Priest'. I will ask Agent Blake to get out his typewriter and add a note to the file after he has finished ironing my newspaper.

[The Bishop]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=1002
Hello Mr Gerard,

Between ourselves, the Bishop has been hitting the bottle this evening and so I am dealing with his mail. Thank you for your kind comments and for the great clip from Monty Python. As you may know, the Bishop takes himself very seriously and, in his current state, he might think that this is some sort of training film from the Vatican!

[The Bishop]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=1002
Dear Mr Eaton and Mr Picasso,

Thank you very much for your contributions and encouragement. I don't suppose you've seen Matthew, have you? He was supposed to be planting out some snapdragons. I must go now as Father Unwin will be home soon and he will be wanting his tea..

[Steve Gerard]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=1002
Hello Mr Gerard,

Between ourselves, the Bishop has been hitting the bottle this evening and so I am dealing with his mail. .... in his current state, he might think that this is some sort of training film from the Vatican!

Hilarious!:D

[air terrainean]

MOTYCARS CLASSICOLD - whats the car that is driven at the airport is it some sort of Vauxhall.

Deep joy with the buttonoid of replyious.

If you mode the silvery greebly saloon, that is a Ford Zodiac, very posibold the motorycar belonging to special effects wizardymost Derey Meddyloders.

[The Bishop]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=1007
Good evening, Mrs Appleby, Is my tea ready ... and what on Earth has happened to the Bishop?!

Hello Air Terrainean,

I see that at the present time you are registered as a Dreisenberg agent - just as I suspected! :)
Thanks to your observations I am able to afford readers a bonus clue to help them solve 'The Last Errand Of The Bishop'.

Competigames - Bonus Clue
You see, on second thorkus, I realise that I was wrong to say the police car was a RILEY. I should have listened to my parishioner (pictured under 'Supporty Carps') who, like you, told me it was a WOLSELEY.

[air terrainean]

I see that at the present time you are registered as a Dreisenberg agent - just as I suspected! :)

I hope I haven't commited a cardinal sin, father !

[Bladez636]

Saunders

Saunders is the Head of British Intelligence and Patterson is his deputy. You will no doubt remember that the puppet cast as Saunders also played the part of Fearless Foley in the Joe 90 episode 'Attack of the Tiger'. Saunders' character always reminds me of the late Allan Cuthbertson who played the part of Colonel Hall in the Fawlty Towers episode called 'Gourmet Night'. He was also a regular baddie in The Avengers which was possibly the best TV show ever made.


I think your forgetting Saunders/Foley was originally Dr. Fawn in "Captain Scarlet".....

All in all some brilliant descriptions and commentaries on the episodes.

[The Bishop]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=1007
Hello Mr Bladez636,

Great heavenlybode! In truth I had failed to recognise that Fearless Foley and Dr Fawn were one and the same person - it must have been the moustache that did it.

So.. we have a mole in the organisation. Deep Foley! You must keep this intelligence under your hat, my son, until I have had a chance to inform the Bishop. He will know what to do.

Mrs Appleby! A flask of hot black coffee for the Bishop, if you please!

[The Bishop]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=1002
He's coming round now, Father Unwin. I don't think you need to keep slapping him...

[The Bishop]

http://www.fanderson.org.uk/forum/picture.php?albumid=72&pictureid=1003
Thank you for the coffee, Father Unwin, but this tastes like instant and personally I prefer ground.

As far as Saunders is concerned, I have known about his subversive activities for some time. His real name is Edward Wilkie and he is the most dangerous double agent this country has ever known. Of course, it was he who recruited Patterson, a notorious criminal from the Eastern Block who will stop at nothing!

Agent Blake has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to find enough evidence to convict them both in a court of law. Father Unwin, if I could bring them to justice then I would retire happy and it would be a fitting last errand for this Bishop. Now this is what I want you to do ...

Competigames - Bonus Clue
A word of warning, Father Unwin. Don't be deceived by my rhetoric. Your readers can only find the answer to this competition by solving the riddle and to do that they will need to watch your every word and follow Matthew wherever he may go ...

[Derek Eaton]

Watched this episode yesterday again in preparation for next weeks location tour prior to the Fanderson Party. It is a really great episode and packs loads in - I can see why Gerry ended up working on the Protectors when you can do this much in 25 minutes of TV.