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THE TRIPODS - Season One episode guide |
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by Andrew Pixley
Regular Cast:
John Shackley (Will Parker), Jim Baker (Henry Parker), Ceri Seel (Beanpole)
Based on the Tripods trilogy ('The White Mountains') by John Christopher
Adapted by Alick Rowe
Music by Ken Freeman
Costume designer: Phoebe De Gaye
Make-up designer: Sally Sutton
Stunt Arranger: Terry Forrestal [Episodes Two, Five to Eight]
Studio lighting: John Green [except Episodes Four, Seven and Eleven]
Studio sound: Richard Partridge [except Episodes One, Four, Seven,
Eight, Eleven and Thirteen]
Visual Effects Designers: Steven Drewett [except Episodes Five and Eleven], Kevin Molloy [except Episodes Five and Eleven]
Video Effects Designer: Robin Lobb [except Episodes Five and Eleven]
Outside Broadcast Lighting: John King
Outside Broadcast Sound: Alan Taylor [except Episode Nine], John Caulfield [Episodes Nine and Thirteen only]
Designers: Victor Meredith [Episodes One to Eight], Martin Collins [Episodes Nine to Thirteen]
Producer: Richard Bates
[N.B. The serial has no on-screen episode numbers, but only a description caption after the opening titles. These are printed here in italics, but the episode numbers are purely for means of easy reference]
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Henry (Jim Baker), Jack (Michael Gilmour) and Will (John Shackley) prepare for the capping ceremony in Episode One |
15th September 1984
EPISODE ONE
- A Village in England - July, 2089 AD -
Directed by Graham Theakston
Guest Cast:
Roderick Horn (Ozymandias), Lucinda Curtis (Mrs. Parker), Michael
Gilmour (Jack), Peter Dolphin (Mr. Parker), John Scott Martin (Schoolteacher)
[without Ceri Seel]
Capping Day comes to a quiet village in England in AD 2089 and a Tripod arrives to carry out the traditional ceremony of capping which marks the attainment of adulthood by each child of sixteen; a ceremony that ensures "peace of mind", "great understanding" and total subservience to the Tripods' domination of the Earth. Young Will Parker's life is changed that day when he meets the bizarre vagrant, Ozymandias.
Broadcast: 1715 -
1740
[Transmission interrupted by superimposed caption announcing Royal Birth]
22nd September 1984
EPISODE TWO
- England - July, 2089 AD -
Directed by Graham Theakston
Guest Cast:
Roderick Horn, Lucinda Curtis, Peter Dolphin, Michael Gilmour, Eddie Caswell (Seb),
John Michael McCarthy (Mate), James Staddon (Nick), Harry Meacher
(Captain Curtis), Barbara Thorn (Barmaid), David Shaw (Man
with camel). [without Ceri Seel]
Although the Tripods have ruled by capping for 100 years, Will Parker and his cousin Henry are determined to keep their minds free. Encouraged by Ozymandias, they have left home to escape capping and head for the south coast. There they can get to the continent in the hope of reaching the Free Men in the White Mountains.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
29th September 1984
EPISODE THREE
- The English Channel - July, 2089 AD -
Directed by Graham Theakston
Guest Cast:
Harry Meacher, John Michael McCarthy, James Staddon, Marcus Powell (Cook),
Paul Ridley (French Officer), Jeremy Clyne (French Sergeant),
Rolf Saxon (French Guard).
Will and Henry have been taken on board a boat to cross the channel to France by Captain Curtis' men, but Curtis does not plan to let them leave when they arrive. Captured by Black Guards at a French fishing village they are imprisonned until a Tripod arrives to cap them.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
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Henry (Jim Baker), Beanpole (Ceri Seel) and Will (John Shackley) at the aerodrome in Episode Four |
6th October 1984
EPISODE FOUR
- France - July, 2089 AD -
Directed by Graham Theakston
Guest Cast:
Robin Langford (Duc de Sarlat).
Will and Henry journey through France with their new friend Beanpole (Jean-Paul), who helped them escape from the French jail. Beanpole proposes a diversion to the ruined and abandoned city of Paris where the trio face danger from vagrants.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
13th October 1984
EPISODE FIVE
- Chateau Ricordeau, France - July,2089 AD -
Directed by Graham Theakston
Guest Cast:
Jeremy Young (Count), Pamela Salem (Countess), Charlotte Long (Eloise),
Robin Langford, Nick Burnell (Black guard), Terry Forrestal (Trouillon),
Nadio Fortune (Christophe).
Will is suffering from a fever and the three boys are given refuge at the Chateau Ricordeau. There are many things to tempt them to stay, and Will becomes friends with the Count's beautiful young daughter, Eloise. But their presence is not welcomed by the Duc de Sarlat, who sees Will as a rival.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
20th October 1984
EPISODE SIX
- Chateau Ricordeau, France - July, 2089 AD -
Directed by Graham Theakston
Guest Cast:
Jeremy Young, Pamela Salem, Charlotte Long, Robin Langford, Kieran Montague (Guernichet),
Nadio Fortune, Terry Forrestal.
Will and Eloise have fallen in love, and after Will saves Eloise from drowning at the lake they become engaged. Henry and Beanpole wonder how he will choose between Eloise and the Free Men in the White Mountains, since they are both eager to move on.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
27th October 1984
EPISODE SEVEN
- Chateau Ricordeau, France - August, 2089 AD
Directed by Graham Theakston
Guest Cast:
Jeremy Young, Pamela Salem, Charlotte Long, Robin Langford, Roger Hammond (Duc
de Saclay), Terry Forrestal, Nadio Fortune.
Henry and Beanpole have left the chateau to continue their journey, leaving Will to follow with Eloise after the tournament. But Will finds that Eloise has already been capped, and de Sarlat plans to separate Eloise once and for all.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
3rd November 1984
EPISODE EIGHT
- Chateau Ricordeau, France -
August, 2089 AD-
Directed by Graham Theakston
Guest Cast:
Jeremy Young, Pamela Salem, Robin Langford, Nadio Fortune.
De Sarlat has chosen Eloise to serve the Tripods in the tournament and she has been taken away. Will, broken hearted, decides to leave the chateau and follow Henry and Beanpole, but on escaping is captured by a Tripod ... and then set free to find his friends.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
10th November 1984
EPISODE NINE
- France - September, 2089 AD -
Directed by Christopher Barry
Guest Cast:
Anni Lee Taylor (Madame Vichot), Stephen Marlowe (Monsieur Vichot),
Julian Jones (Daniel), Barbara Wilshere (Jeannie Vichot), Clare
Nimmo (Helen Vichot), Maria Evans (Shelagh Vichot), Cecilia
Boorman (Kirsty Vichot), Imogen Boorman (Fiona Vichot), Nicola
Boorman (Lucy Vichot).
The boys are trapped inside a tunnel by a Tripod, which has followed them using a homing device under Will's armpit. Having cut the device away, the boys need to escape to somewhere with help for Will, who has lost much blood and is weakening.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
17th November 1984
EPISODE TEN
- France - September, 2089 AD -
Directed by Christopher Barry
Guest Cast:
Anni Lee Taylor, Stephen Marlowe, Julian Jones, Barbara Wilshere, Clare Nimmo,
Maria Evans, Cecilia Boorman, Imogen Boorman, Nicola Boorman.
Henry and Beanpole would be happy to spend some weeks with the Vichot family at their vineyards, but Will is all set for pushing on to the White Mountains before winter sets in. Also they are being investigated by Jeannie Vichot's fiancé, Daniel, who is a black guard.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
24th November 1984
EPISODE
ELEVEN
- France - October, 2089 AD -
Directed by Christopher Barry
Guest Cast:
Vass Anderson (Black guard), Tim Brown (Cart driver), Elma Soiron
(Old woman), Victor Barring (Mayor), Michael Cassidy (Chief
vagrant), Julian Jones.
The route to the White Mountains becomes increasingly difficult after the boys leave the Vichot family, and soon they grow tired and hungry. The theft of bread from a fête goes wrong and the trio are pursued by black guards into a forest of vagrants.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
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A BBC publicity photo of Ceri Seel as Beanpole |
1st December 1984
EPISODE
TWELVE
- France - October, 2089 AD -
Directed by Christopher Barry
Guest Cast:
Julian Jones, Ian Ruskin (Monsieur Neyrand), Max Harvey (Monsieur
Dubois), Vass Anderson, Victor Barring, Elsa Soiron.
The boys stand trial for their theft, and when Daniel arrives, they face the prospect of being taken for capping. In a quarry, they manage to escape, but soon realise they have strayed into an area controlled by Tripods.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
8th December 1984
EPISODE
THIRTEEN
- The White Mountains - November, 2089 AD
Directed by Christopher Barry
Guest Cast:
Richard Wordsworth (Julius), Roderick Horn, Peter Halliday (Chief
black guard), Hugo Bower (Second black guard), Christopher Warwick (Third
black guard), Kim Durham (Cabot).
Having destroyed a Tripod, the boys are pursued by other machines to the White Mountains. Within reach of their objective, they are captured by some black guards, who start a brutal interrogation.
Broadcast: 1720 - 1745
BBC1 in association with Fremantle
International Inc.
& The Seven Network, Australia
Thirteen Episodes - Colour
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