The Caring Society, Social Services taking children from their home and family, over spurious charges of 'Devil Worship'. Not far fetched as it has occurred in the 21st century of the Christian calendar.
Where social services around Britain have done just that.
The cases prosecution is taken by Chambers female Rumpole Mz Liz doing her Don Quixote tilting on behalf of the social services. Automatically believing their evidence, and giving Rumpole a tip "I'd keep off the law if I were you, they don't like it in the family proceedings court" having previously told the court that "Mr. Rumpole is used to working in the criminal court, in these courts legal quibbles aren't considered where the welfare of the child are concerned".
Chambers life also revolves around the Sanctimonious Society, where Chambers Head Soapy Sam is again allied with the lecherous Erskin Brown. Using another opportunity to ease Rumpole from his rightful place, and replace him with their kind of barrister. An oily civil lawyer "who will bring Chambers into the 20th century, with his Golden Handcuffs case"
Rumpole's home life is as smooth as ever, with "She who must," still exhibiting as much trust in her other half. Hilda stalks her husband gossiping over tea in Harrods with Marigold Featherstone. Tearing him to shreds with the glee of lionesses ripping apart their prey. Neither being prepared to give husbands the benefit of any doubt, they being automatically declared "guilty as charged".
Hilda resolutely still fails to trust her partner even after their long years of married life, failing to believe that he has a decent bone in his body.
Rumpole of the Bailey (TV Series)
Rumpole and the Children of the Devil (1992)
User Reviews
Review this title3 Reviews
Not as far-fetched as you might think
lucyrfisher11 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Some commenters have called this story unbelievable. It may be a bit clunky, but such things have happened, in Britain and the US. At the time (late 80s?) there was a panic over something called "Satanic abuse". Many social workers came to believe that there was a secret society of Satanists abusing children, and they produced "evidence" of this delusion by, as Rumpole points out, asking children leading questions. They also got children to play with dolls and drew conclusions from their play. Hard to dramatise. Joanna David is excellent as the over-caring social worker. The little girl is excellent. Ballard and Erskine Brown are increasingly caricatured. Mixed in with all this is a subplot about the Scales of Justice ball which the Rumpoles play beautifully. In-joke - Leo McKern was apparently a nifty dancer in real life.
Rumpole and the Children of the Devil
Prismark1018 March 2021
The genesis of this story lay with the Cleveland child abuse scandal and the Orkney child abuse scandal of the late 1980s and early 90s.
Children were taken away from their homes, some in the middle of the night with evidence of satanic ritual abuse. Social workers would ask children leading questions and even make suggestions of devil worship.
Given the seriousness of the allegations in this episode. The usual Rumpole formula of bonhomie does not seem to be entirely in keeping with the main part of the story. It also does not help that a thin plot is being stretched out.
8 year old Tracy Timson has been taken away by social services, mainly as she was playing in the schoolyard with a devil's mask on. The social worker interviewed fellow pupil Dominic Molloy who seemed to have landed Tracy in it.
The social worker is unaware that the Timson's and the Molloy's are rival crime families in the manor. Dominic might just have an axe to grind.
As Rumpole always act for the Timson clan, he represents the parents in the family proceedings court. His former pupil Liz Probert represents the social services department.
The first issue was the strongly Christian Samuel Ballard QC objecting to Rumpole taking on a satanic abuse case. Even threatening to Rumpole's tenancy of the chambers. Ballard does not seem to consider the interest of the child or the justice system.
Liz Probert seemed to be unaware that the Timson's are Rumpole's regulars.
Liz also had no issues when the social worker's evidence seemed to be hearsay and information gleaned from leading questions. That is until the shoe is on the other foot.
Maybe this reflected the real life cases, where the magistrates might have unquestionably believed such evidence.
Of course Rumpole is unhappy with such conduct and realises that someone is after the Timson family. Also the Timson's have not helped themselves with a recent robbery of a fancy dress shop.
There just didn not seem to be enough story here. So you have Rumpole learning to dance, so he can dance with Hilda at The Scales of Justice ball. Hilda thinks he might be having an affair.
Also some oily commercial junior plans to move into Rumpole's office in connivance with Ballard.
Children were taken away from their homes, some in the middle of the night with evidence of satanic ritual abuse. Social workers would ask children leading questions and even make suggestions of devil worship.
Given the seriousness of the allegations in this episode. The usual Rumpole formula of bonhomie does not seem to be entirely in keeping with the main part of the story. It also does not help that a thin plot is being stretched out.
8 year old Tracy Timson has been taken away by social services, mainly as she was playing in the schoolyard with a devil's mask on. The social worker interviewed fellow pupil Dominic Molloy who seemed to have landed Tracy in it.
The social worker is unaware that the Timson's and the Molloy's are rival crime families in the manor. Dominic might just have an axe to grind.
As Rumpole always act for the Timson clan, he represents the parents in the family proceedings court. His former pupil Liz Probert represents the social services department.
The first issue was the strongly Christian Samuel Ballard QC objecting to Rumpole taking on a satanic abuse case. Even threatening to Rumpole's tenancy of the chambers. Ballard does not seem to consider the interest of the child or the justice system.
Liz Probert seemed to be unaware that the Timson's are Rumpole's regulars.
Liz also had no issues when the social worker's evidence seemed to be hearsay and information gleaned from leading questions. That is until the shoe is on the other foot.
Maybe this reflected the real life cases, where the magistrates might have unquestionably believed such evidence.
Of course Rumpole is unhappy with such conduct and realises that someone is after the Timson family. Also the Timson's have not helped themselves with a recent robbery of a fancy dress shop.
There just didn not seem to be enough story here. So you have Rumpole learning to dance, so he can dance with Hilda at The Scales of Justice ball. Hilda thinks he might be having an affair.
Also some oily commercial junior plans to move into Rumpole's office in connivance with Ballard.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
