Facing Fearful Odds (21 Mar. 1976)

Virginia Hamilton returns to Eaton Place, seeking Richard's advice on an urgent matter.

Director:

Raymond Menmuir

Writer:

John Hawkesworth

Stars:

Gordon Jackson, Angela Baddeley, David Langton

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Gordon Jackson	...	Hudson
Angela Baddeley	...	Mrs. Bridges
David Langton	...	Richard Bellamy
Meg Wynn Owen	...	Hazel Bellamy
Hannah Gordon	...	Virginia Hamilton
Raymond Huntley	...	Sir Geoffrey Dillon
Simon Williams	...	James Bellamy
Christopher Beeny	...	Edward
Jacqueline Tong	...	Daisy Peel
Jenny Tomasin	...	Ruby
Richard Reeves	...	Michael Hamilton
Hilary Minster	...	Lieut. Lightfoot RN
Laurence Harrington	...	Chief Petty Officer Webb
Anthony Nash	...	President of the Court
Peter Whitaker	...	Judge Advocate

Storyline

Richard receives another visit from Mrs. Virginia Hamilton, the war widow he had met some months before. She again seeks his assistance but this time on a far more personal matter. Her 17 year-old son, an acting Sub-Lieutenant in the Navy, has been arrested and will face a court-martial charged with cowardice in the face of the enemy. He suggests that Virginia hire the family solicitor, Sir Geoffrey Dillon, to represent him and she quickly agrees. In the end, Richard can only but admire Virginia's strength of character and demeanor. Downstairs meanwhile, Ruby is taken to task for stealing food though she claims she has been using it to feed the animals at the zoo. With Edward away visiting his family, Hudson has also had to put up with Daisy's frequent and lengthy absences. The truth comes tumbling out when Hudson receives a visit from a military policeman to advise that Edward is absent without leave. It seems that Edward's regiment is to return to France and it's up to Hudson to try...

---

Plot Keywords:

cowardice | court martial | widow | convalescence | rationing | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 March 1976 (USA)

Filming Locations:

LWT Studios / ITV Studios / The London Studios / London Television Studio / Kent House studios, Upper Ground, South Bank, Lambeth, London, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT), Sagitta Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Mrs. Bridges: [to Ruby] One of these days, my girl, that tongue of yours is going to frizzle up and stick to the roof of your mouth.

User Reviews

Lowest point of this season.

February, 1918, This episode must rank as the only other all-time low point in the whole five seasons - along with the infamous 'Swedish Tiger' (this ranking just above that one) from the very first season. This episode features the court martial (and nothing could be more boring...) of a character we don't even know - and of which the outcome bears no relevance and has absolutely no impact on the Viewer whatsoever...

This would be Hannah Gordon's second, and last appearance as 'Virginia Hamilton', before the character marries Lord Bellamy, and becomes the final mistress of the house in the next and final season.

Daisy and Ruby hide Edward so that he doesn't have to go back to the front, and Daisy is only persuaded to reveal his whereabouts when Hudson points out that AWOL will count as 'desertion', and will send Edward to a firing squad!