JANUARY 1965
PRODUCTION INFORMATION Produced by: ATV NETWORK at the Alpha Studios, Birmingham.
Cast and story information from: ITC Entertainment Programme Synopsis: Crossroads Episodes January-December 1965. (And episodes 41-44 from December 1964). Producer: REG WATSON Created by: HAZEL ADAIR AND PETER LING Directors: ALAN COLEMAN, REG WATSON, TIM JONES, JACK BARTON Written by: TERENCE DICKS, MILES RUDGE (Week 9), IVOR JAY (Week 10), ANDREW HALL (Week 11) JOHN PENNINGTON (Week 12) TERENCE DICKS, MILES RUDGE (Week 13) Theme Tune: TONY HATCH Other Crew: Designers: REX SPENCER and ELIZABETH DORRITY, Floor Managers: PETER HARRIS and LIZ STERN, Production Manager: MARGARET FRENCH |
CAST LIST – JANUARY
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EPISODES
EPISODE 41: 28th December 1964: Boxing Day and we find Sandy readjusting the Christmas decorations in the foyer while singing out of tune to ‘Downtown’, a current chart hit, for Petula Clark and Tony Hatch. Jill enters with the words “I think we’ve had enough singing for one Christmas if you don’t mind Sandy!” Not put off he suggests they could team up and be the new ‘Nina and Frederick’ he then bursts into ‘Puff The Magic Dragon’ before observing Jill can’t sing either so that money-fame-making plan is over before it’s even begun.
“When you’re finished serenading the ceiling, Sandy, mum wants to see you in the kitchen” – Jill Richardson
Over at the Night and Day car hire, Amos is having words with Mr Drury on the phone, the latter is getting rather impatient as to where the £2000 is for Amos’ share in the car hire business. He’s told within two weeks the money will be provided and the deal complete. Dick arrives, having already bought his share of the business via a forged signature of his wife Kitty to get the money via a mortgage on her shop. Amos assures Dick he has no issues with getting the funds, however, Dick becomes more concerned about Amos’ health when he appears to become ill.
Meg tackles a tricky subject with Carlos, she’s had three complaints about his food – it has too much garlic content. Jill is left devastated when she’s told Phillip has departed the motel for good. Theresa Cummings asks for a one-to-one with the owner of the motel, Meg braces herself for more complaints about garlic. Instead, Theresa gives glowing praise of the food and asks to speak with the chef, who Meg takes and introduces to Carlos and is thrilled by Theresa’s compliments.
When Sandy tells Jill there’s a handsome man in reception asking after her she’s sure it must be Philip Winter but she’s disappointed when it isn’t. Meg has heard of Theresa before, but can’t quite think where.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 42: 29th December 1964: Jill, upset not to see Philip Winter in the foyer, makes the best of things when her surprise visitor is actually old friend Jonathan Mortimer. Jonathan reveals Jill’s pal Sarah and his brother Tony were both outside, a real London reunion, although Jill shares her disappointment she couldn’t move with Sarah permanently to work at Silhouette Magazine. Jonathan reveals he’s now a property developer and from January will be working in the Midlands for his father.
Over at Kitty’s Corner Shop Owen Webb shares the news that his wife Gwynne has taken a turn for the worse and will be in hospital considerably longer than anyone first expected. Kitty says he can lodge with the Jarvis’ for as long as he needs. Meg also has a request of Owen, to help Sandy with his maths studies during the holidays. He agrees.
“Will you marry me Christine?” – Terence Lacey
On the phone Theresa arranges to meet Carlos at The Clarence Hotel in the city centre to discuss his cooking skills, while in the foyer Christine Fuller is stunned when ‘Terry’ (Terence Lacey) asks to speak to her. He’s acting shifty and she looks nervous… He then asks her to marry him, after all his is the father of her child – but it would be a loveless union. She angrily declines.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 43: 30th December 1964: Sandy and Jonathan are discussing prefabricated buildings however when Jill joins them at the seats in reception Jonathan’s conversation turns to try to get Jill to go to dinner with him, but she politely declines. She later considers joining him for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Carlos is dressed up smartly for his meeting later to talk about his culinary skills, he says good morning to ‘Miss Jill’ who doesn’t notice his dapper appearance. Over at the Night and Day car hire Drury is laying into Amos verbally about the delay in his payment. Dick suggests a meeting and hints there might be a way of the money owed to be resolved, although secretly he hasn’t got a clue what to do.
“Birmingham is – how you say? A swinging city. No?” – Carlos
Carlos meets up with Theresa who reveals she’s a reporter for a local newspaper and wants to do a feature on Carlos and the menu of the Crossroads Motel. He begins to criticise the cliental...
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 44: 31st December 1964: Terence Lacey makes a return visit to the motel to see the mother of his child, Christine Fuller – but as previously she’s in no mood to discuss their child or his ideas of a loveless marriage and he departs, leaving Meg bemused to whom he is.
Sandy and Owen have their first ‘maths lesson’ in the Jarvis’ parlour, however, their conversation soon turns to football and maths is forgotten.
The motel is now fully licenced and the New Year’s Eve drinks are flowing. Jonathan, Sarah, Jill, Tony and Meg are in the groove; Meg asks how Jon’s father is, he tells her he’s spending the festive season in Switzerland. Later, Brian, Janice and Kitty join the proceedings – along with Portia who she didn’t want to leave alone on New Year as Owen had made other plans and Dick was working at the car hire.
Over at the Car Hire Dick and Amos are working, Dick heads out to leave for a job when Amos clutches his chest in pain. Dick was due to run Sarah from the motel to the train station to get the last train back to London, however, he rings the motel to inform them of Amos’ falling ill and he’s driving him home instead – can someone else at the motel get Sarah to the station?
“It wasn’t my fault. He skidded on his motorbike, you see, and I couldn’t pull up and stop in time” – Mr Nicholson
Jill and Jonathan are looking at the motel building, Jill is showing him what the new motel replaced; the reception was built on the kitchen garden and the chalets were built on the old stables. Jonathan is impressed with the work. Jill informs him the whole place was built by Morrisons Construction. Jon suggests Meg should have used Mortimers as she’d have had a friend’s discount.
Jill is plotting to try and track down Philip Winter and drags Jonathan into her scheme, but she promises they can have a swinging New Year’s Day at The Flamingo Coffee Bar on Duke Street tomorrow.
Terence Lacey arrives at the motel very drunk and cuddles into Meg wishing her a happy new year. Christine is embarrassed, however, the celebrations come to a sudden halt for Jonathan when Mr Nicholson arrives at the motel to inform him Tony has had a road accident. A collision between Tony on a motorbike and Nicholson’s car.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 45: 1st JANUARY 1965: Jonathan heads off to the Birmingham Emergency Hospital to see how Tony is doing following the road accident, while Jill discovers Carlos’ motorbike is missing, she tells Meg that Tony may have ‘borrowed it’ without asking Carlos. The next morning Carlos is enraged, leaving Vi Blundell to clasp her duster.
Theresa Cummings arrives at the motel with her photographer Norman Rice. They’re keen to get some shots of Carlos at work in the kitchen for their feature. Meg hadn’t been told about it and is rather bemused by it all.
“I’d like to get something a bit off-beat. You know – the spirit of sunny Spain being gay and vital in the Midland smog.” – Theresa Cummings
The news from the hospital reveals Tony has a broken arm, severe concussion and possibly a broken skull. Carlos has a broken heart over his motorbike.
Drury and Dick are waiting for Victor to arrive at the Jarvis’ when Kitty answers the phone – its Victor’s landlady ringing to let Dick know Amos has had a heart attack and is in hospital. At the motel, the police arrive wishing to speak to Meg. They inform her that Anthony ‘Tony’ Mortimer had a large amount of alcohol in his blood at the time of the road crash – had he been drinking at the motel?
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 46: 4th JANUARY 1965: Kitty is feeling unwell, which is very unlike her, leaving Brian and Dick concerned, Dick has called for the doctor. He’s also concerned what will happen to the car hire business now Victor Amos is in the hospital recovering from his heart attack.
“She throbbed with passion. Now she is silent. All broken. Like my heart.” – Carlos
Carlos is still sad about his bike being damaged by Tony Mortimer in a road accident. He has been perked up slightly by Jonathan Mortimer noting the costs to repair will be covered by him.
Meg’s solicitor Mr Holland informs her that it appears an intoxicated, and underage, Tony caused the road accident. Unless it can be shown that somehow Tony got his alcohol from somewhere else the motel is likely to lose its licence.
After Jonathan reveals Jill didn’t go on a date with him on Friday Meg wants answers – Jill reveals she went to see Philip’s wife to try and get him out of his troubles. Meg isn’t impressed.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 47: 5th JANUARY 1965: Understanding the problems the Jarvis family are going through, lodger Owen offers to run the shop until Kitty is feeling well. This leaves Dick to concentrate on the car hire firm. Brian has a letter from Sarah Payne in London at Silhouette magazine, she wants to use Portia in a photoshoot.
Carlos is glowing at his massive spread in the newspaper, he shows Meg the photo taken of both of them in the kitchen. She then goes on to read the piece, and anger grows across her face..
“The temperamental Carlos told me; ‘The English, they have not the taste for Spanish cooking'” – Carlos quoted in the newspaper
Janice and Brian have a row over the letter from Sarah about using his dog in the magazine. Janice believes it is just a ploy to get him to London – Sarah obviously fancies him. Brian thinks she’s talking rubbish.
Christine has another run-in with the father of her child, he demands she allows him to see their son, but she blankly refuses, she never wants to see Terence again – ever.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 48: 6th JANUARY 1965: Jonathan manages to speak with Sarah about the night of his brother’s accident, she recalls he was drinking from a hip flask, which contained whisky. (He’d borrowed Jonathan’s coat with it was in) He informs Sarah she must inform the police of these details immediately.
Amy Turtle is talking to Owen Webb in the shop, she notes that its her youngest son is seven tomorrow (Jan 7th) and she’s got a coupon for a free bar of Crunchy Munchies, empty milk bottle returns that gets her threepence off her bill and she wants some cigs for her husband… Owen is muddled, briefly, but recovers and manages to get a filthy look out of Amy at the price. Sandy, who has been observing the situation, informs Owen that Mrs Turtle always tries it on with Kitty, but never works. He says he knows now to keep an eye on her distraction attempts.
“Cost of livin’ these days… Give us a few shillings in change, its for the gas” – Amy Turtle.
At the Shopday Store Brian brings a few truths to the table and Dick is left hurt and bemused. Brian observes that if Drury goes to court over the unpaid £2000 not only will Dick lose the Night and Day car hire, but Kitty also loses the shop – and that would most likely kill her.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 49: 7th JANUARY 1965: Thursday’s visit to the Crossroads Motel and Meg is informed that the motel won’t be investigated in the incident concerning Tony Mortimer, Sarah Payne and Tony have both confirmed he became drunk via the hip flask and not the motel bar.
Miss Tranter has returned to Kitty’s shop and is quizzing Owen Webb as to why he’s working the store. He informs her that Kitty is ill with flu.
Meg visits Philip at the Army Prison in Catterick, she gives him the bad news from Jill’s visit to his ex-wife Doreen that Michael, her new husband, has gone back to Ireland and left her. Doreen stole the Army funds bestowed in Philips’s trust when she did a runner with Michael. Accused of stealing, Phillip did a runner too and is now in the clink for desertion.
“Without Hoolahan I’m right in it, I tell you, I haven’t a chance now.” – Philip Winter
Brian and Janice have another row over Sarah and his continued correspondence with her. When Brian tells Janice he’s going to London for the weekend for a photo shoot with Portia at Sarah’s magazine She takes off her engagement ring and tosses it onto the table and leaves.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 50: 8th JANUARY 1965: The motel has awoken to burst waterpipes. Carlos, Jill, Sandy, Christine and Meg are trying to clear the water from the flooded kitchen with a chain of buckets, but Sandy is making more mess than help.
At the shop Miss Tranter is back speaking with Owen, he’s concerned she’s ventured out on such a freezing day. She has bought a gift for Kitty, they discuss her recovery.
“Is impossible. Everything is frozen. The water is frozen I am frozen. How I work like this? Tell me, how I cook?” – Carlos
Sandy had gone up to the bathroom above the kitchen to fix a small leak. The pipes have now burst and water is pouring down. Luckily earlier Meg had called a plumber who arrives to the chaos – Vi Blundell shows him to the problem. Sandy says he had to try and fix it – although he’s made it worse – as guests need to use the facilities.
Meg has gone to visit Doreen she is resistant to having any conversation concerning Philip. Doreen suggests they stop calling him Winter, his real name is Philip William Caroll. Meg says she’s only ever known him as Philip Winter and apologises. She urges Doreen to tell the Army what she knows about the money to help enable Philip to prove his innocence.
As the conversation unfolds a realisation comes ot Meg – it wasn’t Michael Hoolahan who stole the money, it was Doreen!
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 51: 11th JANUARY 1965: The plumber has fixed as much as he can with a short-term repair, but informs Meg that the pipework hasn’t been put in correctly, and is cracking in several places between the water tank, the public showers/baths above the kitchen and the kitchen itself. He’ll return later to begin the bigger job.
Kitty is furious that Janice out of spite having broken up with Brian sold Portia behind his back for £5, all to stop him from having a reason to go to London and see Sarah.
“A Spaniard can understand cold water running down his neck like anybody else.” – Meg
Meg and Jill discuss Philip and his pending Court Martial on Friday, Meg thinks she should tell the authorities on her suspicions it was Doreen, his then-wife, who took the money.
Janice pops into the shop and is served by Kitty, things soon turn to discuss Portia and hot words are exchanged. However, Kitty offers Janice some advice – if Brian really does love her, he will come around eventually to speak to her again.
Sandy joins his school friend Colin at the vet, where the latter’s ill cat is to be seen. Sandy strikes up a conversation with an elderly lady about her Goldfish. It’s called Henry and is suffering from erratic air bubbles.
Meg gets an overseas call…
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 52: 12th JANUARY 1965: Tuesday at the Crossroads Motel and Meg has spoken with her brother Andy Frazer, who is in the Navy, and has invited her for a holiday in Gibraltar where he’s currently based. Meg tells him she’ll think about it, but she really shouldn’t leave the motel when it is busy. She says she’ll send a telegram as soon as she’s made her decision.
At the car hire, Dick has had a visit from Janice to see how things are, and he tells her how terrible Jackie (unseen) his secretary is. She offers to become the company secretary if that would help. Unlike Kitty, Dick has always liked Janice and leans towards accepting.
“We’ve been rubbing it for hours!” – Jill
Carlos is furious with the plumber who has accidentally managed to spill red lead on his newly resorted motorcycle. Christine, Sandy and Jill are trying different methods to try and get it off, eventually, petrol seems to do the job.
Meg visits Major Barnes who is the defending officer in the Philip Caroll (Winter) court marshal hearing. She informs him that Philip went on the run to try and get his ex-wife to come clean and admit she’d taken the Army funds. Barnes reveals he’s had a letter saying the opposite, a witness saying they saw Philip take the money.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 53: 13th JANUARY 1965: It appears Doreen has been in touch with Michael who has in turn sent a letter to the Catterick base claiming he saw Philip stealing the money. Meg doesn’t believe it, but how can she prove Doreen and Michael are lying?
“Judo on a full stomach. Sounds dangerous. I’d better watch my step. Brian will be a black belt or something before you can say James Bond” – Dick
Meg examines the letter from Michael closer and suspects it’s a fake. Knowing Michael has returned to Ireland she notices a Birmingham postmark and suspects Doreen’s hand at work.
Jonathan and Jill are looking at the damage in the kitchen from the problems with the pipes, noting the only person pleased is Sandy, who hasn’t washed for three days. Meg has returned from Catterick and is pleased to hear Jon suggest Mortimers do the work – at a much better rate than the plumber has submitted. The work should take no more than a week.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 54: 14th JANUARY 1965: Jonathan and Meg have agreed the work to the motel will start next week, and the motel will be closed throughout this time to replace all the pipework.
Jill suggests the week the motel is shut would be a perfect time to take Andy up on his offer of a holiday. She says she’ll think about it.
“I’m absolutely positive Mrs Webb wouldn’t want you to go around like an accident looking for a place to happen.” – Kitty
Mrs Tranter and Owen Webb have become friends, and arranged an afternoon at the library, Kitty is pleased two lonely pensioners have found companionship.
Meg pops in to see Kitty, and asks her to go on a week’s holiday to Gibraltar to see Andy. She says she can’t leave Dick at the moment, not with all the problems with Mr Drury ad the ill-health of Victor.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 55: 15th JANUARY 1965: It’s the day of Philip’s hearing with a charge of stealing mess funds of £56 on 5th May 1963 at Morely and on 10th May 1963 going absent without leave. He pleads not guilty to the first charge and guilty to the second. Meg takes the stand to give a positive witness statement on Philip while his ‘ex-wife’ Doreen takes the stand and accuses him of stealing the money, she’d seen it in the cashbox in their home and it was full of money when she last saw it…
“You don’t seem to realise Doreen what you’re doing to that man. It’s not just is Army career that’s at stake. It’s his whole life. I saw a man once who was wrongfully accused of something, oh, long time ago now. He was twisted up with bitterness. It killed him. And then they found out he hadn’t been guilty after all. One of the witnesses had perjured themselves. That woman went to gaol and a good thing too.” – Meg.
Victor, recovering from his heart-attack at home gets a visit from Dick with bad news. Mr Drury has to put a deal in for his house, and he needs the money now, the time has run out. Victor decides to bring in another, and borrow the money from an old friend Charlie Forward. Charlie owns a garage in Birmingham and its just the kind of business he would be interested in.
At the Army court, Philip’s defence run rings around Doreen and she comes clean – she stole the money. She will now face the consequences of her actions and go to jail.
Victor Amos and Charlie Forward meet and discuss the loan of £2000. However, Victor suffers a second, this time a fatal heart attack, Charlie stands by and watches it happen without calling for medical assistance.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 56: 18th JANUARY 1965: Dick urges Kitty to consider going to Gibraltar with Meg to see their brother Andy. She’s reluctant with all the issues going on with the family at the moment and decides no, she will stay at home.
The motel has closed so that Mortimers can start work on fixing the faults in the motel building concerning the wrongly placed water tank, and water pipes.
“Well, I’ve got to get a hole knocked through that there wall y’see? To fetch the pipe through from the outside… I’ll try not to make too much mess” – Workman.
Mrs Tranter pops into the Jarvis’ to invite Owen out for another friendly afternoon out, but he turns her down, feeling guilty he’s having fun while his wife lays in hospital.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 57: 19th JANUARY 1965: Having defrosted too many items in the motel kitchen, Carlos has taken some food around to Vi Blundell’s house – her husband Les isn’t sure what’s going on or who Carlos is.
“I can see with my own eyes what’s been goin’ on. I come home early for once – and this is what I find. You suppin’ tea with another man” – Les Blundell
Janice, now Dick’s secretary at the Night and Day Car Hire firm, pops into the Jarvis’ to inform Kitty that Dick will be working late. She ponders with Owen and Sandy how she wishes she could get Portia back to make things right with Brian. Sandy mentions he saw a Great Dane that looked like her at the vet’s the other day. He says he’ll try and find out where the dog is and who now owns her.
(Following Day) Dick returns from Victor’s funeral, noting to Kitty it had poor attendance. Dick thought the fella was more popular than he was. Just five relations and Charlie Forward. He also mentions that Charlie has shown interest in taking on Victor’s share of the car hire firm.
With Meg away visiting her brother Andy in Gibraltar Jill has been left in charge of the motel, while it’s closed. Jonathan Mortimer has been overseeing the building work, and the pair have become close. Now, a man stands in the doorway just as they’re about to kiss… Philip Caroll (Winter) is back.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 58: 20th JANUARY 1965: Mid-week visit to Crossroads Motel and Jill awkwardly introduces Philip to Jonathan and explains what’s going on at the closed motel. Philip in turn explains how he’s been treated ‘very leniently’ by the Army.
Sandy and his pal Colin, go in search of Portia, having snooped at the Vet’s office to get her new owner’s first name. They’re greeted at what they believe is the home of the dog by a German Au Pair Girl who doesn’t understand a word they’re saying.
At the Shopday Store, Kitty is serving Mr Jenks when Owen brings in the newspaper delivery, he asks how Portia is, and Kitty is surprised to realise Owen knew all along who bought the dog. Mr Jenks explains his wife thinks Portia is far too big, and Owen explains the sale was all a mistake anyway. Mr Jenks suggests that he brings Portia home and Kitty can give him £5. A deal is done.
Christine Fuller has been invited to dinner as Vi and Les Blundell’s, seen as she’s full of Scampi left by Carlos. Also joining them is the Blundel’s neighbour, milkman Ralph Palmer.
Sandy full of pride managed to get Portia from the German Au Pair, and run off with the dog, returning her to the Jarvis’ house. Meanwhile, Portia is sitting on the backdoor step waiting to be let in – they now have two Great Dane dogs!
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 59: 21st JANUARY 1965: Chaos has ensued at the Jarvis’ back parlour as two Great Dane dogs have run wild, attacking each other. Owen has managed to take one into the bathroom, while Portia has made herself at home on the rug in the parlour. Sandy is now tasked with taking the second dog back to its owner.
Jill is showing Philip her ‘Dew of Autumn’. He’s impressed with the perfume. Jonathan had given it to her as a gift. Philip suggests Jill and Jon would make a lovely couple.
“Why does everything have to be appropriate? There are lots of things that aren’t appropriate – but they’re still wonderful.” – Jill
Janice and Brian chat while Kitty, Dick and Sandy head to the motel (Dick and Kitty are keen to see the renovation work) the couple reunite.
Later at the car hire firm Dick and Drury are talking about Charlie Forward taking Victor’s stake in the business, Drury is thrilled someone with money is keen to pay the share, but he gives Dick a warning about going into business with someone he doesn’t know. ‘You’ve got a lot to learn’.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 60: 22nd JANUARY 1965: Having had a meeting with Charlie Forward, who made it clear he holds all the cards, Kitty and Dick are worried about the car hire and their investment.
The work at the motel is complete, Christine and Vi clean up the kitchen in preparation for the reopening and the return of Carlos who has spent a few days in Malvern visiting his wife Josephina.
“There ought to be compensation for this sort of thing. The fellow who designed the place should foot the bill for this lot. Make him a bit more careful in future, fancy putting the main water pipe outside!” – Vi Blundell
Charlie strikes a deal with Dick that will see Charlie have the overall control of the car hire business with Dick owning 49% and Charlie 51%, paying £2040 to Drury. Charlie says he’s far too busy however to get involved in the daily operations so he’ll leave Dick to get on with things.
Ralph has invited Christine round to his house for afternoon tea, she meets his sister Winnie, who is a spinster who cares for their mother. Ralph says he moved back into the family home – theirs since 1890 – once his wife died. Christine notes she loves their garden, she lives with her parents in a high-rise council flat.
Meanwhile, at the motel, Jill receives a vicious phone call slagging off Christine and her immoral child.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 61: 25th JANUARY 1965: Owen returns from the hospital, his wife has deteriorated. He rings Sandy and calls off this week’s maths lesson.
Carlos is looking at the new pipe in the kitchen, running up the wall. He’s not impressed with being able to see it, ‘How can he say this is finished? This is not finished…’ ‘And when Senora Richardson returns tomorrow – she will not like it either. You will see ‘Ah’ she will say ‘My beautiful kitchen. She is spoiled with this great big ugly pipe”.
Radio Announcer: “Swing along with us for thirty minutes of non-stop twist, beat and shake!”
Kitty: [turns the radio off] “No thank you very much. My twisting days are over!”
Saturday morning and Meg arrives back from her visit to Andy and finds reception empty. She gets a nice surprise when Philip appears.
Charlie isn’t having such a nice surprise when he pops into the Night and Day Car Hire and finds Janice trying to cope alone, and not very well with the driver order book missing.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 62: 26th JANUARY 1965: Philip and Jill discuss her feelings for him, he tells her that it is ‘impossible’ they can never be together. He explains that after all the problems with Doreen, he just can’t be getting involved with anyone again so soon.
Vi is teaching Carlos how to do the ‘Gay Gordons’ in the kitchen while she sings the lyrics. Carlos is very impressed with Vi’s dancing skills, Vi invites Christine to the old-time dancing that takes place every Wednesday evening in the village hall, and Carlos suggests he could do old time too…
Christine is distracted by Mrs Lacey, Terence’s mother, who is not happy about the gossip going around the village concerning her son, and the fact he’s the father to Christine’s baby and that she won’t marry him.
Meg visits Kitty and gives her a gift of a brooch from Gibraltar, the conversation turns to Dick’s business and Kitty reveals her concerns about Charlie Forward. Meg suggests she has every right to be worried.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 63: 27th JANUARY 1965: Carlos is telling Meg about the Old Time Dancing night, and how he doesn’t have many friends in England so he’s looking forward to meeting new people. Meg thinks its a good idea.
Philip doesn’t want to work at the motel full-time like before, he feels it would be imposing on Meg, however, when she suggests he work as a part-time barman, with accommodation thrown in he’s more than keen to accept
Jill for once is surprisingly happy to see Jonathan, stating she was sick of all the usual faces at the motel…
Philip keeps misplacing his matches, Meg gifts him Charles’ old lighter so he won’t have to keep using up the motel’s stock. She suggests he pretend it’s a gift off her from Gibraltar.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 64: 28th JANUARY 1965: Vi is explaining to Les that she’d taken one of those ‘vile calls’ about Christine earlier at the motel. He’s more interested as to why she’s now answering the phone at work when she’s not a receptionist.
“One-two-three, one-two-three- do you come here often? … What’s that you say senorita, I look just like Cary Grant? … Oh senorita, you are just saying that, because it is true … one-two-three. You are so beautiful senorita, one-two-three in the interval I shall buy you a lemonade!” – Carlos (practising dancing with himself)
Janice having recently resumed her engagement with Brian is furious when she takes a call at the car hire office from Sarah (Who doesn’t know its Janice) saying she has the tickets for the Palladium this coming weekend in London, and if the note could be passed onto Brian.
Philip and Jonathan chat at the motel bar, he is discussing how lucky he’s been to get a 12-month suspended sentence in light of all the issues he’s caused, but Doreen’s fate is yet to be decided by a trial. On the job front, Philip is happy to have taken on the part-time barman job at the motel but is also debating over the offer to return to work as a TV repairman with Star Rentals. Jill arrives ready for her date with Jon, he suggests Kings Oaks’ latest restaurant ‘Madelaine’, Jill fancies a boozer; ‘What about The Crows Nest’ at Heathbury?
Things are not so cosy for Brian and Janice, she’s invited him out tomorrow, knowing he has plans with Sarah, and he makes excuses saying it’s a works party for a fella getting married. She calls him a liar and storms out of the Jarvis house.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
EPISODE 65: 29th JANUARY 1965: The Friday episode resumes with Janice and Brian, he catches up with her and asks why she’s called him a liar and is so angry.
Janice explains the phone call and Brian admits its true, but he only told a few white lies because he didn’t want her thinking jealous thoughts about Sarah again. He’s going to London to do the photoshoot with Portia and that is all.
The next morning Philip has misplaced his lighter gift from Meg, he last had it last evening when showing it to Jill and Jonathan.
Christine has answered the reception phone and is finally at the end of the abuse about herself. She tells Meg that for the good of the motel maybe she should resign. Meg suggests a better option would be to call the police, and Christine reluctantly agrees.
“Well, you know what it’s like in the village. Give them a chance and they’ll find out what day you change your underwear – in any case, it’s not the way they speak to you – it’s how they look at you. It’s as though you’ve done them some terrible wrong” – Christine
At the car hire office, Charlie is looking for Dick but again he’s out on a taxi job. Charlie is still unimpressed with how the business is being run and lets Janice know he’s the boss – before asking her out to dinner.
A realisation, following the gift (Charles’ old lighter) Meg gave Philip has come to Jill. Meg is in love with Philip. Jill confronts her mother, and Meg breaks down and puts her hands over her head.
Episode status: Wiped/Missing.
NOTES OF INTEREST
Episode 41 features three songs, all ‘sung’ a cappella by cast. Roger Tonge performs two out-of-key songs in small bursts, ‘Downtown‘ and ‘Puff the Magic Dragon‘. Later when Meg brings Theresa into the kitchen Carlos is singing ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby‘.
John Wreford makes his first appearance in episode 42 as Jonathan Mortimer and Stephen Whittaker is first seen as Tony Mortimer, later revealed as Hugh Mortimer’s sons. When ‘Tony’ returns in the mid-1970s he is known as Anthony and is played by Jeremy Sinden.
Owen Webb is a retired mathematics teacher who has offered to help Sandy where his studies lack.
Episode 46 notes that Kitty’s store is called ‘Shopday’. In episode 48 Amy Turtle (just Mrs Turtle at the time) makes her first appearance. While the actress was 54 at this time she mentions her ‘youngest son’ being 7.
Episode 48 reveals the Night and Day Car Hire firm is based in Longton with a telephone number of ‘52558’. The Shopday Store (Jarvis’) is Heathbury ‘42444’.
Across several of these early episodes, the motel is referred to as just ‘The Crossroads’. Episode 51 with the burst water pipes suggests that the chalets only have a sink and toilet, and shower and bath facilities are above the kitchen in this era of the motel.
Episode 54 sees Arthur Pentelow feature as part of the President in the Philip Caroll Army court case. Arthur would become best known for his long running role as Henry Wilks in Emmerdale Farm.
There are no details to who plays the workman, first seen in episode 56. Details also missing from episode 65 for ‘Man in Overcoat’. Edition 58 sees the first appearance of Norman Jones as village milkman Ralph Palmer who will go on to woo Christine Fuller.
Edition 63 sees Vi Blundell note she’s worked for the Richardson’s for fifteen years.
Episode 58 sees Portia appear ‘twice’ the dog is shown live in the studio and also pre-recorded on VTR (Video Tape Recording). The production notes observe that the VTR continues to roll under the closing credits of Portia outside.
∇ – Performers are better known for other roles:
Episode 51 Elisabeth Croft appears as an eccentric elderly lady with a goldfish. She later returns as Edith Tatum a recluse with a host of pets. Episode 51’s original script suggests the goldfish is ill due to baby arriving, this is changed to a dog for the older aged casting.
∇ Eileen Barry appears as Winnie Palmer, she would have two other roles in the soap; Dora Rutledge and Alice Barker.
With thanks to Richard Danes for additional TV Times cast/writer credits missing from the ITC Script details. Synopsis written by Mike Garrett for The Crossroads Years.
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