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"We
don't want outsiders sticking their noses into our affairs,
or involving us in theirs" - Boult
A woman in a settlement near to Whitecross, is feeding chickens in a field, when she is suddenly shot down by someone who has been watching her. At Whitecross, Greg and Charles are chairing a meeting with representatives from neighbouring communities. They want them to make an inventories of their supplies and weapons. |
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Greg and Charles are frustrated by the attendees scepticism. Especially when they are even unwilling to supply help to get a telephone system up and running. A man called Boult is particularly obstructive, questioning the need for two Whitecross representatives. Jenny interrupts the meeting with bad news. The woman who was shot was the wife of one of the people present. One of the other representatives reveals that he'd heard of another young woman being killed at a nearby community. |
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Greg and Charles take the man back to his community and work out where the shot must have come from. They also find a spent rifle cartridge and some footprints which suggest the killer is limping badly. |
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News filters through of further killings. Jenny briefly wonders whether the killer could be Vic Thatcher if he managed to survive the fire at the Grange. |
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They decide to keep a close watch on the hills surrounding the settlement, lay sand traps to leave footprints and ring a curfew bell before dark to call women indoors. Whilst on watch Hubert spots someone in the woods. It turns out to be a woman called Daniella who is very eager to join the Whitecross community. Her first meeting with Charles and Greg is observed by the killer. |
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After prints are found, Greg is convinced the killer is in the area. It is suggested that this should be proved before they hunt for him. Arthur suggests setting a trap, using a woman as bait. Only Jenny and Pet are suitable for the task and they bravely agree to take it in turns. |
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That evening, Jenny goes out alone in a pretty summer dress to pretend to mend a fence in a field close to the woods. Greg and the other watch from a nearby hiding place. The killer is present and is spotted lining up his rifle on Jenny. Greg goes up to Jenny and walks between her and the killer so that he cannot shoot her. The figure flees into the woods. |
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The decision is made to hunt the killer down. Charles and Arthur set out for help from neighbouring communities but the response is disappointing. Surprisingly, Boult is willing to help. He arrives with several of his men. At dawn the hunters form a line across the wood and move forward, attempting to drive the killer out into the open. The killer wakes up and flees. |
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However, thanks to Hubert's shooting of a fox that has been worrying his sheep, he manages to escape. The place where the killer was sleeping is found. |
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Charles and Greg begin a stakeout near a pond at the edge of the woods. Greg is convinced the killer will not move on and the spot is manned for several nights. |
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When John and Lizzie learn that Greg is out using his gun, they own up to Jenny that they had been playing with it and a part had fallen off it. Arthur tells Jenny that the part is vital to the operation of the gun. Jenny runs off to warn Greg. |
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Eventually the killer comes to drink at the pond. Greg attempts to work his way behind the killer whilst under covering fire from Charles. At the crucial moment Greg's gun doesn't fire and the killer is alerted to his presence. |
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John and Lizzie reason that they will be in less trouble if they tell Greg what they have done themselves so run after Jenny. They make it to the field by the woods before her and the killer gets them in his sights. Charles fires a shot and the children hide in the hedge. Jenny arrives on the scene calling out to Greg. |
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Charles breaks his cover to warn Jenny away. Greg grabs the killer from behind and attempts to throttle him with some wire. In the struggle the killer is shot and killed by his own gun. |
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As the relieved group examine the killer's body, John observes that it is a woman. |
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Episode Review Another strange thing is that Jenny is put in huge danger as bait, when the community already knows a killer sniper is at large. It seems an incredible risk to take, although it does make the episode more gripping. The final scenes are genuinely exciting as both
Jenny and the children run into danger. Its just a shame that the final
revelation is spoilt by the fact that the sniper has been very obviously
played by a man throughout. |
Episode 20: A Friend In Need writer: Ian McCulloch first broadcast: 12th May 1976 Regular
Cast: Guest
Cast: designer:
Ian Watson |
NEXT EPISODE: BY BREAD ALONE by Martin Worth
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