A seemingly respectable old school couple arrested for running a brothel for upper-class clients are reluctant to help in their own defense.A seemingly respectable old school couple arrested for running a brothel for upper-class clients are reluctant to help in their own defense.A seemingly respectable old school couple arrested for running a brothel for upper-class clients are reluctant to help in their own defense.
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- TriviaThroughout the series, Rumpole refers to Mr. Ballard as "Soapy Sam Ballard." This episode is where he earned the epithet, by playing the sycophant in the courtroom under Judge Bullingham. In England, the term "soft soap" refers to using smooth and somewhat insincere talk usually for personal gain.
- GoofsWhen he is cross-examining 'Mr X', Rumpole points out that during the alleged blackmail Mr X paid the Lees by cheque, although his previous transactions with the Lees had always been in cash. Rumpole attempts to use this fact to establish that the blackmail accusation was false, claiming that Mr X deliberately paid by cheque to substantiate his blackmail allegation. However, even if Mr X did pay by cheque to provide evidence of the transaction, this does not prove that the blackmail accusation was false, all it proves is that Mr X wanted evidence of this transaction. Most people, if they were being blackmailed, would probably pay by cheque if possible so they would have a better chance of bringing their blackmailers to justice later on.
- Quotes
Horace Rumpole: You can bet your dear old hair shirt there's going to be an argument!
Featured review
Rumpole and the Old Boy Net
It might have been partly inspired by the case of Cynthia Payne who ran a House of Cyn, where luncheon vouchers were taken for payment.
Real life couple Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray play Mr and Mrs Lee. An old school couple, he went to an exclusive boarding school.
They operate a genteel brothel for the respectably well heeled. Only they have been raided by the police and are looking at a jail sentence for six months.
The only issue is one client who was arrested wants to remain anonymous and is referred to as Mr X. He does that by persuading the judge that the Lee's were blackmailing him. Now the sentence could be five years.
Only the couple steadfastly will not tell all which rather frustrates Rumpole. Mr X even paid by cheque on one occasion.
It seems Mr X is a bigwig in the Foreign Office. Only when his identity is revealed by a journalist, it emerges that Mr X had a contingency plan in case he was ever arrested at the brothel.
The story introduces Samuel Ballard QC acting as the prosecutor. Little does Rumpole realise that this bible basher is going to be a new member of his chambers but also the new head. Much to the shock of Mrs Rumpole.
There is some sage advice regarding ethics to pupil Fiona Allways from Rumpole. The journalist that spilled the beans was an old school friend of Fiona.
Wherever you turn the old boy network is never far away, even with the appointment of Ballard as the new head of chambers.
Real life couple Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray play Mr and Mrs Lee. An old school couple, he went to an exclusive boarding school.
They operate a genteel brothel for the respectably well heeled. Only they have been raided by the police and are looking at a jail sentence for six months.
The only issue is one client who was arrested wants to remain anonymous and is referred to as Mr X. He does that by persuading the judge that the Lee's were blackmailing him. Now the sentence could be five years.
Only the couple steadfastly will not tell all which rather frustrates Rumpole. Mr X even paid by cheque on one occasion.
It seems Mr X is a bigwig in the Foreign Office. Only when his identity is revealed by a journalist, it emerges that Mr X had a contingency plan in case he was ever arrested at the brothel.
The story introduces Samuel Ballard QC acting as the prosecutor. Little does Rumpole realise that this bible basher is going to be a new member of his chambers but also the new head. Much to the shock of Mrs Rumpole.
There is some sage advice regarding ethics to pupil Fiona Allways from Rumpole. The journalist that spilled the beans was an old school friend of Fiona.
Wherever you turn the old boy network is never far away, even with the appointment of Ballard as the new head of chambers.
- Prismark10
- Sep 3, 2023
- Permalink
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