Arthur of the Britons

Plot

On a winter’s day, Llud and Kai look out over the stockade, at a group of men, women and children, standing on the rise, looking towards the village. Kai expresses suspicion of the strangers - the Wood People - but Llud is more tolerant. Arthur arrives back from a diplomatic visit, and, despite Kai’s objections, sends him to invite the Wood People into the village.

Later, when some of the Wood People’s children are playing with those from the village, a Celt woman tells them off. She complains to Arthur, but he just sends all the children off on a race together.

Meanwhile, Kai is heating a sword on a brazier, to cauterise a wound to the arm of one of the men, Badric. As Llud examines Badric’s injury, one of the Wood People – a young man, Yan – offers some herbs which would allow Badric to sleep through the treatment. Badric angrily rejects the offer, and is heard screaming as his wound is treated.

At night, the Wood People’s Elder approaches the guard outside the longhouse, and covertly drops some powder into his brazier. Soon, he falls to the ground, unconscious. The Elder slips into the longhouse, and approaches the sleeping Arthur. She draws a knife and holds it over him, as if to strike, then slowly lowers the knife. Llud wakes, shouts a warning, and disarms the Elder, who then asks Arthur for help.

The Wood People claim that a band of Saxons took two of their children hostage, and demanded Arthur, dead or alive, in exchange. Kai doesn’t believe them, but when Arthur asks one of the children about the Saxon’s leader, her testimony convinces him.

Kai and Llud, in disguise among the Wood People, go to meet the Saxons, with Arthur pretending to be their prisoner. They intend to try to take the children without surrendering Arthur, but when they lose the element of surprise, Arthur gives himself up, in exchange for the children.

As the Saxons take Arthur away, intending to sell him to Cerdig, the Celts, and some of the Wood People, follow, and watch from the cover of the woods. Night falls, and the Saxons set up a makeshift camp inside a ring of torches. Arthur sits on the ground near the Saxon Leader, who threatens and humiliates him.

The Saxons start to fall asleep; Kai contemplates an attack, but Llud thinks that would get Arthur killed. Then Kai asks the Wood People for some of the Herbs of Sleep to use on the Saxons. The Wood People set off to gather ingredients, and as it starts to get light, they return with the mixture.

Yan takes the bag of herbs from the Elder, and creeps across the space between the woods and the Saxons’ torches. The Saxon Leader sends one of his men, Grend, to fetch firewood. Grend trips over Yan, who makes a run for the campfire. Felled by a blow from the Saxon Leader, Yan drops a handful of the Herbs of Sleep into the campfire, before he dies.

The Saxons start to keel over, and the Celts attack. Seeing that his side is losing, the Saxon Leader puts his sword to Arthur’s throat before the Celts can rescue him.

As dawn breaks, the Saxon Leader runs through the trees, pushing Arthur ahead of him. Arthur stumbles and falls. The Celts surround them. The Saxon Leader raises his sword to strike a death blow, then decides to bargain for his life, instead.

Arthur tricks the Saxon Leader into setting him free, then fights and kills him.

Back at the Longhouse, while the Wood People prepare to leave Arthur’s village, the Elder gives Arthur a pouch containing more Herbs of Sleep. Kai brings a gift for the Wood People. Arthur and Llud make fun of him.


Timeline

"The Wood People" appears after "The Pupil" and also after "The Treaty" on the "Konig Arthur" DVDs. However, external evidence of extreme weather which resulted in the flooding of the site prior to the filming of "The Treaty" points to that episode as the last to be filmed.

Also, in 1972, Michael's adopted sister, Wendy, visited Woollard, and saw the crew working on two episodes. She says, “they were not filming it in proper order. We spent two days there, and they were finishing ‘The Pupil’ with Peter Firth, then leaping on to ‘The Wood People’, then going back to ‘The Pupil.’”

Viewing "The Wood People" immediately after, or before, "The Pupil" therefore makes sense; they were probably filmed concurrently over a two week period. Seasonal cues also suggest this. The trees are relatively bare, and the days were so short that some scenes in "The Wood People" were filmed after night had fallen.

Suggested shooting order so far

Arthur is Dead
Daughter of the King
The Challenge
The Gift of Life
Enemies and Lovers
In Common Cause
The Penitent Invader
The Slaves
People of the Plough
Go Warily
The Prisoner
The Duel
Rowena
Some Saxon Women
The Marriage Feast
The Prize
Six Measures of Silver/Rolf the Preacher
The Games
The Pupil/The Wood People


Locations

The Wood People are first seen standing on the rise to the west of the village at Woollard.



Not much of the action takes place in the actual village, and most of it is on the north-east side, but the scene in which the sentry is drugged takes place on the south west side of the longhouse.



The final fight scene takes place in the same copse as some of Corin’s lessons in “The Pupil.”




Filming



The scene in which the Wood People’s Elder drugs the sentry, and the final scene, when the Celts say goodbye to the Wood People, are the first in the series which were filmed at night, rather than just at dusk, (like the scene in “The Pupil” where Arthur has a serious talk with Corin) or using “day for night” techniques, as in the later scene at the Saxon camp.



With night falling earlier, as winter approached, it may no longer have been necessary to pay overtime rates in order to film in the dark.


Inside Information

More memories from Michael's adopted sister, Wendy, can be found here.


Cast notes

Most viewers are used to seeing Bernard Bresslaw as a harmless, bumbling giant, in comedy roles, often in “Carry On” films, and the like, but he was capable of much more, and seemed to relish the role of the brutal Saxon Leader.

Laura Cairns reprises the role she played in “The Gift of Life”, as a Celt Woman with a particular hatred of outsiders, even when they are only children.



In 1977, The Wood People’s Elder, Daphne Heard, appeared in a rather simlar role, that of Martha Tyler, in the Dr Who episode, "Image of the Fendahl", along with Tom Baker, who appeared in "Go Warily."


Author note

According to his website (no longer extant), David Osborn, a New Yorker by birth, left the USA when black-listed, along with one of the actors in a radio play he had written, during the McCarthy witch hunts. He went to France, where he owned and operated a small rock quarry on the Cote D’Azur.

Around 1958, when his script for “Chase a Crooked Shadow” became successful, he came to work in England, and spent many years writing for film and TV, including three of the episodes of “Arthur of the Britons” with the most overtly political messages: “Some Saxon Women”, “The Wood People”, and “The Games.”

When contacted in 2013, David Osborn’s immediate recollection was that he “created the series, wrote a pilot script and received an award for it as best children's series”, though he admitted that his memory, at the age of 90, was a little hazy. (He must have been referring to The Writers’ Guild Award, shared with the other writers on the series.)

“If I remember correctly, I was approached by a TV company … and asked to come up with a series. I took a different approach than the usual Knights of the Round Table etc. and cast Arthur as a tribal chief of the Britons who was waging guerrilla warfare as his people were being slowly driven out by the Saxons.” He also said, “I've written nine novels since, am deep into my tenth, and have finally hit ninety, so I might be excused at being less definite.”

Patrick Dromgoole is generally thought of as the originator of the series, and the episodes written by David Osborn were all filmed during the later half of the shooting, so whether Osborn was actually as deeply involved in the creation of the series as he remembers, we will probably never know. But according to James Chapman, in "Swashbucklers: The Costume Adventure Series”, “HTV was too small an outfit to mount such an ambitious undertaking itself and had to seek co-production partners. Arthur of the Britons was produced in association with Heritage Enterprises of New York … which released an abridged feature film from the series, King Arthur the Young Warlord, in America in 1975 …” Perhaps New Yorker David Osborn was part of this US connection.

He had earlier written the original screen story for “Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?”, in which Michael Gothard appeared, so if he really was involved in the genesis of “Arthur of the Britons”, it may not be too much of a stretch to see his influence in Michael’s casting as “Kai”. Osborn’s personal experience with a rock quarry may have provided the inspiration or background for “The Slaves.”


Cursèd witches

This episode sends a clear message, and one still relevant nearly five decades on: that we should not shun outsiders, just because they seem different or strange, and that we should help those in need. David Osborn chose Kai as the main voice of superstition, fear, and intolerance, who has to learn this lesson on the viewer’s behalf.

When we first see the Wood People huddled outside Arthur’s stockaded village, Kai is oddly fearful of them, comparing them to “a hungry bear, waiting for a wolf cub to leave its lair”, and saying they are “cursèd” and “bring nothing but trouble”. Perhaps, as an outsider himself, he feels the need to “pull the ladder up” behind him.

The more tolerant Llud, comparing them to “carved statues”, observes that it’s easy to unfairly lay the blame on them for any misfortune.

When Arthur, finding Kai’s prejudice amusing, tells him to invite them into the village, Kai trots out more xenophobic objections: that the Wood People are “witches”, “unclean” and “bring diseases.” His genuine fear and disgust when one of the women rushes forward to thank him, are almost comical.

But Kai isn’t the only one who doesn’t like them. The same shrill Celtic woman who advocated drowning the Saxon children, Krist and Elka, in “The Gift of Life”, complains to Arthur about the Wood People’s “dirty brats” playing with her own children. Kai must have spread the word that they’d been told to stay in their hut.

When Arthur tells Kai that the whistle he gave one of the Wood People’s children “will offset the dreadful curses those witches would cast on us”, Kai realises that he is being mocked again. He gives Arthur a dry look, and but still insists, “I’ll still sleep easier when they’re on their way.”

Despite their mixed reception in the village, the Wood People try to be helpful. One of them offers Badric some “Herbs of Sleep” when his wound has to be cauterised. But Badric rudely rejects any offer, “from a scavenger”.

That night, when the Wood People’s Elder uses those same herbs to drug the guard outside Arthur’s hut, then makes an abortive attempt on his life, Kai feels justified in his original suspicions, and acts as unofficial prosecutor.

Seeing Arthur give himself up in exchange for the child hostages, Llud begins to agree with Kai, that the Wood People have a curse on them.

When the Wood People join the Celts to help get Arthur back, the Elder shows they are well aware of how different they are from the Celts or Saxons, who are “not enough at one with the rocks and trees.”

She says that if one of “the despised People of the Woods” are spotted by the Saxons, “when they finish killin’ him, they will just laugh and spit on his corpse, and leave your leader alone.” And the Saxon Leader does exactly as predicted – then berates Arthur’s people for their cowardice in sending “witches” to rescue him.


"By the Gods!"

Llud succinctly describes how superstition works: “When things go well … we thank our gods, but when trouble comes, we look elsewhere for the cause.” But nearly everyone seems keen to enlist the deities to their own side. One of the Wood People tells Kai, “God protect you for your kindness”, and before attacking the camp, Llud says, “May my gods help me. May Arthur’s god help him” - as if the two sets of deities happily co-existed. Kai prefers getting practical help.

Even the evil Saxon Leader thinks the heavens are on his side, telling Arthur “by the gods I’ll slit your gullet” and “by the gods, you will be the first to go.”

Arthur doesn’t trumpet his beliefs, but sets an example of Christian charity, firstly by offering food and shelter to the Wood People, then by sacrificing himself to save two innocents.


Dark Age Men

Badric rashly refuses to consider pain-relief when Kai is about to burn the infected flesh on his arm: “I am not a sick child that I need comfort! I’m a warrior! I don’t run from pain, like … like some woman!” Arthur shows more sense: “were it I with that wound, I would have perhaps forsaken honour and accepted sleep, gratefully.”


The best laid plans …

Yet again, Arthur and his people don’t seem to have thought things through very carefully. They should have taken more of the real Wood People with them to the prisoner exchange, in case the Saxons were expecting to see the same individuals they originally ambushed, as well as to reassure the child hostages.

A cynical person might also question the wisdom of handing one’s charismatic leader to the enemy, in exchange for two children of no strategic value, without a better rescue plan than: “Keep well hidden. And take your chance.”

But it’s interesting to see both the Celts and Wood People using camouflage, be it smearing their faces with mud, or hiding under a green cloak.


Arthur’s wisdom

Arthur is still struggling to unify the Celts. He is realistic about his progress, saying of Dirk: “He made his mark. He would disown it if it suited him … He demonstrates his wish for peace, even if it is only because he doesn’t feel strong enough for war.”

Arthur then handles a tricky situation with determination, putting forward rational arguments in favour of bringing the Wood People in, rather than just overruling Kai, as he might have done.

He even chooses to finesse the angry Celt woman, disingenuously claiming that Kai was only thinking of the Wood People’s comfort when he told them to stay in their hut, while making it clear that he wants all the children to play together. He softens her attitude by showing that the strangers’ children are no different from her own.


What have the Romans ever done for us?

The Romans may have been driven out of Britain, but apparently there are still some former gladiators roaming the countryside, hiring out their services. The Wood People’s child describes the Saxon Leader with awe: “he’s made marks on his sword hilt for all the men he’s killed. Lots and lots! He fought as a soldier in the Roman Legion … And he was a gladiator.”

And this ex-gladiator likes to brag about his kills: “This was a Nubian, twice your size. And this was a Greek, with a trident and net. And this was a Jute.”

Predictably, Arthur has nothing but contempt for the Romans’ idea of entertainment: “Just brutal, senseless killing.”


“My word is my bond”

In “Daughter of the King”, writers David Pursall and Jack Seddon introduced the idea that it was important to be able to trust a leader’s given word. On this occasion, Arthur played a trick on Eithna, to find out whether Bavick’s promises could be relied upon.

Michael J. Bird then made Arthur’s word a crucial factor in his episode, “In Common Cause”. Arthur promised to give Cerdig some of the Celts’ animals to replace those the Saxons had lost to a plague, and left Kai as hostage to that promise. When Kai escaped, and urged Arthur to keep the animals, Arthur left it to Kai to decide whether this was the right thing to do, and after much soul-searching, Kai agreed that the promise should be kept.

In “Rowena”, written by Robert Banks Stewart, Arthur insisted - against his own wishes - on keeping his word to Yorath, by delivering Rowena to Hecla to be wed, against her will. He pointed out that, as she originally agreed to the match, she too had an obligation to keep her word.

In David Osborne’s “Some Saxon Women”, Yorath accused Arthur of rescuing the women from his camp, and refused to believe Arthur’s angry denial. On the basis of this loss of credibility, the Celts’ peace treaty with the Jutes nearly foundered.

But in Robert Banks Stewart’s “The Prize”, Arthur lied to Mark, over and over, to get him to come along on the expedition to save Llud and Kai. When the lives of his father and brother were at stake, Arthur was ready to take full advantage of his reputation, and cash in all the credit he had built up over the years, to save them. His strategy worked; when Arthur finally admitted that their mission was to save Kai and Llud, Mark could scarcely believe it. The idea that Arthur was basically honest, truthful and reliable, was so set in stone that even Mark - despite his initial suspicions - was completely taken aback.

And in this later David Osborne episode, Arthur again takes a much more flexible approach to the truth. When the Saxon Leader has him at sword point, Arthur promises that if he is set free, none of the Celts will stand in the Saxon Leader’s way, or try to harm him. But when released, Arthur says, “I gave you my word that none of my men would stand in your way. I said nothing of myself. If you want your freedom, Saxon, you must fight for it.”

Here, Arthur is clearly weaselling out of a deal. His men are standing in the Saxon Leader’s way - they have him surrounded. He has to fight Arthur. And if he had won the fight - killed Arthur - Kai and Llud would certainly have killed him, if they could.

Keeping his word, and being known for doing so, gives Arthur a strategic advantage, but in this case, the practical benefits of betrayal far outweigh the disadvantages. A menace to society will be removed, a dead Saxon Leader will tell no tales, and Arthur's reputation for reliability will remain intact.

Even so, Arthur seems to be feeling guilty, because after he kills the Saxon Leader, he feels the need to justify his action, with a speech: “Two and twenty notches. And I warrant not one of them for a cause. Not one of them in defence of right or justice. Just brutal, senseless killing.”


The hot-headed side-kick

For all that Kai seems rather prejudiced in his attitudes, he only does what a good Executive Officer should: pointing out the possible dangers of Arthur’s charitable intentions, and challenging what the Wood People say in their defence, until he is satisfied that they are telling the truth. Later, he is not too proud to ask them for help when Arthur is in danger, and despite the fact that their problem almost gets Arthur killed, he eventually decides that they aren’t such bad sorts after all.


Celts and Saxons

We haven’t seen or heard from Cerdig for some time, but in the last three confrontations between the Celts and Saxons – in “The Slaves”, “The Duel”, and “Rolf the Preacher” – the Celts came out on top. If, as Kai and the Saxon Leader believe, Cerdig will “pay a fortune” for Arthur, it seems that Cerdig sees him as a real threat.

Kai speculates that Cerdig would kill Arthur, “slowly, in a public ceremony”. We haven’t actually seen any evidence that Cerdig is particularly blood-thirsty, but his slaves at the quarry were treated brutally.

The Saxon Leader has hopes that “if Cerdig’s feeling in a good mood”, he’ll be allowed to kill Arthur. Hardly a shining example of civilised behaviour himself, he implies that the Celts are uncouth: “You’re a pig, aren’t you? Pick it all up with your teeth, Pig!”


Great Moments

Kai, offering to run the Wood People out of the area, and Arthur telling him to invite them in.

Arthur, annoying the angry Celt Woman by encouraging her children and the Wood People’s to play together.

Arthur giving himself up in exchange for the children.





Arthur’s fight with the Saxon Leader.

Kai, when he brings his gifts to the Wood People, looking at Arthur and Llud as if to say “Go on then! Take your best shot!” and their gentle mockery.




Quote/unquote

Arthur: He demonstrates his wish for peace, even if it is only because he doesn’t feel strong enough for war.

Llud: He’ll sleep alright. Either before … or afterwards.


“That is bloody dangerous!”

A.S., the daughter of one of Michael's friends, recalled: “Health and Safety? Michael has a scene where he is supposed to cauterise a wound, in ‘The Wood People’: real sword in real fire, only substituted at the last minute! Child actors running round close to the fire! I don't remember any rehearsal for that either.”



Yan (Christopher Douglas) falls into a fire.




“Night-night, Kiddies!”

Dark Age medical treatments are no fun.



A lot of people, including one of the Wood People’s children, are threatened with swords or knives in this episode.








Dressed to kill?

The Wood People all wear cloaks, even indoors.



It was clearly quite cold when they were filming the first scene, as Arthur is wearing his big grey fur cloak, inside-out; Kai, his big cloak with the fur trim, and Llud, a kind of blanket, over the studded tunic he has had since “Arthur is Dead”, with his new green shirt underneath. Llud doesn’t change his costume for the whole episode.

When Arthur takes his cloak off, he reveals a shirt in wet-look leather, with the pale blue shirt underneath it, while Kai starts the episode in a the rather fancy purple tunic with fawn trim, first seen in "The Games." He evidently didn’t like it much, because it is never seen again. Perhaps it was a bit too feminine! Over it, he wears the same sleeveless leather jacket which he had on while fighting Corin in “The Pupil.”



For the scene where the Celt woman complains about the Wood People, and also when he is handed over to the Saxons, Arthur wears the sleeveless sheepskin jacket from "The Prize" over his wet-look leather.



When he is cauterising Badric’s wound, Kai wears the suede shirt first seen in “The Challenge.”

When the Wood People’s Elder slips into the longhouse, Kai is sleeping in the white cheesecloth shirt from “People of the Plough.” Arthur is still in the pale blue shirt.

During the scenes in the woods, Kai is wearing a dark brown studded suede jacket – possibly the same one as in “People of The Plough”, but with added studs.



The hearing around the longhouse table, and the scene where they bid farewell to the Wood People, are probably some of the ones filmed on the same day as scenes from “The Pupil”, as Arthur, Kai and Llud are wearing the same basic costume in all of them.





Kai has reclaimed the pale blue shirt from Arthur, and also wears the green jacket with the big furry sleeves, with big white shaggy jacket on top, and Arthur is wearing his new dark brown studded tunic, with the circular designs on the chest.


“A man on a horse is worth ten on foot”

Arthur arrives back after his trip to see Dirk, riding Bernie. Kai rides Merlin to go out and speak to the Wood People. Other than that, everyone travels on foot.

See also: The Equine Stars of "Arthur of the Britons" and The horses of "Arthur of the Britons": quick reference ID pictures.


Honourable mention …

… for everyone’s favourite witchy granny, The Wood People’s Elder, played by Daphne Heard.


Extra! Extra!

Daphne Neville, whose field was flooded to drown the Saxons in “Arthur is Dead”, is the Wood Person standing to the right; the girl in the brown hood,who tells Arthur about the Saxon Leader, is her daughter, Perry.

This episode sees one of the earliest appearances by David Rappaport (front, centre), who would later star in “Time Bandits.”



But he wasn’t among the eight Wood People waiting outside the palisade at the start of the episode. Where did he suddenly appear from? And why bring him in, if he’s just going to stand there, without saying a word? Perhaps the obvious presence of a dwarf among the Wood People was intended to emphasise their role as outsiders.


What’s going on here?

Some of the Wood People have long staves, topped with what looks like wads of sheep’s wool. Their function is never explained. Luckily, they don’t seem to be weapons, because Arthur’s village looks as if it might be vulnerable to a spear, thrown from the hillside nearby!

Arthur has been to visit Dirk; but why haven’t we seen this important ally since the first episode? Perhaps it was because the actor, Donald Burton, was very busy on a number of projects, including both “Upstairs Downstairs” and “War and Peace.”

Arthur rather dryly asks Kai, “Are those Barbarians still plaguing us?” - though he must surely have seen them as he rode in!

The Wood People’s Elder goes alone to the longhouse, apparently intending to stab Arthur while he sleeps. Presumably, she intended to exchange him for the child hostages – but how did she plan to get his dead body out of the longhouse, on her own, without waking Llud and Kai? Perhaps these difficulties only occurred to her as she raised the knife, and were the reason for her sudden change of heart!

In any case, she could definitely have chosen a more convincing way to ask for help!

And one can’t blame Kai for being sceptical about the Wood People’s story. Why would a roving band of Saxon looters expected the Wood People to accomplish something they couldn’t do for themselves? Though, having said that, they did persuade Arthur to hand himself over to them!

Arthur asks one of the children about the Saxon’s leader, what she tells him appears to quickly convince Kai. Had they already heard about this ex-gladiator? And why are we never told the Saxon Leader’s name? Surely such a boastful fellow should have been bandying it about!

When they go out into the woods for the hostage exchange with the Saxons, Arthur shouts out to the Saxons, “The children first.” He seems to have forgotten that he’s supposed to be the Wood People’s prisoner, and as such, he shouldn’t be the one making demands.

When the Saxon Leader releases the first hostage, it seems a bit odd that the boy doesn’t eagerly run to Llud, though he doesn’t recognise him. The Saxon Leader seems so unpleasant that anyone would prefer to take their chances with a stranger.

Llud complains that the Saxon Leader always stays out in the open ground, and won’t move into the forest until they reach Saxon territory. But the Celts usually complain that the Saxons cut down all the forests. So why are most of the forests in Saxon lands, rather than around Arthur’s village?

The Wood People’s Elder gives Arthur a pouch containing more of the Herbs of Sleep, saying “you may yet find a use for them again.” Perhaps there were plans to include another story featuring these herbs, had there been a third series.

And perhaps it had already been decided that this episode would be shown last in season one. Kai’s “See you next year”, sounds as if it might be addressed, not just to the Wood Child, but to the audience as well.




Music

Some of the music tracks used in this episode were:

Track 20, The Fair Rowena: the Wood People wait outside Arthur’s village.
Track 19, Celtic Dance: the Celts’ and Wood People’s children play together.
Track 15, At Dead of Night: the Wood People’s Elder approaches the sentry.
Track 17, Pensive Moment: Arthur questions the Wood Child.
Track 5: To Battle! – the prisoner exchange goes badly; Arthur is taken away.
Track 6, Infiltration and Treachery: Arthur surrenders; the Celts spy on the Saxons; the herbs of Sleep are gathered; Yan sacrifices his life for Arthur’s.
Track 8, Kai the Saxon/Skirmish and Rout: the Celts pursue the Saxon Leader.
Track 16, Danger Mounts: Arthur tricks the Saxon Leader.
Track 12, Duel: Arthur and the Saxon Leader fight.
Track 30, Night Scene: Arthur denounces the Saxon Leader’s behaviour.
Track 29, Pastoral Episode: the Celts bid the Wood People farewell.

The whole suite of music, beautifully written and orchestrated for the series by Paul Lewis, is now available on CD.


Cast

Arthur ……………....... Oliver Tobias
Kai ……………….…... Michael Gothard
Llud ………………...... Jack Watson
Saxon Leader ..….......... Bernard Bresslaw
Wood People’s Elder … Daphne Heard
Yan ……………….….. Christopher Douglas
Celt Woman ..…............ Laura Cairns
Child …………….….... Perry Neville
Woman ……………..... Daphne Neville
Badric ……………....... Eric Mason

Crew

Director ………….…... Sidney Hayers
Writer .……………….. David Osborn
Executive Producer ….. Patrick Dromgoole
Producer ……………... Peter Miller
Associate Producer ….. John Peverall
Production Manager … Keith Evans
Post-production ……... Barry Peters
Fight Arranger ………. Peter Brayham
Cameraman ………….. Bob Edwards
Camera Operators ….... Brian Morgan, Mike Haftie
Editor ………………... David Williams
Sound recordist …….... Mike Davey
Art Director …………. Doug James
Set Dresser ………….. Ken Bridgeman
Assistant Director …... Stuart Freeman
Production Assistant ... Ann Rees
Costume Design .……. Audrey MacLeod
Make-up …………….. Christine Penwarden
Incidental music …….. Paul Lewis
Theme music ………... Elmer Bernstein

Episode 1.11: The Wood People

Writer: David Osborne


OPENING SCENE

It is a winter’s day. A group of strangers – men, women and children in unfamiliar garb – stands on the rise, looking towards Arthur’s village.

Llud and Kai emerge from the longhouse, and look out at the strangers over the palisade.

Llud: Day after day, they’ve been standing there. Like carved statues.

Kai: They’ve the persistence of a hungry bear, waiting for a wolf cub to leave its lair. And would show as much mercy.

Llud: Perhaps.

Kai: They’re Wood People. They bring nothing but trouble.

Llud: When things go well, Kai, we thank our gods, but when trouble comes, we look elsewhere for the cause. Because they’re strange? They’re different? It’s easy to blame them for any misfortune.

Kai: They’re cursèd.

Arthur rides in through the gate. Kai goes to him and holds his horse’s head.

Kai: Welcome back. How was Dirk?

Arthur: Shifty. And as devious as ever.

Arthur dismounts.

Llud: Did he renew the treaty with us?

Arthur: He made his mark. He would disown it if it suited him. But I suppose we should be thankful. He demonstrates his wish for peace, even if it is only because he doesn’t feel strong enough for war.

Arthur goes towards the palisade and looks out at the Wood People.

Arthur: Are those barbarians still plaguing us?

Kai: They’re waiting for us to weaken and offer them hospitality.

Arthur: Then we will reward their patience with some action.

Kai comes to stand at Arthur’s shoulder.

Kai: I’ll take a couple of men and have them running over the boundaries into Cornwall by nightfall.

Arthur: You need only a horse. Ride out to them and offer them the food and shelter they seek.

Arthur goes inside, leaving Kai looking pensive.

[OPENING CREDITS]


PART 1
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