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Episode number and air date Episode 1 of the second series, first broadcast on 14th April 1991 Aunts and ogres Bertie’s Aunt Dahlia makes a welcome return, this time played by Vivian Pickles. There were a lot of cast changes over the years in Jeeves and Wooster but I think I’m right in saying only Aunt Dahlia was played by a different actress in each of the four series. Anyway, here she is making Bertie an offer he’d very much like to refuse but can’t because an Aunt in need is an Aunt indeed. On the ogres side we face the menace of Sir Watkyn Bassett – the magistrate who fined Bertie £5 in the very first episode – and his associate, Roderick Spode. Spode is a would-be dictator. A chicken in a basket Oswald Mosley. He leads "The Black Shorts" and shares Sir Watkyn ’s distrust of all things Wooster.
Eggs, beans and crumpets Gussie Fink-Nottle is back and still desperately trying to marry Madeline Bassett, the poor sap. We also meet an old school pal of Bertie's called Harold "Stinker" Pinker.
The F of the S is more D than the M Madeline Bassett is back – played by a different and all together less good actress – and we get our first look at Stephanie "Stiffy" Bing. Though generally thought a good sort, Stiffy is dynamite if she gets an idea into her head.
A little coldness Jeeves has a plan in mind and Bertie says no.
The bally balliness of it all We open at a small gathering of Spode’s Black Shorts. He is making an impressive speech laying out the principles of his particular brand of fascism (also available in his book which can be bought at all good book sellers). The Black Short creed can be summed up as
His small audience do their best but the applause mainly comes from a handy gramophone, operated by a loyal minion.
And who can blame Spode for his knee fetish – this is what we’re talking about and if there was anything which deserved to be scientifically measured it is this.
Back at Totleigh Towers – Sir Watkyn ’s place in the country – Spode is saluted by two of his chaps. They manage to say "Hail Spode" without moving their lips. He chides Sir Watkyn for not attending the rally but Sir Watkyn explains that he spent the evening cataloguing his silver collection – which apparently rules his life. Spode wishes good night to all and sundry and, when out of earshot, Stiffy sidles up to Madeline and hisses "His knees!" The girls fall about.
Meanwhile, at the Drones club, Bertie is addressing the masses (including the oft seen but rarely featured Oofy Prosser) on the occasion of Gussie’s engagement.
To the right of the shot we see Martin Clunes as the second incarnation of Barmy. He’ll return (with lines) later in the series.
A couple of the chaps throw some bangers under the table and chaos naturally follows.
The next morning, Bertie is dressing while giving Jeeves the low-down on the night before. He pities Gussie’s impending marriage and extension of family.
But Jeeves is more interested in persuading Bertie to go on a round the world cruise. He has brochures and everything.
Bertie makes his feelings quite clear – even at the cost of not seeing the dancing girls of Bali.
The doorbell rings – it is Aunt Dahlia.
A cow creamer turns out to be an eighteenth century cream jug in the shape of a cow and, being antique silver, is hugely desirable to Uncle Tom. He’s got the thing reserved but doesn’t want to pay full whack. So Bertie is to go along and sow doubts in the shop keeper’s mind about its true value. Here is what the subtitle says,
But I’ve listened to it over and over again and I’m sure she misses the "L" out of blasted. "That bastard Watkyn Bassett" she says. It isn’t very Wodehouse. Bertie toddles off to the antique shop, unaware that Sir Watkyn and Spode are already there inspecting the silver.
Sir Watkyn recognises Bertie immediately, despite Bertie’s protestations to the contrary.
He identifies Bertie as a bag snatcher whom he once sent to prison for three months. Spode is appalled. Bassett gives Bertie a shilling for turning over a new leaf and tells him not to spend it on drink.
The shop keeper hands over the cow creamer for Bertie’s expert attention. He looks at it, weighs it up and even listens to it.
He’s told to look at the hallmark and he’s really not sure where to find it.
The shop keeper shows him where to look but Bertie still feigns ignorance. He’s told to take it out into the street where the light is better. Sadly for Bertie (but not for the story) he trips on a passing cat on his way out and flings himself out onto the boulevard.
Bassett and Spode mistake this for a smash and grab raid on the shop and summon a constable.
Bertie has no alternative but to run for his life.
The policeman follows Bertie into the Drones where he (the policeman) is spotted. "Bluebottle" shouts Barmy and the diners start throwing bread rolls at him until he retreats.
The next morning, Aunt Dahlia arrives as Bertie is having breakfast. He suggests Jeeves tell her he’s gone to Switzerland. The ruse fails.
It turns out that Bassett bought the cow creamer – after Bertie handed it to him at great speed – and now Aunt Dahlia wants Bertie to go to Totleigh Towers and steel it.
Meanwhile, at Totleigh, Sir Watkyn is less than pleased to learn that Stiffy wants to marry the local curate.
Harold Pinker – for he is the curate – decides he will impress Sir Watkyn by being charming and urbane. Stiffy suggests he start by not tripping over the furniture. The dinner gong goes and he manages to trip over a plant pot on his way in to the house.
Over dinner, Spode explains his plan for whole areas of the British isles to be given over to the production of specific vegetables. Wales and Scotland, for example, would do nothing but grow potatoes. It is no less absurd a political philosophy than the various other flavours of fascism launched over the years.
Spode is not happy to learn that "little" Madeline is getting married. Especially not to Gussie.
After dinner, Gussie happens across a distressed Stiffy. She’s got something in her eye. He rallies round to help but is caught in a compromising position by his fiancée. Tears and recriminations soon follow.
Gussie sends Bertie a telegram asking him to come down at once and sort things out (will he never learn?). Bertie replies.
Jeeves points out that if Madeline doesn’t marry Gussie, she may well get designs on marrying Bertie. This changes the complexion of the situation.
Bertie arrives at Totleigh and the first thing he finds is an open door and a display case containing the cow creamer.
And he’s immediately caught by a gun toting Spode and accused of following them down to pinch the thing. Sir Watkyn goes off to prepare a warrant for Bertie’s arrest.
Luckily, Madeline arrives and explains that she invited Bertie down. She also explains that he’s Tom Travers’ nephew so naturally has an interest in collectable silver.
He’s off the hook and Spode is – once more – appalled.
Bertie is assured by Madeline that the wedding is back on, just a silly misunderstanding, and he urges them to tie the knot as soon as poss. She trots off happily and he’s about to enjoy a contented smoke when Spode butts in to let him know that if anyone steals the cow creamer while Bertie is under their room, he will immediately beat Bertram to a jelly.
Later that day, Bertie is emerging from the Post Office (where he’s sent a telegram to Aunt Dahlia explain that he can’t steal the cow creamer) when he sees Constable Oats being attacked by Stiffy’s dog.
It turns out that Bertie was at Oxford with Stiffy’s fiancé – Harold "Stinker" Pinker. The two old chums are reunited with a lot of hand shaking and "well well well" –ing.
Sir Watkyn isn’t overly happy about the prospect of his ward marrying a penniless curate but don’t worry – Stiffy has a plan. Bertie steals the cow creamer, Harold gets it back and Sir Watkyn showers gratitude upon Stinker. Bertie meanwhile would escape, perhaps with a mild bloody nose, and all would end well.
Stiffy is cross and lets Bertie know that she can’t imagine why Madeline is so fond of him. He confesses that he’s prepared to beat Madeline off with a blackjack. Foolish words as Stiffy soon realises that she has it within her power to break up the Gussie-Madeline romance for good and drop Bertie right in it. Blackmail follows.
Meanwhile, Aunt Dahlia has arrived at Totleigh to remonstrate with Bertie for failing to steal the dratted cow creamer.
Bertie is in a deep puddle – everyone wants him to pinch the cow creamer and Spode will obliterate him if he does. Fortunately Jeeves has a suggestion – if they were to "get the goods" on Spode, it would take him out of the equation. And by a strange quirk of fate, Jeeves knows just where those goods might be got. The Junior Ganymede club in London – a sort of Drones for butlers and valets where the members confide juicy gossip to the club book (ostensibly so other butlers and valets may be warned off unsuitable employers but mostly so they will have something fun to read on quiet afternoons).
Elsewhere, Gussie is feeding his newts when he finds that their water is a bit warm. He quickly diagnoses that the curtains are open and must be shut post haste. Unfortunately, one of them is stuck and when his attempts to fix it result only in a broken chair, he ropes in a passing chamber maid to help him out. This involves grasping her firmly about the waist, a compromising position that is almost immediately noticed, misunderstood and hysterically cried over by Madeline Basset.
Jeeves has motored down to London to consult the club book and joins his fellow gentlemen’s gentlemen in a glass of something strong and a good old moan about their respective gentlemen.
He is given the incriminating book and studies it thoughtfully until he finds what he wants. Does Spode have a secret? Oh yes. And it is a pip and a dandy.
Later that evening, Bertie is settling down with a drink, a smoke and a trashy novel when Spode barges in and starts searching the place. He’s looking for Gussie because he’s going to kill him for breaking Madeline’s heart.
Luckily Spode doesn’t look in the wardrobe as that’s where Gussie is hiding for his life.
They tussle over the bed clothes as Gussie looks for some sheets to knot and Bertie refuses to help him escape.
Jeeves arrives back with his red hot news but then declares that he can’t break the Club’s confidence by actually telling Bertie what Spode’s secret is. He will however confide the magic word – "Eulalie". Use it and Spode is rendered null and void.
Bertie returns to his room and finds Gussie knotting sheets which he had specifically been told not to knot. Gussie seems reluctant to believe Bertie’s claim that they no longer need fear Roderick Spode.
Spode storms in again and Bertie – full of confidence – confronts him.
Spode does not appreciate Bertie giving him a few home truths.
Bertie plays his ace – he knows all about… damn. He’s forgotten the word. What a time to pick to have a lapse of memory.
They flee with Spode in hot pursuit, Bertie shouting words as they pop into his head. Euphuist… eucalyptus… eureka…
Luckily, Jeeves realises what’s going on and passes Bertie a note as he races past on the final lap.
Spode has them cornered but Bertie has the slip of paper from Jeeves.
"EULALIE!" he cries. Spode melts before his very eyes.
The land is once more fit for Woosters and Fink-Nottles to walk in peace. Spode wishes them a nice and sycophantic goodnight before withdrawing to sob quietly to himself about his secret leaking out. Meanwhile, downstairs, Constable Oats is enjoying a crafty cigarette and leaving the cow creamer unguarded. Who is that figure in white approaching it with evil in her eye? Why it’s Aunt Dahlia of course.
Oats bumps into a fuming Spode and gets the rough edge of his fascist’s tongue while Stinker lays in wait for what he thinks will be an expectant Bertie.
Spode takes one to the back of the head. It really isn’t his night.
Spode and Oats search every room and every piece of luggage and find nothing even vaguely cow shaped.
Bertie and Aunt Dahlia meet on the drive and she explains that Jeeves hid the cow creamer for her. He gets out and reveals where it was hidden. Can you spot it?
She is filled with gratitude.
After one last attempt to get Jeeves to explain about Eulalie, they drive off into the sunset. Jeeves to the rescue We will have to wait until next week’s episode to find out the true meaning of that mysterious word which turns Britain’s leading fascist into a gibbering wreck. The works of Wodehouse This episode takes half the plot of "The Code of the Woosters" but unlike last season’s two-part finale, this time they have used the novel’s various elements to make two more or less self contained episodes. 47 Ginger headed sailors Bertie doesn’t sing this week but there is some quite excellent music from Anne Dudley on the soundtrack. "The Amateur Dictator" is one of the highlights of the soundtrack album. The final chapter Aside from a woefully miscast Madeline Bassett, this is an episode simply oozing with quality. Spode is a classic Wodehouse creation, Aunt Dahlia is at her self righteous best and the Stiffy-Stinker double act is a real treat. Yes, the plot revolves around an ugly milk jug and it feels unfinished at the end – because there are strands left to finish off next week but it isn’t obviously half of a two-part story – but it looks gorgeous, it is genuinely funny and the casting is (almost) perfect. The first series was not a fluke.
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Jeeves
and Wooster
