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Bleak ExpectationsRadio series (UK) Role: Mr. Gently Benevolent
and Mr. Sourquill
Summary of Anthony Head's storyline: Chapter the First: A Childhood Cruelly Kippered (August 15, 2007) Sir Philip Bin has made arrangements to meet with a journalist from The Times in order to give his life story. The journalist, Mr. Sourquill, is bumbling and prone to accidents and it takes several false starts for Sir Philip to start his story. He eventually recounts that he was born to Thomas and Agnes Bin and nicknamed Pip. He was soon joined by two sisters, Pippa and Poppy, They were happy, despite their father's frequent absences in the "North Indies". Their father's business made the well off and they wanted for nothing. They were visited often by Thomas Bin's business partners, Mr. Parsimonious (who was very generous) and Mr. Gently Benevolent (who was a complete bastard). Sadly, Pip's father was killed in a freak accident in the hotel he'd built from trained monkeys when someone built a peanut and banana factory next door. Mr. Benevolent denied any knowledge of who could have been responsible before asking if any wanted a peanut and banana treat he just happened to have available. The Bin family grew more and more unhappy and their mother began to slip into insanity. Soon, Mr. Benevolent informed them that Mrs. Bin was to be committed to an asylum. Pip protested but discovered that Mr. Benevolent was his guardian and had control of Pip, his sisters and their money until Pip turned 18. Pip was sent to Saint Bastards, the worst boarding school in the country. There he was regularly beaten, starved, and forced to work in the pepper mines, next door to the salt mines. He eventually discovered that all the boys there have dead fathers, insane mothers and a great deal of money in trust. Pip's new friend Harry Biscuit is nearing his 18th birthday and fears he will be killed before so he and Pip decide to escape. Pip is even more eager to do so after discovering that Mr. Benevolent had sent his sister Pippa to live in the convent next door, Saint Bitches. Sir Philip decides to end the interview at that point and sends Sourquill off until the following week.
Chapter the Second: An Adolescence Utterly Trashed (August 22, 2007) Mr. Sourquill returns to continue the interview. Sourquill tells Sir Philip that the first installment was a huge hit and his readers are eager to know what happens next... Pip Bin and his friend make plans to escape Saint Bastards. Before this can occur, there is a visit from Mr. Benevolent who informs Pip that he is marrying his mother the next day. Pip protests but to no avail. Pip and Harry receive assistance in their escape from a mysterious old crone. The old crone also assists them in rescuing Pippa from Saint Bitches. The old crone eventually reveals herself to be Pip and Pippa's Aunt Lilly. They arrive at the Bin family home only to discover it has been turned into an insane asylum. But the are also happily reunited with their sister Poppy. They hide when Mr. Benevolent arrives to take away Agnes Bin to be married at Saint Reluctance church. Benevolent orders the insane asylum to be burned while he drives off with Mrs. Bin. Aunt Lily also reveals a newspaper showing that Mr. Bin is still alive but in chains at the Portsmouth docks. Sir Philip ends this week's story at that point and Sourquill leaves excitedly thinking of how much his readers will enjoy the story thus far.
Chapter the Third: A Youth Utterly Crocked (August 29, 2007) Sir Philip and his daughter Lily await Mr. Sourquill's latest visit. Lily, especially, seems eager to see the journalist again. Sir Philip resumes his story... Pip runs after Mr. Benevolent's carriage hoping to rescue his mother. But he is stopped by trees, fences and church bells. Aunt Lilly decides that they must first rescue the inmates from being burned in the asylum. This done, they head off to save Mrs. Bin. Due to a storm, they manage to arrive at the church first and hide while Mr. Benevolent enters with Mrs. Bin. Aunt Lilly and Pip enter the church and Lilly pulls out a pistol, but it does not go off as planned. Pip notices a coffin on the altar and Mr. Benevolent tells him that there will be two ceremonies: a wedding and a funeral. The reverend begins the ceremony (and we discover Mr. Benevolent's full name: Gently Lovely Kissy Nice-Nice Benevolent). However, when it comes time for Mrs. Bin to say "I do", the reverend won't accept Mr. Benevolent's attempts to throw his voice and she won't say it herself. Frustrated that his evil plan is being thwarted, Mr. Benevolent decides to marry one of the daughters instead. Pip and the others attempt to flee the church but Mr. Benevolent manages to grab a hold of Poppy. He and Aunt Lilly struggle over Poppy and in the end, Lilly manages to pull the girl away. However, while fleeing, Poppy and Lilly fall into a raging river and Lilly is swept away. Pip, Pippa, Poppy and Harry make their way to London and end up locked in a workhouse for begging. There they meet up again with Mr. Parsimonious, Mr. Bin's other business partner who has been driven there by Mr. Benevolent. Unfortunately, Poppy caught a cold while in the river and soon dies and drawn out death. Mr. Sourquill is in tears at hearing of Poppy's death and must leave at that point, for the story to be resumed the following week.
Chapter the Fourth: (September 5, 2007) - BBC description: Pip finds himself saved from the workhouse with the arrival of a vast sum of money from a mysterious stranger. But first he must deal with the cruel Beadle Hardthrasher. And what strange new problems await him as a wealthy young man about town, feasting on crispy deep fried elephant and hobnobbing with the unpredictable King?
Chapter the Fifth: (September 12, 2007) - BBC description: Pip falls in love with the beautiful but terminally feeble Flora Dies Early. Meanwhile Pippa and Mr Parsimonious flee to the continent. Will the evil Mr Benevolent catch them, or will Aunt Lily save the day again?
Chapter the Sixth: (September 19, 2007) - BBC description: Things look grim for Pip as he faces a lengthy and highly prejudicial court case. Is he to be hanged, or will there be a last-minute escape followed by a thrilling chase, several duels, a jar of exotic jam and at least two weddings? |
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