[Avengers] "What the Butler Saw". S04-E22

[Ubiquitous]

by Brian Clemens
Directed by Bill Bain

Walters (Peter Hughes) demands a doubling of his pay or he walks; the
job is becoming too dangerous. His employer rings for his butler, Benson
(John Le Mesurier). The unseen boss takes a silenced revolver from the
tray Benson has brought in and shoots Walters; Benson calmly asks if
that will be all. Walters is later thrown into the river, his ex-boss
revealing a skull ring on his right hand.

Steed visits a double agent who poses as a barber (David Swift), who
tells him someone in the War Office is selling secrets to the other
side; he's narrowed it down to three men - Group Captain Miles,
Brigadier Goddard or Vice Admiral Willows. His other client grabs a pair
of scissors and stabs the barber before he can say more - he's the man
who killed Walters - and departs before Steed realises what's happened.
Steed visits Willows in a motor launch, disguised with a fine naval
beard and posing as Commander Red. Benson is now Willows' butler and
lets him in - Willows (Humphrey Lestocq) is too busy attending horse
racing meets to talk Admiralty business and complains about Benson,
who's a landlubber and doesn't know one uniform from another. He
explains that Walters, his previous butler, disappeared suddenly.

Steed next visits Goddard in an armoured car, disguised with a neat Army
moustache and posing as Major White. Reeves (Norman Scace) shows him in
and fetches the Brigadier but while he's gone the dotty old Major
General Goddard (Kynaston Reeves) orders him to take cover and provides
Steed 'covering fire' while he crawls across the room. He advises Steed
not to print a word about "young Percy" as he's a traitor. Brigadier
Goddard (Howard Marion Crawford) appears and orders his father to
confine his "manśuvres to the garden. He explains to Steed that his
father considers him a traitor as he's the only one in the family who's
not in a Cavalry regiment, he can't understand the cavalry no longer
exists. Goddard asks the interview be deferred as he has a bad headache
and Steed sees himself out - Reeves in on the 'phone, alarmed by who has
rung - Steed overhears him arrange to meet the person in the study at 10
pm, and he'll leave the windows unlatched.

Steed then visits Group Captain Miles in a helicopter, disguised with a
bushy RAF moustache and posing as Squadron Leader Blue. He's met by
Squadron Leader Hogg (Leon Sinden) and they have a loud conversation in
the peculiar shout that RAF men use, mostly using abbreviations. Steed
apologises for letting himself in and Hogg says the wretched butler,
Hemming, has disappeared again - Steed raises his eyebrows at another
disappearance then learns he's disappeared into the conservatory to trim
the roses. Steed notes a row of photos of girls and discovers Miles is a
philanderer; he overhears Hemming (Thorley Walters) take supplies from
Sergeant Moran (Ewan Hooper) and chide the Sergeant for gossiping about
the OC. Moran says he doesn't have to, it's common knowledge Miles is
susceptible to a pretty face.

Steed convinces Mrs Peel to see how susceptible Miles is, and explains
about his trio of suspects - an admiral who gambles too much, a
brigadier who drinks too much and a captain who... well, a captain.
Moran asks if they'd like another drink but Steed leaves to be at the 10
pm rendezvous. He's too late - Reeves has been killed with a bayonet and
the killer attacks Steed with a spiked helmet before making his escape.
The commotion brings the Goddards downstairs, the old man playing the
Last Post when he sees Reeves.
Steed calls Mrs Peel on her car phone - she hasn't contacted Miles yet
but tells Steed Operation Fascination has begun. Group Captain Miles
(Denis Quilley) enters his office, hung over, and discovers all his
photos have been switched to portraits of Emma, and there's another few
strewn about the office. He seeks refuge in the bar where Steed is
complaining she's not making any progress and - as two female officers
approach Miles - the competition is getting stronger. "What
competition?" asks Emma and removes her sunglasses. Miles sees her and
drops his glass then approaches, smiling.

Steed gets Mrs Peel to drop him at a butling association run by Hemming,
both Goddard and Willows lost their butlers and had them replaced by the
school, and he discovers it's run by Hemming. Benson in there also and
is sure he's seen Steed before; Hemming is pleased with Steed's style
and suggests he may have been a standing groom at a race meeting or at
one of Her Majesty's garden parties. "Or one of Her Majesty's prisons",
mutters Benson. The butling students are taught polishing, pressing,
poise and discretion. Benson interrupts one of Steed's lessons to tell
Hemming he is being foolish and he ought to leave. Steed learns that
Hemming has been offered a substantial raise to leave Group Captain
Miles' employment; when Steed suggests they would replace him from the
student body he is ordered not to gossip. Steed approaches a rack of
uniforms but Benson tell him they're not to be touched - he notices they
are for an RAF captain, a vice admiral and a brigadier...

The officers assemble at Miles' house for a meeting of the Committee For
Eastern Europe and Miles insists they wait until encased in a large
plastic bag before discussing anything. Hemming meanwhile receives a
call, ordering him back to the school. When he arrives, Benson shoots
him and hides the body in a washing machine. Benson reports to his boss
that Hemming is no longer in their way and he knows Steed to be an
impostor. Steed arrives shortly after and discovers the uniforms gone,
and Hemming's body. Benson appears and leads him away at gunpoint; he
reveals he knows Steed's references are fake and suspects him of having
been dismissed from service for theft - the best bona fides, as far as
Benson is concerned. He orders Steed to replace Hemming in Miles'
household.

Emma's surprised to see him when she arrives for a date but, after
running around Miles' art collection to avoid his advances, she's
pleased Steed is there to constantly interrupt them. Emma meanwhile asks
Miles outright if he would betray secrets for her and is pleased when he
refuses - she tells him he's passed the test and suggests they have a
cup of tea. He's relieved when he discovers she doesn't want him to
seduce her, "all the others do" and he's tired of it. Miles is called
away to Goddard's house for the next conference leaving Steed and Emma
to agree that Miles is not the traitor - it's to do with the butler, and
Steed has been put there because Hemming couldn't be bribed. He receives
a call form Benson, he is to spill wine on Miles' uniform jacket when he
returns - and the other two officers receive the same treatment. Benson
suddenly appears and takes the jacket then hops into a taxi. Steed
resigns on the spot and leaps in Emma's car to chase after him.

Benson cuts open the seam of the shoulder and removes a miniature tape
recorder. After he departs with the tape, the Avengers emerge from
behind the coats and follow. Benson hands the tape to his boss then
hears an alarm as our heroes trip a wire; Emma and Steed are captured
and held at gunpoint by Benson. The boss is revealed to be Moran,
embittered by being reduced to barman and dishwasher after being a war
hero. They about to be led outside and shot when old Major General
Goddard swaggers in, waving his cutlass and ordering, "Charge!" Our
heroes leap into action, Steed tackling Benson while Mrs Peel chases
Moran. Moran decides, to his disadvantage, he doesn't need a gun to kill
a woman and is defeated. Steed meanwhile prevails over Benson, despite
his serving trolley having retractable knives. Goddard reveals he had
superior intelligence - he saw the butler tampering with Percy's
uniform. He eyes Emma and says he doesn't like girls on the front line -
too distracting - and he offers her his arm.

Steed and Emma prepare to depart, and he prattles on about the weather.
She looks at him sternly and tells him he's dying to say it. "Say what?"
he asks innocently. "Say that in spite of all the suspects -", she
replies. "The butler did it!" Steed triumphantly declares and they take
off - with Emma piloting the helicopter.

--
Dems & the media want Trump to be more like Obama, but then he'd
have to audit liberals & wire tap reporters' phones.