'Horoscope' by Richard Carpenter

The ghosts are dismayed to learn that Gudgin has finally sold Motley Hall, to reclusive millionaire businessman Stamford Hives. As Gudgin hands over the keys to Hives’ assistant, Hamilton, Sir George and the others are surprised to learn that Hives will not be moving in for another two weeks – a time when Jupiter will be “in the right place”; it seems that Hives is extremely superstitious, and bases all his decisions on horoscopes that Hamilton compiles for him. Over the next few days Hamilton and his wife move into Motley and set up Hives’ office in the main hall, where Sir George is outraged to find that his portrait no longer hangs over the fireplace. When Hives arrives in disguise, and quickly proves to be brusque, patronising and overbearing, Sir George immediately convenes a meeting amongst his fellows to determine a way to get rid of him. Although Hives is unable to see Sir George and the White Lady, he can see Fanny, Bodkin and Matt, who are all pleased to have someone living in the Hall once more; however, Hives views the ghosts as “disembodied squatters”, and flatly refuses to share the house with them. In retaliation, Sir George decides to begin a campaign to scare Hives out of Motley Hall, and a battle of wits begins…

Arthur English (Bodkin), Freddie Jones (General Sir George Uproar), Nicholas le Prevost (Sir Francis ‘Fanny’ Uproar), Sean Flanagan (Matt), Sheila Steafel (The White Lady), Peter Sallis (Mr. Arnold Gudgin), Brian Wilde (Stamford Hives), Tom Watson (Mr. Hamilton), Katherine Stark (Mrs. Hamilton)

Directed and Produced by Quentin Lawrence

UK TX (Granada):
30th January 1977

Notes:
*Featuring Bodkin, General Sir George Uproar, Sir Francis 'Fanny' Uproar, the White Lady and Matt