The Ghosts of Motley Hall Logo 'Narcissus Bullock's Bell'

by Richard Carpenter
The Ghosts of Motley Hall Cast

When the ghosts convene in the main hall to discuss the banshee in the bell tower, Fanny fails to turn up. Elsewhere, Gudgin is doing a spot of gardening in the grounds when he finds an old hand-bell buried in the earth, and as he uncovers the object, the ghosts all feel funny… Gudgin decides to take the bell home, but as he cycles past Motley Gibbet – site of many a nefarious criminal’s hanging – he is stopped by the ghost of highwayman Narcissus Bullock, who demands that Gudgin hand over the bell, which he once stole from a vicar who used it to perform exorcisms. As Gudgin cycles back to Motley in terror, Fanny finally arrives for the ghosts’ meeting; when Sir George and the others learn that he got the days confused, they become so exasperated with Fanny that they decide to send him to Coventry for two weeks. Having returned to the Hall, Gudgin cleans the bell and gives it a ring – and to the ghosts’ astonishment they suddenly find themselves transported outside the grounds. When Gudgin then gives the bell a second ring, a fierce wind whips up and expels him from the house. Having forgiven Fanny, Sir George, Bodkin, the White Lady and Matt begin the two mile walk back to Motley, encountering Fanny’s old friend, Narcissus, on the way. But when they eventually arrive back at the Hall, they discover that an unknown force now prevents them from entering their home…

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), Michael Elphick (Captain Narcissus Bullock)

Directed and Produced by Quentin Lawrence

UK TX (Granada):
5th March 1978

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