Rumpole of the Bailey
Horace Rumpole is an "Old Bailey Hack," one of the underpaid barristers who ply the courtrooms of the Old Bailey, London's criminal court. Rumpole refused to handle most suits and will never prosecute. He always defends. Each of his trials has both a victory and a defeat in them, his clients who are acquitted often angrier than those who are found guilty. There is always at least one and often two subplots.
- 1978-1992
- 7 seasons
- Arts and Entertainment
- Suspense, Drama
Horace Rumpole is an "Old Bailey Hack," one of the underpaid barristers who ply the courtrooms of the Old Bailey, London's criminal court. Rumpole refused to handle most suits and will never prosecute. He always defends. Each of his trials has both a victory and a defeat in them, his clients who are acquitted often angrier than those who are found guilty. There is always at least one and often two subplots.
Season 7 Episode Guide
6 Episodes 1992
Episode 1
Rumpole and the Children of the Devil
50 mins
A well-meaning but overly officious social worker believes that Cary Timson is involved in devil worship and has his eight year-old daughter removed from her home. Rumpole defends the parents at the subsequent hearing. The zealously religious Ballard is offended that Rumpole would defend alleged devil worshipers and maneuvers to remove him from his office. As a sidebar, Hilda follows Rumpole when she suspects him of infidelity.
Episode 2
Rumpole and the Miscarriage of Justice
51 mins
When a decorated and respected police officer is stabbed to death in a street riot, Detective Supt. Gannon promises his widow that justice will be done. When the self-confessed, mentally-challenged perpetrator confesses, his vow would seem to fulfilled, especially when Judge Guthrie Featherstone voices his certitude about the defendant's guilt in open court. The conviction is overturned on appeal when evidence surfaces that part of the confession seems to have been altered and the judge's conduct is called into question. Featherstone is pressured into presiding at Gannon's trial and has to contend with Rumpole for the defense. With his wife out of town, A depressed Featherstone indiscreetly goes to a club with attractive legal clerk Dot Clapton.
Episode 3
Rumpole and the Eternal Triangle
51 mins
After reluctantly attending a Schubert concert with Hilda and Erskine-Brown, Rumpole is engaged by the trio's beautiful violinist, and he soon finds himself meeting her for lunch and becoming infatuated with her charms. She remembers Rumpole from his defense of a college friend years before and confesses she's always admired him. Rumpole becomes enamored of her striking looks and even goes as far as becoming a vegetarian, drinking water, and wearing cologne to please her. When her husband stands accused of murdering her lover, both members of her trio, Rumpole finds himself taking the brief for the defense. As a sidebar, the overly prudish Ballard has to deal with accusations of sexual improprieties on behalf of several members of chambers.
Episode 4
Rumpole and the Reform of Joby Jonson
51 mins
Rumpole defends a juvenile delinquent for harassing and later beating and robbing an elderly woman who refuses to sell out to real estate developers. After the barrister finds that his home has been burgled and evidence from the case stolen, some highly-placed, prominent citizens seem overly curious about the case and make inquiries about it to Rumpole. When Phyllida, who is prosecuting, is angered that the priggish Ballard has sabotaged Erskine-Brown's ongoing efforts to be named a queen's counsel, she begins to work behind the scenes to change his mind. As a sidebar, Dot Clapton's nose-piercing causes a small uproar in chambers.
Episode 5
Rumpole and the Family Pride
51 mins
When an anonymous elderly woman is found drowned in the lake of a large estate, she is initially thought to be a homeless bag lady. Later, the coroner discovers an unexplained head wound, no water in her lungs, and an enigmatic photo linking her to Lord Richard Sackbut, the lord of the ancestral manor. This prompts Lady Sackbut, a cousin of Hilda's, to invite the plebeian Rumpoles for the first time to the manor, where Horace is recruited to represent the family at what will prove to be a very contentious inquest. Sidebars include Rumpole's defense of an alleged triple murderer and Liz's discovery of unpleasant news about Inchcape.
Episode 6
Rumpole on Trial
51 mins
In great pain from an abscessed tooth, a dyspeptic Rumpole is particularly acerbic and sarcastic to Judge Oliphant, a judge who Rumpole considers particularly deserving of his disdain. When Erskine-Brown informs the justice that Rumpole was heard coaching his witness during the lunch break in total defiance of instruction, Oliphant has had enough and brings misconduct charges against the barrister. Although Hilda is able to persuade Sam Ballard to defend him, it is Rumpole's old nemesis, Justice Graves, who will preside at the disbarment hearing.
