Museum Piece

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Museum Piece is the second episode in the first series of the British comedy series Dad's Army, originally transmitted on Wednesday 7 August 1968.

Contents

[edit] TV Episode

002 - Museum Piece
Script Jimmy Perry and David Croft[1]
Director David Croft[1]
Producer David Croft[1]
Recorded Monday 22/4/68[1]
Original transmission Wednesday 7/8/68 7.00pm[1]
Series One
Length 30 minutes
Original Viewing Figures 6.8 million[1]
Preceded by The Man and the Hour
Followed by Command Decision

[edit] Synopsis

Mainwaring and Wilson come up with an idea for getting the platoon some much needed weapons: "Operation Gun Grab". The plan is to requisition any firearms from the local museum of Historic Army Weapons - but to do so the platoon must first find a way to outwit the 88-year old caretaker, who happens to be the father of Lance Corporal Jones.

[edit] Plot

It is not long after the platoon's first parade, and Mainwaring and Wilson discuss a recent exercise which involved crossing a 'demolished bridge' to cross a river. Unfortunately, Pike fell in, flat on his face! Mainwaring confides in Wilson that he doesn't think he has the unthinking obedience required to make an efficient fighting unit, and is sure that one of his men told him to "get stuffed"!

Wilson asks Mainwaring about the weapons situation, and Mainwaring reluctantly informs him that it will be a further six weeks before the weapons and uniforms arrive, so they must make do with one shotgun, seventeen carving knives, Jones' assegai, and Bracewell's number three iron! They receive a letter from the Peabody Museum of Historical Army Weapons, informing them that they'll have to close their account for the duration because the curator has joined the navy.

Mainwaring's ears prick up at the name of the museum, and deduces they might be able to use some equipment that could be used by his Local Defence Volunteers. Wilson isn't so sure, but Mainwaring organises "Operation Gun Grab", and tells Miss King to write a letter to give to the caretaker in charge.

On parade, Jones informs Mainwaring that he won't be able to get anything from the museum, because the caretaker in charge is Jones' 88-year-old father! True to form, the cantankerous old man refuses to let the platoon in, so they decide to try force, using scaling ladders and battering rams, but to no avail. When they try to scale the museum, George Jones puts a damper on their plans by soaking them in cold water!

Mainwaring decides to take a more tactical approach, and Jones says a bottle of whisky will do the trick. Walker gives Frazer, who will be disguised as an ARP Warden, the bottle to tempt him with, if he doesn't respond to Frazer's insistence that there's a light showing.

All goes well, and the platoon sneak into the museum. Jones finds a halberd and breastplate, Pike and Walker find an elephant-shooting musket, and Godfrey finds a case of .303 carbines, which unfortunately are being used by ENSA! The platoon prepare to leave, defeated, until Jones and Walker find a Chinese rocket gun, and wheel it back to the church hall.

Their driver, a boy scout is asked by Jones and Walker to try and get it going. Mainwaring calls the duo over and says that he praises their initiative, but the weapon is too antiquated - even for them! As they prepare to make petrol bombs, the boy scouts gets the weapon working, and it fires rockets everywhere! Mainwaring may have to change his tune!

[edit] Notes

  1. The exterior of the museum was actually Oxburgh Hall, a National Trust property in Norfolk.

[edit] Cast

Cast Characters
Arthur Lowe Captain Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier Sergeant Wilson
Clive Dunn Lance Corporal Jones
John Laurie Private Frazer
James Beck Private Walker
Arnold Ridley Private Godfrey
Ian Lavender Private Pike
Janet Davies Mrs Pike
Support Cast Characters Nationality
Caroline Dowdeswell Janet King Flag of England
Leon Cortez Henry, the Milkman Flag of England
Eric Woodburn George Jones
the Museum Caretaker		 Flag of England
Michael Osborne Boy Scout Flag of England

[edit] Radio episode

002 - Museum Piece
Script Harold Snoad & Michael Knowles
Producer John Dyas
Recorded Thursday 7/6/73[1]
Original transmission Monday 4/2/74 6.15pm[1]
Series One
Length 30 minutes
Original Viewing Figures 1.1 million[1]
Preceded by The Man and the Hour
Followed by Command Decision

[edit] Synopsis

[edit] Plot

[edit] Cast

Cast Characters
Arthur Lowe Captain Mainwaring
John Le Mesurier Sergeant Wilson
Clive Dunn Lance Corporal Jones
John Laurie Private Frazer
Ian Lavender Private Pike
James Beck Private Walker
Eric Woodburn George Jones

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Croft, David; Perry, Jimmy; Webber, Richard (2000). The Complete A-Z of Dad’s Army. Orion, 144. 

[edit] References

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Dad's Army
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