The Miser's Hoard

The Miser's Hoard is the fourth episode of the ninth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on 23 October 1977.^[1]

Synopsis

Frazer gleefully counts up his profits for the week as he plans to use most of it to invest in more gold sovereigns, many of which he keeps in a box. Doctor Macavity unexpectedly drops in to inform Frazer that one of his patients will soon need Frazer's services (i.e. he's died) and accidentally knocks over the box, revealing Frazer's secret stash.

Doctor Macavity informs Mainwaring of Frazer's hoard at the bank the next day, worried that any theft or loss of the gold would have devastating effects on Frazer's health. Mainwaring agrees that Frazer shouldn't keep the sovereigns in his house and resolves to convince the stingy Scotsman to sell them and buy an annuity at the bank (furiously denouncing Wilson's suggestion that Mainwaring is motivated by the fact that he, as bank manager, would profit from this). Deciding to raise the matter subtly, Mainwaring gives the whole platoon a lecture about how they should keep their money and valuables in the bank, again insisting that any profit for him is not part of the issue. Unfortunately, Frazer sees through Mainwaring's hints and rushes off, vowing he'll never let anyone, least of all Mainwaring, get his gold.

Word of Frazer's hidden wealth soon spreads and is discussed at length in Hodges' grocer shop by Hodges, Verger Yateman and Vicar Farthing (who wants to persuade Frazer to donate towards restoring the church). Frazer then misses parade, prompting the platoon to go looking for him (as this involves going to several pubs, Wilson ends up severely drunk) - after they come back unsuccessful, Frazer defiantly phones Mainwaring, saying he'll hide the sovereigns where nobody will ever find them. Inspired by Pike remembering a film about a miser who buried his gold, Mainwaring assigns some of the platoon to stake out Frazer's house, sure he'll do it that night. Much later, Frazer is spotted leaving his house by both the platoon and Hodges (who's out on air raid patrol). Followed secretly by the platoon, Frazer buries the box in the local graveyard. After he leaves, Mainwaring and the others dig up the box and attempt to break it open, only to be caught by the Vicar, the Verger and Hodges (who also followed Frazer), who insists their actions are illegal. Mainwaring agrees to settle the matter the next day.

At the Home Guard parade the next day, Mainwaring convinces Frazer to give him the key to the box, lecturing him that the ease with which they found the box proves that Frazer is better off entrusting his sovereigns to the bank (although Mainwaring also reluctantly agrees to let the Vicar take a small donation). When Mainwaring unlocks the box though, it turns out to contain a brick, revealing that Frazer hid his hoard elsewhere. Frazer mockingly suggests that the Vicar accept the brick as a donation and runs from the room, vowing to the last that Mainwaring will never get his gold.

Cast

• Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring
• John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson
• Clive Dunn as Lance Corporal Jones
• John Laurie as Private Frazer
• Arnold Ridley as Private Godfrey
• Ian Lavender as Private Pike
• Janet Davies as Mrs Pike
• Fulton Mackay as Doctor McCeavedy
• Bill Pertwee as ARP Warden Hodges
• Frank Williams as The Vicar
• Edward Sinclair as The Verger
• Colin Bean as Private Sponge

References

1. ↑ http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/dadsarmy/list.html phill.co.uk episode list