Escape in Time

Last updated

"Escape in Time"
The Avengers episode
Escape in Time.jpg
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 3
Directed by John Krish
Written by Philip Levene (teleplay)
Produced by Albert Fennell, Brian Clemens, Julian Wintle
Featured music Laurie Johnson
Original air dates
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"The Fear Merchants"
Next 
"The See-Through Man"
List of episodes

"Escape in Time" is the third episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers , starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Peter Bowles, Geoffrey Bayldon, Judy Parfitt, and Imogen Hassall. [1] It was first broadcast in the Southern region of the ITV network on Monday 23 January 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions five days later on Saturday 28 January. [2] [3] The episode was directed by John Krish, and written by Philip Levene. [4]

Contents

Plot

Clyde Paxton, a Ministry agent, is found dead in the River Thames, having been shot by a centuries old bullet. John Steed and Emma Peel reflect on the bizarre nature of the murder whilst investigating the disappearances of several wanted criminals, including crooked financier Carl Blechner and disgraced President Bibigyn, who all vanished without trace having stolen large sums of money.

Tubby Vincent, another Ministry agent and old friend of Steed, arrives undercover at a house owned by Waldo Thyssen. After stumbling into a machine, he is seemingly transported back to the Stuart period. Vincent is confronted by a man resembling an ancestor of Thyssen's and is mortally wounded. However, Vincent manages to escape and get to Steed's apartment. Before dying, he hands Steed a note, revealing that Colonel Josino, a former South American dictator who fled with swathes of money from his country's national bank, is due to arrive that day in Mackidockie Court, a series of backstreets in London.

Steed and Peel go to Mackidockie Court and follow Josino through an intricately bizarre series of visits to shops, whereupon each time he is given a new stuffed animal to hand to the next proprietor. They lose track of Josino, and Emma narrowly avoids being murdered by an assassin on a motorcycle.

Steed and Peel return to the Court the next day so Steed can follow the same sequence of visits, with Peel watching him, in the hope he can lead them to Vincent's killers. Steed does so successfully, but Peel is diverted by a decoy Steed and loses track of him.

Thyssen greets Steed, who is posing as a criminal. Thyssen reveals that he has constructed a time machine, and in return for 50% of the stolen profits of his customers, sends them into the past to escape justice. He confirms this with footage of Josino seemingly in 1904. Steed participates in a test run of the machine, during which he meets Samuel Thyssen, Waldo's ancestor in 1790.

Returning to the present, Steed goes to find Peel. However, Peel has already gone back to Mackidockie Court and undertaken the sequence of visits herself, bringing her into contact with Thyssen. As Peel enters the machine to be sent to 1790, Thyssen's henchwoman Vesta alerts him that Peel has been investigating them. Enraged, Thyssen sends her to Elizabethan times, into the clutches of his cruel ancestor Matthew Thyssen.

Steed arrives at the Thyssen home and proceeds through a series of rooms, each aligned to a different time period, dispatching Waldo's henchmen along the way. Peel is captured by Matthew and a henchman, but Steed arrives to save her. During the fight, 'Matthew' is revealed to be Waldo in disguise before being incapacitated by Steed and Peel.

In the aftermath, Steed and Peel conclude that the 'time machine' was a con to fool desperate criminals with the test runs. Rather than send them back in time, Thyssen and his associates murdered them for their riches. With the operation successfully dismantled, Steed and Peel relax.

Cast

Related Research Articles

<i>The Avengers</i> (TV series) British espionage television series created in 1961

The Avengers is a British espionage television series, created in 1961, that ran for 161 episodes until 1969. It initially focused on David Keel, aided by John Steed. Hendry left after the first series; Steed then became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants. His most famous assistants were intelligent, stylish, and assertive women: Cathy Gale, Emma Peel, and Tara King. Dresses and suits for the series were made by Pierre Cardin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Peel</span> Character in the television series The Avengers

Emma Peel is a fictional character played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers, and by Uma Thurman in the 1998 film version. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight. She is the crime-fighting partner of John Steed.

"A Touch of Brimstone" is the twenty-first episode of the fourth series of the 1960s British spy television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee as John Steed and Diana Rigg as Emma Peel. It was filmed c. December 1965, and was first broadcast on British television on 15 February 1966. The episode was directed by James Hill and written by Brian Clemens. The plot involves Steed and Peel infiltrating the Hellfire Club whilst investigating harmful pranks on high profile political and business figures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Steed</span> Character in The Avengers

Major The Hon. John Wickham Gascoyne Beresford Steed usually known as John Steed, is a fictional character and the central protagonist on the 1960s British spy series The Avengers and its 1970s sequel The New Avengers, played by Patrick Macnee in both; by Donald Monat in the South-African radio series adaptation of The Avengers; by Ralph Fiennes in the 1998 film of the same name and by Julian Wadham in various audio adventures from Big Finish Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tara King</span> Character from the TV series The Avengers

Tara King is a fictional character of British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers, played by Canadian actress Linda Thorson. The sixth partner of agent John Steed, she appeared in series six of the series (1968–1969), playing in 33 episodes. She is Emma Peel's successor. She is also the first of John Steed's partners to be a real spy. Viewers are not given any indication whether or not she is related to Dr. Martin King — played by Jon Rollason — one of Steed's partners from series 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hour That Never Was</span> 9th episode of the 4th season of The Avengers

"The Hour That Never Was" is the ninth episode of the fourth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg. It was first broadcast by Scottish Television on Tuesday 23 October 1965. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show, broadcast it in its own regions four days later on Saturday 27 October. The episode was directed by Gerry O'Hara and written by Roger Marshall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cybernauts</span> 3rd episode of the 4th season of The Avengers

"The Cybernauts" is the third episode of the fourth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg. It was first broadcast by Scottish Television on Tuesday 12 October 1965. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show, broadcast it in its own regions four days later on Saturday 16 October. The episode was directed by Sidney Hayers and written by Philip Levene.

A Surfeit of H<sub>2</sub>O 8th episode of the 4th season of The Avengers

"A Surfeit of H2O" is the eighth episode of the fourth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg. It was first broadcast by Scottish Television on Tuesday 16 November 1965. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show, broadcast it in its own regions four days later on Saturday 20 November 1965. The episode was directed by Sidney Hayers and written by Colin Finbow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">From Venus with Love</span> 1st episode of the 5th season of The Avengers

"From Venus with Love" is the first episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Barbara Shelley, Derek Newark, Jon Pertwee, Jeremy Lloyd and Philip Locke. It was first broadcast in the Southern region of the ITV network on Monday 9 January 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions five days later on Saturday 14 January. The episode was directed by Robert Day, and written by Philip Levene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Town of No Return</span> 1st episode of the 4th season of The Avengers

"The Town of No Return" is the first episode of the fourth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg in her Avengers debut, and guest starring Alan MacNaughton, Patrick Newell, Terence Alexander. It was first broadcast on ABC Weekend TV on 28 September 1965. The episode was written by Philip Levene, directed by Sidney Hayers, and produced by Brian Clemens.

Deaths Door (<i>The Avengers</i>) 18th episode of the 5th season of The Avengers

"Death's Door" is the eighteenth episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Clifford Evans, Allan Cuthbertson, William Lucas, and Marne Maitland. It was first broadcast in the Grampian region of the ITV network on Wednesday 4 October 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions three days later on Saturday 7 October. The episode was directed by Sidney Hayers, and written by Philip Levene.

The Gravediggers (<i>The Avengers</i>) 2nd episode of the 4th season of The Avengers

"The Gravediggers" is the second episode of the fourth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg. It was first broadcast by Scottish Television on Tuesday 5 October 1965. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show, broadcast it in its own regions four days later on Saturday 9 October. The episode was directed by Quentin Lawrence, and written by Malcolm Hulke.

"The Fear Merchants" is the second episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Patrick Cargill, Brian Wilde, Annette Carell, and Garfield Morgan. It was first broadcast in the Southern region of the ITV network on Monday 16 January 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions five days later on Saturday 21 January. The episode was directed by Gordon Flemyng, and written by Philip Levene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The See-Through Man</span> 4th episode of the 5th season of The Avengers

"The See-Through Man" is the fourth episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Moira Lister, Warren Mitchell, Roy Kinnear, and John Nettleton. It was first broadcast in the Southern region of the ITV network on Monday 30 January 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions five days later on Saturday 4 February. The episode was directed by Robert Asher, and written by Philip Levene.

"The Bird Who Knew Too Much" is the fifth episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Ron Moody, Ilona Rodgers, Kenneth Cope, and Michael Coles. It was first broadcast in the Southern and Tyne Tees regions of the ITV network on Wednesday 8 February 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions three days later on Saturday 11 February. The episode was directed by Roy Rossotti, and written by Brian Clemens.

"The Winged Avenger" is the sixth episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Nigel Green, Colin Jeavons, Jack MacGowran, and Neil Hallett. It was first broadcast in the Southern and Tyne Tees regions of the ITV network on Wednesday 15 February 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions three days later on Saturday 18 February. The episode was written by Richard Harris, and directed by Gordon Flemyng & Peter Duffell.

The Living Dead (<i>The Avengers</i>) 7th episode of the 5th season of The Avengers

"The Living Dead" is the seventh episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Julian Glover, Pamela Ann Davy, Howard Marion-Crawford, and Jack Woolgar. It was first broadcast in the Southern and Tyne Tees regions of the ITV network on Wednesday 22 February 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions three days later on Saturday 25 February. The episode was directed by John Krish, and written by Brian Clemens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hidden Tiger</span> 8th episode of the 5th season of The Avengers

"The Hidden Tiger" is the eighth episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Ronnie Barker, Lyndon Brook, Gabrielle Drake, and John Phillips. It was first broadcast in the Southern and Tyne Tees regions of the ITV network on Wednesday 1 March 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions three days later on Saturday 4 March. The episode was directed by Sidney Hayers, and written by Philip Levene.

"The Correct Way to Kill" is the ninth episode of the fifth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and guest starring Anna Quayle, Michael Gough, Philip Madoc, and Terence Alexander. It was first broadcast in the Southern and Tyne Tees regions of the ITV network on Wednesday 8 March 1967. ABC Weekend Television, who commissioned the show for ITV, broadcast it in its own regions three days later on Saturday 11 March. The episode was directed by Charles Crichton, and written by Brian Clemens.

"The Forget-Me-Knot" is the first episode of the sixth series of the 1960s cult British spy-fi television series The Avengers, starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg, and introducing Linda Thorson as Tara King. Its first broadcast was on the US ABC network on 20 March 1968. Its first UK broadcast was on 25 September 1968 by Thames Television, who commissioned this series of the show for the ITV network. The episode was directed by James Hill, and written by Brian Clemens.

References

  1. "Escape in Time". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  2. Johnson, Piers. "Series 5 Episode Guide". The Avengers. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  3. "Avengers: Escape in Time (1967) - John Kirsh, John Krish - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  4. "Escape in Time (1967)". BFI. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018.