Scene by scene-Catweazle s01e05- The Eye Of Time

[michaellevenson]

Background- Catweazle, a magician of the black arts from 1066 escapes the invading Normans chasing him through the woods by jumping into a lake , and miraculously time travels to 1970 England . He is befriended by Edward Bennett , a young lad living on a farm with his dad. Edward known as Carrot because of his hair and Catweazle have numerous adventures as the 11th Century magician hopes desperately to return home.

 

[michaellevenson]

On a lake near to Hexwood farm Carrot and Catweazle fish. Catweazle pulls a fish out and adds it to his collection, Carrot looks glum.
He hasn't seen Catweazle sneakily mouth a few magic words over his fishing rod.


Meanwhile at the farm , Sam the hired hand is sitting in a jeep waiting for his boss, Carrot's dad George Bennett, he is reading the horse racing page in the paper. George gets in .
G " you'll never get your sports car that way Sam. Carrot has disappeared again, I don't know where he gets to"
They drive off.

 

[michaellevenson]

Back on the lake Catweazle catches another fish.
C " another fish"
Ct " not another one"
C " number 12"
Ct " I haven't caught anything, they're all at your end. Wouldn't like to change ends would you?"
C " so be it"
They carefully stand and swap ends and resume fishing.
Ct " I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't put a spell on my fishing rod"
C " mayhap...mayhap "
Ct " have you"
C " no"
Ct " on your own then"
Catweazle catches yet another fish.
C " aha...aye I have"
Catweazle places this particular fish on the boat deck away from the others.
C " this is he...the 13th fish"
Ct " let's eat, I'm starving "
Carrot takes a couple of bananas from his bag, hands one to Catweazle, who looks at it puzzled, then tries to bite into it without peeling it.
Ct " no no , give it here"
Carrot peels it and hands it back half peeled.
Catweazle takes the skin and puts that in his mouth.
Ct "no no , eat the white bit in the middle "

Carrot sees Catweazle is looking admiringly at the 13th fish.
Ct " what's so special about that fish"
C " the 13th"
Ct " it's unlucky?"
C " always you mock me brother in magic"
Ct " no I don't honest "
C " thou know that for us of the dark path 13 is very good luck"
Ct " oh..er .of course...luck is a funny thing"
C " aye "
Ct " Sam's lucky for instance...well sometimes "

 

[michaellevenson]

In Westbourne village George and Sam arrive in the jeep. Sam gets out outside the bookies.
G " okay Sam in you go, at least I know where to find you. I'll be at the bank for about thirty minutes I'll pick you up here "
S " thanks boss"
George drives off, Sam starts towards bookmakers shop, but as soon as George is out of sight he instead heads to the shop next door- MADAM ROSA'S FORTUNE TELLING PARLOUR- the sign says.


A bit later Sam sitting opposite Madam Rosa who stares into a crystal ball.
S " any luck"
MR " sshh"
S " how about Newmarket?"
MR " the crystal goes cloudy....no wait..Black Beauty"
Hanging nearby is a birdcage with a parrot in it.
Parrot " 6 to 4 the field "
MR " be quiet Laura"
Pt " 4 to 1 bar one"
MR " I said be quiet , I see no more, the light goes dim"
S " kettledrum royal court and black beauty, well I got three good 'uns anyway. I'll go next door and put them bets on"

Sam gets up,
S " bye Madam Rosa, see you next week "
MR " may the stars bring you happiness "
Sam leaves and Madam Rosa picks up phone.
In the next door betting shop the phone rings.
Manager ( phone) " Westbourne turf accountant "
MR " Albert "
Al " hello love"
MR " another customer coming down "
Al " okay Betty ta"

 

[michaellevenson]

Sam is about to go into the bookies when he hears a tooting, George is back in the jeep.
G " Sam get in"
S " but I.. "
G " get in"
S " I haven't had a chance to...."
G " you want to walk back then?"
Reluctantly Sam gets in , they drive off.

Out of the lake now, Catweazle and Carrot are sitting by a fire cooking the fish, all 13 are cooked but Catweazle has placed the 13th to one side, on the grass, and says,
C " from the water into the fire, from the fire into the earth, from the earth into the air"
Ct " are you going to eat that?"
C (shocked) "eat the 13th fish, you art a madman "
Ct " sorry "
C " tell me more"
Ct " what about "
C " the swift horses and the money on their noses and the ....er..bettering "
Ct " betting "
C " betting "
Ct " well it's sort of like guessing really, which horse will win. If you guess the right one you win some money"
C " but you would know the winning horse "
Ct " no I wouldn't "
C " I would "
Ct " don't be daft, how could you?"
C " with the eye of time brother (points to own forehead) with the eye of time "
Suddenly a jeep comes along the muddy track.
Ct " it's dad, quick hide, in the tent"

 

[michaellevenson]

George and Sam walk up to Carrot, Catweazle hiding in the tent Carrot has put up.
G " any luck?"
Ct " yeah caught a lot"
G" good man, I told you all you needed was a decent rod"
George opens flap of tent, luckily not seeing Catweazle crouching down.
G " this looks very cosy ( closes flap) before you go you will put that fire out Carrot?"
Ct " yes dad"
G " leave some fish in the lake"
Ct ( laughs) " yes dad"
George wanders back up path to jeep.
Sam talks softly to Carrot
S " not going back to the farm yet are you?"
Ct " no why"
S " well I wonder if you can do me a favour before this afternoon "
Ct " put some bets on you mean"
S " how did you know?"
Ct " (smiles) " 'cause it's Saturday "
S " will you then, the money is already there "
Ct " thought you'd already been to the village "
S " yeah but I didn't have time"
Carrot gets notebook and pencil from bag and Sam dictates.
S " Lingfield 2.30 kettledrum, 3.15 royal court, and Newmarket 4 o' clock black beauty, and they're all five bob each way"
Ct " got that"
George shouts from jeep,
G " come on Sam stop nattering "
S " coming Mr Bennett , ...you'll get them on in time?"
Ct " yeah don't worry "
S " and if they come in usual commission right?"
Ct " right"
Sam notices 13th fish lying in the grass.
S " gonna eat that?"
Ct " er...no"
S " then why cook it?"
George calls over again,
G " come on Sam"
Sam hurries back to jeep.
Neil McCarthy is Sam.

 

[michaellevenson]

Carrot opens tent flap,
Ct " you can come out now Hiyawatha "
Catweazle emerges,
C " what plot is this?"
Ct " plot?"
C " thou was writing for him "
Ct " oh..Sam's bets for this afternoon "
C " oh..the horses that will win"
Ct " if he's lucky"
C " this foolish Sam, does he have the eye of time?"
Ct " no I don't think so "
C " give me thy paper...nay I will not harm it "
Carrot gives Catweazle the paper.
C " where do the swift horses run?"
Ct " Lingfield and Newmarket "
Catweazle places paper on his forehead.
Ct " have you got a headache?!"
C " quiet brother quiet "
C ( eyes closed) " o spirits of the brazen vessel I call on thee. Lingfield...Lingfield..a multitude roaring like the sea...men wave their arms...many spells are spoken....the horses thunder passed a white post. A bird flies through the rain, the moon turns blue over the mighty oak..the noise dies away..it is done..( opens eyes)..it is done"
Ct " well, who's going to win"
C ( angry) " thou ass eared turnspit, didst thou not follow me?!"
Ct " I thought you were going to tell me the winners "
C " the eye of time is shut to thee , take thy paper, I go back to castle Saburac and better company "
Catweazle stalks off, really angry, Carrot looks bemused.
Ct " ...but..but .Catweazle "

 

[michaellevenson]

In the yard of the farm George looks around,
G " Sam....Sam...where the devil has he got to?"

Sam and Carrot are in the tv room watching the racing. Sam shakes his head as his horse came in last.

S " rainbird who would have thought it, Madam Rosa gave me royal court "
Ct ( muttering)" rainbird....a bird flying through the rain...what else did he say...the moon turns blue over the mighty oak"
S " mighty oak? That runs at 4 at newmarket "
Ct " are you sure Sam, there really is a horse called mighty oak"
S " are you alright Carrot?"
Ct " moon turns blue...is there a horse called blue moon?"
S " yeah, it runs at 3.15 Lingfield "
Ct " fantastic he can do it "
S " I wish you'd tell me what you're on about "
Ct " Sam you gotta change those bets. Blue moon is going to win at Lingfield and mighty oak at Newmarket "
S " Madam Rosa gave me kettledrum and black beauty "
Ct " I don't care they're not going to win "
George enters,
G " turn the tv off now!..Sam sometimes I wonder why I bother to employ you"
Ct " er....I asked him in dad"
G " for heavens sake why..you know we've a lot of work to do. You could lend a hand instead of watching telly "
George and Sam leave,
G " and Carrot have you collected the eggs yet?"
Ct " no dad"
G " well do it now"
Carrot waits until they've gone and then runs upstairs to his bedroom, opens drawer and pulls out money box and takes out some money. He picks up his pet tortoise Beelzebub.
Ct " we're going to make a thousand pounds be- elzy, Catweazle is going to tell us all the winners..we can't lose"

 

[michaellevenson]

Carrot and Catweazle are in a field, they walk up to a scarecrow that is wearing a raincoat and a hat.

A few minutes later Catweazle and Carrot arrive at a bus stop in a country lane, Catweazle wearing the scarecrow gear.
C " why must I wear this thing"
Ct " you look very nice"
C " I am no longer Catweazle "
Ct " that's the whole idea. It's jolly good, waterproof you know "
C " proof against water? Then I will wear it. But I will not go with thee"
Ct " don't be difficult "
C " the past calleth I must return "
Ct " don't start that again "
C " I fear the people and the enchanted chariot "
Ct " there's a big one coming in a minute "
C " I do not trust thee"
Ct " we're brothers in magic remember "
C " if you say so, you who mock the eye of time "
Ct "not anymore you're top magician as far as I'm concerned, truly thou art the greatest"
C " it is well said"
Ct " you'll come?"
C " mayhap...mayhap "
Ct " please Catweazle "
C" you sing a different song now"
Ct " it's important you see, special magic and I can't do it on my own...here comes the bus"
A single decker bus pulls up, Catweazle puts fingers in his ears frightened, but Carrot pushes him on bus and follows.
C ( fearful) " bus...bus....busbusbus "

 

[michaellevenson]

Sam is working on the tractor at the farm when George walks over carrying a piece of paper, Carrot's bit of paper.
G " what do you make of that Sam"
S " erm..well it's runners and riders innit "
G " I found it by the television "
S " thanks boss"
G " just a minute, that is Carrot's writing "
S ( incredulous) " is it?!"
G " you know it is , you turning him into a punter Sam?"
S " no ! It's just that sometimes he helps me out when I can't get to the phone "
G " good lord! He'll be hanging round betting shops next....where is he?"
S " don't know boss"
G " I think I'll just pop into Westbourne "
George gets in the jeep and drives off.

 

[michaellevenson]

Catweazle and Carrot are outside the bookmakers shop,
Ct " wait here"
Carrot goes in, Catweazle notices a sticker on the door advertising Madam Rosa's parlour, he can't read but recognises the pentagram logo and the arrow on the advert pointing to the next shop, he wanders off.

Inside the bookies Albert looks disapprovingly at Carrot.
Al " no one under 18 in here son, hop it"
Ct " it's just that I've got a foreign friend outside and he doesn't speak much English "
Al " is he over 18?"
Ct " oh yeah well over "
Al " okay, write down what he wants outside then send him in with it"
Ct " yeah okay "
Carrot leaves, there's no sign of Catweazle but instead, standing by the jeep is George.
G " well Carrot?"

 

[michaellevenson]

Catweazle enters the parlour, Madam Rosa is understandably disconcerted by the sight walking towards her.
MR " yes dear"
C " horse and hattock "*
MR " beg your pardon "
C " has thou the eye of time?"
MR " oh ..(looking at watch)..it's just after 3.20. If you want a sitting that'll be 7 shillings and 6 pence"
C " 7 and 6 makes 13!"
Catweazle comes up to the table and stares at the crystal ball.
C " a giant scrying glass like a full moon, I feel it's power"
MR " my crystal ball, yes I don't know what I'd do without it. Some people do it with tea leaves but I think that's very messy. I prefer the crystal ball it's far more artistic, do sit down "
The parrot chimes in with,
Pt " 6 to 4 the field they're off"
MR " now Laura be a good girl "
C " 'tis thine"
MR " oh yes I've had Laura for years"
Pt" shut up Laura"
C " tis a demon "
MR " yes you're right she can be a demon at times but she has a heart of gold, haven't you angel...shall we get started "
Catweazle sits , the crystal ball in the centre of the table.
MR " now I would like to hold a personal possession of yours. It helps with the vibrations it can be any familiar object "
C " ah...familiar..it is here"
Catweazle takes his toad Touchwood out of pocket and places it on Madam Rosa's outstretched hand.
MR " AARRGGHH "

* a cry fairies make when invoked to leave a place- ancient Scottish folk law.

 

[michaellevenson]

MR ( fretful)" nasty slimy thing take it away, take it away. That was uncalled for, why do you carry a dreadful like that around with you"
C " I am a magician "
MR " oh I didn't know you were in the profession , not much work about is there. I get a lot of theatricals in you know . What do you call yourself?"
C " Catweazle "
MR " oh that is unusual, erm...shall we look in the crystal ball "
C " aye"
Madam Rosa leans over her ball, as does Catweazle.
MR " what are you doing?"
C " looking "
MR " I look, not you"
Madam Rosa looks deeply into ball.
MR " I see a long journey, you will travel far "
C " aye tis true"
MR " yes a summer season, it could be Blackpool "
C " a black pool?"
MR " you are going to get an important letter from a relative "
Catweazle nods and a smiles, he knows this is baloney.
MR : oh you're a very lucky person do you know that you should have a flutter every now and then"
She places her hand on Catweazle's arm.
C " do you seek to enchant me"
MR " what's the matter with you I only suggested you have a little flutter"
C " thou can gain no power over me, it is all pretense, thy eye is shut..SHUT"
MR " I beg your pardon "
C " idle gossip thy knowest nothing "
MR " I've never been so insulted in my life...get out of here mister Catferret or whatever you call yourself "
C " SILENCE...harken to me, I see all clear like a hovering hawk"
Catweazle takes out his witch knife and gently waves it to and fro in front of Madam Rosa, her eyes grow heavy.
C " thy true name is Betty, thy man's name is Albert, many men go to him with gold for their bettering. Thou send them to him saying they will make good fortune "
MR ( trance) " it's a lie, how do you know"
C " my eyes are open I have the eye of time...and the scrying glass "
Catweazle grabs crystal ball and runs out.
Madam Rosa snaps out of the trance.
MR " what happened...what have I said"
The parrot chimes in again,
Pt " shut up Laura, shut up shut up, shut up "
MR " no..AARRGGHH "

 

[michaellevenson]

In Catweazle's home the water tank he had christened Castle Saburac he is staring at the crystal ball, Carrot is there.
Ct " where did you get it from , I promised dad I'd give up gambling "
C " it is not the future I seek but the past"
He picks up Touchwood and places it on his palm and carries it to ball"
C " look down the well of time Touchwood, the years melt away like snow. We must prepare Touchwood it is a long journey we must take"
THE END

cast:
Catweazle.....Geoffrey Bayldon
Carrot......Robin Davies
George Bennett.....Bud Tingwell
Sam......Neil Mccarthy
Rosa......Hattie Jacques
Albert.....Ellis Dale

 

[michaellevenson]

The next episode in the narrative I've covered scene by scene is s01e06, link below.

Scene by scene Catweazle s01e06- The Magic Face

Background- Catweazle, a magician of the black arts from 1066 escapes the invading Normans chasing him through the woods by jumping into a lake , and miraculously time travels to 1970 England . He is befriended by Edward Bennett , a young lad living on a farm with his dad. Edward known as...

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