'Skeleton in the Cupboard' (Part 1) by Richard Carpenter

After preparing Motley's lawn for the Mothers' Union croquet match, Gudgin is joined by his latest potential buyer, Mr Webster, who wishes to use the house as his company's new headquarters. However, Sir George believes that Gudgin should be the one to live in Motley – he is now its rightful owner since Stamfod Hives gave it to him and then left to run a café. Sir George scares Mr Webster away, much to the annoyance of Fanny, Bodkin, the White Lady and Matt, who all want to see the Hall belong to someone who can afford to renovate it. After the ghosts object to Sir George's attitude of riding roughshod over them, Fanny is so incensed that he challenges Sir George to a duel; however, Fanny is the only one with a sabre, and when Gudgin suggests using croquet mallets Sir George becomes inexplicably frightened, shying away from the mallet in terror. The two Uproars eventually agree to use pistols, and arrange to convene in an hour – the same time that Gudgin has persuaded Mr Webster to meet up at. When the duel begins, Sir George’s bullet passes harmlessly through Fanny’s forehead and straight into Mr Webster’s hat, frightening him off once and for all. Some time later, the ghosts ponder Sir George’s aversion to the mallet; on finding the name of Sir George’s sister, Alexandra, on the handle, Bodkin recalls that she disappeared at the same time that croquet was banned from being played at Motley. When Matt takes the mallet outside to the croquet lawn, he inadvertently summons up the ghost of Alexandra – an overbearing old maid who immediately accuses Sir George of murdering her...

Arthur English (Bodkin), Freddie Jones (General Sir George Uproar), Nicholas le Prevost (Sir Francis ‘Fanny’ Uproar), Sean Flanagan (Matt), Sheila Steafel (The White Lady), Peter Sallis (Mr. Arnold Gudgin), Joan Sanderson (Alexandra), John Ringham (Mr. Webster)

Directed and Produced by Quentin Lawrence

UK TX (Granada):
12th February 1978

Notes:
*Featuring Bodkin, General Sir George Uproar, Sir Francis 'Fanny' Uproar, the White Lady and Matt