MovieChat Forums > All Creatures Great & Small (1978) Discussion > Tristan and Helen...One night stand?

Tristan and Helen...One night stand?

posted 18 years ago by mojaveguy
15 replies | jump to latest

Yes, a one night stand between Tris and the original Helen (Carol Drinkwater) seems quite possible in light of the circumstances at the time. To start with, they liked each other a great deal and were constantly kidding each other about why Tris didn't marry Helen before James met her. In the episode "Fair Means and Fowl," she takes his arm as she and Tris walk from the chicken hutch, where the Guinea fowl are, to the house.

We know from the last episode of season 3 that Tris remains at Skeldale House while Sigfried and James go off to war. Yes, I can easily imagine some cold, winter night when Mrs. Hall is perhaps away for the weekend. Helen is sad and lonely and she and Tris have had a pleasant dinner and consumed some of the fine wines that we know Sigfried stored in the locked dining room in the Christmas episode of season 2. A little wine, sitting on the couch in front of a warm fire, the lights down low, the two of them alone. Well, let your imagination run wild from here on.

[–] reitamay 18 years ago

You old pervert!

[–] adolfoch 18 years ago

PPPPPPLEEEEEEAAAASE!!!!!!! I'm not a moralist nor puritan yet, I find this thought disgusting with ALL DUE RESPECT! What I liked most about these GREAT show is that it didn't touch on human weaknesses of the kind you bring up and the women in the show, didn't just jump in bed with the 1st guy at hand.

A good show and a glass of wine, AHhhhhhhhh, that's life at its best!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] sadsit 18 years ago

I should prefer to think of the characters as staunch representative members of the time in which they were cast. When people were less susceptible to wandering from the "good" path. I loved the books and the characters in the series. Of course no one is in reality perfect, but it is nice at times to think we might at least aspire to such. After reading how James went absolutely ga-ga over Helen in the books, I found Carol D. a highly believable Helen. She was a sweetie.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] trbl4giles-1 17 years ago

I don't think it would have happened, but since they were my two fave characters, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if someone wrote fanfic to that effect. Although, it does seem disrespectful when you remember that these are based on real people. Which is probably why I can't find any fanfic at all. Sigh.

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing

[–] angharad83 16 years ago

No, Helen went to stay with her father as soon as James went to war - Siegfried mentions this in the last (?) episode of season three and also, when James returns it is Heston Grange - Mr. Alderson's farm - that he goes to pick up Helen and littly Jimmy. So there would have been no hanky-panky on a cold winter's night in Darrowby ;-)

[–] imagesoffrance 16 years ago

Thank you angharad83 for restoring Tristan's honor!

[–] fulgour 16 years ago

Hello angharad83 ~ thank you, this is exactly the way it happened.
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No, Helen went to stay with her father as soon as James went to war - Siegfried mentions this in the last (?) episode of season three and also, when James returns it is Heston Grange - Mr. Alderson's farm - that he goes to pick up Helen and littly Jimmy. So there would have been no hanky-panky on a cold winter's night in Darrowby ;-)

[–] billyed 16 years ago

I read a book by another Yorkshire vet (and I can't remember the title), but according to his story, James Herriot and his wife Helen (the real ones) didn't care AT ALL for the affair Drinkwater and Timothy were having during the filming of the series...they initially got Drinkwater fired and Bellingham brought in to take her place.

The Herriott's didn't like to see this right under their noses and it was affecting the filming..some of their scenes were way TOO romantic!

"If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything!"

[–] diurnalemissions 9 years ago

Well, as Alf Wight descended into deep depression in the late 50's, early 60's (for which he received electric shock treatments), he imagined that "Helen" was seeing all sorts of other gentlemen. If the real "James Herriot" was correct in his worries, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Joan had a toss with Donald or Brian Sinclair at one time or other. Whether it was as a result of closeness and spirits in front a roaring fire or a quicky bent over a kitchen chair, your imagination is good as any other to run wild.

[–] mssmssmssmss 9 years ago

Eeuw. I would think that that was his paranoia that you referred to in another message. Don't let your imagination run quite so wild, please.

[–] emmasearle-54926 9 years ago

Well these things did happen before the 1960s you know! And if Helen was going to have an affair surely it would be with Siegfried, he was always flirting with her. I do have a huge crush on Robert Hardy so I'd certainly let him warm me up in the winter months!

But in all fairness I think Helen was deeply in love with James and very devoted, I think the programme shows very well that Helen and Tristan are very fond of each other but that is all. He would have chased all the young women round Skeldale but I think he would see Helen as 'hands off'.

[–] mssmssmssmss 9 years ago

My "eeuw" remark was more about the author's suspicion of his wife than about the characters. Oh, and the chair remark. Anyway, thanks for your more polite way of discussing things. :o)

[–] SkiesAreBlue 9 years ago

Agree. Helen looked upon Tristan as a younger brother, never a suitor or lover AND she was madly in love with James. She also went back and stayed with her father during the war and I think James manages to have some R&R because Helen falls pregnant with Jimmy.

SkiesAreBlue