MovieChat Forums > Rumpole of the Bailey (1980) Discussion > Rumpole and the Fascist Beast

Rumpole and the Fascist Beast

posted 16 years ago by tarhealer
6 replies | jump to latest

I have just seen this episode from Season 2 and remain a bit puzzled about the plot. The fascist "captain" that Rumpole defended in court wanted to become a martyr to his cause by drawing the maximum penalty. Not being his custom to deliberately lose a case, Rumpole refuses to go along with this. The captain then states he will hire a different lawyer, but is "ordered" by his fascist colleagues to stick with Rumpole. Then, when Rumpole successfully defends him, he (the captain) is removed from his leadership position within the organization and goes out and commits suicide. I don't understand the logic (?) of why he was treated this way by his colleagues. Can someone explain?

[–] MurderFaceMesa 16 years ago

Even though Rumpole won the case he sorted hurt the captains (and the organization) image. He made them out to be not a threat but a bunch of middle aged men taking about 'the good ole days' one even says 'the press has made us a laughing stalk' Maybe the captian was a little too old fashioned for the group and it should weak leadership maybe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xETgGym8cnE

[–] whitecrane 16 years ago

The whole point of Rumpole's defense in this case is that while he may detest Captain Parkin's beliefs, he must still defend him. Note the quote from Voltaire.
So, Horace does so making the 'fascist beast' look like an idiot, besotted with images of the old British Raj,and philosophies from the Boy's Own Paper. Parkin's
(sic) fascist colleagues understand that they need a newer way of doing things; a more up date way of gaining power, and so they engineer his win in court, and his demise. Rumpole wins the case by making the good Captain - who really embraces his 'empire' vision - seem like a child-like moron. A brilliant episode in a brilliant series.

[–] goflorida10 16 years ago

I think it was because the group wanted Rumpole to lose to make a statement for their fringe cause, although, I'm not sure how that would have worked out. This is one of my least favorite episodes.

[–] marktayloruk 12 years ago

Made clear early on that Captain Parkin's colleagues wanted to get rid of him and take his place.

[–] Balok-2 12 years ago

There are several episodes in which people hire Rumpole in order to get rid of Rumpole's client -- "Rumpole and the Golden Thread" and "Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade" come to mind.

[–] intriguement 9 years ago

Exactly. After Parkin turns down Rumpole's help, he goes back to his bungalow and talks to his colleagues, who tell him that the leader wants him to plead not guilty and stay out of prison. Parkin agrees, then goes out to the shed with the pigeons. While he is in the shed, we see his colleagues talking to each other. They say that Parkin is too old-fashioned -- not the dynamic leadership the party needs. They hope the trial will discredit him so that they can take over his leadership role. In other words, they suspect that the defense will make Parkin look ridiculous, and that's exactly what they want.

After Rumpole wins the case, Parkin meets up with the rest of the party back at his bungalow. The colleagues criticize Parkin for pleading not guilty (even thought that was exactly what they had told him to do) and kick him out of office (exactly as they had planned). Afterward, Mrs. Parkin asks her husband, "Were they pleased that you won?" and Parkin replies glumly, "Yes, I think they were." He understands that the whole thing was a set-up from the beginning.