prologue © Canal+

feature item © Canal+

epilogue © Canal+

Build a Better Mousetrap

by Brian Clemens
Designed by Douglas James
Directed by Peter Hammond

Mrs Gale joins a motorcycle gang, proving herself by doing a 'ton-and-ten' but when she goes to a water mill to ask for directions, she and Dave (Donald Webster) are sent away with a flea in their ear by the two elderly sisters who live there, who threaten to put a spell on them.
Ermyntrude (Nora Nicholson) is quite anxious about the situation, but the vivacious Cynthia (Athene Seyler) heads back behind a curtain where her life's work is hidden... and all the motorcycles stop working.

Meanwhile, Steed has installed himself at a nearby pub, run by the morose Harris (Harold Goodwin). While waiting for Stigant (Allan McClelland), a scientist from a nearby nuclear plant, he meets Colonel Wesker (John Tate) and his daughter Caroline (Alison Seebohm) who are also staying there. Stigant arrives and tells him the plant has nothing to do with the mechanical failures, but he'll investigate.
Steed cons the cycle gang to ride a point-to-point around the area, and uses the resulting mechanical failure to pinpoint the location of the engine-jamming - the old water mill! Steed visits the mill, posing as an inspector from The National Distrust, but leaves learning nothing - as he leaves, Dave investigates the mill. Steed later arranges to meet Stigant at the mill, who has learnt that the women are Professor Peck's daughters, but when Steed arrives he's set upon by Gordon (David Anderson), who has already killed Stigant.

Cathy arranges with Dave to investigate the mill, while Steed waits for a telegram from London. Dave's girlfriend, Jessy (Marian Diamond), is sulky about him going away with her, suspecting other motives. Steed plans to follow, but a simpering Caroline intercepts him at the bar and drugs his whisky. Steed is onto her and pours the drink away, then pretends to pass out. She cheers in Russian and leaves. Steed makes Jenny read his telegram to see what's really going on - the Professor had developed a mechanical jammer before he died, and his daughters are confirmed to be living in the mill - Harris then finds Dave bound and gagged in the loft. Steed realises that Cathy's in danger, and rushes to the mill with Dave.

Back at the Mill, 'Dave' unmasks himself as the Colonel and holds Cathy at gunpoint, but Steed and the sisters turn up at the same time as Gordon and Caroline and an almighty fight breaks out. The colonel escapes, not with his desired jamming device but with Cynthia's life's work - a better mousetrap!
It explodes outside, and he's captured, Steed commenting that it seems to be equally effective with the larger rodents.