TV series
The Jewel in the Crown
Overview
In India, during the final years of British rule in World War II, an unjust arrest for rape sets off questions of identity and personal responsibility being explored against a background of war and personal intrigue.
Details
- First air date
- 1984-01-09
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 14 episodes
- Genres
- Drama
- Network
- ITV1
- Production
- Granada Television
- Country
- GB
- Original language
- EN
Cast
- Tim Pigott-Smith as Ronald Merrick
- Geraldine James as Sarah Layton
- Wendy Morgan as Susan Layton
- Judy Parfitt as Mildred Layton
- Geoffrey Beevers as Kevin Coley
- Peggy Ashcroft as Barbie Batchelor
- Rosemary Leach as Aunt Fenny
- Derrick Branche as Ahmed Kasim
- Art Malik as Hari Kumar
- Nicholas Le Prevost as Nigel Rowan
- Eric Porter as Dimitri Bronowsky
- Antony Brown as Arthur Peplow
Creators and crew
- Irene Shubik - Creator
- Paul Scott - Creator
- Denis Forman - Executive Producer
- Milly Preece - Producer
- Christopher Morahan - Producer
- Christopher Morahan - Director
Episodes
Episode 1: Crossing the River
The story begins in 1942. The Japanese are threatening to invade and Gandhi is calling on the British to quit India. In Mayapore Hari Kumar comes under suspicion of subversion by Merrick, the District Superintendent of Police. This turns to hatred when Hari begins a relationship with Daphne Manners, the object of Merrick's affections. It is the start of a chain of events binding English and Indians in a web of love, tragedy and death.
Episode 2: The Bibighar Gardens
It is now August 1942. In Mayapore, Daphne and Hari draw closer together despite warnings from Ronald Merrick. Daphne and Hari quarrel and the divide between them is seemingly unbridgeable. On a night of rioting and protest Daphne has not returned home. Merrick searches for her with more than official zeal. Meanwhile Daphne finds herself drawn toward the darkness of the Bibighar Gardens and its ghosts.
Episode 3: Questions of Loyalty
Hari, still keeping his promise of silence, remains in prison. Daphne has been prevented from seeing him. Regardless of the scandal and the risks, Daphne is determined to give birth to the child she believes is Hari's. On the lakes of Kashmir the sound of a baby crying arouses the curiosity of Sarah Layton-a daughter of the regiment. And in the princely state of Mirat, Teddy Bingham is asked by an ex-policeman to keep a secret.
Episode 4: Incidents at a Wedding
The hasty arrangements for Susan and Teddy's wedding are threatened, but Ronald Merrick provides a solution. The Layton family gathers in Mirat as guests of its ruler, the Nawab, who may even attend the wedding. However, what should be a happy occasion is overshadowed by unexplained incidents.
Episode 5: The Regimental Silver
Susan and Teddy's wedding day is a happy one, except for the strange attack on the car taking Ronald Merrick and Teddy to the church. Merrick apologises to Sarah and explains the connections between Mirat and Mayapore where Daphne was attacked. What happened on the night of the Bibighar haunts Lady Manners too.
Episode 6: Ordeal by Fire
In Pankot, Sarah has to break the news of Teddy's death to Susan. Later they learn together of a brave attempt to save his life. Sarah embarks on a journey to bring comfort to a wounded man and comes face to face with the war and its pain in Calcutta.
Episode 7: Daughters of the Regiment
While visiting the wounded Ronald Merrick in Calcutta, Sarah meets Jimmy Clark who later challenges many of the values by which she lives. In Pankot another daughter of the regiment confesses her own act of rebellion long ago.
Episode 8: The Day of the Scorpion
Sarah returns to Pankot to find her sister Susan becoming increasingly agitated by her new baby. Merrick too is close to madness, but who will snap first?
Episode 9: The Towers of Silence
Susan's baby has been rescued from the ring of fire that nearly engulfed him, but how did that awful moment leave Susan? Barbie embarks on a generous mission but is turned back by an appalling discovery. Meanwhile, the Laytons have moved into Rose Cottage, but the shadow of events in Calcutta darkens this home-coming.
Episode 10: An Evening at the Maharanee's
It is 1945. Colonel Layton has been released from prison camp. Sarah visits Barbie in hospital then goes to Bombay to welcome him home. Also in Bombay, Sergeant Guy Perron of Military Intelligence is quickly drawn into a web of intrigue by Major Ronald Merrick. A web not only to catch traitors, but to bind the Laytons too. At a strange party Guy widens his circle of friends with far reaching consequences.
Episode 11: Travelling Companions
On 6th August 1945 Barbie lies in hospital in Rampur. Sarah meets Guy in Bombay, after which she and her father travel to Pankot for his home-coming. There are other travellers who make the journey north with them, two old school fellows and a recently promoted Lt. Colonel. A number of questions need to be answered about loyalty, whether Merrick has finally met his match in Guy and whether it is time for another marriage.
Episode 12: The Moghul Room
Merrick, having blackmailed an orderly to gain access to Susan's records, is recalled to Delhi at the end of the war. Guy and Sarah find that their friendship with Hari is drawing them together.
Episode 13: Pandora's Box
In August 1947 Guy Perron returns to India on the eve of independence to observe the last days of British rule. He discovers that Merrick had married Susan but was subsequently killed in a riding accident. Guy questions Nigel about Merrick and discovers he was murdered.
Episode 14: The Division of the Spoils
Guy discovers the horrific details of Merricks death. He travels to Ranpur for the independence celebrations, but the train is besieged and Ahmed Kasim and other Muslims are killed.
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