Horror at the Waxworks

"Horror at the Waxworks" is the fourth episode of the first series of the British children's television programme Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde. The episode was directed by Jim Eldridge and written by show producer Jeremy Swan. It was first broadcast in the UK on BBC One on 20 October 1995.

In the episode, the pupils of the Rocket Academy go on a school outing to the local waxwork museum, but hijinks ensue when Harriet Hyde (John Asquith) is seen wondering its dark hallways.

Plot
At the Rocket Academy, recent exam results have just been published, with Roger and Sarah Slocombe expressing their concerns about the Blister Sisters cheating. Meanwhile, Harriet Hyde is in the science laboratory trying to create an antidote for her condition. She transforms into Julia Jekyll and rushes to the toilet, turning back into Harriet as she exits the lab.

In the foyer the Blister Sisters gloat about getting top marks in the exam, prompting Roger to confront them about their cheating. Sharon grabs Roger in a chokehold, but is swiftly stopped by Mrs. Rocket. She tells all the pupils to go to the assembly hall ahead of an announcement by headteacher Memphis Rocket, who has planned a treat for the students as a reward for their good exam results. Mrs. Rocket heads to the toilet to find Julia, while the other pupils notice Harriet's absence - a welcome fact for the Blister Sisters, who demand 40 pence off each student under threat of physical violence.

Mrs. Rocket arrives at the girls' bathroom, knocking on the cubicle doors calling for Julia. She trips over Harriet Hyde's feet, now poking out from beneath the door. Harriet peers down from high above Mrs. Rocket, who screams and runs away.

In the assembly hall, Mr. Rocket discusses the improved attendance figures but claims to have mislaid Harriet Hyde's papers, assuming that she is an occasional student placed at the school by the authorities. Mrs. Rocket runs into the room terrified of the monster in the lavatory, but her son presses on with his announcement. He learns of the Blister Sisters' cheating and expresses his disappointment, demanding an explanation. After explaining that they only wanted to get good marks and not give the school a bad name, Memphis immediately forgives the pair. After learning that Julia is in the toilet, and could be in danger from Harriet Hyde, Memphis and Mrs. Rocket nervously go in search of their star pupil.

As Memphis and his mother anxiously patrol the halls, Julia rounds the corner and finds them. Questioning Harriet's whereabouts, the trio go in search hand-in-hand, only for Julia to transform into Harriet and startle the pair. They run back to the assembly hall to make the announcement. After lying about fighting off Harriet and rescuing Julia, Memphis announces that the school outing will be to the local waxworks museum, to the disappointment of the pupils.

At the waxworks, Lester Blister leads members of the class into the 'Chamber of Horrors'. Mr. Blister points out waxworks of the characters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde before leading the class to the next section. Julia turns into Harriet and embraces the waxwork of Mr. Hyde. The Blister Sisters return from the toilet and scream in terror at Harriet, who runs away. Sharon and Nicola inform their uncle about Harriet's appearance.

In the historical section, Memphis, Mrs. Rocket and the other pupils are examining the waxworks. Harriet is hiding amongst them, and accidentally decapitates a waxwork of King Charles I with an axe. Memphis grabs the head and hides it under his coat, worried about the reputation of the school, while Harriet runs away wielding the axe. Mr. Blister and his group reunite with the others and help hide the damaged waxwork among the crowd as an attendant walks past. Mrs. Rocket heads for the toilet after the excitement, but finds Julia carrying the axe. She gives the axe to Mr. Blister, while Memphis runs off to dispose of the wax head. Julia then quickly departs, knowing that a transformation into Harriet Hyde is imminent. The museum attendant returns and scolds Mr. Blister for carrying the weapon.

In the toilet, Mrs. Rocket is amending her makeup as Julia scurries into the cubicle. Turning into Harriet Hyde and appearing over the door, Mrs. Rocket screams, smearing lipstick across her face as she flees. Harriet turns back into Julia.

Mrs. Rocket reunites with Mr. Blister and the pupils and warns them that Harriet Hyde is in the bathroom. The Blister Sisters suggest that now is their chance to get Harriet, and the group head for the toilet - Mr. Blister still wielding the axe.

Outside, a group of women are startled by Memphis dropping the wax head at the front entrance. Believing him to be a fright merchant, they enter the waxworks in pursuit. Having refitted the cubicle door, Julia washes her hands in the sink as the rest of the school charge into the bathroom, only for there to be no sign of Harriet. Julia explains that she's 'taken a change for the better'.

The group of women continue their search for Mr. Rocket when the security attendant asks if they mean the man with the axe in the ladies' bathroom. The pupils and Mr. Blister head back to the Rocket Academy, while Mrs. Rocket stays behind to wait for Memphis. Having disguised himself as a waxwork of a French revolutionary, he appears and embraces his mother from behind.

Outdoors, the security attendant watches the pupils leave. Mr. Blister presents the attendant with the axe as Mrs. Rocket screams from inside. Mr. Blister scarpers believing Harriet Hyde is back, leaving Julia confused. She shrugs her shoulders as the credits roll.

Cast

 * Julia Jekyll - Olivia Hallinan
 * Memphis Rocket - Simon Green
 * Mrs Rocket - Ann Emery
 * Lester Blister - Robert Portal
 * Waxworks Attendant - Walter Sparrow
 * Waxworks Visitor - Jeanne Mockford
 * Visitor's Friend - Selina Gilbert
 * Nicola Blister - Tiffany Griffiths
 * Sharon Blister - Karen Salt
 * Roger - Anthony Tobias
 * Sarah Slocombe - Emma Barnett
 * Mrs Smith - Christine Lohr
 * Mr Slime - Philip Philmar
 * Harriet Hyde - John Asquith

Crew
Executives:


 * Director - Jim Eldridge
 * Writer - Jeremy Swan
 * Producer - Jeremy Swan
 * Executive Producer - Anna Home
 * Musical Director - Jonathan Cohen
 * Casting Directors:
 * Jane Deitch
 * Angela Grosvenor
 * Makeup Designer - Elaine Smith
 * Costume Designer - Rosemary Cheshire
 * Production Designer - George Kyriakides

General production staff:


 * Production Assistant - Lesley Taylor
 * Assistant Floor Manager - Michael Towner
 * Production Manager - Claire Gerschwiler
 * Studio Resource Manager - David Massen

General post-production staff:


 * Videotape Editor - Andy Quested
 * Vision Mixer - Carol Abbott

Script department:


 * Script Editor - Marilyn Fox

Camera and lighting department:


 * Camera Supervisor - Nigel Saunders
 * Lighting Director - Alan Jeffery

Art department:


 * Production Buyer - Pauline Seager
 * Graphic Designer - Pete Wane
 * Art Director - Nick Harding

Special and visual effects:


 * Visual Effects Designer - Roger Turner
 * Video Effects - Dave Chapman

Sound:


 * Sound Effects - Keith Eldridge
 * Sound Supervisor - Richard Partridge

Trivia

 * The series makes its first reference to its loose source material - the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson - in this episode with the waxworks of the titular characters on display.
 * This is the first episode in the series not to feature Julia's parents, or have any scenes set at the Jekyll household.