Sister Blister

"Sister Blister" is the tenth episode of the first series of the British children's television programme Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde. The episode was directed by series producer Jeremy Swan and written by series creator Jim Eldridge. It was first broadcast in the UK on BBC One on 1 December 1995.

In the episode, the Blister Sisters (Karen Salt and Tiffany Griffiths) and their uncle Lester Blister (Robert Portal) suspect Harriet Hyde (John Asquith) of being a robot created by Julia Jekyll (Olivia Hallinan). They enlist the help of their nurse relative - Lester's sister and the Blister Sisters' aunt - Sister Beatie Blister (Richenda Carey) to determine Harriet's true nature.

Plot
Julia Jekyll transforms into Harriet Hyde whilst wondering the corridors of the Rocket Academy. Hearing other students coming, she hides behind a medical screen. The Blister Sisters see her feet sticking out from under the screen and move around the corner, wondering why she is hiding. Thinking that she plans to jump out and scare someone, they go back to scare her first - only to pull the screen aside and see Julia. The Blister Sisters wonder where Harriet could have gone and head into the science lab to confront Julia, only for Harriet to be waiting inside and chase them out, throwing a chair out the window after them. The chair hits Lester Blister, and his nieces explain that Harriet attacked them. They tell their uncle their theory that Julia made Harriet as a means of protecting herself from bullying, with Lester suggesting that she may be a robot. Wanting a medical professional to examine Harriet, Lester plans to get in touch with his sister Beatie - a nurse known as Sister Blister.

That evening at the Jekyll household, Jerry reads an article in the newspaper about a goldfish turning into a monster. Moira mentions how nothing unordinary ever happens in their house, all the while Harriet continues to work on an antidote in the kitchen. As Jerry recites Moira's joke, the door is blown off its hinges by an explosion.

Memphis Rocket dances in his office as he sings 'Heartbreak Hotel' by Elvis Presley, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. Lester comes in and tells the headmaster about his sister, Sister Blister, and that she should work in the school sanatorium looking after ill students. Memphis is unsure, as his mother Mrs Rocket has been filling the role, and plans to refuse Sister Blister upon her entry. When Sister Blister does enter, she intimidates Memphis so much he gives her the job. Lester and his nieces head off to find Harriet, making note of a violin case which Sister Blister is carrying. In the san, Mrs Rocket rearranges flowers in a vase as Sister Blister enters, asking her to leave. When Mrs Rocket protests, Sister Blister pulls out an enormous syringe from the violin case, causing Mrs Rocket to flee in horror.

The Rocket Academy pupils gather around the notice board and see an announcement about a medical inspection for all pupils over two metres tall. Only Harriet Hyde meets this criterion, but the pupils assume she isn't in that day. Julia goes to tell Memphis while the other pupils discuss Mrs Rocket's sacking as nurse. In the head's office, Mrs Rocket hits Memphis repeatedly with a rolled-up poster and demands that Sister Blister be removed. Memphis writes a dismissal notice, but neither he nor his mother have the courage to give it to her. Julia enters and Memphis gives her the notice to pass on to Sister Blister. Julia reluctantly agrees.

In the san, Sister Blister inspects her various medical tools as Julia enters. Snatching the note from Julia's hand, Sister Blister says she is only interested in girls over two metres tall, at which point Julia transforms into Harriet. Sister Blister doesn't see the change and sends her away. Seeing Harriet pass in the foyer, the Blisters rush up to the san and ask for Sister Blister's diagnosis - only for her to not have noticed. The Blisters head out in pursuit of Harriet. Seeing Julia in the foyer, they demand to know where Harriet is. After an unconvincing answer, Julia runs away. Lester questions Sister Blister's effectiveness and plans to get the results himself by analysing the DNA from a strand of Harriet's hair. He wants his nieces to trap Harriet under a net so he can pluck out one of her hairs. Sister Blister waits for Julia in the foyer planning on interrogating her.

Harriet wanders into a room, closely followed by Lester and the Blister Sisters. Sharon and Nicola point out the complicated plan of drawing Harriet's attention so they can throw the net and Lester can pull out a hair, but Lester ignores their worries claiming his application of scientific thought makes the plan foolproof. Sharon and Nicola find a net, questioning their uncle's sanity. Mrs Rocket finds the pair with the net in hand, as they claim that an 'important teacher' told them they could fish in the school. Assuming this to be her son, Mrs Rocket takes the net and heads for Memphis' office. Defeated, the Blister Sisters head to tell their uncle of the failed plan.

In his room, Lester monologues about potential flaws in the plan as his nieces knock on the door. Mistaking this for the signal to initiate the plan, Lester calls for Harriet Hyde from within his room. The Blister Sisters leave as Harriet exits, unamused that the corridor is empty. Lester jumps out of his room, only to be thrown down the corridor by Harriet. Sharon and Nicola comfort their injured uncle as Harriet goes back into her room.

In his office, Memphis combs his wig as his mother enters with the net. When Memphis agrees with Mrs Rocket that the Blister Sisters couldn't possibly catch any fish in the school, she leaves to return the net to its cupboard. Memphis talks to his wig, worrying that his mother has gone mad.

Julia walks down the corridor and turns into Harriet again, hiding behind the same medical screen as she did before just as Sister Blister passes. She stops as she sees Harriet's feet poking out from under the screen, and as her head peers over it. Pushing the screen aside, the pair exchange introductions, with Sister Blister remarking on Harriet's large elbows. Reuniting with her family, Sister Blister debunks the theory of her being a robot, simply calling her 'overdeveloped'. Sister Blister leaves, not wanting to be attacked by Harriet as her brother and nieces were. Mrs Rocket praises Memphis, assuming his notice did the trick, with Memphis lapping up the praise. Mrs Rocket goes to move the screen back up to the san, only to scream at Harriet offscreen as the credits roll.

Cast

 * Sister Blister - Richenda Carey
 * Julia Jekyll - Olivia Hallinan
 * Moira Jekyll (credited as 'Mum') - Victoria Williams
 * Jerry Jekyll (credited as 'Dad') - Bill Fellows
 * Memphis Rocket - Simon Green
 * Mrs Rocket - Ann Emery
 * Lester Blister - Robert Portal
 * Nicola Blister - Tiffany Griffiths
 * Sharon Blister - Karen Salt
 * Roger - Anthony Tobias
 * Sarah Slocombe - Emma Barnett
 * 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 - Sue Templar
 * 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

 * This episode features the first appearance of Sister Blister, who appears again in later series.