Gardener's Horror Time

"Gardener's Horror Time" is the thirteenth episode of the first series of the British children's television programme Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde. The episode was directed by Albert Barber and written by series creator Jim Eldridge. It was first broadcast in the UK on BBC One on 22 December 1995.

In the episode, Memphis Rocket (Simon Green) buys his mother (Ann Emery) a plant for her birthday, but an accident involving one of Julia Jekyll's (Olivia Hallinan) experiments causes it to grow out of control.

Plot
Julia celebrates not transforming into Harriet Hyde for two whole days as she looks at a school photograph - where she was Harriet. Julia believes her sporadic transformations are over, but plans to make more of her antidote in school as a precaution. Jerry leaves for work as Moira helps Julia pack her things for school, confused as to why she brought home the school photograph when she isn't in it and pointing out Harriet Hyde. Julia explains that she wasn't feeling herself that day.

At the Rocket Academy, Lester Blister asks the pupils to continue with their science projects. His nieces Sharon and Nicola Blister explain that they are seeing how long two girls - themselves - can sleep during the day, which their nepotistic uncle gladly permits. When Julia tries to protest, Lester tells her to protest in silence. Memphis Rocket enters the room and asks to speak to Lester urgently, although Lester postpones this for as long as possible. Eventually Memphis and Lester head into the corridor, where Memphis explains that it is his mother's birthday and he hasn't got her a present. Lester is cross that Memphis sees it as such an emergency and tells him to get Mrs Rocket something simple, so that she will know he bought it for her.

In Memphis' office, Mrs Rocket cries believing her son has forgotten her birthday. Memphis enters and tells her she shouldn't be crying on her birthday, making his mother happy that he did remember. He tells her that he's bought her a present, with Mrs Rocket hoping it's a diamond or a car. Instead, he gives her a 'flower' - more akin to a Venus flytrap. His mother points out the 99p sticker on the pot, causing Memphis to accuse her of not giving him enough pocket money. Believing the plant needs watering, Mrs Rocket takes it to the science lab to find some fertiliser, while Memphis curses himself for forgetting to sing Happy Birthday to his mother.

Back at the lab, Julia, Roger and Sarah lament how the Blister Sisters can get away with seemingly anything. Roger uses his science project - stink bombs - to get one back on them, setting them off under their desk. As everyone in the class covers their noses, Mrs Rocket arrives and puts the plant on the desk before picking up the smell herself. Lester sends everyone into the playground to get some fresh air, with no one noticing a vial of liquid spill on the plant. The plant doubles in size and begins chewing on pieces of paper with its flytrap jaws.

At the Jekyll household, Moira and Jerry discuss whether Julia has too much power over what goes on under their roof as Jerry wishes to move some paintings to another wall. Julia arrives home early after everyone was sent into the playground following the stink bomb incident - Memphis allowed Julia to carry on her experiment at home. Julia is shocked to see Jerry has moved his chair, after she had arranged everything in the room to a scientific pattern, but understands her father's wishes. Jerry explains that it is their fault as much as Julia's after letting her be in charge for so long, but he gives her permission to carry on with her experiment in the kitchen. Just as Julia proclaims her days as Harriet Hyde are over and that she can get back to rediscovering the formula of her elixir, she changes into Harriet Hyde and frustratedly carries on searching for the formula for the antidote. Jerry claims his new seating position has given him a new perspective of the room and a feeling of peace, just as the door is blown off its hinges by an explosion and debris falls on him. Jerry asks Julia, having changed back, where he should put his chair.

Back at the Rocket Academy, Mrs Rocket's plant has escaped from its plant pot - its roots seen trailing behind it as it heads into the corridor. Mrs Rocket gives an English lesson, pronouncing a sentence with several rolled R sounds. She notices the Blister Sisters sleeping and tells them they can continue with their 'science project' in detention if they don't get on with their work. However, the pair discover bite marks in their exercise books. The plant uses its tendrils to drag itself down the stairs. In his office, Memphis takes out a copy of a Beano magazine from a folder labelled 'Maths', only to find a bite mark in its pages.

In the foyer, all the teachers are complaining about bite marks in their notes and books. Mrs Rocket urges her son to take charge of the situation, believing the Blister Sisters to be responsible. This prompts an argument between herself and Lester, with Memphis calming everyone down. As he plans to report on everything that's been eaten in his report book, he finds that the pages of his report book have also been eaten.

Mrs Rocket follows a paper trail leading to a side room, calling on the child responsible to come out. As she goes to enter the room, she finds the plant - now enormous - and screams, closing the door behind her as she runs away. In Memphis' office, Lester criticises how his nieces are blamed for everything that goes wrong in the school, suggesting that Harriet Hyde may be responsible and highlighting her erratic attendance record. Memphis believes that the less they see of Harriet, the better. Mrs Rocket runs in screaming about the giant plant, with Lester taking the opportunity to face up to the issue and outshine Memphis. Mrs Rocket warns her son of this and urges him to follow Lester.

In a corridor, Lester monologues about how he will take down the plant, worrying that there may be more than one. Memphis joins him as Lester explains his plan to defeat the plant by kicking it in the roots and trampling it. He runs into the room as Mrs Rocket arrives, stating they must warn the children of the danger. Lester screams and exits the room, visibly beaten with his clothes torn. In an assembly, Memphis tells the children about the giant plant but they only laugh, until he shows them a brick with a chunk bitten out of it. Outside, they hear the plant approaching and start to panic as Julia slinks away. She transforms into Harriet Hyde outside the assembly hall and begins to fight the plant. As everyone calms down, Memphis wants to protect the children from harm by sending his mother out to see what's happening. Gingerly, Mrs Rocket heads for the door as Harriet defeats the plant and flees for the toilet. Mrs Rocket sees the remains of the plant and declares it to be almost as scary as facing Harriet. Mrs Rocket heads for the toilet herself after all the excitement, screaming as she sees Harriet. Memphis and Lester hear her screams with the latter believing it is because he forgot to tell her that they ran out of toilet paper. Memphis remembers something else that they had forgotten, and begins to sing Happy Birthday as the credits roll.

Cast

 * 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
 * Plant - Matt Raynor
 * 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 - Jane Jenkins
 * Assistant Floor Manager - Gabrielle Lindemann
 * Production Manager - Oliver Cookson
 * Studio Resource Manager - Andrew Garnett

General post-production staff:


 * Videotape Editor - Damian Raistrick
 * Vision Mixer - Heather Gilder

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 - Alan Jeffery

Trivia

 * 'Gardener's Horror Time' was the final episode to be broadcast in 1995, with the following episode not airing until 5th January 1996.