Background
"Wanted - A Good Home" was recorded in the studio on 6 and 7 March 1975, with the location footage having been filmed on 26 February in Eaton Place in Belgravia. John Hawkesworth (producer), John Hawkesworth, who wrote this episode, based some of the events seen in "Wanted - a Good Home" on his own childhood, having had a governess himself.Cast
*Angela Baddeley - Kate Bridges (Upstairs, Downstairs), Mrs Bridges *Gordon Jackson (actor), Gordon Jackson - Angus Hudson, Hudson *Jean Marsh - Rose Buck, Rose *Hannah Gordon - Virginia Bellamy *David Langton - Richard Bellamy (Upstairs, Downstairs), Richard Bellamy *Shirley Cain - Miss Treadwell *Jenny Tomasin - Ruby Finch, Ruby *Peter Forest - Bert *Jacqueline Tong - Daisy Barnes, Daisy *Gareth Hunt - List of Upstairs, Downstairs characters#Frederick Norton, Frederick *Anne Yarker - Alice Hamilton *Jonathan Seely - William Hamilton *Tracey Childs - Jennifer Chivers *Danvers - Thimble The uncredited dog belonged to Simon Williams (actor), Simon Williams, who played James Bellamy (Upstairs, Downstairs), James Bellamy;Plot
It is the spring of 1922 and William, who is now eight years old, is off to a boarding Preparatory school (United Kingdom), preparatory school. After asking Virginia, Rose buys Alice a small dog, called "Thimble", to keep Alice company after William leaves. Shortly after William leaves, Richard and Virginia go to France. Miss Treadwell, the governess, has been put in charge in their absence and annoys the servants by taking tea (meal), tea in the morning room. The servants are dismayed when she has Alice given bread and water for a meal as a punishment for misbehaviour. Jennifer Chivers, a friend, joins Alice for her lessons with Miss Treadwell. When Thimble chews Miss Treadwell's shoe, she orders the dog to be presented to her the following morning so she can have it animal euthanasia, put down. However, the servants hide Thimble in Edward and Daisy's room above the garage, and tell Miss Treadwell and Alice that it has gone "missing". It reappears moments after Richard and Virginia return home. Miss Treadwell immediately complains about the behaviour of the servants, making many accusations against them. Virginia dismisses Miss Treadwell with four weeks wages in lieu of notice. It is decided that instead of having another governess, Alice will go to a day school in London - which Alice is very happy about.Footnotes
References
*Richard Marson, "Inside UpDown - The Story of Upstairs, Downstairs", Kaleidoscope Publishing, 2005