Sylvester McCoy
Season Twenty Five

7L. The Happiness Patrol

Writer: Graeme Curry
Director: Chris Clough
Designer: John Asbridge
Incidental Music: Dominic Glynn

TRANSMISSION DETAILS:

672. Part One                      02.11.88   7.35pm - 8.00pm   5.3M/96th/           67%
673. Part Two                      09.11.88   7.35pm - 8.00pm   4.6M/Outside Top 100/65%
674. Part Three                    16.11.88   7.35pm - 8.00pm   88th/    /           65%

CAST:

HELEN A: Sheila Hancock; JOSEPH C: Ronald Fraser; DAISY K: Georgine Hale; PRISCILLA P: Rachel Bell; TREVOR SIGMA: John Normington; SUSAN Q: Lesley Dunlop; EARL SIGMA: Richard D Sharp; GILBERT M: Harold Innocent; THE KANDYMAN: David John Pope; HAROLD V: Tim Barker (1); SILAS P: Jonathon Burn (1); KILLJOY: Mary Healey (1); WENCES: Philip Neve (2-3); WULFRIC: Ryan Freedman (2-3); FORUM: DOORMAN: Tim Scott (2-3); FIRST SNIPER (DAVID S): Steve Swinscoe (2); SECOND SNIPER (ALEX S): Mark Carroll (2); NEWSCASTERM: Annie Hulley (3). EXECUTION VICTIM: Cy Town (1); PIPE PEOPLE: Bilent Hassan, Charles Martin, Steven Martin, Lee Pearse; HAPPINESS PATROL: Argie Alaime, Olwyn Atkinson, Heather Downham, June Easther, Selvia Gilbert, Julie Lawrence, Carole Mudie.

STORY:

The Doctor and Ace arrive on the colony of Terra Alpha which is ruled over by Helen A. The colonists are forced to be happy, and the streets are patrolled by the Happiness Patrol.

The punishment for not being happy (referred to as Killjoys) is death, and this can happen in a number of ways. Offences which also bring death are enjoying the rain and listening to slow/sad songs. The penalty is administered by the Kandyman.

The Doctor manages to unite the oppressed workers and pipe-people into a rebellious force. During a skirmish Helen A's pet, Fifi, is killed, and Helen A feels the sadness of the lost. The Doctor and Ace slip away, saying his work is done. Helen A has finally managed to see that there cannot be true happiness in life without sadness.

BLOOPERS:

Episodes 1 & 3: When the Doctor taps the sugar crystal stalagtites, they swing about a bit. Surely they would have broken off or disintegrated?

Episode 2: When Earl Sigma leaves the Doctor and Trevor Sigma, Trevor turns as if hearing something before the harmonica music starts (then he says "Hey, that's nice," just as it begins).

Episode ?: One of the female happy pattrollers rushes out behind, realises it isn't her cue, and runs back again (when the Doctor is repairing the buggy, look in the background).

STUDIOS:

Television Centre Studio 3, Television Centre Studio 8

WORKING TITLE:

The Crooked Smile

NOVELISATION:

The Happiness Patrol Graeme Curry

VIDEO:

The Happiness Patrol

Sylvester McCoySeason Twenty Five