The BEST episodes written by Kenneth Taylor
#1 - Pandora's Box
The Jewel in the Crown - Season 1 - Episode 13
It is now August 1947 and Guy Perron, who has returned to academic life, is in India to observe the transition to independence. His arrival in Mirat was meant to be a joyous occasion with Nigel Rowan, Susan and Count Bronowski planning to meet him at the station. Unfortunately, Ronald Merrick accidental death the previous week has put a damper on everything. Merrick had been working in Mirat with the police and had been successful in re-organizing the force. At the last moment, Guy decides to accompany Sarah, Susan aunt Fenny and Ahmed Kasim on the train to Ranpur.
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#2 - The Bibighar Gardens
The Jewel in the Crown - Season 1 - Episode 2
Jealousy and circumstance weave together. Daphne Manners is pregnant, and Hari Kumar languishes in jail on a charge of rape. Unrequited in his love for Daphne, Superintendent Ronald Merrick vents his frustration on Kumar in a vicious jailhouse beating. Later, Daphne gives birth at Aunt Lady Manner's estate in Kashmir. There, neighbor Mildred Layton is preparing for the wedding of her daughter Susan to Indian Army Officer Teddy Bingham, who has a new roomate just reassigned to the military: Ronald Merrick.
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#3 - Daughters of the Regiment
The Jewel in the Crown - Season 1 - Episode 7
Still in Calcutta, Sarah accepts Jimmy Clarke's invitation to attend a party and finds a somewhat mixed crowd. She also finds that Clarke isn't quite the gentleman her aunt Fenny made him out to be. In Pankot Mabel Layton reveals to Barbie Batchelor why she and Mildred Layton do not get along very well. She also tells Barbie that when she dies, she wishes to be buried next to her husband in Ranpur. When she dies soon afterward, Mildred won't hear of sending Mabel's remains all the way to Ranpur and orders Barbie to leave the house as soon as possible. Mabel's sudden death causes Susan to go into labor.
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#4 - The Division of the Spoils
The Jewel in the Crown - Season 1 - Episode 14
Before leaving Mirat, Count Bronowski tells Guy the true circumstances concerning Merrick's death. While traveling on the train to Ranpur, Guy, Sarah, Susan and Fenny come face to face with the sectarian violence that is sweeping India in the days leading up to independence. When the train is stopped in an isolated area and attacked, it is obvious that it is Ahmed Kassim that they are after. It is only when the train finally arrives at the station that they realize the extent of the carnage that has taken place. Prior to his departure from India, Guy tries to visit Hari Kumar, the legacy of the Raj: the man who is neither English nor Indian, and fits into neither society.
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#5 - The Moghul Room
The Jewel in the Crown - Season 1 - Episode 12
With the Japanese surrender and the end of the war, Perron puts into effect his plan for a quick demobilization. He also hears a strange tale from one of the nurses, "Sophie" Tucker about Lance Corporal Pinker, who served as a clerk to Dr. Samuels, the hospital psychiatrist. Pinker was a young man who was confused about his sexuality and only became aware of homosexuality while reading patient files. While in the bazaar one night, he met a young Indian boy and they spent some time together. The whole thing was set up however by then Major Ronald Merrick so he could blackmail Pinker into giving him access to a particular patient's file. Nigel Rowan has to leave suddenly but gives Guy the file on their old schoolmate, Hari Kumar. Guy and Sarah also get to spend some private time together.
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#6 - Incidents at a Wedding
The Jewel in the Crown - Season 1 - Episode 4
The Layton family has traveled to Mirat but the wedding plans are in disarray. Susan is quite naturally on edge and her aunt Fenny's flitting about doesn't help the situation. Teddy Bingham's best man is unavailable and Ronald Merrick volunteers himself for the job. He doesn't tell anyone that he continues to receive subtle forms of harassment and reminders of his handling of the Manners case and the men who were imprisoned. It all comes out however when someone throws a stone at the car carrying Teddy and Merrick to the chapel. The fiasco continues when the Nawab of Mirat, an invited guest, is refused entry to the club. Susan saves the day however. At the wedding reception, the Maharajah's senior advisor, Count Bronowski and his social secretary, Ahmed Kasim, make an impression on Sarah and Merrick.
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#7 - Ordeal by Fire
The Jewel in the Crown - Season 1 - Episode 6
Having held a memorial service for Teddie Bingham, the Laytons learn more about the circumstances of his death when Susan receives a letter from his commanding officer. It would seem that Ronald Merrick acted quite bravely in trying to save him and was severely injured in the attempt. It again falls upon Sarah's shoulders to take on the family's responsibility and visit Merrick in the hospital in Calcutta. Merrick tells Sarah that Teddie simply could not accept the fact that men from his own Regiment would now be fighting for the Japanese and set off into into the jungle only to walk into a trap. Merrick himself is in constant pain and is scheduled to have an arm amputated. Sarah stays with her aunt Fenny and uncle Arthur, now a Colonel, who have recently been transferred from Bombay. Aunt Fenny arranges for a few young officers to have dinner with them and a newly promoted Major, Jimmy Clarke, seems to take an interest. Everyone rejoices at the news of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
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#8 - An Evening at the Maharanee's
The Jewel in the Crown - Season 1 - Episode 10
Sarah travels to Bombay to meet her father, Colonel John Layton, who has been freed from his prisoner of war camp. Colonel Layton is concerned as to the well-being of a Havildar from his Regiment who apparently joined the Frei Hind, the Nazi version of the Indian National Army who fought with the Japanese. The officer in charge of the case is Major Ronald Merrick and he takes sadistic delight in belittling and degrading the Havildar during interviews. Sgt. Guy Peron from Field Security is in Bombay to attend a party where it has been reported there has been much discussion of planned military operation. Drafted as a witness to Merrick's interview of the Havildar, the Major takes a liking to him and decides to have Peron transferred to his staff. Peron was a student at Chillingborough and new Hari Kumar.
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#9 - Questions of Loyalty
The Jewel in the Crown - Season 1 - Episode 3
Daphne Manners dies during childbirth and the baby is now in the care of her aunt, Lady Manners. The whole Manners case is the talk of the British community and while holidaying on a houseboat in Kashmir, Sarah Layton decides to call and pay her respects to Lady Manners who is staying nearby. Sarah's mother just can't be bothered with the niceties and her younger sister Susan is only concerned about her forthcoming marriage to Captain Teddy Bingham, currently posted in Mirat. Sarah's father is a Colonel currently interned in a Nazi prisoner of war camp. When Teddy obtains 72 hours leave to get married, he suggests to Susan that her family travel to Mirat and have the wedding there. Teddy is also sharing quarters with a new arrival, someone who is an expert on the Indian National Army, prisoners of war who are now fighting for the enemy. That roommate is Captain Ronald Merrick who has transferred from the police for the duration of the war. His past has followed him however when he finds a damaged bicycle at the entrance to his quarters.
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