Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Episode 5

When Mr Turner's cesspit overflows into Sam's house, he is not a happy man - especially when he has to wait five days for the night soil men to come and clear it.

In the fifth episode of Hattie Naylor's adaptation, Sam and Elizabeth have still got the builders in and the mess in the house is driving Sam to distraction. As if that wasn't enough, his neighbour's cess pit overflows into the cellar of Sam's house. There's no quick solution. It takes five days before the night soil men come to clear it out. Sam comes home drunk and beats the maid, Jane, with a broom. Then the weather whips up into a gale and The Assurance sinks at Woolwich. Sam goes out on the river to see the wreckage. The year ends happily with Sam and Elizabeth getting on well, the workmen gone and the house tidy, the King restored to the throne. And so to bed!

CAST
Samuel Pepys ..... Kris Marshall
Elizabeth Pepys ..... Katherine Jakeways
Mr Blackburne ..... Ewan Bailey
Jane, the maid ..... Rebecca Newman
Mr Payne, boatman ..... Matthew Gravelle
Mrs Hunt ..... Manon Edwards
Frenchman ..... Ewan Bailey

Theme music: Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, words by Robert Herrick and music by William Lawes, sung by Bethany Hughes. Lute, baroque guitar and theorbo played by David Miller. Violin and viola by Annika Gray, and recorders by Alice Baxter.
Historical consultant: Liza Picard
Sound by Nigel Lewis
A 大象传媒/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll.

15 minutes

Last on

Sat 16 Aug 2014 00:30

More episodes

Next

You are at the last episode

See all episodes from 15 Minute Drama

Broadcasts

  • Fri 19 Aug 2011 10:45
  • Fri 19 Aug 2011 19:45
  • Fri 15 Aug 2014 14:30
  • Sat 16 Aug 2014 00:30

Audio Books

Audio Books

Download these highlights and all our programmes via the iPlayer Radio app.