ACE OF WANDS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The basic formula is a strong inventive storyline, a slightly larger than life villain, (the sort of guest part that will attract a name actor) tight, dramatic writing with the emphasis on excitement and pace, jump cuts, montage, the use of music and creative sound all high on the list of priorities. Since we have to appeal to a wide age range, stories have to work on two basic levels – lots of visual action to hold the attention of the younger viewer, and strong imaginative stories that are always developing to attract the older children. TAROT, a famous stage illusionist by profession, is a super hero, a righter of wrongs, a solver of mysteries. He solves his mysteries with a pot-pourri of stage magic, ace sleuthing, inscrutable logic and a deep sense of human weakness, combined with what might be called unusual psychic powers, hypnosis, telepathy and E.S.P. He is a twentieth century Robin Hood with a pinch of Merlin and a dash of Houdini. However, Tarot faced with a threatening situation cannot melt walls with Kryptonic eyesight, cannon gain advantage with science fictionish powers, he is essentially a man anchored in reality, the reality of our times. Sometimes his methods might be surprising but his battle of wits always concludes with the triumph of good over evil. Our stories centre around Tarot, his accomplices and his clients, desperate people to whom the normal procedures of justice are inadequate or impossible, and his adversaries, the royalty of the underworld. The villains can afford to be a little more bizarre, more flamboyant, but they must be believable in their own context and their special relationship with Tarot.

A short list of do’s and don’ts:- Justice must be seen to be done, the villains must get their true deserts in the end. We want to avoid killing known characters if possible, in fact assassinations, and violent murders etc., don’t really belong in this series. The police are rarely involved, Tarot has no particular senior officer at the Yard that he contact, most studio punch ups are rarely successful but fof course confrontations must occur – direct threat, capture and escape, the inquisition of the hero by the villain and minions, cliff hangers are all part of the whole concept of this type of serialisation.

Microcamera cufflinks, instant solution by computer, boffinism must be played down. We want to develop an antithesis to the technocratic detective. No knives, nooses or cigarettes for obvious reasons. But lots of space age magic for Tarot and Lulli to perform. Here we can use the full range of television techniques to obtain desired effects. As far as possible we try to integrate Tarot’s stage magic into his solving of cases, using all his skills, ranging from sleight of hand and escapology to hypnosis and telepathy. We have a full time magic advisor who will be delighted to sort out any problems, give advice etc.

PRACTICALITIES

Not more than 2½ to 3 minutes of film (or O.B.) per 25 minute episode. Filming to be limited to locations within 30 miles of Teddington, this gives us the whole of London, the Thames, etc. Two permanent sets, Tarot’s apartment and Mr Sweet’s bookshop plus a maximum of two extra sets per episode. Approximately 8-10 cast per episode including the permanent cast.

BACKGROUND DETAILS OF PERMANENT CAST

TAROT

Late twenties, attractive, very intelligent, mysterious, physical. If he has to defend himself he does so with the grace of a matador rather than the savagery of a commando. His basic interest s to solve mysteries, combat crime, not prove how tough he is. When not involved with a case, Tarot works as a stage magician and escapologist, his act is ultra sophisticated and very well paid. To help solve his mysteries Tarot uses all his magic skills, ranging from sleight of hand and escapology to hypnosis and telepathy. He lives in a very private pad at the top of a London skyscraper, he drives a fast sports car and has a unique and distinct way of dressing – contemporary clothes with a twist. He performs his act wearing a mask and is a total enigma to the outside world.

LULLI

Lulli met Tarot when she drove her beach buggy into his car, they discovered that there was a strong telepathic communication between them.  Tarot asked Lulli to be his assistant.  She is twenty, very beautiful, vital, amusing, at times naive, vulnerable because of her femininity, but also has the guile unique to females.  Lulli is an orphan.  Her father died when she was five. She lived with an aunt until she was sixteen, then she went to university to study philosophy, but got bored and quit left after a year.  In fact, boredom is Lulli's arch enemy.   She is a compulsive activist and but until she met Tarot she had no burning ambition to burn up her excessive energy.  She drives a beach buggy (but only on private roads until the actress passes her test!)

SAM

Age approximately thirty.  Sam has been a seaman, gravedigger, fish porter, fair booth boxer and body guard, but when he met Tarot he had hit an all time low and was busking around the smoke as a sack and chain man for an old escapologist.  Sam has been to nick twice, now he lives with Tarot and is his best friend, accomplice, and also proves invaluable as stage manager for the act, he constructs all the trick cabinets etc., and sees to the setting up and operation of lights and music.  Sam has incredible connections and there are a lot of people that owe Sam "favours".  Although Sam is at times very funny, he should not be developed as the cliche cockney light relief nor as the East End heavy, but as a very hard, likeable guy who has crammed a lot of living into his thirty short years, he should be a natural con-man, and yet every child's favourite uncle.

MR SWEET

Age approximately sixty.  Mr Sweet owns an antiquarian bookshop in Bloomsbury and has an international reputation as an epidopterist and entimologist.  Adventures often start with someone in trouble approaching Mr Sweet in the hope that he will enlist the unique services of the famous yet anonymous Tarot on their behalf.  He has a remarkable store of knowledge on a wide range of subjects and keeps files and books about all sorts of unlikely subjects.  Mr Sweet is amusing, eccentric and quite capable of amazing and unorthodox action if a situation demands it.  He dresses in tweeds and rides a Moulton bicycle.

OZYMANDIAS

Ozzie is a Malay fishing owl, and lives in the pad with Tarot and Sam on an open perch.  Is a great bird guard, loved by all, especially Lulli.  He has a special love hate thing with Sam who refers to it as a "mangy lump".  Ozzie is a great actor as animals go and one can write scenes that include him, without fear of wasting recording time.

This version of the "Background Information" document had a number of changes made to it. The full typed text is as displayed above in a standard font. Text crossed through was crossed through (by hand) in the original document. Any text above in italics represents handwritten additions to the document.