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 page, 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 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, cannot 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 center around Tarot, his accomplices and 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 various 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 is possible, in fact assassinations and violent murders etc., don't really belong in this series.  Villains must indulge in any sadistic pleasure.  The police are rarely involved, Tarot has no particular senior officer at the Yard that he contacts.  Most studio punch ups are rarely successful but of course confrontations must occur, direct threat, capture and escape, inquisition by the villain and minions, cliff hangers are all part of the whole concept of this type of serialisation.  Microcamera cufflinks, instant solution by computor, boffinism must be played down.

We want to develop an antithesis to the technocrat 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 to escapology, to hypnosis and telepathy.  We have a full time magic advisor who will be delighted to sort out any problems, give advise etc.

PRACTICALITIES

Not more than 2½ to 3 minutes of film (or O.B.) per 25 minute episode.  Filming to be limited to within thirty 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, 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 instinct is to solve mysteries, combat crime, not prove how tough he is.   When not involved in a case Tarot works as a stage magician and escapologist.   He is ultra sophisticated and very well paid.  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.  She lived with an aunt until she was sixteen, then she went to university to study philosophy and left after a year.  In fact, boredom is Lulli's arch enemy.   She us a compulsive activist and 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 who owe Sam "favours".  Although Sam is at times funny, he should not be developed as the cliche cockney 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 a lepidopterist 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, and keeps files and books about all sorts of unlikely subjects.  Mw Sweet is amusing, eccentric and quite capable of 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 apartment 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.  He makes a strange whistling sound when excited, and hates Siamese cats and snakes.