The picturesque, pastoral community of Winnderden Flats.

QUATERMASS II

Episode One: The Bolts

22 October 1955

It's those Kneale and Cartier boys again, whipping up some more alien mischief.

Pr. Bernard Quatermass watches in horror as two experimental rockets, destined to take Britons to the Moon, have exploded, severely putting the British space program in danger of "shelving" (you know, when the government doesn't give you money anymore and reassign personnel to meaningless bureaucratic jobs?). Things look grim for that moon base.

Luckily for him, his son-in-law to be, one Captain Dillon, brings him news that a group of meteorites have fallen in the South of England. No slouch, Quatermass links this with another meteorite fall about a year ago. Quatermass and Dillon visit the local farmer who found the meteorites, but get a very cold shoulder from the cranky farmer. Visiting the local pub, they find out that the small town of Winnderden Flats has been completely destroyed and the inhabitants drove off their property (yes, about-a-year-ago). Driving there, the pair discover that the small town has been almost completely converted into an industrial sprawl, strictly verboten to anyone. That should boast the local economy and bring along new jobs for everyone.

• Reginald Tate played the original Pr. Quatermass. He was enthusiastic about reprising the part for another round, unfortunately he died during pre-production. He was replaced by John Robinson, who looks like a mid-level civil servant. 

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  The face of 1955 scientific heroism.

  The Australian rockets debacle is relayed to the British Rocket Group by way of a reel of film, sent (with necessary time delays) all the way from Down Under. And these people wanted to put a base on the Moon? How quaint. 
• As with many British serials, the local pub serves as a priceless source of information, usually by some old drunkard and the pub owner. 
• Captain Dillon is engaged to Pr. Quatermass' daughter Paula. Anyone out there willing to bet he doesn't last the entire serial? 
• I find it very difficult to believe that anyone would drive and entire town out, raze it and build an industrial complex in its place without the government noticing. But then, this is Britain in the 1950s. You can't stop progress. Hear hear!