Justice: It’s Always A Gamble (ITV 28 Jun 1974, with Alun Armstrong)

In It’s Always A Gamble Harriet takes on a legal aid case where young June Robertson, acting as a Nanny’s assistant abandons her employer’s baby in the local park. It’s clear that June has more than a few issues most of which are based around her own baby being given up for adoption. To make matters worse she is already on probation for stealing whilst down on her luck in London and Harriet will have a hard job keeping her out of prison.

Meanwhile James is dealing with a case involving Bob Graham who has been badly injured in a workplace accident and is looking for compensation.

Ian Moody isn’t in this episode, it’s totally concerned with the two cases being dealt with by Harriet and James. Harriet shows her sympathetic side and James shows his steely side. For once though things don’t go as James anticipates leading to a nice scene at the end where Harriet visits him at the country cottage weekend retreat he has just purchased and is renovating. He is very down and contemplating quitting but a few sage words from Harriet bring him round. Sara Clee as troubled June Robertson and the always excellent David Horovitch as solicitor Philip Cooke. 

production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 28 June 1974 at 9.00pm

Writer: David Ambrose / Production Design: Eric Shedden / Director: Brian Farnham

Series: Justice Season 3 Episode 6

cast
Margaret Lockwood as Harriet Peterson
Anthony Valentine as James Eliot
John Bryans as Bill
Alun Armstrong as Bob Graham
David Horovitch as Philip Cooke
Sara Clee as June Robertson
Emrys Leyshon as Butler
Robert Swann as Michael Squires
Gabrielle Hamilton as Mrs Robertson
Michael Spice as Dr Gilpin
Denise Mockler as Physiotherapist
Donald Douglas as Robert McGregor Q.C.
Michael Stainton as Ted Gibbon
Arthur Griffiths as Usher
Cyril Luckham as Justice Briggs
Geoffrey Lea as Clerk of court
Joseph Greig as Mr Robertson
Raymond Witch as Tom Morris
Paul Haley as Detective Inspector Cheshire
Ben Collins as Justice Dunbar
Rex Arundel as Barrister