With her parents heading overseas for 18 months, teenage Dora goes to stay with her wealthy Uncle, The Colonel. She quickly becomes enamored with his collection of horses but whilst out for a ride she tangles with a rough mob of local boys (known as The Night Riders) who are mistreating a group of horses. After witnessing a horse having to be put down Dora is very upset but the Colonel sends her over to Follyfoot Farm, the home for neglected horses that he runs as a hobby.
Quite an air of melancholy hangs over this introductory episode with Dora meeting Steve only for him to lose his job up at The Squires thanks to the Night Riders. Dora is initially very unhappy to have been left in the care of the Colonel but by the episodes end and some deep thought by the remnants of the lightning tree she is starting to realise that she could have just found a new home.
The Night Riders motorbike sequence was staged by Peter Diamond.
production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×30 minute episode / Broadcast 2 July 1971 @ 5.20pm
Writer: Francis Stevens / Director: Stephen Frears
Series: Follyfoot Season 1 Episode 1
cast
Desmond Llewellyn as The Colonel
Basil Henson as Arthur
Dorothy Reynolds as Prudence
Gillian Blake as Dora
Paul Guess as Lewis
Terrence de Marney as First Man
Paul Luty as Second Man
Steven Hodson as Steve
Colin Rix as The Vet
Arthur English as Slugger
Christian Rodska as Ron Stryker
William Mervyn as The Squire
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