"Money" is the fourth episode of the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

sitcom ''

Blackadder II ''Blackadder II'' is the second series of the BBC sitcom ''Blackadder'', written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, which aired from 9 January 1986 to 20 February 1986. The series is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–160 ...

'', the second series of ''

Blackadder ''Blackadder'' is a series of four Period piece, period British sitcoms - ''The Black Adder'', ''Blackadder II'', ''Blackadder the Third'' and ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' - plus several one-off instalments, which originally aired on BBC1 from 19 ...

'', which was set in

Elizabethan England The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The Roman symbol of Britannia (a female per ...

from 1558 to 1603.

Plot

is visited by the baby-eating

Bishop of Bath and Wells The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the overwhelmingly greater part of the (ceremonial) county of Somerset and a small area of D ...

, who reminds him that he owes £1,000 to the Bank of the Black Monks. The bishop threatens to sodomise Blackadder with a hot poker if he does not repay the money. Lord Percy offers his savings to Blackadder, but Blackadder has already long since found Percy's hiding place and spent his money, as well as

Baldrick Baldrick is the name of several fictional characters featured in the long-running BBC historic comedy television series ''Blackadder''. Each one serves as Edmund Blackadder's servant and sidekick and acts as a foil and arguably the best friend ...

's. Blackadder has only £85 to his name, which he loses to the Queen following a bet she had about him with Melchett. Blackadder tries selling Baldrick into prostitution, but makes only a sixpence from a sailor named Arthur, which the Queen also takes. Percy then tries to produce gold using

alchemy Alchemy (from the Arabic word , ) is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practised in China, India, the Muslim world, and Europe. In its Western form, alchemy is first ...

, but only manages to produce a mysterious green substance. Deciding to sell his house, Blackadder bullies a couple into paying him £1,100, but is again tricked out of this by the Queen. Blackadder attempts run away to avoid the Black Monks after losing the money for the Queen's trickery. But Baldrick points out that the bank has several branches and informs his master that not only will people not remember Blackadder fondly when he dies, but will possibly laugh and call him "old privy-breath". Baldrick also claims that people use Blackadder's name as a byword for dog faeces, as they say "Whoops, I’ve trod on an Edmund." Outraged that he is a laughing stock, Blackadder comes up with his own cunning plan and sends Baldrick out to obtain a number of items, including a sleeping draught and the finest portrait painter in England. Baldrick returns with the painter. The bishop visits Blackadder again and prepares to carry out his threat to Blackadder for not paying his debts. Before he does so, the bishop drinks some wine offered to him by Baldrick, which he has drugged, and falls unconscious. The bishop is later woken up by Blackadder, who reveals a painting made of the bishop in a highly compromising position with another figure. He uses this to successfully blackmail the bishop into writing off the debt and giving Blackadder more than enough money to buy back his house. The bishop is impressed by the treachery and asks Blackadder who the other figure is, at which point Blackadder reveals Lord Percy.

Cast

Rowan Atkinson Rowan Sebastian Atkinson (born 6 January 1955) is an English actor, comedian and writer. He played the title roles in the sitcoms ''Blackadder'' (1983–1989) and '' Mr. Bean'' (1990–1995), and in the film series '' Johnny English'' (2003– ...

as Lord Edmund Blackadder *

Tim McInnerny Timothy L. McInnerny ( ; born 18 September 1956) is a British actor. He is known for his many roles on stage and television, including as Lord Percy Percy and Captain Kevin Darling in the 1980s British sitcom ''Blackadder''. Early life McInner ...

Lord Percy Percy This article lists the characters in the four series and three special episodes of the British sitcom ''Blackadder''. ''Blackadder'' was notable for featuring actors playing many repeating characters across different eras of history, with Rowa ...

Tony Robinson Sir Anthony Robinson (born 15 August 1946) is an English actor, author, broadcaster, and political activist. He played Baldrick in the BBC television sitcom ''Blackadder'' and has presented many historical documentaries, including the Channel ...

Miranda Richardson Miranda Jane Richardson (born 3 March 1958) is an English actress who has worked in film, television and theatre. After graduating from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Richardson began her career in 1979 and made her West End theatre, West ...

Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudor. Her eventful reign, and its effect on history ...

Stephen Fry Sir Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, director, narrator and writer. He came to prominence as a member of the comic act Fry and Laurie alongside Hugh Laurie, with the two starring in ''A Bit of ...

as Lord Melchett *

Patsy Byrne Patricia Anne Thirza Byrne (13 July 1933 – 17 June 2014) was an English actress, best known for her role as "Nursie" in ''Blackadder II'' as well as Malcolm's domineering Mother, Mrs Stoneway in all seven series of the ITV comedy '' Watching ...

as Nursie *

Ronald Lacey Ronald William Lacey (28 September 1935 – 15 May 1991) was an English actor. He made numerous television and film appearances over a 30-year period. His roles included Harris in ''Porridge'' (1977), Frankie in the Bud Spencer comedy '' ...

as the Bishop of Bath and Wells * Cassie Stuart as Molly * Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Pants * John Pierce Jones as Arthur the Sailor *

Tony Aitken Tony Aitken (born 20 June 1946) is an English actor, known for playing a variety of parts in popular television programmes. He attended Belmont Abbey School, Hereford, 1959–64. He was active in the amateur dramatic society, appearing in many ...

as the Mad Beggar *

Philip Pope Philip R. J. Pope is a British composer and actor. Education He was educated at Downside School and New College, Oxford. Performer Pope appeared in the Oxford Revue in Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1978 and 1979, both with Angus Deayton. He ...

as Leonardo Acropolis * Piers Ibbotson as the Messenger * Barry Craine as Mr. Pants

Legacy

''Bishop of Bath and Wells' Lingering torment of Blackadder''
from the Telegraph (7 Dec 2008)

References

External links

* {{Blackadder Blackadder episodes 1986 British television episodes Television shows written by Ben Elton Cultural depictions of Elizabeth I Television shows written by Richard Curtis Television episodes directed by Mandie Fletcher