THE STORY VAULT BLOG
JEEVES AND WOOSTER (A MASTERCLASS IN STORYTELLING)
In the early 1990s P.G. Wodehouse’s “Jeeves and Wooster” stories were adapted into a TV series. The IMDB describes the series as “Bertram Wooster, a well-intentioned, wealthy layabout, has a habit of getting himself into trouble and it's up to his brilliant valet, Jeeves, to get him out.” Hugh Laurie starred as Wooster and Stephen Fry as Jeeves. The books were adapted by Clive Exton.
The opening scenes of Episode One (“Jeeves Takes Charge”) are brilliant.
It all begins with Wooster in court being lectured (with exaggerated seriousness) by a judge for the crime of stealing a policeman’s helmet. Notably, a badly hungover Wooster has no dialogue…he merely utters some indistinct noises as if he has lost the power of speech.
Wooster arrives home. In close-up we see his upturned top hat which holds a pair of white gloves. He drops the hat on to a house plant. Then he attempts to hang his coat on an ornament, but it slips off. He drops his long scarf on the floor,* and then his coat, and finally his jacket. All of this happens in close-up. At last, he flops back on his bed.
In the next shot we see a hand, finger extended, ring his doorbell. Wooster fiddles with his alarm clock, being unable to determine the source of the ringing.
Back in the hall we Jeeves from behind.
Eventually, Wooster opens the door and we see and hear Jeeves for the first time, at about 3:30 into the episode.
Wooster still has not spoken an intelligible word.
Jeeves introduces himself by saying that he heard Wooster was in need of a valet, walks in as if he owns the place, and prepares an anti-hangover concoction that Wooster drinks.
After a physical reaction –
Wooster: I say!
Wooster stands, views his reflection in a mirror.
Wooster: I say! You’re engaged!
We are about 5:30 into the opening of episode one before Wooster utters a word.
And it works beautifully.
The courtroom scene is humorous while creating some suspense because we don’t know what Wooster’s fate is to be.
When Wooster arrives home the close-ups of him discarding clothing combined with the humour surrounding the way in which they are discarded maintains interest.
Jeeves arrival creates a level of suspense as we don’t know who is calling on Wooster or even if he’s going to manage to open the door.
When Jeeves enters there is a hint of conflict as Wooster clearly doesn’t know why Jeeves is there or if he should send him away…and the power balance is subtly subverted by Jeeves assuming the position is his and taking charge.
The attention to detail and nuance is outstanding.
Over five and a half-minutes not a moment is wasted. And the shift in energy is made more impactful by the quiet opening.
These opening scenes work by subtly and consistently defying expectations. And there is the secret to hooking an audience…defy expectations.
*There is a continuity error. Wooster drops his scarf on the floor, but shortly after Jeeves picks it up from a chair.