Scorpion Tales

Synopsis

Scorpion Tales is a British anthology that aired on ITV in 1978, featuring one-off, hour-long plays with twist endings. Produced by ATV, the programme was similar in format to other thriller anthologies like Thriller and Sapphire & Steel. Each episode presented a self-contained story, often with a sinister or surprising conclusion, and starred actors such as Trevor Howard, David Robb, and Anthony Bate.

First Air Date: 1978-04-29

Last Air Date: 1978-08-12

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 6

Created By: David Reid

Networks: ITV1

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Heronimo Sehmi as John (uncredited)
Trevor Howard as Mavor
Patrick Allen as Cummings
Don Henderson as Easterman
Maryann Turner as Alice Mavor
Paul Arlington as Purcell
Alan Rowe as Dr English
Patrick Godfrey as Russell
Will Knightley as Randwell
Andrew Andreas as Demetrius

Seasons

Season 1 (1978)

Anthology series of stories "with a sting in the tail."

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Easterman (1978-04-29)

Soon to retire DI Mavor becomes embroiled in a case involving a series of murders, carried out by the unknown 'Easterman'. On investigation, Mavor discovers that Easterman was the homosexual lover of a man he killed some time before and now he is out for revenge.
Ep. 2: Killing (1978-05-06)

Working on a computer project, Martha Fredricks finds herself impeded by colleague Mark Hawkins, who is in secret communication with the computer, taking money from the bank to invest in the currency market. Collecting the interest and replacing the original money, he goes unnoticed, until Fredricks discovers his scheme.
Ep. 3: The Great Albert (1978-05-13)

Matthew Ward, a boy whose parents are on the verge of divorcing, discovers a 16th-century book of spells. With this, he attempts to bring about events to his own wishes. However, his plans go wrong when his mother brings home her lover, who then murders his father.
Ep. 4: The Ghost in the Pale Blue Dress (1978-05-20)

Seemingly estranged father and son Sir Wilfred and Toby Grafton are at loggerheads over the latter's inheritance. Toby's fiancée Karen steps in and beguiles Wilfred due to her similarity to his deceased wife.
Ep. 5: Crimes of Persuasion (1978-05-27)

MP Sir Robert Haines is in the process of making secret deals with an ex-Arab PM. Meanwhile, at home, his mistress has hatched a plan to avenge his philandering. However, both of them later come unstuck when terrorist enemies of the Arab come calling.
Ep. 6: Truth or Consequence (1978-08-12)

Lt James White enrols in a training course to build his resistance to interrogation. As he proceeds, however, he discovers that the training is more intense than expected, and people on the outside cannot be trusted.