Kurt at 04:50, 14 February 2023

2023-02-14T04:50:40Z

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	\| series = [[Blackadder]]		\| series = [[Blackadder]]

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2022-12-18T07:59:41Z

Plot

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{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{in-universe|date=June 2012}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Blackadder]]
| image =
| caption =
| series_no = 4
| episode = 2
| writer = [[Ben Elton]]<br>[[Richard Curtis]]
| director = [[Richard Boden]]
| airdate = {{Start date|1989|10|05|df=yes}}
| guests = [[Stephen Frost]], [[Lee Cornes]], [[Paul Mark Elliott]], [[Jeremy Gittins]], [[Jeremy Hardy]]
| prev = [[Captain Cook (Blackadder)|Captain Cook]]
| next = [[Major Star]]
}}
"'''Corporal Punishment'''", or "'''Plan B: Corporal Punishment'''", is the second episode of ''[[Blackadder Goes Forth]]'', the fourth series of the [[BBC]] sitcom ''[[Blackadder]]''.<ref name="RadioTimes">{{cite web |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cprrzf/blackadder--series-4---2-blackadder-goes-forth-plan-b---corporal-punishment |title=Series 4 - 2. Blackadder Goes Forth: Plan B - Corporal Punishment |accessdate=28 August 2014 |work=Radio Times}}</ref> It was first broadcast on [[BBC One|BBC1]] on 5 October 1989.<ref name="BritCom">{{cite web |url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/blackadder/episodes/4/2/ |title=Blackadder Goes Forth - Corporal Punishment |accessdate=28 August 2014 |work=British Comedy Guide}}</ref> In the episode, Blackadder faces a court-martial, and later execution by firing squad, for shooting a carrier pigeon.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/epguide/four_corporal.shtml |title=Corporal Punishment |accessdate=28 August 2014 |work=BBC}}</ref><ref name="DigitalFix">{{cite web |url=http://television.thedigitalfix.com/Content/1921/greatest-tv-episodes-blackadder-corporal-punishment.html |title=Greatest TV Episodes - Blackadder: Corporal Punishment |accessdate=28 August 2014 |work=The Digital Fix}}</ref>

==Plot==
[[Captain Blackadder]] receives numerous calls to the [[misdialed call|wrong number]] before finally having a call with orders to advance. He avoids going over the top by pretending the line is breaking up. He then throws away a [[Telegraphy|telegram]] ordering him to run because that it is wrongly addressed to "Catpain Blackudder" and then shoots a [[carrier pigeon]] relaying the same message. Upon inspection of the pigeon's partly charred message, however, it turns out that shooting carrier pigeons have become an offence under military law and Blackadder simply decides to destroy the evidence by cooking and eating the pigeon for his lunch. When [[General Melchett]] arrives at the trenches, demanding an explanation as to why the group has not advanced, Blackadder nearly gets away with it by blaming the communication breakdown. Unfortunately, [[Baldrick#Private S. Baldrick - Series 4|Private Baldrick]] and [[George (Blackadder character)|Lieutenant George]] unintentionally reveal what Blackadder has done (as having been told not to answer any questions on the incident, when asked unrelated questions, they reply, "We didn't receive any messages, and Captain Blackadder definitely did not shoot this delicious plump-breasted pigeon.").

Finally, there are pigeon feathers on the floor, which [[Darling (Blackadder)|Captain Darling]] and Melchett believe to be white. But after Baldrick points out that the feathers are "speckly," Melchett is enraged, as it was his beloved pet pigeon, Speckled Jim. He tries to strike Blackadder but is physically restrained by Darling. Smugly, Darling informs Blackadder that he is under arrest and, if found guilty at [[court-martial]], he will face [[execution by firing squad]].

Blackadder sends for Sir Bob Massingbird (originally scripted as "Robert Moxon Browne", a real-life lawyer and friend of Rowan Atkinson's, until this was judged to be technically advertising), a brilliant lawyer sure to get him [[acquittal|acquitted]] (Massingbird's previous cases included convincing a jury that a man who had a bloody knife in front of a dead man, who was seen stabbing the man in front of 13 people and said "I'm glad I killed the bastard" was innocent, and that [[Oscar Wilde]] was a homosexual despite incredible notoriety as a womaniser). However, the letters are mixed up thanks to Baldrick, and George turns up as Blackadder's defence. On the day of the court-martial, Blackadder is relieved to know that Darling is the prosecuting counsel, but mortified to learn that Melchett is the judge. Melchett summarily fines George £50 for wasting the court's time by turning up, takes great pains to locate his [[black cap]], and refers to Blackadder as "the Flanders Pigeon Murderer". George puts paid to any remaining hopes with his poor choice of witnesses: Darling, who provides more evidence against Blackadder, and Baldrick, who takes Blackadder's order to deny everything literally and denies ''everything'', even his name. Darling's case for the prosecution involves calling Melchett to the witness stand and inciting him against Blackadder, after which Melchett sentences Blackadder to death by firing squad without consulting the jury.

Back in his cell Blackadder receives an escape kit from Baldrick that fully caters to unexpected situations but lacks the essential tools to actually attempt an escape. He is visited by his friendly firing squad, with whom he trades vicious banter. Another mix-up results in Baldrick delivering a telegram for George's mother to Blackadder, but this provides Blackadder with a way out, when he discovers that George's mad uncle Rupert has just been made [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Minister of War]], and can get Blackadder acquitted. When Baldrick eventually remembers to tell George this after confusion as to which person in the letter can help Blackadder, they decide to celebrate by drinking some [[Scotch whisky|Scotch]] that George's mother sent him – and get so drunk that they pass out before remembering to send a telegram. Blackadder turns up to the execution grounds optimistic, but gets worried when he hears a telegram has not arrived. A telegram arrives and the jailor stops the squad just after the Corporal says 'Aim!' It turns out to be from one of the firing squad saying 'Here's looking at you, love from all the boys in the firing squad.' The Squad then begin again. In the end, though, Rupert sends a telegram anyway after reading about Blackadder's case in the despatches, believing that Melchett made a mistake and knowing that Blackadder is a close friend of his nephew's. However, Blackadder reads another of George's telegrams and discovers that they did not send it themselves. Out of revenge, Blackadder volunteers Baldrick and George for the mission that Captain Darling calls him about – "Operation Certain-Death", a mission into [[No man's land|No-Man's Land]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb episode|0526710}}

{{Blackadder}}

[[Category:Blackadder episodes]]
[[Category:1989 British television episodes]]
[[Category:Television shows written by Ben Elton]]
[[Category:Military discipline and World War I]]
[[Category:Courts-martial in fiction]]
[[Category:Television shows written by Richard Curtis]]

Corporal Punishment (Blackadder) - Revision history

Kurt at 04:50, 14 February 2023

Kurt: 1 revision imported

123.3.230.22: /* Plot */