Sredni Vashtar (1981)

Alexander Puttnam turns in a charming performance here as the young "Conradin" who is trapped in a gilded cage by his aunt "Augusta" (Judy Campbell) for fear that his already terminal illness will worsen. Much to his indifference, she has determined to get him a new personal tutor and "Mortimer" (Alan Corduna) is employed to teach the boy Latin, but he has zero interest. His interests are simply for his pet hen, secreted away in a shed at the bottom of the garden and for the eponymous deity which has taken form as a pole cat and whom he worships in the hope that he might be helped to escape from his ongoing purgatory. With his ever vigilant aunt watching his every move and the doctor (Vernon Dobtcheff) supporting this kid-gloves approach, it doesn't seem likely that things are ever going to change... or might they? This reminded me a little of a "Tales of the Unexpected" style of story, with a deliciously dark thread to it that successfully imbues a degree of paganism amidst an household of ostensibly Christian virtue. The dialogue is sparing yet still serves to further illustrate just how the young man, though never physically at risk, is entirely dominated by the constraints of manners and protocol. I did rather like then ending - and who doesn't like fresh toast made over an open fire.