A Surfeit of H2O
| Industry | Television |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1961 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Television series |
A Surfeit of H2O is the eighth installment in the fourth season of the 1960s British spy-fi television series The Avengers, featuring performances by Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg. Its initial broadcast occurred on 16 November 1965 via Scottish Television, followed by a transmission four days later on ABC Weekend Television. The episode was helmed by director Sidney Hayers and penned by writer Colin Finbow.
Plot
During an intense downpour, a local poacher tragically drowns. Investigations by Steed and Mrs Peel reveal that such fatal incidents are common in the area. Mrs Peel encounters Eli, the deceased’s brother, who discloses that the victim struggled with alcoholism and was involved in theft from a distillery housing substantial spring water reserves. Steed seeks out an eccentric individual named Jonah, who forecasts flooding and believes himself to be Noah, actively constructing an ark.
Mrs Peel visits Grannys Groggs distillery, where she meets the unwelcoming manager Dr. Sturm. She observes numerous trench coats and umbrellas stored on racks. A plan is devised between Eli and Mrs Peel to infiltrate the distillery at night; however, Eli is subsequently discovered drowned. Steed assumes the role of a wine purchaser to gain entry to the facility, encountering an attractive female employee. Although Dr. Sturm is suspicious of outsiders, he permits Steed to examine the premises.
Mrs Peel detects an abnormally high relative humidity level near the distillery—measured at 67.8%, comparable to conditions found in the Amazon rainforest. They report these findings to meteorologist Sir Arnold Kelly, who initially doubts their validity until tampering with his instruments is uncovered. Steed observes workers transporting dry ice and overhears artificial rainfall noises emanating from a locked room filled with ice. When Steed probes further, distillery personnel forcibly eject him.
After identifying meteorologist Kelly, Dr. Sturm’s men drown him and send agents to lure Mrs Peel back to the distillery. She is captured, held at gunpoint inside Jonah's barn, then moved for interrogation using a sophisticated wine press apparatus. Jonah persuades a distillery foreman to abandon sabotage efforts against his ark, nearly resulting in fatal consequences.
Steed teams up with Jonah to locate a concealed manhole leading underground where they find Kelly’s corpse and overhear Dr. Sturm outlining plans to market his rainmaking invention as a weapon of war—a "great flood" with destructive power akin to that of an atomic bomb. They infiltrate the distillery through ventilation shafts, rescue Mrs Peel, and confront workers operating a rain simulation chamber. In a final act to protect his secret, Dr. Sturm detonates his machine, killing himself in the explosion.
Cast
- Patrick Macnee as John Steed
- Diana Rigg as Emma Peel
- Noel Purcell as Jonah Barnard
- Albert Lieven as Dr. Sturm
- Sue Lloyd as Joyce Jason
- Talfryn Thomas as Eli Barker
- John Kidd as Sir Arnold Kelly
- Geoffrey Palmer as Martin Smythe
Production
Filming took place from 30 April through 11 May 1965. Notably, the 1998 film The Avengers also centers around a device capable of manipulating weather phenomena.