The genesis of this story lay with the Cleveland child abuse scandal and the Orkney child abuse scandal of the late 1980s and early 90s.
Children were taken away from their homes, some in the middle of the night with evidence of satanic ritual abuse. Social workers would ask children leading questions and even make suggestions of devil worship.
Given the seriousness of the allegations in this episode. The usual Rumpole formula of bonhomie does not seem to be entirely in keeping with the main part of the story. It also does not help that a thin plot is being stretched out.
8 year old Tracy Timson has been taken away by social services, mainly as she was playing in the schoolyard with a devil's mask on. The social worker interviewed fellow pupil Dominic Molloy who seemed to have landed Tracy in it.
The social worker is unaware that the Timson's and the Molloy's are rival crime families in the manor. Dominic might just have an axe to grind.
As Rumpole always act for the Timson clan, he represents the parents in the family proceedings court. His former pupil Liz Probert represents the social services department.
The first issue was the strongly Christian Samuel Ballard QC objecting to Rumpole taking on a satanic abuse case. Even threatening to Rumpole's tenancy of the chambers. Ballard does not seem to consider the interest of the child or the justice system.
Liz Probert seemed to be unaware that the Timson's are Rumpole's regulars.
Liz also had no issues when the social worker's evidence seemed to be hearsay and information gleaned from leading questions. That is until the shoe is on the other foot.
Maybe this reflected the real life cases, where the magistrates might have unquestionably believed such evidence.
Of course Rumpole is unhappy with such conduct and realises that someone is after the Timson family. Also the Timson's have not helped themselves with a recent robbery of a fancy dress shop.
There just didn not seem to be enough story here. So you have Rumpole learning to dance, so he can dance with Hilda at The Scales of Justice ball. Hilda thinks he might be having an affair.
Also some oily commercial junior plans to move into Rumpole's office in connivance with Ballard.
