"Dr Goosewing and Mr. Duck"

By Robert Louis Starlingson.

Season 2 episode 22 (episode 22 overall)
Original broadcast date: 14 February 1989

Writer: Jimmy Hibbert
Additional voices: Dr. Von Goosewing:
                              Jimmy Hibbert
                              Towzer: David Jason
Joke Credit: Make up - M.A. Scara
                           
Castle transport visual not used.

Von Goosewing accidentally discovers that his new carpet cleaner fluid has some bizarre side-effects when drunk.

This one just oozes with unsettling atmosphere and the true horror comes from the personality flipping. There's something genuinely creepy about seeing the main cast act in a totally contrary manner to what the audience has by this time come to expect. The only exception is Nanny becoming super intelligent, which is downright hilarious, especially to regular viewers. Seeing different combinations of characters acting in and out of character and playing off each other makes for good viewing and brainstorming sessions too. Also of note is that this one is another fine example of an episode that needs no castle travelling or exotic locales for the action to happen. There aren't even any additional characters, streamlining the interactions down to a bare minimum, to great effect. Apart from the opening scene, all the action takes place in, or just outside, Castle Duckula. But even the opening takes place on Von Goosewing's airship so this is another familiar stage anyway. A perfect example of a 'bottle episode' and I mean that in a positive way. I just realised that's a good pun given what happens, re. the milk. Go me.

It starts off, unusually, not with Duckula and co., but with Von Goosewing; traversing the rainy skies in his airship while singing. He seems in a good mood until he spies the castle, whereupon he of course launches into a typical tirade of sworn vengeance. He tries to calm himself down with a coffee but misses and ends up downing some own brand carpet shampoo instead which instantly transforms him into a vampire! Oh the irony. It's hammy, of course, but it's still incredibly creepy, especially the way his beak gibbers as he calls for Heinrich so he can prey on him. Good thing Heinrich isn't there/real. Jimmy Hibbert manages to make his character's usually silly, jolly voice sound downright sinister to match the visuals. The only comfort for the poor doctor is that at least no-one was there to witness this, other than the viewer. This is also a good way to demonstrate that although he is certainly an antagonist to Duckula, Goosewing is not actually a villain. So having him change into the very thing he hates so much has quite a powerful sympathetic effect.

Meanwhile it's breakfast time at the castle and Duckula is listing off a bunch of tasty (and meat-free) meal choices to start his day. Nanny's making porridge though and the way she says it is like a blobby full stop to Duckula's tasty list. Heading for the fridge to get some milk, he inexplicably encounters Igor actually in the fridge, proffering a sachet of blood. Got to admire his determination, that man. Maybe he wants to be a cereal mascot - or whatever the opposite of a cereal mascot is. Anyone for some Count Chocula?

Back on the airship, the potion has mercifully worn off, leaving Goosewing not only with a case of hangover's guilt but also with a decent idea. By his thinking, if he can trick Duckula into imbibing said potion, he should become a non-wampire and will be more vulnerable to capture. This raises the moral question of whether it's OK to trap someone who is not - at least currently - a monster. Similar to the idea of someone who knows they are a werewolf and wants to lock themself away before the next full moon, but in such an instance, they at least are still in control of the decision. Of course this plan goes backwards in any case as we'll soon see.

VG decides to slip the potion into the morning milk delivery. I like how he assumes that an evil vampire will still enjoy a nice coffee, just like him. What he doesn't bargain on is that everyone else will end up having some of the tainted milk too. Firstly, Duckula pours it on his muesli (I have this show to blame/thank for my obsession with that Swiss stuff..."It's yummy!") and soon transforms just like Goosewing did. Being a harmless vampire, his transformation is more of less the same as Goosewing's, only, being a vampire already, he looks a lot less feral. He becomes a vicious, abrasive monster and immediately wants his blood intake. Igor is at first delighted at this turn of events but also seems to cower in fear a few times too. Does Igor's longing for the old days also include a desire for masochism or is he simply out of practise? Cringe, fawn, milord. Deciding to wait until the sun has gone down, Duckula retires to a coffin, which will puzzle him later on. Igor manages to avoid allowing Duckula a 'quick nibble' of his neck, which could have been interesting as it may have "turned" Igor as well. Perhaps his aversion to that idea is equal parts impropriety as it is cowardice. Much though Igor admires the vampire, he doesn't want to be one himself, as his station is below and he's happy with that.

Nonetheless he seems bucked up enough to enjoy a nice cup of tea with Nanny over the whole thing, though Nanny thinks it's a little odd that her Duckyboos has decided to go for a nap straight after breakfast. Milk goes in the tea and this is where the potion starts having funny haha effects as well as funny peculiar. Now we learn that the potion simply reverses peoples' dominant personality traits. Igor's transformation makes him very sweet and charitable and Jack May's performance alters his voice to match. Igor lists a load of good deeds he must perform in order to feel fulfilled. It's so overly nice it's hilarious. Nanny gets even more suspicious. She may be dim, but she knows something's up. As much as she likes Mr. Igor (almost as much as Duckyboos) she knows this is very atypical behaviour for him. We close this scene with Nanny sipping her tea, so we know something else fishy will soon rear up...

Soon, Goosewing encounters Igor outside the castle. At first he is fearful of him, but Igor shows he's no threat in his current state and quickly makes friends with Goosewing, which makes the doctor a little uncomfortable at first! It's interesting to note that Igor's inherent respect for the hunter is still evident in his 'nice' form, something which has surfaced a few times in other episodes. VG eventually puts two and two together and they decide to both slay Duckula; them two together. Goosewing is, of course in his usual "battle cry, stake 'em now" way of thinking, but Igor takes the more philosophical approach of viewing what they have to do as being a kindly necessity.

Igor: Ah Doctor, dear Doctor! Remember, there must be no vindictiveness. We do what we must do, out of love.
Goosewing: Oh! Of course. Love. Boy that stuff really got to him good. Prepare to breathe your last, you fiend!

Next, the determined duo encounter Duckula as his hangover kicks in (vampirism will do that I guess) and inform him of their intentions. It's darkly comic and more than a little creepy hearing nice Igor describe how he and Goosewing are going to kill him. Just think about that from Duckula's perspective. That'd be like your dad teaming up with the school bully to give you a hiding! This also marks one of the closest times VG has gotten to achieving his goal and his teaming up with Igor is something that gets revisited in "Arctic Circles." Makes me wish they'd done it a few more times, as they make an effective if unlikely team. Igor's lines are chilling and spooky in spite of his apparent good intentions. The Count resists of course - who wouldn't? - and the chase is on. Tense scene, though VG's funny encouragement helps.

Goosewing: That's the shtuff Igor baby! Give it to him good!

Luckily the Count finds protection in the form of Nanny who, thanks to the potion, is now in possession of both brains and brawn. Hearing her use about two dozen posh words where two single ones would do is a wonderfully funny bit of acting by Brian Trueman. The voice just makes the highbrow dialogue even more amusing and it's fun to try and translate them into regular 'Nanny-ese.' For example:

Nanny: Lay so much as one digit upon this young duck and I warrant you the consequences to your physiognomy and constitution will be dire in the extreme!

Translation: Leave my Duckyboos alone or I'll smack your legs!

Igor finally loses his composure, but before he can put and to end the Duckula line and put himself at the end of the unemployment line, the potion wears off for him too. Goosewing, being the only one to even know of the potion's existence, quickly excuses himself and bolts out of the castle and off the mountaintop. It is Igor's turn to feel ashamed and also startled by Nanny's recently acquired intelligence. He enjoys some philosophical discourse with her over the kitchen table although he seems a little out of his depth, but not as much as Duckula is! It's not forever though as now it's Nanny's turn to get back to normal. Status quo is restored and all is back as it should be except that now Towzer's been at the milk and...tries to hump Nanny's leg or something whilst suddenly gaining a romantic French accent from David Jason. All of this is tactfully kept offscreen, which is just as well since we're not allowed to see Towzer anyway!

Really good episode all round, for all the reasons I detailed at the start. It's one that elicts a lot of interesting ideas regarding the relationships between the characters, even if you don't take into account the Jekyll and Hyde motif. Animation is an interesting and impressive view too as we see characters acting..well...out of character. Props to the home team for that. Vampiric Goosewing is monstrously feral and 'properly' vampiric Duckula seems like we're getting a glimpse back in time. Also worthy of note is the intricate detail on the steam effects for the liquid and the striking black and white pencil drawings using to simulate thunder and lightening just after Duckula transforms. The 'takes' are fun to watch too. The music is a good heaping of classic Universal/Hammer Horror style stuff, most of which I have in my library, but cannot find online versions of. Backgrounds are the usual high standard stuff, and with a limited field of play, this adds to the slightly claustrophobic nature of the character interactions. The castle can seem a small place when someone's out to get you.


 
Music
"Finders Creepers" (Paddy Kingsland) - Goosewing spikes the milk.
"Turkey Trot" (John Longmire) "Spindlelegs" (King Palmer) - In the kitchen. A filter is used over these to simulate radio music.

"Frenzy" (Tim Souster) - Goosewing and Igor turn.

"Frenzy" (Not the same frenzy evidently)(Tim Souster) - Duckula turns.

"Frenz
"Omen" (Jack Trombey) - Igor and Goosewing confront Duckula.

"Torment" (Tim Souster) - Duckula runs away.
"On the Humorous Side" (Ivor Slaney) - Nanny and Igor talk philosophy.
"Barrage" (Jack Trombey) - Close.

Unsure what the music cues are when Goosewing transforms and when he and Igor confront and then try to slay Duckula, but I do have full versions of all of them if anyone wants them. I obtained them on a copy of a CD from a work colleague many years ago and have had great trouble locating online versions of them ever since. Lucky me! As usual, if my mystery contributor can locate them, they will be added in. Hosting them offsite gets them instantly removed. The harpsichord cue shows up again when Igor returns to normal.

UPDATED - Sme more music located,

Pans and Backgrounds
No pans this time, except views through Goosewing's airship near the start which are too full of movement and levels to reconstruct. Backgrounds are otherwise mostly static, which adds to the stage-play feel of this one.

See the trivia section for the lineart of the bottom left background.

Trivia

Cels of Von Goosewing from the 'coffee' scene.

• Another episode with the word 'duck' in the title. Also one of two with Goosewing's name in it, the other being "Dr. Von Goosewing's Invisible Ray"
• Episode does not open with a scream, but with Goosewing singing. Ends with the 'strange disturbing sounds' of Towzer wooing Nanny.

• 

  Used in the scene where Igor leads Duckula to the door. Also used in "Astro Duck".
  
  

  Rare episode that does not open on a scene with Duckula, Igor or Nanny. Goosewing leads us in.
• It should come as no surprise to horror aficionados, that the basic premise of this episode is loosely inspired by "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson. The title is the most direct reference.
• The narrator does the alliterative thing this week when describing the bad weather. "Whipped by the woeful wind, rinsed by the rancid rain, threatened by the thudding thunder." Duckula himself does it nearer the end with "Loopy, loony, loco and look out here comes Igor!" Narrator ends with "safety, security and sanity."
  
• Another appearance of Von Goosewing's dirigible.
  
• In further evidence of the good doctor's musical tastes; he is singing Beethoven's 5th Symphony to himself "Oh Ludwig you beauty!" 
• The strong visual of VG looking out his window is used twice. Once in his normal form and once in his evil form.
• VG curses: "Tannhäuser und Lohingrin!" (Richard Wagner opera)
  "Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen!"(principality in southwestern Germany from 1576–1850)
• VG inventions "Mein Dr. Von Goosewing Patent Carpet Shampooing Cleaner und Spot Remover." Weapon of choice, stake and hammer. Although ironically it is Igor who wields these this time.
• Another reference to Heinrich. Goosewing wants to suck his blood!
• The blood Igor offers for breakfast is group AB.
• The muesli is called "Swiss Stuff."
• When Nanny says spoon she holds up a fork. This IS Nanny however.
• A can of Vim can be spotted in the kitchen.
• Igor says almost the same "you've just made an old retainer very happy" phrase as he does in "The Mutinous Penguins" except he uses the word flunkey there.
• Duckula makes mention of crumbling into 2,000 year old dust, just as the Innkeeper does in "Dear Diary."
• Nanny makes mention of writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe. She even gets in a bit of German (not Gooeswing for once) by quoting him: "Ein unnutz Leben ist ein fruher Tod" which translates as "a useless life is an early death." She also references German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel before reverting to her usual dopey form.
• Nanny and Duckula make a you're back!/my back joke like Danger Mouse and Penfold do in "Public Enemy Number One." 
• Another reference to the pet werewolf. We cut away from the mention, so Duckula's reaction is not seen. Presumably Igor had to do a bit of fast-talking there.
• The joke credit is a pun on mascara. This fits with the appearance-changing nature of the story.
• This episode was released on VHS in 1988 along with "A Fright at the Opera" and "Hunchbudgie of Notre Dame."
  
  Goofs and Nitpicks
• Did Igor replace the front door after Nanny broke it? 
• Has Duckula tucked his cape into his pants near the end? He doesn't have pants.