The Saint on TV

Episode 39: Sophia

"SOPHIA"

The Saint takes a holiday in a Greek village, but takes time out of his
sight-seeing to settle accounts with an Americanised crook who is
threatening the peace of the inhabitants.

Simon Templar, the Saint (ROGER MOORE), never has to seek excitement. It
lies in wait for him wherever he goes, as he discovers once again when
taking a holiday in Greece. An old friend, archaeologist Professor Grant
(JOHN WENTWORTH), persuades him to visit the village of Kyros, where he is
carrying out excavations.

Nothing could be more peaceful. The hotel is shabby but comfortable, run by
the easy-going Stavros (TOMMY DUGGAN) and his lovely young daughter Sophia
(IMOGEN HASSALL). The only note of disharmony appears to the Sophia's
disapproval of the way her father lets his friends have drinks "on the
house" - an uneconomic method of carrying out business which not only makes
it impossible to spend money on necessary renovation of the hotel but makes
the old man's dreams of buying land for a vineyard more remote than ever.

But when Stavros' nephew, Aristides (OLIVER REED), returns from America, the
outlook becomes brighter. Aristides has made a fortune in the States - or so
he says, although he shows no signs of returning money owing to his uncle.
He is, in fact, a crook, as the Saint soon shrewdly realises. True, he has
money - stolen money, which the man he has doubled-crossed, Joe Martin (HAL
GALLILI), would very much like to get his hands on.

Aristides soon makes a play for his attractive cousin. He is also unable to
resist the temptation to try to steal a valuable solid gold statuette
unearthed by the Professor, a plan which the Saint spoils and turns to his
own advantage.

Yet Aristides, though quite unintentionally does make it possible for his
uncle's dreams to come true, for Sophia and her boy-friend Niko (PETER
KRISS) to get married and for happiness to settle on the village - thanks
entirely to a plot on the part of the Saint, with the help of Sophia and the
Professor.

The Saint is an adept at the biter-bit technique, and the last that is seen
of Aristides is when he is making a desperate get-away with villagers bent
on hanging him with Joe Martin, intent on revenge, in hot pursuit.



CAST

Starring

ROGER MOORE as SIMON TEMPLAR
WITH
OLIVER REED as ARISTIDES
IMOGEN HASSALL as SOPHIA
PETER KRISS as NIKO
TOMMY DUGGAN as STAVROS
JOHN WENTWORTH as PROFESSOR GRANT
AND
HAL GALLILI as JOE MARTIN
WOLFE MORRIS as GORGO
ANDREAS MALANDRINOS as 1ST VILLAGER
TONY ARPINO as 2ND VILLAGER
DONNA PEARSON as AMERICAN TOURIST
RAYMOND RAY as PHOTOGRAPHER

Produced by Robert S Baker and Monty Berman
Directed by Roger Moore
Screenplay by Robert Stewart