The Saint on TV

Episode 62: The Happy Suicide

"THE HAPPY SUICIDE"

The face behind a public image is sometimes quite unlike the one that smiles
at his fans, and in "THE HAPPY SUICIDE", a popular entertainer is shown in a
very different light to the figure beaming from television screens.

This guest-starring role is played by John Bluthal who, in his private life,
is a thoroughly likeable fellow and not Jekyll and Hyde - just as, equally
certainly, the Roger Moore viewers have come to love is very much the real
Roger Moore.

Other outstanding players in the cast include William Sylvester, Jerry
Stoving, Jane Merrow, William Dexter and Donald Sutherland, with the popular
vocalist Annie Ross making a guest appearance as a singer.

An entertainer's public image doesn't always tally with his real
personality, and it certainly doesn't in the case of Ziggy Zaglan (JOHN
BLUTHAL). He is a television favourite with millions throughout America. His
over-sentimental friendliness may sicken some but throughout the length and
breadth of the United Sates he is held in great affection - by those who
have never met him, however; not by those who know him, and these include
Ralph Damian (WILLIAM SYLVESTER) who is his producer, his agent Ted Coblin
(JERRY STOVIN), his chic and dazzling personal assistant Lois Norry (JANE
MERROR) and his adopted brother Paul (WILLIAM DEXTER). They know him for
what he is: small-minded, vicious, thoroughly detestable. But he is their
meal ticket - a very rich meal ticket indeed.

Simon Templar, the Saint (ROGER MOORE), joins the group of people who can't
stand the sight of him, though he has never had the doubtful pleasure of
meeting him personally. It is enough for Simon to have seen him on
television, and his only reason for watching him is because Ziggy wants him
to do a guest spot on his show. The Saint refuses, but finds it less easy to
reject the offer when the attractive Lois is sent along to persuade him,
with the threat of the sack if she fails.

The Saint's interest in Ziggy takes a dramatic turn when Paul Zaglan resigns
from his job as Ziggy's scriptwriter. Since the death of Ziggy's mother,
Paul no longer feels that he has to keep his promise to her to look after
her son. Besides, he has just been offered a film writing contract and he is
also planning to write a book telling the truth about Ziggy.

Paul is really happy for the first time in years, but his happiness is short
lived. He is found hanged. And the Saint comes across incriminating evidence
against an artist named McCleery (DONALD SUTHERLAND) who, hearing of Paul's
plan to write the truth about Ziggy, pleaded with him not to write anything
about his sister, Arlene McCleery. He didn't want her name dragged through
the mud, and he knew, as Paul had always known, the Ziggy was responsible
for her death. The two men quarrelled and fought.

It is generally accepted by the police and most people, that Paul has
committed suicide. The Saint is convinced that he was murdered, but not so
convinced that McCleery is the killer.

Three men have every reason to fear publication of Paul's book. It could
smash Ziggy's career, and in doing so smash the livelihoods of both Damian
and Coblin.

It could be any of the three .... but which? And when the police come to the
conclusion that it was murder, and not suicide, and arrest McCleery, the
Saint has to move fast.



PRODUCED BY ROBERT S. BAKER and MONTY BERMAN
DIRECTED BY ROBERT TRONSON
SCRIPT SUPERVISION HARRY W. JUNKIN
ROGER MOORE SIMON TEMPLAR
JANE MERROW LOIS NORROY
JOHN BLUTHAL ZIGGY ZAGLAN
WILLIAM SYLVESTER RALPH DAMIAN
JERRY STOVIN TED COBLIN
WILLIAM DEXTER PAUL ZAGLAN
DONALD SUTHERLAND McCLEERY
FRED SADOFF CAPT. WILLIAMS
MAVIS VILLIERS TEXAS MOTHER
KEVIN BRENNAN JACK GILL
and ANNIE ROSS