Nurse Will Make It Better - Series 4 Episode 2, Saturday 11th January 1975 (ITC movie title "The Devil's Web")

The story... 

Charley Harrow - daughter of an American diplomat - is left paralyzed from the waist down after a riding accident, Charley finds it very difficult to cope with her condition and her depression and violent outbursts make her unmanageable for the nurses brought in to care for her. That is until the arrival of Bessie Morne who somehow connects with Charley, lifts her mood and gives her hope. Amazingly one day - and seemingly thanks to Bessie - Charley is able to walk again. A miracle cure - but one that comes with a devastating price...

Diana Dors as Bessie

Review

A great episode, certainly the best of Series 4 for me. While this may not be cited as an ultimate favourite as often as other supernatural outings such as Someone at the Top of the Stairs or One Deadly Owner it also doesn't attract critics in the way those episode sometimes do. It has some minor limitations but it does very little wrong and deserves its fine reputation.

Witchcraft had been previously covered in Spell of Evil but the results were less than outstanding. This is far better in all regards - story, characters, performances and direction. Maybe it is the tale of evil inveigling itself into a family which makes such an impact. The Harrows are happy and prosperous and then Charley suffers her terrible accident. Unsurprisingly she becomes upset, bitter and almost unmanageable. Into this transformed situation comes Bessie. Her warmth and kindness are evident. She does not get ruffled by her new charge and starts to make progress but the viewer can tell that all is not well and Charley's sister Ruth is alive to trouble. Against seemingly impossible odds Bessie works wonders - with a little help from down below. The price to be paid for Charley's miracle cure will be immense.

Ruth & Suzy Harrow look up in amazement as their sister Charley stands at the top of the stairs. Their father & Carson are also astounded.

This is a very dark and disconcerting tale. Bessie's mild-mannered personality makes her evil-doing all the more unsettling. At no point does she get angry or raise her voice. Even under challenge she responds in a taunting and utterly confident manner. Charley is a headstrong character even before her accident and she provides ready material for Bessie who transforms her into something very deceitful and destructive. 

Edgar Harrow provides a familiar role as a sceptic, failing to see Bessie's Satanic work until it is almost too late. Security man Carson initially has a similar position but very soon he starts to sense all is not well. Ruth, however, in true heroine mode (and typically for an American guest star!) is alert to danger right from the start and she proves to be a formidable opponent for Bessie. 

The character of the drunken priest Lyle is maybe surprisingly absent for the great majority of the episode, particularly given Patrick Troughton's profile as an actor. Aside from the teaser and two brief wordless scenes he does not appear until the final ten minutes. Carson and Simon are two more fine characters while the briefly seen Fullers (especially the wicked Mrs. Fuller) are memorable. The only let-down is Suzy who is a little annoying, unaided by a hideous bubble perm. These characters still need strong performances and they get them. Diana Dors is marvellous and shows that behind her celebrity image lay a very capable and under-rated actress. Undoubtedly she is the chief reason for the episode's high reputation. Andrea Marcovicci is one of the best American guests and plays the heroine part beautifully. Ed Bishop, Patrick Troughton and Michael Culver are all very impressive. Ed was restricted to guest appearances after UFO but his display here shows his great ability which deserved starring parts. Although Linda Liles's legs seem to move more as the paralysed Charley than any able-bodied character - and her American accent is almost non-existent - she is still in fine form. The direction is excellent, with the spells and scenes when Bessie's book and box are examined especially unnerving. Astutely we never know the contents - the looks of horror say it all.

The climax is generally good - like that in Spell of Evil it is not wholly convincing due to limitations in special effects but it's still better done than in the earlier episode. Earlier on the off-screen killing of Carson's dog Porter is rather unpleasant. It is intended to signify the evil spirit brought into the house (& that the dog - unlike most of its human counterparts - senses something wrong with Bessie) but it would have been best avoided and is maybe the only real fault.  Despite this though, one of the very best and most memorable stories.

Notes

It's been speculated that the name "Simon Burns" may well be a pun on the theme of fire in this story. It may even be a hint of the possible fate for him if Bessie is not thwarted. Most likely it is sheer coincidence but an example of how the show opens up such readings to viewers. Burns was a surname used very frequently in Thriller and Brian Clemens said he often picked names simply because they were earlier to type (!) than for any narrative reason although it's not impossible he may have felt it an appropriate story to use it again.

In common with Spell of Evil this is one of the small number of Thriller episodes not to feature either a police officer or private detective. The security man Carson does handle some of the investigations and protection duties that an officer might have done but against a supernatural threat the characters realise that they need help rather different than conventional law enforcement.

Patrick Troughton contends with David de Keyser in Someone at the Top of the Stairs and Ralph Bates in Murder Motel (Series 5) for the star character in Thriller who appeared for the least screen time although unlike those characters he did feature at both the beginning and end of the episode.