The Ballad of Peckham Rye - post IV

In the end it was perhaps inevitable that the kettle would boil over and Dougal would have to leave Peckham. The first sign that things are coming to a head start with a reference in passing to the head of personnel having a breakdown.

Those trying to bring Dougal down, led by Trevor, steal his cryptic notepads and then are given the impression the arts man works for the police. Far from endearing him to the local community this seems to confirm a reason to have a prejudice against him.

Spark then delivers a rapid series of blows that end with Dougal running from Peckham. In an incredibly understated scene Mr Druce kills his mistress after Trevor has told him that she is seeing Dougal a couple of nights a week. Back in his digs Dougal discovers his landlady has suffered a stroke and he packs his bags and heads for the station. He manages to have a fight with Trevor on the way and then head off into the distance.

His role seems to be transformational but ultimately he provokes a reaction and brings out feelings that are already there of jealousy, despair and anger. He might be a devil, with his apparent horns, but the ultimate evil resides in the people of Peckham. Dougal is only the blue torch paper.

A review will follow soon…