Secret Adventures of Jules Verne
Show Synopsis
The series goes on the assumption that perhaps Jules Verne actually wrote his
books based on experiences from his younger days as a student in Paris. That
his characters were based on people he met and knew. It is highly suggested
that you read the individual character synopsis before continuing.
"In The Beginning" - was the first episode and it introduced our four main
characters as well as several recurring characters. The episode starts with the
death of Sir Bonafice Fogg. Upon his death - since Phileas Fogg was no longer
in the Service - the directorship of the Secret Service passed on to Bonafice's
second-in-command, Sir Jonathan Chatsworth (see recurring characters).
Chatsworth moves into his new command immediately and sends Rebecca out on a
boring,
routine mission - to find a piece of stolen equipment and a missing instructor
from the Sorbonne University in Paris. It is at the Sorbonne that we are
introduced to young Jules Verne, a student and visionary. Verne's visions of
the future have come to the attention of some inscrutable people at the
university (including the above missing instructor) and in a group calling
themselves the League of Darkness (see recurring characters). The young
student is kidnapped and tortured into revealing his secrets. Fortunately for
him, Rebecca's assignment is connected to the League of Darkness and she manages
to foil the attempt, saving his life without ever knowing it.
Phileas on the other hand, gets himself involved in what starts out as a
friendly game of cards with an old friend after his father's funeral. But as
the night and subsequent days pass and he continues to drink, he chucks it all
in and puts up the family home - Shillingworth Magna. His friend, a rich Baron,
agrees to the wager and bets his home - a dirigible he calls the Aurora and his
valet Passepartout, the only man who knows how to drive it. Phileas ends up
winning and the Baron leaves - only we find out that the game had been a clever
ploy by the Queen to keep Phileas in the "game" should she ever have to call on
him in a time of national need.
"Queen Victoria and the Giant Mole" was the second episode and the one that
brings our four main characters together. A drawing which Jules Verne called
the Mole - a small device that burrowed underground like a mole and which he had
designed possibly for the agricultural field - is stolen by the League of
Darkness. The design was enlarged to accommodate several men and was going to
be used in a plot to kidnap the Queen of England.
Fortunately the British Secret Service get wind of the plan although they assume
the League plans to kill the Queen. They also believe that Jules is the
mastermind behind the plan since it was his drawing. This is where the Foggs
and Passepartout meet Verne for the first time and come to find out he is not
the mastermind. In fact he helps them save the Queen and a friendship ensues.
The Aurora - is the name of Phileas's dirigible. Although Phileas has a home in
London and one in the country (Shillingworth Magna is the family's estate) - he
prefers to spend most of his time at the Aurora. The group usually use the
Aurora to travel. It has four bedrooms, a kitchen, workshop, observation room,
parlor, office, and upper balcony.
Sir Jonathan Chattsworth - now the head of the British Secret Service since
Bonafice's death. He is a weasly little man who hates Phileas because it is
quite obvious the younger Fogg would have made an excellent head had he stayed
in the Service - much better than he. He often uses Rebecca to get back at
Phileas by placing her in very dangerous situations.
Queen Victoria - actually the Queen of England throughout the 1800's where the
series takes place. Present year is 1861.
Count Gregory - was a count in the 1500's. He was captured by some peasants
whom he had
been terrorizing and killed - he was tied to four horses by the arms and legs
and actually pulled apart. (Note: this is a true story) He was found by some
monks before he died and sorta put together by machines. This procedure
basically turns the Count from a nasty man into an evil one. He has visions of
grandeur and wishes to take over the world - which he has been trying to do
since the 1500's. He keeps trying to turn Verne to his cause by luring him with
all sorts of stuff. He hates Phileas because every time he gets his hands on
Verne, Phileas shows up to save him and botches his current plans.
The League of Darkness - is Count Gregory's band of evil men. Most of them are
just hired thugs. Although it is rumored that there are some very powerful and
highly-placed men involved. The group has no want of money or manpower - they
have all they need. They have groups in every country working to do evil. The
Count's lovely monk descendents have also developed a device that is inserted
into the skull by which the Count can communicate with his men at all times. He
uses the devices only on the thugs as doing so pretty much turns them into weak-
willed zombie puppets.
(
geocities.com/lady_of_sherwood)