History Recap / BlackadderS3E3NobAndNobility

** Mrs. Miggins, George, and pretty much everyone else, (other than Blackadder), thinks this.

Edmund and Baldrick escape with Frou Frou, go to the palace and relate a completely made-up story of rescue to the Prince, who, needless to say, is impressed. But Edmund's triumph doesn't last long; Frou Frou reveals himself to be Topper in disguise, and reveals that HE is the Scarlet Pimpernel, a role he shares with Smedley who has mysteriously disappeared. But before Edmund's ruse can be revealed, he remembers he has one more suicide pill ... which he puts in Topper's wine, thus killing the Scarlet Pimpernel ''and'' his sidekick. Prince George thinks it's a shame that the Pimpernel is dead, as has an envelope full of money to give him. Edmund cuts in and says that Topper was actually NOT the Scarlet Pimpernel, as the true Scarlet Pimpernel would be someone who denied his identity, and when asked "Are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" would reply "Absolutely not." Having revealed himself to be the Pimpernel, Topper had (according to Blackadder) done the one thing the Pimpernel would never do — ergo, Topper wasn't the Pimpernel. "Blackadder, are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" George asks. "Absolutely ''not'', sir." Edmund replies, happily accepting the money.

** At the beginning, Mrs. Miggins outlines her products, one of which is a sausage that is in fact a horse's willy. When she identifies the le Comte to Blackadder, she points out he's so down on his luck he's made said item of food last all morning. This turns out to be because he's wondering if the suspicious-looking sausage he's been served is actually a horse's willy.

Scarlet Pimpernel Fever has swept London. Everyone thinks he's so brave for rescuing French aristocrats. Edmund, of course, is simply annoyed, and when he can't take it any more after encountering Topper and Smedley (two upper-class twits who hang out with the Prince), he bets that he could go to France to rescue an aristocrat. George gives him a wonderful send off, but as we all can guess, Edmund has no intention of going to France; he's just going to find one of the refugee Frenchmen, and get him to PRETEND he's been rescued.

They find a suitable aristocrat, le Comte de Frou Frou, but when they go to the French Embassy they are captured by an evil revolutionary who has just killed the ambassador and taken over and plans to have them tortured by Madame Guillotine herself. Frou Frou gives them suicide pills, but before he can take them, he is removed for torture. Edmund, armed with the suicide pills, slips one into the Madame Guillotine's drink, who then reveals herself as Smedley, who is assistant to the Scarlet Pimpernel! But he's already consumed the suicide pill, and after a prolonged death scene, he dies.

Edmund and Baldrick escape with the Frou Frou, and relate a completely made-up story of rescue to the Prince, who, needless to say, is impressed. But Edmund's triumph doesn't last long; Frou Frou reveals himself to be Topper in disguise, and reveals that HE is the Scarlet Pimpernel, and operated with Smedley's help. But before Edmund's ruse can be revealed, he remembers he has one more suicide pill ... which he puts in Topper's wine, thus killing the Scarlet Pimpernel ''and'' his sidekick. Prince George thinks it's a shame that the Pimpernel is dead, as has an envelope full of money to give him. Edmund cuts in and says that Topper was actually NOT the Scarlet Pimpernel, as the true Scarlet Pimpernel would be someone who denied his identity, and when asked "Are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" would reply "Absolutely not." Having revealed himself to be the Pimpernel, Topper had (according to Blackadder) done the one thing the Pimpernel would never do — ergo, Topper wasn't the Pimpernel. "Blackadder, are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" George asks. "Absolutely ''not'', sir." Edmund replies, happily accepting the money.

* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: Played with at the end, when after inadvertently killing the Scarlet Pimpernel and his aide, upon learning George was planning on rewarding the Pimpernel with a lot of money, claims that if the Pimpernel were to be asked if he was indeed the Pimpernel, he would say that he isn't. An astonished George asks Edmund if he is the Scarlet Pimpernel, Edmund smirks and replies with "Absolutely ''not'', sir."

* VillainRespect: Flat-out defied; having poisoned Smedley, Blackadder remarks that hd can't have been as good as everyone thinks the Pimpernel is because he lfailed to spot that he had been given wine with a suicide pill in it. Subsequently, Blackadder disposes of Topper in the same way when the latter reveals himself to be the Pimpernel.

* VillainRespect: Flat-out defied; having murdered both the Scarlet Pimpernel and his assistsnt, Blackadder remarks that they can't have been as good as everyone thinks because they both failed to spot that they were given wine laced with suicide pills.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Blackadder hadn't actually ''meant'' to kill Smedley. He thought he was just killing a crazed Frenchwoman planning on torturing him and Baldrick to death.

Edmund and Baldrick escape with the Frou Frou, and relate a completely made-up story of rescue to the Prince, who, needless to say, is impressed. But Edmund's triumph doesn't last long; Frou Frou reveals himself to be Topper in disguise, and reveals that HE is the Scarlet Pimpernel, and operated with Smedley’s help. But before Edmund's ruse can be revealed, he remembers he has one more suicide pill ... which he puts in Smedley's wine, thus killing the Scarlet Pimpernel ''and'' his sidekick. Prince George thinks it's a shame that the Pimpernel is dead, as has an envelope full of money to give him. Edmund cuts in and says that Topper was actually NOT the Scarlet Pimpernel (as the 'real' one would never have fallen for the suicide pill trick), and the true Scarlet Pimpernel would be someone who denied his identity, and when asked "Are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" would reply "Absolutely not." "Blackadder, are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" George asks. "Absolutely not." Edmund replies, happily accepting the money.

* ArtisticLicenceLinguistics: In French the word "adder" is not "adder" but "vipère" (fem.), so George should hail his servant as "la vipère noire".

** At the beginning, Mrs. Miggins outlines her products, one of which is the Huge, Suspicious Looking Sausage (which is actually a horse's willy). When she identifies the le Comte to Blackadder, she points out he's so down on his luck he's made his suspicious sausage last all morning, which turns out to be because he's wondering if it's really a horse's willy.

* TheChainOfHarm: This episode provide the page quote.

** Mrs. Miggins, George, and pretty much everyone else thinks this.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Blackadder hadn't actually ''meant'' to kill Topper. He thought he was just killing a crazed Frenchwoman planning on torturing him and Baldrick to death.

* DisguisedInDrag: [Literature/TheScarletPimpernel]'s assistant disguises himself as Madame Guillotine, a female French TortureTechnician, in order to rescue Edmund and Baldrick from French revolutionaries. This ends badly for him as Blackadder poisons him before finding out that he's an ally.

Edmund and Baldrick escape with the Frou Frou, and relate a completely made-up story of rescue to the Prince, who, needless to say, is impressed. But Edmund's triumph doesn't last long; Frou Frou reveals himself to be Topper in disguise, and reveals that HE is the Scarlet Pimpernel, and operated with Smedley’s help. But before Edmund's ruse can be revealed, he remembers he has one more suicide pill ... which he puts in Smedley's wine, thus killing the Scarlet Pimpernel and his sidekick. Prince George thinks it's a shame that the Pimpernel is dead, as has an envelope full of money to give him. Edmund cuts in and says that Topper was actually NOT the Scarlet Pimpernel (as the 'real' one would never have fallen for the suicide pill trick), and the true Scarlet Pimpernel would be someone who denied his identity, and when asked "Are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" would reply "Absolutely not." "Blackadder, are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" George asks. "Absolutely not." Edmund replies, happily accepting the money.

* ArtisticLicenceLinguistics: In French the word "adder" is not "adder" but "vipère", so George should hail his servant as "la vipère noire".

** At the beginning, Mrs. Miggins outlines her products, one of which is the Huge, Suspicious Looking Sausage (which is actually a horse's willy). When she identifies the le Comte to Blackadder, she points out he's so down on his luck he's made his suspicious sausage last all morning, which turns out to be because he's gathered it's really a horse's willy.

* DisguisedInDrag: Literature/TheScarletPimpernel ‘s assistant disguises himself as Madame Guillotine, a female French TortureTechnician, in order to rescue Edmund and Baldrick from French revolutionaries. This ends badly for him as Blackadder poisons him before finding out that he's an ally.

* TooDumbToLive: As Blackadder points out, the Scarlet Pimpernel’s aide falls for one of the oldest tricks in the book, being offered a poisoned drink and taking it without suspicion.

They find a suitable aristocrat, le Comte de Frou Frou, but when they go to the French Embassy they are captured by an evil revolutionary who has just killed the ambassador and taken over and plans to have them tortured by Madame Guillotine herself. Frou Frou gives them suicide pills, but before he can take them, he is removed for torture. Edmund, armed with the suicide pills, slips one into the Madame Guillotine's drink, who then reveals herself as Topper, who is the Scarlet Pimpernel! But he's already consumed the suicide pill, and after a prolonged death scene, he dies.

Edmund and Baldrick escape with the Frou Frou, and relate a completely made-up story of rescue to the Prince, who, needless to say, is impressed. But Edmund's triumph doesn't last long; Frou Frou reveals himself to be Smedley in disguise, and reveals that HE is also the Scarlet Pimpernel, the partner of Topper. But before Edmund's ruse can be revealed, he remembers he has one more suicide pill ... which he puts in Smedley's wine, thus killing ''both'' Scarlet Pimpernels. Prince George thinks it's a shame that the Pimpernel is dead, as has an envelope full of money to give him. Edmund cuts in and says that Topper and Smedley were actually NOT the Scarlet Pimpernel (as the 'real' one would never have fallen for the suicide pill trick), and the true Scarlet Pimpernel would be someone who denied his identity, and when asked "Are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" would reply "Absolutely not." "Blackadder, are you the Scarlet Pimpernel?" George asks. "Absolutely not." Edmund replies, happily accepting the money.

* DisguisedInDrag: Literature/TheScarletPimpernel disguises himself as Madame Guillotine, a female French TortureTechnician, in order to rescue Edmund and Baldrick from French revolutionaries. This ends badly for him as Blackadder poisons him before finding out that he's an ally.

** Topper and Smedley get awfully defensive when Blackadder makes fun of the Scarlet Pimpernel. It's later revealed that this is because they are him.

* RiddleForTheAges: What exactly Madame Guillotine (or rather, Topper disguised as Madame Guillotine) says to the revolutionary to make him flee the room.
* SequentialSymptomSyndrome: Topper takes a suicide pill and recites his own symptoms as he experiences them. Hilariously, he didn't realise that he had taken it, and was completely unaware of the symptoms, himself. It was probably the forgetfulness.
* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: Played with at the end, when after inadvertently killing both Scarlet Pimpernels, upon learning George was planning on rewarding the Pimpernel with a lot of money, claims that if the Pimpernel were to be asked if he was indeed the Pimpernel, he would say that he isn't. An astonished George asks Edmund if he is the Scarlet Pimpernel, Edmund smirks and replies with "Absolutely ''not'', sir."

* TooDumbToLive: As Blackadder points out, the Scarlet Pimpernel falls for one of the oldest tricks in the book, being offered a poisoned drink and taking it without suspicion.

* AnythingThatMoves: According to Edmund, any Frenchman would go to bed with the ''kitchen sink'' if it wore a tutu.

* RichIdiotWithNoDayJob: Topper and Smedley look like they are, but they're in fact the Scarlet Pimpernel.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* ObliviousToHisOwnDescription: Baldrick recounts how during his childhood, his family was haunted by a tiny, smelly, disgusting ghoul who would appear in their bed every night. Baldrick himself was the only one who could never see the creature. Blackadder quickly suspects that it must have disappeared the very day Baldrick left home, which Baldrick quickly confirms.

* ForeignQueasine: Mrs Miggins's take on French food involves serving everything with "Scarlet Pimernel sauce", which is made by squeezing a frog. Frou Frou regards the sausage with suspicion, as it looks just like a horse's willy (which, of course, it is).

* ArtisticLicenceLinguistics: In French the word "adder" is not "adder" but "vipère", so George should hail his servant as "la vipère noire"

* DisguisedInDrag: The [[Literature/TheScarletPimpernel Scarlet Pimpernel]] disguises himself as Madame Guillotine, a female French TortureTechnician, in order to rescue Edmund and Baldrick from French revolutionaries. This ends badly for him as Blackadder poisons him before finding out that he's an ally.

* EverythingsSexierInFrench: Mrs. Miggins, George, and pretty much everyone else thinks this.

-->'''Revolutionary:''' Ah'm French, and ah'm hung like a baby carrot and a couple of petite pois!

** Immediately after claiming to only speak a little English, "Le Compte de Frou-Frou" says "Don't ask me to take a physiology class or direct a light opera". This is the first hint that the Compte isn't quite who he claims he is...

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Topper and Smedley act like upper-class twits to hide their heroic nature.

* WholePlotReference: To ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel'', of course -- in which "that demmed, elusive Pimpernel" is a friend of the Prince Regent who hides behind the personal of an upper-class twit.

** Topper and Smedley get awfully defensive when Blackadder makes fun of the Scarlet Pimpernel. [[spoiler:Because they are him]].

* CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys: Edmund seems to have this view of the French.

* FridgeLogic: The Revolutionary claims he hates the English, he's murdered the French Ambassador, and he proclaims death to the aristocrats. One question: What the hell is he doing in the French Embassy in ''London''?

----

* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: Played with at the end, when after inadvertently killing both Scarlet Pimpernels, upon learning George was planning on granting the Pimpernel with a lot of money, claims that if asked if he was, the Pimpernel would claim that he isn't. An astonished George asks Edmund if he is the Scarlet Pimpernel, Edmund smirks and replies with "Absolutely ''not'', sir."

Scarlet Pimpernel Fever has swept London. Everyone thinks he's so brave for rescuing French aristocrats. Edmund, of course, is simply annoyed, and when he can't take it any more after encountering Topper and Smedley (two upper-class twits who hang out with the Prince), bets that he could go to France to rescue an aristocrat. George gives him a wonderful send off, but as we all can guess, Edmund has no intention of going to France; he's just going to find one of the refugee Frenchmen, and get him to PRETEND he's been rescued.

* DisguisedInDrag: The [[Literature/TheScarletPimpernel Scarlet Pimpernel]] disguises himself as Madame Guillotine, a female French TortureTechnician, in order to rescue Edmund and Baldrick from French revolutionaries. This ends badly for him [[spoiler:as Edmund poisons him before finding out that he's an ally.]]

* RiddleForTheAges: What exactly Madame Guillotine says to the revolutionary to make him flee the room.
* SequentialSymptomSyndrome: Someone [[spoiler: (The Scarlet Pimpernel)]] takes a suicide pill and recites his own symptoms as he experiences them. Hilariously, he didn't realise that he had taken it, and was completely unaware of the symptoms, himself. It was probably the forgetfulness.
* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: Played with at the end, after inadvertently killing what may have been the Scarlet Pimpernel, upon learning George was planning on granting the Pimpernel with an enormous postal order, claims that if asked if he was, the Pimpernel would claim that he isn't. An astonished George asks Edmund if he is the Scarlet Pimpernel, Edmund smirks and replies with "Absolutely not, sir."