Robin Redbreast is a Play For Today (BBC) about pagan rural customs and their interaction with modern society, transmitted on 10 December 1970 on BBC1. It was directed by James MacTaggart.
Script editor Norah Palmer (Anna Cropper) leaves her normal friends in London, Jake (Julian Holloway) and Madge (Amanda Walker), and seeks isolation for clearer thought and rents a cottage in a remote rural area of southern England.
She encounters a series of strange characters: Mrs Vigo, her intimidating housekeeper; Mr Fisher, a local amateur archaeologist; Rob (Edgar) a local man who practices karate naked in the woods; Mr Wellbeloved, the butcher; Peter an older man, constantly chopping wood.
During the night a bird is put down the chimney into her room. She screams and Rob comes to her rescue. She allows Rob to seduce her, despite finding her contraceptive cap missing. She gets pregnant. Through a series of events the villagers contrive that she does not leave before Easter. Her car will not start, buses will not stop for her, and phone calls are cut off.
Rob returns to discuss it all. They realise villagers surround the house and an eye appears at the keyhole. Two villagers enter, including Peter with his axe and Nora faints. She does not hear Rob's screams.
She awakes to find Mrs Vigo and Mr Fisher in the house. She is told that Rob has left to go to Canada.
What use would a woman's blood be to the soil? It needs a man says Mrs Vigo.
Mr Fisher explains the cultural importance of the name Robin in British folklore: Robin Hood, Robin redbreast etc. We have already been told that Rob had been called "Robin" only by the villagers, and his real name was Edgar. He has played a sacrificial role, and will be replaced by a new "Robin".
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