Bainbridge’s idea of picnic fun is a biting satire of an English company picnic during which everything that can go awry does, including murder.
Two friends, Brendass and Freda, organize a picnic for the employees at an Italian wine and spirits shop on Hope Street in London. An ulterior motive is Freda’s dreamy intention of seducing Vittorio, the owner’s nephew. But nothing goes as planned: the October day is cool and windy; no one is appropriately dressed, and the hired mini-coach does not arrive. Hoping to salvage the day, Freda pairs off with Vittorio, and Brenda pairs off with Mr. Rossi, the manager, who abuses Brenda in the company cellar. They finally arrive in Windsor Park, visit the castle, eat, drink wine, and play football. In the swirl of events, Freda wanders off and is found murdered.
Instead of calling the police, Freida is bundled into the car, and the picnic continues to a nearby game park. Back at the factory, Freda is stuffed into a sherry barrel destined for Italy that is marked unworthy so that it will be thrown overboard when at sea. It is a sordid end to what might have been a happy day, but according to Bainbridge, Freda never had a chance.
The menu is lettuce (packed in polyethylene bags), salad dressing made with cocktail onions in a mixture of oil, lemon juice and garlic, French bread, two pounds of apples, and red wine.
See