The Horse’s Mouth

Gulley Jimson is released from a one-month jail sentence after his telephone harassment of sponsor Mr. Hickson. Nosey Barbon greets him at Wormwood Scrubs and eagerly pines to become Jimson's protégé, but Jimson warns him away from painting as a career.

Jimson returns to his houseboat, where his older lady friend Coker has kept the place in his absence. The reunion sets the stage for Jimson to resume his artistic career.

Jimson and Coker visit Hickson's residence to secure payment for Jimson's artwork, hoping to raise funds for his career. The visit underscores Jimson's precarious finances and his reliance on others to support his art.

Jimson tries to steal works back from Hickson's place, but Coker stops him. Hickson calls the police, and Jimson and Coker manage to escape before they are caught.

Jimson responds to a note from A. W. Alabaster, secretary to Sir William and Lady Beeder, who express interest in Jimson's early works. This contact opens the door to new commissions and renewed hopes of selling his early pieces.

Jimson and Coker try to obtain one of Jimson's early works from Sara Monday, Jimson's ex-wife, but she refuses. Her rebuff pushes Jimson to pursue other avenues for recognition.

When Jimson visits the Beeders, he discovers a blank wall and is inspired to paint The Raising of Lazarus. He learns that the Beeders will be away for six weeks, giving him the freedom to work on the mural.

Abel, an old artistic rival, intrudes with a large block of marble to fulfill a British Rail sculpture commission. Jimson agrees to help, and together they pawn the Beeders' valuables; the marble is dropped, damaging part of the floor.

After Jimson completes the painting, the Beeders return and are shocked by the work. They fall through the hole in the floor created by the marble mishap.

That evening, Coker reveals that Hickson is dead and has bequeathed his collection of Jimson's works to the nation. The artworks are later displayed at the Tate Gallery, signaling Jimson's rising fame.

In the long queue for the Tate exhibition, Jimson spots Sara Monday again and tries to reclaim a piece in her possession. She hands him a roll tube, which turns out to contain only toilet paper.

Nosey follows Jimson to Sara's house, where Sara is knocked unconscious when Jimson grabs the painting. The incident heightens the danger surrounding Jimson's pursuit of the artwork.

The trio seeks shelter in an abandoned church, and Jimson is inspired to create his grand vision, The Last Judgment, on a blank wall. With the church slated for demolition in a fortnight, they recruit local youngsters and even Lady Beeder to help complete the mural.

On the scheduled demolition day, The Last Judgment is completed with the help of volunteers. After a demolition crew warns everyone to stand back, Jimson drives a bulldozer through the church wall, deciding to destroy the work himself. He then escapes to his boat and sails down the Thames, with Nosey and Coker in pursuit.