Clues

Another episode of The Singing Detective that remained memorable for a particular scene. It was repeated from an earlier Dennis Potter play, Stand Up, Nigel Barton.

The teacher then as in here wa played by actress Janet Henfrey. Here she is the strict school teacher and a pupil did something unmentionable on her desk.

She prays to God, a very long prayer and Philip's tears gives him away. Eventually he blames chubby Mark Binney to having done the deed.

No wonder in the present Philip Marlow has little time for evangelical doctors and nurses who have come to entertain their bed ridden and thereby captive patients. Although the song they sing bleeds into the song sung by the Singing Detective as he eyes up the two baddies in the nightclub.

In Marlow's world. Fiction and real life collide. His estranged wife Nicola comes to visit but she has an ulterior motive. She has purloined his script that a film company is interested in purchasing.

Her lover will claim to have written the script, his name is Mark Finney (Patrick Malahide.) He spots something in the story that bears resemblance to his life but he has never met Marlow before.

It is interesting that Malahide played three distinct characters in this series. He said that he had to differ their voices. His character who was Marlow's mother's lover would have a strong Forest of Dean accent.

The episode might be called Clues, so far I'm clueless but I'm enjoying the ride.

Marlow has now been on his back for three months, but with only his thoughts to occupy him, fiction and reality start to blur. Nicola explains that a production company want to use of of Phillip's early books for a film, The Singing Detective.

This fourth episode was another excellent watch, it really does drive the story forward. We learn where Phillip gets his ideas and inspirations, he spots an event, and then his mind takes that idea on a wild journey.

I did enjoy Marlow's sparring scenes with his ex wife Nicola, Janet Suzman did a fine job. The pair really did exchange a bit of venom and hate.

That scene in the school was quite something, Janet Henfrey played this kind of part very well, similar to her character in Doctor Who's Curse of Fenric, she is stoic and harsh. She had the most wonderful, distinctive face. Maybe that scene was the clue to his future loathing of The Evangelists.

The talent just keeps on delivering, in this episode we see the wonderful Ken Stott, one of a number of well known, quality actors. How good was Patrick Malahide.

9/10.