The second part of our look at seventies' BBC drama series Accident.
Episode three - The Figures Man (Ray Jenkins)
In this episode we see that Edmunds is still on the run and has resorted to stealing food, and even more worryingly has seen a little girl playing on the swings by herself. Will she be safe?
But this episode really centres around stockbroker Andrew Buchan and his chauffer Lionel Megson, who takes it upon himself to act as Buchan's faithful man servant rather than just his driver. The two served in the war and were in the same regiment. When they left the army, Buchan offered Megson an employment position with him, and Megson eventually agreed to be his chauffer, working for Buchan for twenty two years. On the morning of the accident however, it was Buchan who had been driving while Megson reluctantly sat in the back after his boss insisted on getting behind the wheel, despite Megson believing him to be an erratic driver.
The accident occurred while Buchan and Megson were on their way to meet a very important client, David Walker. There is a great deal of mystery surrounding this client and why this deal is practically life or death to Buchan. Even while Buchan - who was badly injured in the crash while Megson escaped fairly unscathed - was being carried into the ambulance on a stretcher, he was still relaying instructions to Megson with regards to the client as Buchan was desperate not to miss out on this deal.
Although Buchan hadn't confided in his friend, Megson knew that Buchan's company was in financial trouble and he had resorted to some underhand tactics in order to keep the company afloat. If this deal with Walker didn't go ahead, the company would go under and Buchan would lose his job - possibly even face jail. So while Buchan's life may have been hanging in the balance, both he and Megson knew that safeguarding the future of the company was also just as vital. As a result, Megson comes across as pushy, arrogant and very unpleasant towards the hospital staff as he tries to carry out his boss's wishes without revealing the amount of trouble Buchan is in. These are traits that don't go unnoticed by David Walker who points these out to Buchan in a meeting prior to the accident (though it's shown at the end of the episode) where Buchan defends his friend's behaviour by revealing a tragedy in Megson's life that caused him to behave the way he does.
One person standing in the way of the deal being a success was Simon Lovell. He is the grandson of the man who started the company many years ago, although it was revealed by David Walker that it was Buchan who turned it into the prestigious firm that it currently was. When Lovell becomes suspicious of some of Buchan's dealings, either in a bid to prove himself or to tarnish the professional reputation of the older man, he reveals all to Walker. Will this revelation cause him to pull out of the deal? And if so, where will this leave Buchan and Megson?
Episode four - Jack in the Middle (Derek Ingrey)
Oh what a tangled web we weave! We delve into the life of transport firm owner, Jack Dutton, who proves to be a real man of mystery. The crash brings about the realization to those closest to him that they don't know him as well as they thought they did...
In the opening scene of this episode, we see Jack and his friend Bert - who met when Bert was looking for a job at the firm - enjoy a day out at the beach with their families. Jack proves to be a very attentive and caring husband to his wife of six years, Betty. So imagine the viewers' surprise - not to mention Bert's - when the police inform a seriously-ill Jack's next of kin... and the Mrs. Dutton who turns up is a completely different woman called Ruth! This causes much confusion for the police and for Bert... which one of the two women is really Jack's wife?
Jack's story - which also explains how he got to own and build up his transport hire company - is told in a series of flashbacks, telling the tale of fake friends, adulterous liaisons, and Catholic guilt, with all of the above leading to a double life with two women, two homes, one set of children and two jobs. Oh and a mother with dementia to boot! But why would a mild-mannered, friendly chap like Jack live such a duplicitous life? Is he really just a cad and a charmer?
One thing's for sure. If Jack pulls through, he's definitely got a lot of explaining to do!
Episode five - Terri (Ray Jenkins)
There are two 'lone' characters in this series - one of them being escaped convict Cyril Edmunds, and the other being the beautiful Terri Lewis (no not the legendary music producer!) and this episode focuses on Terri's story, an unconventional, free-spirited, fiercely independent young woman who wants so much more out of life.
Terri was part of the group of passengers on the minibus, driven by Jack Dutton, headed to the airport, as she's about to go travelling, starting with Morocco. During the apparently brief journey, Terri and Jack open up about seemingly personal matters - as strangers often do - and no doubt the conversation would have continued, had it not been for the accident.
Constantly on the move and estranged from her father who she admits was 'unselfish,' and worked hard to give her a good life, Terri writes to her father but never lets him know where she is. She lives in a bedsit and the two constants - albeit briefly - in her life at that moment were her friend Steph, and her married boyfriend Ian Shaw who she met through Steph.
It is also through Steph that Terri gets a job as a sales assistant in a clothing boutique called Gladly's. It becomes a bone of contention between the two young women because Steph, fed up with the unfair treatment of the sales girls wants to start a strike. She gets the union involved; wants Ian to use his TV contacts to get the media to take notice, and expects full backing from Terri - especially as it was her who got her the job at Gladly's. And when she doesn't get Terri's co-operation on the issue it leads to conflict. Terri refuses to be bullied or pushed around, while Steph thinks that Terri has had it easy all her life and never had to fight for anything. She's very wrong about that, and we discover that aside from Terri having to leave home, she's also experienced a heart-breaking tragedy in her life.
A bit of a charmer and a ladies' man, Ian gets quite a frosty reception from Terri initially. But the frost eventually thaws and they begin an affair. Ian seems to have no qualms about the relationship, especially as his wife Ellie - a teacher - has also been having an affair with one of her (more mature) students. But Terri feels very insecure about Ellie and realizes that despite her feisty and independent ways, she's really starting to develop feelings for Ian. So when she walks out on her job, free-as-a-bird Terri wants to go travelling starting with Ian and Ellie's holiday home in France. Very cheeky, some might say! The question is... can she convince Steph and more importantly Ian to leave with her?
Episode six - Victims (Derek Ingrey)
Now is the turn of Cyril Edmunds who is the only one of those involved in the crash who never went to hospital and doesn't seem to have been badly hurt. He goes on the run - as any prisoner who sees a chance to escape would do - and the scene starts with Edmonds being chased by the police ending by the canal before the story goes back in time and we get to see Edmunds' disturbing story.
A loner with difficulties who was once caught exposing himself, Edmunds has a reputation as the neighbourhood pervert, and some of the local kids take great pleasure in taunting him. On one such occasion, Edmunds chases one of the girls and when he catches up with her, he starts smacking her - and is seen doing so by the police. The young girl, Mona Halliday, then accuses Edmunds of trying to touch her. Even though the police doubt her story, they take Edmunds in for questioning and take Mona home.
Viewers soon realize that Mona's home life is far from a happy one. Her mother is physically and emotionally abusive while her father is very neglectful. But Mona tries to do the right thing and when she sees Edmunds in the street, she goes up to him and apologizes, claiming she only made up those allegations because she thought her mother would hit her - which she did anyway. Mona then proceeds to move the top part of her blouse so that Edmunds can see the bruises on her shoulder, but unfortunately the whole incident is witnessed by a neighbour and it's not long before rumours start flying.
Then comes the day when Edmunds finds Mona unconscious in his outhouse. As he carries her out, he is seen by the same neighbour who wastes no time in calling the police, who burst into Edmunds home as he tends to the wounds of a still unconscious Mona. Edmunds ends up having served four years for a crime he insists he didn't commit. So when the accident occurs, Edmunds escapes, and just before that stand-off with the police by the canal, he pays a visit to the person he knows is responsible for having him sent to prison - as well as for what happened to young Mona.
Episode seven - Purple One (Ray Jenkins)
The penultimate episode focus on Frank and Dilys Martin, a couple who have been married for a number of years who are slowing drifting apart. Dilys feels that Frank is more invested in his job as the local headteacher rather than in their relationship. She also feels that it's because they don't have children of their own, that Frank gives a great deal of attention to his pupils, in particular a local child called Frankie Delane.
Two of the crash victims remain critically ill, and meanwhile Diana has given birth after an agonizing labour. But there is now an anxious wait to see if Stephen will get to meet his child soon.
Episode eight - Ends and Ways (Derek Ingrey)
The final episode and the one where the show's only fatality is tragically revealed. Those involved in the accident try to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives with feelings of hope and optimism. The series ends on a happy note for one particular character.
What we think...
A very interesting and strongly written show that we really wouldn't mind seeing again. It most definitely held our interest and we couldn't wait for the next episode to see what drama might unfold. Though that said, there were a couple of episodes that seemed a little slow moving but still very watchable nonetheless. Despite the grave subject matter, viewers can't help but feel warmed by the camaraderie of the crash victims and their 'we're all in it together' attitude. And by the last episode it looks as though two of the parties may well have formed a long-lasting friendship despite the tragic circumstances.
Warm and fuzzy it may have been at times but Accident certainly didn't shy away from gritty and tough themes, and some may have found the storylines around child abuse, neglect, and possible miscarriages of justice hard to watch.
However there is this feeling that not all the loose ends have been neatly tied up, and there are lots of unanswered questions left hanging: Who was the lady that Jack really ended up with? Who really was behind the assault of little Mona? What happened to Mona's family especially her evil mother? What became of the Delane family's relationship with Frank Martin? We get the feeling that there was more than meets the eye to the college professor - what was his story? All these loose ends leaves us wondering if perhaps there was the possibility of a second series - it's a real shame that there wasn't as there were some potentially good storylines.
It's a pity that Accident isn't better known. It isn't talked about and there's very little about the show online. Aside from the fact that it's very entertaining with lots of 'edge of your seat' scenes, this series addresses topics that raise a lot of thought-provoking questions, giving the viewer real food for thought.
The test of time test
The second you see the opening credits, hear the theme tune, see those fonts, there's no confusion as to which decade the show was produced in and it really shows. Is that a bad thing? Well for us - never! This series is a real gem for those of us who can't get enough of vintage telly. But for those who prefer more modern TV shows, they may not give this incredible piece of TV drama a chance. Although that said, the opening credits especially combined with the theme tune hint at mystery, intrigue and action so if any of those themes appeal to the viewer, they might just keep watching.
If you're a fan of seventies TV shows or you were around during this fabulous decade, it will bring back a lot of memories. And if you weren't you will marvel at this glimpse into life 1970s style: the fashion, the hairstyles, the cars, the décor, even the technology. By today's standards, those computer screens look prehistoric! Not a flat screen in sight. Oh and payphones that eat up all your coins at an alarming rate - thank goodness for our mobile phones, eh!
There are some subject matters that don't ring true for audiences today. A young unmarried couple having a baby out of wedlock wouldn't be so shocking today. And while extra-marital affairs aren't exactly unheard of today, staying married purely because you're a Catholic while both you and your wife conduct affairs does seem rather strange! But then there are themes that everyone can relate to such as extra-marital affairs. The child abuse storyline is a very difficult one to watch but it's a stark reminder that the 1970s weren't always the good old days and there were such issues that existed like that even back then.
Photos: YouTube
Word Cloud: Angel Noire