You never know with these tales, some are predictable, others not. This is a beautifully acted topsy-turvy tale of subterfuge, greed and .... well, maybe, murder.
A rich self-made American vineyard owner played by Shane Rimmer as a lonely, but affluent winner, meets a reticent, retiring 28 year old girl in a bar, they are put on the same table for a meal and he explains he's over here to trace his ancestors, having pretty-well no relatives. His name is Smith...and his ancestors come from Bedham in Norfolk.
Eva, sweetly played by Elizabeth Richardson, is mildly encouraging, but does nothing to pursue the rich American - apart from, perhaps regrettably, with hindsight, advising her more, let's say, aspirational flatmate, Janet, played by the wonderful Cyd Hayman, who first came to prominence in a lead role in the iconic 1970's series Manhunnt, with Beethoven's Fifth as its theme,
Janet inveigles her way into the records office, appearing to be looking up the same Smith family....talk about co-incidences...if the lottery had been around then, you'd have had the same probability of winning two jackpots in a row!
Notwithstanding that, she's understandably invited by the lonely American to Bedham to search records in the parish church - and is not seen again.
When Eva makes her way there two weeks later, the vicar unleashes a tsunami of a twist; it transpires, both of the real Smith (John's) ancestors - his father and grandfather - were psychopathic murderers.
As the vicar says: 'I do think medical men (note not women!) and psychiatrists make too much of heredity' until he's told Janet hasn't been seen since; at which point, the vicar (persuasively played by Donald Eccles) symbolically grabs his throat in agitation.
Topsy-turvy, yes; there's a chance Janet has merely returned with John Smith to the vineyards of California; but it's implied the expression, like father, like son, is an apt one, here. Janet certainly does not deserve such a come-uppance for mere aspiration. Let's hope, more than forty years later, she's treading wine like the late Lucille Ball in that famous episode of The Lucy Show, sharing a glass with her grandchildren.
A rich self-made American vineyard owner played by Shane Rimmer as a lonely, but affluent winner, meets a reticent, retiring 28 year old girl in a bar, they are put on the same table for a meal and he explains he's over here to trace his ancestors, having pretty-well no relatives. His name is Smith...and his ancestors come from Bedham in Norfolk.
Eva, sweetly played by Elizabeth Richardson, is mildly encouraging, but does nothing to pursue the rich American - apart from, perhaps regrettably, with hindsight, advising her more, let's say, aspirational flatmate, Janet, played by the wonderful Cyd Hayman, who first came to prominence in a lead role in the iconic 1970's series Manhunnt, with Beethoven's Fifth as its theme,
Janet inveigles her way into the records office, appearing to be looking up the same Smith family....talk about co-incidences...if the lottery had been around then, you'd have had the same probability of winning two jackpots in a row!
Notwithstanding that, she's understandably invited by the lonely American to Bedham to search records in the parish church - and is not seen again.
When Eva makes her way there two weeks later, the vicar unleashes a tsunami of a twist; it transpires, both of the real Smith (John's) ancestors - his father and grandfather - were psychopathic murderers.
As the vicar says: 'I do think medical men (note not women!) and psychiatrists make too much of heredity' until he's told Janet hasn't been seen since; at which point, the vicar (persuasively played by Donald Eccles) symbolically grabs his throat in agitation.
Topsy-turvy, yes; there's a chance Janet has merely returned with John Smith to the vineyards of California; but it's implied the expression, like father, like son, is an apt one, here. Janet certainly does not deserve such a come-uppance for mere aspiration. Let's hope, more than forty years later, she's treading wine like the late Lucille Ball in that famous episode of The Lucy Show, sharing a glass with her grandchildren.