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Series 2: Episode 4 (Life on Mars)
Encyclopedia
The fourth episode of the second series of the British
time travel
police procedural
television
series, Life on Mars
, was first broadcast on 13 March 2007. It was produced by Kudos Film & Television
for BBC One
.
, where a local car dealer is throwing private parties, employing make-up girls from a local company to “help out” when the wife-swapping
begins. Posing as married couple Tony
and Cherie Blair
, Sam
and Annie
infiltrate one of the parties, only to discover that it isn't as simple as they think.
In front of Sam’s eyes, a young make-up saleswoman, Denise, is bundled out of a moving car but is initially reluctant to talk. Sam discovers that she, like the murder victim used to, works as a make-up saleswoman.
The car is soon identified as belonging to Roger Twilling, a respected businessman who Denise also reveals has a fondness for hosting wild partner-swapping sex parties. Sam gives the guys a lesson in the art of surveillance techniques, but Gene Hunt is more concerned with finding out about Chris’ attempts to seduce a new ladyfriend. The young copper soon reveals that a bit too much Dutch courage led him to puke all over the poor lass (much to the amusement of Gene and Ray).
Sam and Annie pose as Tony and Cherie Blair at a local tennis club to infiltrate the social lair of Twilling, and soon secure an invite to dinner… which in turn leads to the couple being asked if they want to attend a swingers bash. This is helped by Sam’s flirtations with Roger’s wife Carol.
They turn up at the seedy party in a race against time, for Denise is now missing. As the men in attendance prepare to do a spot of wife-swapping, an unexpected visitor turns up in the shape of an undercover Gene – complete with a hooker who owed him a favour. Sam thinks quickly and manages to convince Roger that the man is his friend ‘Gordon Brown’, who he let slip information about the party to.
Partners are then swapped and Annie ends up with Roger – the main suspect in the copycat killings. As Sam smooches Roger’s wife Carol in a separate room, screaming is heard. Both Sam and Gene break off their amorous activities and make a mad dash to save Annie. Or so they thought…
For they turn up to find the young policewoman in full dominatrix mode giving Roger a stern whipping. Their cover now blown, they opt to arrest Roger and give him a good grilling down the station. But courtesy of the businessman’s tough lawyer, they discover nothing.
However, a listening device Annie planted in Roger’s car alerts the police to Denise’s current whereabouts – and the fact that Carol Twilling is behind her abduction. They track them down to a caravan in the nick of time and prevent the murderess from strangling the battered make-up girl. Case solved.
Finally, Sam receives a present-day message from his beloved Auntie Heather via his television set. This is particularly distressing for him, as he earlier came face to face with her in 1973 when interviewing the make-up sellers. She rejected his attempts to make conversation, unaware of his real identity.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
time travel
Time travel in fiction
Time travel is a common theme in science fiction and is depicted in a variety of media. It simply means either going forward in time or backward, to experience the future, or the past.-Literature:...
police procedural
Police procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series, Life on Mars
Life on Mars (TV series)
Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007. The series combines elements of science fiction and police procedural....
, was first broadcast on 13 March 2007. It was produced by Kudos Film & Television
Kudos (production company)
Kudos Film and Television is a British independent film and television production company. It has produced television series for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, and its productions include Spooks , Hustle, Life on Mars and its spin-off Ashes to Ashes, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard and M.I. High...
for BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
.
Synopsis
The body of a young woman is found in wasteland. The investigation takes the team to suburbiaSubUrbia
subUrbia is a play by Eric Bogosian chronicling the nighttime activities of a group of aimless 20-somethings still living in their suburban Boston hometown and their reunion with a former high school classmate who has become a successful musician...
, where a local car dealer is throwing private parties, employing make-up girls from a local company to “help out” when the wife-swapping
Swinging
Swinging or partner swapping is a non-monogamous behavior, in which both partners in a committed relationship agree, as a couple, for both partners to engage in sexual activities with other couples as a recreational or social activity...
begins. Posing as married couple Tony
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair
Cherie Blair , known professionally as Cherie Booth QC, is a British barrister working in the legal system of England and Wales. She is married to the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair; the couple have three sons and one daughter...
, Sam
Sam Tyler
DCI/DI Sam Tyler is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars.In the original British version of Life on Mars, Tyler is played by John Simm and in the American version he is played by Jason O'Mara....
and Annie
Annie Cartwright
WPC/DC Annie Cartwright is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars. The character is portrayed by Liz White...
infiltrate one of the parties, only to discover that it isn't as simple as they think.
Plot
The dead body of a woman is discovered by children on wasteland, with an examination later revealing the presence of a crushed red geranium in her hand. This echoes the crimes of a serial killer – who died in prison – through the use of the ‘Flower of Death’.In front of Sam’s eyes, a young make-up saleswoman, Denise, is bundled out of a moving car but is initially reluctant to talk. Sam discovers that she, like the murder victim used to, works as a make-up saleswoman.
The car is soon identified as belonging to Roger Twilling, a respected businessman who Denise also reveals has a fondness for hosting wild partner-swapping sex parties. Sam gives the guys a lesson in the art of surveillance techniques, but Gene Hunt is more concerned with finding out about Chris’ attempts to seduce a new ladyfriend. The young copper soon reveals that a bit too much Dutch courage led him to puke all over the poor lass (much to the amusement of Gene and Ray).
Sam and Annie pose as Tony and Cherie Blair at a local tennis club to infiltrate the social lair of Twilling, and soon secure an invite to dinner… which in turn leads to the couple being asked if they want to attend a swingers bash. This is helped by Sam’s flirtations with Roger’s wife Carol.
They turn up at the seedy party in a race against time, for Denise is now missing. As the men in attendance prepare to do a spot of wife-swapping, an unexpected visitor turns up in the shape of an undercover Gene – complete with a hooker who owed him a favour. Sam thinks quickly and manages to convince Roger that the man is his friend ‘Gordon Brown’, who he let slip information about the party to.
Partners are then swapped and Annie ends up with Roger – the main suspect in the copycat killings. As Sam smooches Roger’s wife Carol in a separate room, screaming is heard. Both Sam and Gene break off their amorous activities and make a mad dash to save Annie. Or so they thought…
For they turn up to find the young policewoman in full dominatrix mode giving Roger a stern whipping. Their cover now blown, they opt to arrest Roger and give him a good grilling down the station. But courtesy of the businessman’s tough lawyer, they discover nothing.
However, a listening device Annie planted in Roger’s car alerts the police to Denise’s current whereabouts – and the fact that Carol Twilling is behind her abduction. They track them down to a caravan in the nick of time and prevent the murderess from strangling the battered make-up girl. Case solved.
Finally, Sam receives a present-day message from his beloved Auntie Heather via his television set. This is particularly distressing for him, as he earlier came face to face with her in 1973 when interviewing the make-up sellers. She rejected his attempts to make conversation, unaware of his real identity.
Cast
- Sam TylerSam TylerDCI/DI Sam Tyler is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars.In the original British version of Life on Mars, Tyler is played by John Simm and in the American version he is played by Jason O'Mara....
— John SimmJohn SimmJohn Simm is an English stage and screen actor. In recent years he is best known for his roles as Sam Tyler in the detective drama Life on Mars and as The Master in the revival of the science fiction series Doctor Who, but he has also starred in many highly acclaimed award-winning television... - Gene HuntGene HuntDCI Gene Hunt is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama Life on Mars and its sequel, Ashes to Ashes. The character is portrayed by Philip Glenister in both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, whereas in the American version he is portrayed by Harvey Keitel.The...
— Philip GlenisterPhilip GlenisterPhilip Haywood Glenister is an English actor, known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in British television series Life On Mars and its sequel Ashes To Ashes.-Television and films:... - Chris SkeltonChris SkeltonPC/DC Christopher "Chris" Skelton is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars and its spin-off Ashes to Ashes.- Life on Mars :...
— Marshall LancasterMarshall LancasterMarshall Lancaster is a British actor. He has appeared in many television dramas, including Coronation Street, Holby City, The Lakes and Family Affairs, but is probably best known for playing DC Chris Skelton in the BBC time-travel police dramas, Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.Lancaster is a... - Ray CarlingRay CarlingDC/DS/DI Raymond Milton "Ray" Carling is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars and its spin-off Ashes to Ashes.-Life on Mars:...
— Dean AndrewsDean AndrewsDean Andrews is a British actor.He is most famous for his role as DS Ray Carling in the BBC Television drama Life on Mars... - Annie CartwrightAnnie CartwrightWPC/DC Annie Cartwright is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars. The character is portrayed by Liz White...
— Liz WhiteLiz White (actress)Liz White is an English actress, best known for her regular role as WPC/WDC Annie Cartwright in the BBC time travel drama Life on Mars, which began in January 2006... - Nelson — Tony Marshall
- Phyllis DobbsPhyllis DobbsWPC Phyllis Dobbs is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars. The character is portrayed by Noreen Kershaw, whereas in the American version the character does not exist except for a very minor capacity....
— Noreen KershawNoreen KershawNoreen Kershaw is an English television actress and director.She trained at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre and, at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre, originated the title role of the play Shirley Valentine, later made famous by Pauline Collins... - Test Card Girl — Harriet Rogers
- Roger Twilling — Nicholas Palliser
- Carol Twilling — Eva PopeEva PopeEva Pope is an English actress. She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.- Career :Her first major role was playing Tanya Pooley in ITV soap-opera Coronation Street from 1993 to 1994...
- Denise Williams — Georgia TaylorGeorgia TaylorGeorgia Taylor is an English actress, known for her role as Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street and currently for playing Ruth Winters on Casualty. She was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester....
- Edith Williams — Meryl Hampton
- Young SamSam TylerDCI/DI Sam Tyler is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars.In the original British version of Life on Mars, Tyler is played by John Simm and in the American version he is played by Jason O'Mara....
— Alexander O'Loughlin - Auntie Heather — Katherine KellyKatherine Kelly (actress)Katherine Kelly, is a British actress and recording artist who is most well known for playing Becky McDonald in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She has also starred in the film Mischief Night.-Early life and career:...
- Mrs Luckhurst - Clare McGlinn
- Gracie - Carissa Wistow
- Pathologist - Andy Hockley
- Twilling's Lawyer - Andrew Readman
Cultural references
- The dinner table conversation about a coup if Harold WilsonHarold WilsonJames Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
won the next election is a conspiracy theory that became common in the late 1970s and into the 1980s, particularly as Wilson's mental capacity declined and Labour supporters looked for someone to blame for the Conservative Party's general election victory in 1979. Although it is a conspiracy theory that Sam would know about, it wasn't discussed at the time so casts further doubt as to whether Sam is actually in 1973 vice his own version of it. - Sam and Annie adopt the noms-de-guerres of TonyTony BlairAnthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and Cherie BlairCherie BlairCherie Blair , known professionally as Cherie Booth QC, is a British barrister working in the legal system of England and Wales. She is married to the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair; the couple have three sons and one daughter...
when they go undercover, being the name of the BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Prime MinisterPrime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
and his wife from Sam's own time. When Gene Hunt gatecrashes the party Sam refers to him as "Gordon BrownGordon BrownJames Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
", Tony Blair's Chancellor of the ExchequerChancellor of the ExchequerThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
and successor as Prime Minister. Needless to say, Brown's wife isn't called Suki. Martin Summers similarly uses the alias Boris JohnsonBoris JohnsonAlexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
(Mayor of LondonMayor of LondonThe Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
in his own time) after being thrown back in time to 1982 in Life on Mars’ sequel, Ashes to AshesAshes to Ashes (TV series)Ashes to Ashes is a British science fiction and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.The series began airing on BBC One in February 2008. A second series began broadcasting in April 2009...
. - When Santana begins to play at the party, Annie comments on the food and drinks in a way similar to the adverts for Marks and Spencer, in which the Santana music was used.
Music
- The Story In Your Eyes - The Moody Blues
- Lay DownLay Down"Lay Down" is a song by English band Strawbs featured on their 1973 album Bursting at the Seams. It peaked at number 12 in the UK Singles Chart....
- Strawbs - I'm Ready - Frankie MillerFrankie MillerFrankie Miller is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter, who had his biggest success in the 1970s. Miller was raised at Colvend Street, Glasgow with his parents, Cathy and Frank, and elder sisters Letty and Anne. Miller attended Sacred Heart Primary school. He was an altar boy in Sacred Heart Chapel...
- Court In The Act - LindisfarneLindisfarne (band)Lindisfarne were a British folk/rock group from Newcastle upon Tyne established in 1970 and fronted by singer/songwriter Alan Hull. Their music combined a strong sense of yearning with an even stronger sense of fun...
- Samba Pa Ti - SantanaSantana (band)Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
- Coz I Luv YouCoz I Luv You"Coz I Luv You" is a song by Slade, written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea and produced by Chas Chandler. It was the band's second hit single in the UK and the first of six number one singles. It was released on 30/10/1971 and was last seen on the charts on 05/02/1972 at #44...
- SladeSladeSlade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles... - Aladdin SaneAladdin Sane (song)"Aladdin Sane " is a song by David Bowie, the title track from his 1973 album Aladdin Sane. Described by biographer David Buckley as the album's "pivotal" song, it saw Bowie moving into more experimental musical styles following the success of his breakthrough glam rock release The Rise and Fall of...
- David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s... - Rock On - T.Rex
- When The City Sleeps - Barclay James HarvestBarclay James HarvestBarclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band. They were founded in Saddleworth, Lancashire, in September 1966 by John Lees, Les Holroyd, Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme , and Mel Pritchard .-History:...
- Alone Again (Naturally)Alone Again (Naturally)"Alone Again " is a song by Irish singer–songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan. It was released in 1972, and in total spent six weeks, non-consecutively, at #1 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In Casey Kasem's American 'Top 40 of the 1970s', "Alone Again " ranked as the fifth...
- Gilbert O'SullivanGilbert O'SullivanGilbert O'Sullivan is an Irish-English singer-songwriter, best known for his early 1970s hits "Alone Again ", "Clair" and "Get Down". The music magazine, Record Mirror, voted him the No...
External links
- Episode 4 at bbc.co.ukBbc.co.ukBBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...
- Episode 4 at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Episode 4 at TV.comTV.comTV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...