LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR {PART 5 OF 6} (TV)
Summary
The fifth part in this black-humored mini-series about foreign affairs analysts in the British Military Intelligence Office in London, whose existence is interrupted by the Suez Canal crisis of 1956, as well as the incessant musical daydreams of one of its clerks. The program begins with Frank suppering with Vickie and Fred and quickly getting into a spat with his increasingly unhinged uncle. Frank goes out for a stroll where he stares up at Pete and Sylvia's place. Meanwhile, Mick escorts Lisa to the theater for a production of "The Seagull." He pictures the actors forsaking Ibsen's text for a rendition of "I'm in Love Again." At intermission, Lisa talks about how much she admires the show. Back on the streets, Francis considers himself a "monster" before Sylvia approaches him and says that he should have nothing to do with her. She then sees a drunken Harold on the street. He tries to aggressively hug her until Frank intervenes. Afterward, a furious and embarrassed Harold tries to crash his car into Frank and Sylvia but ends up hitting Pete further down the road, leaving him bloodied and badly injured. Sylvia and Frank accompany Pete to the hospital in an ambulance.
Meanwhile, Mick and Lisa have coffee after the show, where the clerk talks about how he is constantly singing, even when he has his mouth shut. Lisa remarks how Mick was watching her more than the stage and he is forced to admit his attraction to her. Nevertheless, an angered Lisa leaves the diner right before a rock show is to begin. Mick dreams of singing "The Fool" as he bemoans her absence. The next day at the office, an exasperated Wallace asks Mick to get him a "barely bloody drinkable." Johnny is upset with the work they are being forced to do for the Suez situation. Then, a frazzled Frank comes into the office, sad to report that Pete is now dead. Frank's "sniveling" results in his being yelled at by Archie. The men are amused to hear that "the Wurlitzer man" was responsible for Pete's demise. Later, Frank is sent back upstairs to the conference room, where the British discuss plans to take over the Suez Canal region. Meanwhile, Vickie brings a still-in-bed Sylvia some breakfast. Sylvia is angry at first but later warms to Vickie, even admitting that Pete used to abuse her. Sylvia laments that Harold didn't hit her with his car instead of Pete. Suddenly, Sylvia explodes, claiming Vickie and Fred's nosiness destroyed her marriage. Vickie hugs Sylvia and then admits that she wishes Fred had been hit by the car.
Meanwhile, at the strategy meeting, Frank snoozes before getting picked on by his new colleagues. At the hospital, the police speak with the laid-up Harold, who bandies words with the men. Tiring of Harold's antics, the police demand to know about his relationship with Pete and Sylvia. Shocked to hear that Pete is dead, Harold snaps at their questions, trying to toss them from his hospital room. That night, Frank dreams about Sylvia while she dreams about a bloodied Pete blaming her for his death. Both awaken from their bad dreams at the same time. After recalling his numerous conversations with Sylvia, Frank creeps upstairs to her apartment. Fred hears Frank's footsteps on the stairwell. Sylvia is surprised to see Frank in her room. He apologizes for his past behavior, saying he is no longer in love with her. Sylvia goes from laughing to crying. At the same time, Vickie realizes that her nephew is upstairs. Frank's consoling of Sylvia leads to him touching her breast, after which the two passionately embrace.
Details
- NETWORK: Channel 4 (United Kingdom)
- DATE: 1993
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:32362
- GENRE: Comedy; Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Drama
- SERIES RUN: Channel 4 (United Kingdom) - TV, 1993
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dennis Potter … Executive Producer, Writer
- Rosemarie Whitman … Producer
- Alison Barnett … Co-Producer
- Michael Brent … Associate Producer
- Renny Rye … Director
- Giles Thomas … Cast, Private Francis
- Ewan McGregor … Cast, Private Hopper
- Louise Germaine … Cast, Sylvia Berry
- Douglas Henshall … Cast, Corporal Berry
- Roy Hudd … Cast, Harold Atterbow
- Peter Jeffrey … Cast, Colonel Bernwood
- Clive Francis … Cast, Major Hedges
- Nicholas Jones … Cast, Major Carter
- Nicholas Farrell … Cast, Major Church
- Maggie Steed … Cast, Aunt Vickie
- Bernard Hill … Cast, Uncle Fred
- Kymberley Huffman … Cast, Lisa Trekker
- Jim Carter … Cast, Inspector
- Geoffrey Larder … Cast, Medvedenko
- Carol Starks … Cast, Masha
- Debra Beaumont … Cast, Nina
- James Snell … Cast, Trigorin
- Allison Hancock … Cast, Arkadina
- Terence Bayler … Cast, General
- Tim Seely … Cast, Brigadier
- Roger Hume … Cast, Lt. Colonel
- Andy Laycock … Cast, First Soldier
- Daniel Ryan … Cast, Second Soldier
- Che Walker … Cast, Policeman
- Stephen Tremblay … Cast, Singer