MASTERPIECE THEATRE: PRIME SUSPECT 4: THE LOST CHILD (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre." This program presents the first stand-alone episode in the fourth edition of "Prime Suspect." In this installment, set in contemporary London, recently promoted Superintendent Jane Tennison is put in charge of finding an abducted child. As the episode opens, single mother Susan Covington studies late into the night. The next day, nanny Carolyn Norwood arrives at Covington's abode to find her bloodied, and her baby, Vicki Warwick, abducted. Meanwhile, Tennison prepares for her abortion, anxious to get back to work. With her new position back at Southampton Row station, Tennison is immediately put in charge of the abducted child case, angered to find that the media is already aware of it. Tennison speaks about the early details of the case with Detective Inspector Muddyman and Detective Inspector Richard Haskons, among others. She is told how the crime scene was found, along with the alibi for Covington's former husband, John Warwick, who claims he was out of town. Next, Tennison visits with Norwood, who discusses how she found the crime scene. Tennison is suspicious of some of Norwood's possessions, including a cellular phone, a camera, and an illegal mace spray. From there, Tennison is called to investigate the scene of a dumped car that may have been used in the abduction.
Afterward, Tennison learns that Covington is able to speak and heads to the hospital. There, Covington offers details on her attack, though she is unable to fully describe her attacker. Tennison also questions why Covington gave Norwood a camera, wondering if Covington had noticed someone following her. Covington reveals that, yes, she once saw a "clingy" man around Vicki in the park. Later, Covington speaks to the media, begging for Vicki to be returned. Back at the station, Haskons receives a tip that the abductor's car may have been pulled over several hours after the kidnapping. Now, Tennison feels she needs more detectives in order to find and save Vicki's life. The next day, Tennison and Haskons drive up to Darbyshire to speak with Warwick. At Warwick's farm, they find the man holed up in his barn, drinking and less-than-pleased by their arrival. He speaks with Tennison about why he and Covington split up and why he feels he should get custody of Vicki. Tennison reveals that she knows Warwick lied: He had indeed been in London the day Vicki was kidnapped. Soon enough, a neighbor of Covington, sex offender Chris Hughes, emerges as the prime suspect. Tennison and her team race to Hughes's residence but find no one there, save some inflammatory evidence. They do, however, find Hughes at his mechanic's garage and bring him in for questioning, where they reveal a wad of 2,000 quid they found stashed in a mattress in his flat. Tennison believes that Hughes may have earned the money via a pedophile information exchange.
Covington is then brought to the station, where she fingers Hughes as the clingy man in the park. However, Hughes's alibi on the night in question -- his girlfriend Anne Sutherland -- seems to check out. As the abduction case becomes a media sensation, Tennison and Muddyman head to Bedford to meet with Patrick Schofield, the independent prison psychologist responsible for Hughes's recent treatment. Tennison tries to get Schofield -- who doesn't believe Hughes is the abductor -- to help her with the case, but he refuses. The next day, travelers spot a bag in a river sluice that contains Vicki's corpse. After hearing of Vicki's death, an apologetic Schofield arrives, prepared to finally show Tennison his tape if she will let him meet with Hughes. Schofield is worried that Hughes may abuse Sutherland's young children, not realizing that Hughes has already been released. Later, Muddyman makes an unexpected visit to Sutherland's flat, showing her Schofield's tape of Hughes describing his past crimes with little girls. Now, Sutherland is willing to talk, telling a different story about Hughes's actions on the night of Vicki's abduction. The police find Hughes trying to flee but eventually apprehend him after an overzealous Muddyman sends him hurtling into a car. Then, when an ambulance tries to bring in the bloodied Hughes, an accident gives the prime suspect the chance to escape.
Immediately, Hughes returns to Sutherland's flat, holing up and taking Sutherland and her children as hostages. Haskons pursues Hughes to the apartment, getting cut by Hughes in the process of breaking in the front door. Soon, police have surrounded the scene. Meanwhile, Tennison confronts Muddyman over his handling of the case and his behavior toward Sutherland and Hughes. Tennison worries that Muddyman ruined their case by showing Sutherland the Schofield tape. Eventually, Tennison realizes that Muddyman's outrage comes from having been abused as a child himself. Ultimately, Hughes makes a phone call, agreeing to only speak with Tennison. Once on the line, Tennison tries to get Hughes to release Sutherland and her children. Surprisingly, Covington arrives on the scene, wanting to ask Hughes not to harm anyone. However, during the hostage extraction, trouble arises when Hughes spies police snipers surrounding him. As the hostage situation comes to its dramatic conclusion, Covington approaches Tennison with a revelation of her own.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: October 22, 1995 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:44:04
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:74242
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Lynda La Plante)
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Sally Head … Executive Producer
- Paul Marcus … Producer
- John Madden … Director
- Paul Billing … Writer
- Stephen Warbeck … Music
- Helen Mirren … Cast, Jane Tennison
- Beatie Edney … Cast, Susan Covington
- Robert Glenister … Cast, Chris Hughes
- Lesley Sharp … Cast, Anne Sutherland
- Tracy Keating … Cast, Carolyn Norwood
- Richard Hawley … Cast, Richard Haskons
- Jack Ellis … Cast, Tony Muddyman
- David Phelan … Cast, Pride
- Graham Seed … Cast, Doctor
- John Benfield … Cast, Tom Kernan
- Tony Rohr … Cast, McColl
- Mark Bazeley … Cast, Aplin
- Chris Brailsford … Cast, Westbrook
- Mossie Smith … Cast, Maureen Havers
- Caroline Selby … Cast, Alison Sutherland
- Candice Paul … Cast, Gayle Sutherland
- Adrian Lukis … Cast, John Warwick
- Fergus O'Donnell … Cast, Hawker
- Stuart Wilson … Cast, Patrick Schofield
- Stephen Tindall … Cast, White
- Anthony Daniels … Cast, Pathologist
- David Ryall … Cast, Oscar Bream
- Patrick Cremin … Cast, Andrews
- Sam Cox … Cast, Birnam
- Richard Cubison … Cast, Lane
- Mac Andrews … Cast, Stubbs
- Anna Hiland … Cast, Woman Police Constable
- Malcolm Raeburn … Cast, Sleeth
- Robin Ashenden … Cast, Reporter