ARMCHAIR THEATRE: LENA, O MY LENA (TV)
Summary
One in this series of British dramatic anthologies. In this program, a naive young student has an affair with a straight-talking factory worker. The story begins as Tom, a fresh-faced Liverpudlian, seeks a job as a laborer at a warehouse in Lancashire. As his first day progresses, Tom, who has deliberately shunned the more student-oriented opportunities offered up the road, eases comfortably into the company of the other workers, including the foreman, Ted. Across the yard is a factory staffed primarily by women, and Tom finds himself smitten with Lena, one of the workers there. When one of Tom's new chums, a simpleton named Derek, is teased by some of the others, Lena commands them to stop. Later, Tom approaches her and offers his gratitude. Lena seems intrigued by his proper, collegiate personality and they make plans to meet that evening. Over supper with Ted, Tom reveals how he took the job because he wanted to get closer to his working-class roots. Lena's truck driver boyfriend, Glyn, catches winds of Tom's affections and warns him to stay away. Tom persists in his pursuit of Lena, whom he describes as a "real girl," and invites her and Peggy to a student pub. Outside, in the garden, Lena teaches Tom how to kiss and he pledges his eternal love, which Lena finds rather amusing. The next day, Glyn shows up during tea break and makes a big show of putting his arm around Lena and parading her around the yard. Tom leaps off the loading dock and hurls himself at Glyn, who casually knocks the boy down. As the workers gather in a circle around them, Glyn leans in close and fills Tom's ear with an essential lesson. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC (United Kingdom)
- DATE: November 30, 1999
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:00
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T85:0285
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; International Collection - United Kingdom
- SERIES RUN: ABC (United Kingdom) - TV series, 1956-1968
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Sydney Newman … Producer
- William T. Kotcheff … Director
- Alun Owen … Writer
- Billie Whitelaw … Cast, Lena
- Peter McEnery … Cast, Tom
- Scott Forbes … Cast, Glyn
- Jeanne Hepple … Cast, Peggy
- Colin Blakely … Cast, Ted
- Patrick O'Connell … Cast, Derek
- Keith Smith … Cast, Charlie
- Clifford Elkin … Cast, Jean-Louis
- Margery Withers … Cast, Derek's Mother
- Betty Romaine … Cast, the Forewoman
- Kathleen Heath … Cast, 1st Woman
- Edna Dore … Cast, 2nd Woman
- Shirley Teague … Cast, the Student