AFTERLIFE: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The first in this supernatural drama series about the unlikely partnership between a psychic medium and a skeptical psychology professor.
In this episode, a young girl celebrates Christmas with her family, only to find herself trapped in a car with her parents and brother. Years later, medium Alison Mundy is tormented by ghostly sounds as Professor Robert Bridge teaches his psychology students about "cold readings" and other techniques employed by so-called psychics to create the illusion of otherworldly powers. Alison dodges her new neighbors' greetings, sure that they want her to use her abilitie; she continues hearing haunting noises of a baby's cry. Later, Robert takes his class to a theater at which several psychics are "performing." Alison nervously takes the stage, admitting that she is "not in charge" of her abilities. One woman in the audience is moved to tears when Alison describes a vision of what seems to be her deceased child, but one of Robert's students, Veronica, denies any comprehension when Alison describes a dark-haired woman standing over her like a "guardian angel." Later, however, Veronica experiences upsetting memories and stops attending Robert's class; headmistress Barbara Sinyard tells Robert that she has abruptly changed courses.
Concerned, Robert visits Veronica and reminds her that Alison's "visions" were mere fakery, but Veronica explains that, as a child, she alone survived her parents' Christmastime suicide pact, and that the figure described by Alison strongly resembles her mother. Robert protests that it is a "coincidence," and he later visits Alison, upset that she is apparently taking advantage of a "susceptible" young woman. Alison retorts that she does not enjoy her abilities and cannot control them, but wishes to help Veronica – and her mother – find peace. When she informs Robert that she sees a young child standing behind him, he merely states that she has "done her homework." Later, he searches for a book and visits a woman named Jude; photographs suggest that Alison was seeing their dead child. Veronica spends time with her friends and grows increasingly distraught as she remembers the night of her parents' deaths. Robert, too, is strongly reminded of his deceased son.
Alison tries to counsel Veronica, urging her to let go of her mother and celebrate the fact that she herself is alive. Veronica soon show signs of improvement and hands in an assignment to Robert. Barbara urges Robert to write a book about Alison, saying that they are "a match made in Heaven." Robert is later confused to see that Veronica's paper is actually blank. At home, Veronica's friends are horrified to find that she has slit her wrists in the bathtub; Robert and Alison rush to the hospital in time to learn that she has died. Alison sees Veronica peacefully reunited with her mother, though her friends are outraged at her seemingly insensitive comments. Robert, pondering the meaning of God and death, admits to Alison that he feels partially responsible for Veronica's death. Alison, still seeing visions of his son, warns him that "what he is looking for may not be what he finds." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: BBC America
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:45:54
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 119976
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Psychic phenomena and the occult; Psychology; Suicide
- SERIES RUN: ITV - TV series, 2005-2006; BBC America - 2006
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Murray Ferguson … Executive Producer
- John Hannah … Executive Producer
- Don Bell … Line Producer
- Maurice Phillips … Director
- Stephen Volk … Created by, Writer
- Ed Butt … Music by
- Lesley Sharp … Cast, Alison Mundy
- Andrew Lincoln … Cast, Robert Bridge
- Kate Duchêne … Cast, Barbara Sinyard
- Anna Wilson-Jones … Cast, Jude Bridge
- Cara Horgan … Cast, Veronica Vass
- Rhian Grundy … Cast, Jen
- Joe Anderson … Cast, Phil
- Rasmus Hardiker … Cast, James
- James Nelson Tumber … Cast, Little Boy
- Oscar James … Cast, Mr. Yearsly
- Jay Byrd … Cast, Mrs. Yearsly
- Colin Prockter … Cast, Arthur Rose
- Sandy Welch … Cast, Clive Gilman
- Joshua David-Kennedy … Cast, Josh
- Anna Farnworth … Cast, Veronica's Mother
- Rad Lazar … Cast, Veronica's Father
- Ella Morris … Cast, Young Veronica
- Gail Clayton … Cast, Surgeon
- Simon Capes … Cast, Anaesthetist
- Maureen Bennett … Cast, Woman 1
- Alisdair McKee … Cast, Postman