CANTERBURY TALES: THE WIFE OF BATH (TV)
Summary
One in this six-part miniseries featuring modern-day retellings of Chaucer's famous fourteenth-century tales. In this installment, a famous fifty-something television actress talks in an interview about her many marriages and her happiness with her current husband of fifteen years, James, a dentist. Elsewhere, her 22-year-old co-star Jerome has yet another meaningless encounter with a crew member in his trailer and then hitches a ride home with Beth, with whom he has an easy rapport. When Beth arrives home, she is stunned when James confesses to an affair, explaining that it has been going on for many years and that he is leaving her to live with the other woman and their child. Beth descends into rage and despair, comforted by her longtime assistant, Jessica, though the tabloids do not report on the story. Beth ponders getting more Botox to look younger and soon decides that her character on the show, Ros, should defend Jerome's character from a rape charge and then enter into a sexual relationship with him, angrily pointing out to head producer Jane that there is a double standard when it comes to older men and younger women. Jerome is pleased with the rewrite and Beth goes to visit James, surprised to see that his girlfriend is only slightly younger than she is, and begs him to come back to her and go on a long-planned trip to St. Lucia, saying that no one knows of the split, but he declines.
Jerome and Beth flirt as they prepare for their sex scene, and they end up recreating their passion for real in her trailer. Jessica is embarrassed as the pair continues their affair at her home, and Beth invites Jerome to go on holiday with her instead. The police then arrive, however, and inform Beth that James has been killed in a car accident. She attends the funeral, but then heads off to St. Lucia with Jerome, and upon returning, excitedly tells Jessica that they are engaged. Jessica worries that playboy Jerome will be unfaithful to her and is stung when Beth tells her that she intends to make Jerome a director of production on the show because of a "tax thing," then revealing that she herself is having an affair with an older show writer, Annie. Jerome's parents are not at all pleased by the news, and Jerome assures Beth that he is through with meaningless hook-ups and only wants her. Beth exercises to fit into her dress, and Jerome is surprised when he discovers her many age-related pills and creams. The two are married and Beth gives a bawdy speech at the reception, which embarrasses his parents, but the couple seems blissfully happy. Upon returning from her honeymoon, Beth learns that their show has been picked up for a sixth series – but the network wants Jerome out, as his popularity has declined after marrying an older woman, though she is all the more beloved for landing a younger man.
Beth suggests to him that he is "bored" by the role and should move on to better things, and he agrees and departs the show. However, Jessica accidentally spills the beans about his being "axed," and he confronts Beth furiously about her lie, feeling that she is treating him like a child and has used him to benefit her career. He cruelly mocks her age and declares that he is leaving her, and things turn violent when she tries to stop him. She eventually drops the charges against him, and he begs her forgiveness, stating that he cares only about being with her and will never leave. She reveals that she got cosmetic surgery to look younger for him, though he notes that he liked her normal looks, and the two reunite. Later, however, she explains in an interview that the marriage ended because he was too young, though they are still on good terms. Her friends observe that despite her heartbreaks, she has not given up looking for "Mr. Perfect." Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: BBC
- DATE: September 18, 2003
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:84604
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Literature; Miniseries
- SERIES RUN: BBC - TV series, 2003
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Franc Roddam … Executive Producer
- Laura Mackie … Executive Producer
- Sally Haynes … Executive Producer
- Kate Bartlett … Producer
- Carmel Maloney … Line Producer
- Andy de Emmony … Director
- Sally Wainwright … Writer
- Geoffrey Chaucer … Based on the tales by
- Martin Phipps … Music by
- Murray Gold … Theme Music by
- Julie Walters … Cast, Beth
- Paul Nicholls … Cast, Jerome
- Bill Nighy … Cast, James
- Rick Bacon … Cast, Graham
- Pascale Burgess … Cast, Jessica
- Jane Nash … Cast, Annie
- Samantha Bond … Cast, Jane
- Emma Pike … Cast, Kirsty
- Siobhan Hewlett … Cast, Karen
- Bill Moody … Cast, Ernie
- Michele Austin … Cast, Trish
- Tim Hardy … Cast, Doctor
- Annie Julian … Cast, The Other Woman
- Dylan Charles … Cast, Jason
- John Kirk … Cast, Policeman
- Sarah Kendall … Cast, Policewoman
- Richard Syms … Cast, The Vicar
- Carolyn Pickles … Cast, Judy
- Bob Mason … Cast, Ian