POLITICIAN'S WIFE, THE, EPISODE 2: ECHO CHAMBER (TV)
Summary
Continued from T:41398. Part two in this three-part British drama about Flora Matlock, the wife of Duncan Matlock, an ambitious Conservative member of Parliament. When Duncan's secret extramarital affair is exposed to the media, Flora submerges her feelings in order to save his career. But when Flora learns the extent of Duncan's betrayal, she uses her own political skills to destroy him. In this part, Flora appears on a talk show, and expertly fields questions about the affair, supporting Duncan throughout. Indeed, Flora finds herself increasingly the object of wonder and respect among Duncan's associates. After an icy run-in with Jennifer Caird at a House restaurant, Flora arranges to have Jennifer barred entry from all government clubs and restaurants. At home alone, Flora listens to the tapes of Duncan and Jennifer's phone conversations -- now an apparent ritual for her. She carefully builds her relationship with the powerful Sir Donald, and suggests to him that Duncan has had other affairs, but that she has stayed with him out of party loyalty. Ostensibly garnering support for Duncan, Flora makes a powerful speech before the Conservative Christian Wives coalition, suggesting that she put her anguish aside for the sake of the party and stressing the need for women to play a larger role in politics. When Duncan refuses Flora's efforts to support the group of working women who need funding for a nursery, Flora tips a reporter about an anti-Matlock protest march by angry nursery supporters. Meanwhile, Flora attends to the increasing emotional problems of her young son, Paul, who has gone to boarding school to avoid Duncan -- an icy, ungiving father. Later, Mark Hollister reveals his motives to Flora and becomes an important ally. He leaves her with a confidential copy of Duncan's bill, the passing of which will be vital to Duncan's career. She learns he seeks to privatize the children's health benefit, forcing low-income working mothers into an impossible situation. Flora advises Duncan to renew an old friendship with an insurance executive, in order to gain an ally for his bill. After a dinner party during which Flora learns of a white elephant manor house owned by the insurance company, Duncan and the insurance executive are surprised by a photographer in a parting embrace outside the Matlock's home. Later, Flora asks her father to sign title papers on the bargain-priced manor house, which she claims to purchase as a surprise gift for Duncan. A scandal breaks when the photos go to press and it appears that Flora's father has gotten a special deal on the house from the insurance company with which Duncan now appears to be in bed. His career on the line, Duncan once again squirms his way out: he claims he bought the estate as a new home for the working mothers' nursery. Clive, whom Duncan cruelly berated when the story broke, is taken away from his house in an ambulance. Continues with T:41482. (This program won the 1995 International Emmy Award in the drama category.)
Details
- NETWORK: Channel 4 (United Kingdom)
- DATE: March 31, 1995
- RUNNING TIME: 1:03:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:41399
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; International Collection - United Kingdom
- SERIES RUN: Channel 4 (United Kingdom) - TV, 1995
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jenny Edwards … Producer
- Jeanna Polley … Producer
- Neal Weisman … Producer
- Rebecca Jones … Production (Misc.), Production Manager
- Emma Mager … Production (Misc,), Production Co-Ordinator
- Graham Theakston … Director
- Bill Brennan … Direction (Misc.), First Assistant Director
- Jenny Frayn … Researcher
- Paula Milne … Writer
- Sarah Hayward … Script Supervisor
- Barrington Pheloung … Composer
- Juliet Stevenson … Cast, Flora Matlock
- Trevor Eve … Cast, Duncan Matlock
- Ian Bannen … Cast, Sir Donald Frazier
- Anton Lesser … Cast, Mark Hollister
- Frederick Treves … Cast, Clive Woodley
- Minnie Driver … Cast, Jennifer Caird
- Richard Ross Phillips … Cast, the TV Interviewer
- Patrick Drury … Cast, Ian Ruby-Smith
- Max Digby … Cast, the Young Tory
- Stuart Piper … Cast, Paul Matlock
- Penny Bunton … Cast, Lydia Gibb
- Trevor Baxton … Cast, Gordon Naylor
- Katie Donnison … Cast, Joanna Matlock
- Charmain May … Cast, Mrs. Lucas
- Diana Fairfax … Cast, Rosalind Clegg
- Veronica Clifford … Cast, Veronica Weston
- Lisa Jacobs … Cast, Margot
- Jaqueline Tong … Cast, Suzie
- Richard Brierley … Cast, Richard Pierson
- Mark Sinden … Cast, Martyn Price
- Andrew Hilton … Cast, Hugo Patterson
- Michael Harbour … Cast, Roger Gravely
- Sally Knyvette … Cast, Peggy Price
- Stephen Boxer … Cast, Colin Fletcher
- Sue Edelsen … Cast, the TV Politico Pundit
- Claire Vousden … Cast, Duncan's Secretary