#but necessary words‚ so that sentences are blunt and self contained‚ just one aspect of a streamlined future) and with oblique references

[mariocki]

Play for Today: The Flipside of Dominick Hide (BBC, 1980)

"Complacent with your mission, Dominick? Amusing, the history of transport. We've made a modicum of progress: trips are regulated to microseconds, punctuality taken for granted."

"Yes."

"Why then were you two minutes late on your double return? Machine fault?"

"No. I'm sorry."

"I accept apology. Reason?"

"It was raining. Rain slows everything. I saw an old woman knocked down and I was checking how long before help reached her. The medi-car was blocked in progress, I think she died."

"So?"

"I thought it might be interesting."

"People are not your conspectus, Dominick. If you wish to study people, watch old films."

[thisbluespirit]

@mariocki #PfT is often discussed as if it only produced gritty social realism (which was perhaps its abiding impact) but the strand wasn't afraid to#dip its toes into genre waters: cue this‚ one of the most successful plays in PfT's run‚ spawning a sequel‚ a spin off series of plays#(short lived Play for Tomorrow) and ended up as probably the best received and reviewed bbc play of 1980. finally catching up to it and i#can see why it struck a chord maybe; it's a very charming piece‚ with a delightful central performance from Firth‚ and a greater emphasis#on romantic comedy than hard sci fi. but it's also a rewardingly detailed script (dialogue in all future scenes is stripped of anything#but necessary words‚ so that sentences are blunt and self contained‚ just one aspect of a streamlined future) and with oblique references#for the viewer to work out (unsettling mention of an elderly tourist breaking down at a visit to the 1936 Olympics‚ the significance lost#on Dominick and his future colleagues). the cast is stuffed with future stars in small roles (Phil Davis‚ Mark Wingett and Denis Lawson all#have small roles) but i was delighted to find Pat Magee onboard‚ having genuinely no idea he'd appeared in this. a fun time! sweet and soft

Play for Today: The Flipside of Dominick Hide (BBC, 1980)

"Complacent with your mission, Dominick? Amusing, the history of transport. We've made a modicum of progress: trips are regulated to microseconds, punctuality taken for granted."

"Yes."

"Why then were you two minutes late on your double return? Machine fault?"

"No. I'm sorry."

"I accept apology. Reason?"

"It was raining. Rain slows everything. I saw an old woman knocked down and I was checking how long before help reached her. The medi-car was blocked in progress, I think she died."

"So?"

"I thought it might be interesting."

"People are not your conspectus, Dominick. If you wish to study people, watch old films."