AS TIME GOES BY, one of the most popular and enduring British series on public television, starred Dame Judi Dench as Jean Pargetter and Geoffrey Palmer as Lionel Hardcastle, former lovers who reunited after 40 years. The two-part AS TIME GOES BY REUNION SPECIAL, airing on PBS Wednesday, December 14, 2005, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET, begins a few years after the original series left off. As the first hour begins, Jean, much to Lionel's dismay, is so eager for grandchildren that she orders cribs for the babies she hopes daughter Judith (Moira Brooker) and Sandy (Jenny Funnell) will soon have. Lionel, however, has an unsettling dream about infants who multiply at an alarming rate. Sandy, Jean's former employee who's like a second daughter, has just returned from Canada with husband Harry (David Michaels), who plans to join the armed response unit as a stepping-stone to promotion. Sandy is upset, but insists she won't try to influence Harry's decision. When Alistair (Philip Bretherton) begins to behave peculiarly, Judith thinks it's because she's been unable to get pregnant - and she suspects the problem lies with Alistair. Jean, who always wants to make things right for everyone, asks Lionel to suggest to Alistair that he seek medical advice. After an eventful day when Alistair, Sandy and Harry all have important news to relate, Jean and Lionel are finally alone. Lionel wants to talk about something besides babies, but Jean asks him why he and his first wife never had children. Their conversation is interrupted by the doorbell. When Jean opens the door, she comes face to face with a young black man who claims Lionel is his father. The second hour opens as Sandy and Harry return from a walk to find Jean anxious to tell them about Lionel's "son." Stephen (Paul Chapman) decides he wants to be a celebrity and asks Alistair for assistance. Alistair, meanwhile, decides to visit a sex shop and comes home with some bags that, unbeknownst to him, Judith and Sandy find later. Annoyed at his tactics, they give the bags to Penny (Moyra Fraser) and Stephen as gifts from Alistair. During the drive home, a startled Penny throws the bags from the car window. Harry is determined that he and Sandy find a place of their own, even though Jean wants them stay with her. Both Judith and Sandy have declined Jean's offer of running the secretarial agency. Lionel is looking forward to a quiet night, but his hopes are dashed when he learns that Rocky (Frank Middlemass) injured himself line dancing and has been hospitalized. Soon, Jean, Lionel, Sandy, Harry, Judith, Alistair and the formidable Mrs. Bale (Janet Henfrey) are all gathered around Rocky's bed, irritating the nurse. The hospital clerk is upset with Lionel, but Jean thinks it's nice that everyone came. As they're waiting for news about Rocky's injuries, Jean and Lionel are surprised to see Stephen wheeled in on a stretcher. They no sooner learn how he hurt himself when they see Penny in a wheelchair. Stephen explains why her neck is in a brace. Lionel agrees: it's nice that everyone came.
|
