The Fourth Arm Part 7 (BBC-1 18 Feb 2017, with Stefan Gryff)

The seventh episode of The Fourth Arm ramps up the tension as Gallagher, Macklin, Cameron, Macauley and Portales parachute behind enemy lines. They meet up with Solange who confirms that the plans they need are in place. The plan is to break in to the office complex where the plans are being kept and then burn it to the ground so that the German’s never know the plans have gone.

Meanwhile the issue of Portales and where her loyalties lie becomes murkier when American Intelligence expresses an interest in her. Gallagher has to be sure of her though and arranges for her to be followed after giving her a routine message to deliver. She heads straight to a known German sympathiser and leaves a letter with him. It leaves Gallagher’s French resistance man, who has been tailing her, no option but to “deal with her”. Sadly when it all shakes down it turns out that the letter was to Portales’ mother and all intel points to her being innocent.

The break in goes to plan with the exception of Cameron having to take out a German officer who almost walks in on them. Disaster strikes though when Macauley and Macklin are accosted by the French police – Macklin freezes and Macauley is forced to open fire. Macklin gets away but Macauley is shot and killed. The remaining members of the crew make their way back to the pick up point whilst Gallagher stay behind an extra day to take another look at the compound and pay a visit to his French girlfriend.

After the first few training episodes the series is really getting into gear now, a couple of shocking deaths show just how much is at stake. The shooting of Portales was a definite surprise, Macauley’s death less so as he had something of an impetuous nature. If he had left Macklin to deal with the police it would have been Macklin who bought it however in the overall scheme of the mission Macklin’s skills are more valuable.

production details
UK / BBC One / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast 18 February 1983 at 8.00pm

Writer: Gerard Glaister / Production Design: Bob Smart / Director: Andrew Morgan

Series: The Fourth Arm Episode 7 (of 12)

cast
Paul Shelley as Major Gallagher
Neil Stacy as Lieutenant-Colonel Squires
Philip Latham as Colonel Gwillim
Eve Adam as Portales (Rossignol)
Susan Kyd as Solange (Chardonneret)
Dean Harris as Macklin (Choucas)
Michael MacKenzie as Cameron (Grive)
Roy Boyd as Lamboit (Ferdy)
Carole Nimmons as Ellen (Merle)
Robert Swales as Macaulay (Mesange)
John Vine as Captain Floyd
Gregory de Polnay as De Grouchy
Jennie McCracken as Marie de Grouchy
Marianne Lawrence as Claudine Castillon
Ruth Gower as Madame Castillon
Stefan Gryff as Marcel Lecau
Chris Johnson as Jacques
John Hug as Gendarme
John Lester as Pilot
Roger Tallon as Despatcher
Ian Ruskin as Sturmbannfuhrer Boem
Gareth Milne as German Officer