Shoestring: The Utmost Good Faith (BBC-1 9 Nov 1980 with Derek Martin)

UK / BBC One / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast 9 November 1980 @ 9.05pm

Writer: Andrew Payne / Production Design: Tim Gleeson / Director: Marek Kanievska

Series: Shoestring / Season 1 Episode 6

“I know but I love electrical stuff and I haven’t got any and just think how good the scratches on your albums will sound”

When her husband commits suicides after being targeted by debt collectors Mary Reynolds asks Shoestring to investigate, her husband, Tim was an electronics whizz who had come up with a new system and it soon becomes apparent that a company called Ubitronics is more than a little too interested in acquiring the technology Reynolds has created.

A great Eisenstein-esque opening with the suicide of Reynolds leaping from the top of a building and more good stuff as Eddie pays a visit to a computer company and shows off his expert knowledge. In fact Eddie is more than a little keen himself to prove that computers are to blame for the Reynolds problems. For once Eddie comes out on top during the obligatory fight and eagle eyed viewers may notice that the number plate of his car (usually VUC 959M) changes to PLC 628R during a key scene where he is stuck behind a milk float!

guest cast
CAROL GILLIES as Mrs Walsh
ANDREW McCULLOCH as Parker
ANNIE HAYES as Mary Reynolds
DEREK MARTIN as Parry
DON HAWKINS as Dave
ANDREW LODGE as Rodgers
DAVID PINNER as Millar
MICHAEL O’HAGAN as Detective Inspector McGrath
CHAS BRYER as Schoolteacher
GERARD KELLY as Hi-Fi Salesman
BILL WESTON as Tim Reynolds
DEBBIE ARNOLD as Receptionist
NULA CONWELL as Counter Girl
JOHN BLUNDELL as Messenger
JULIAN LITTMAN as D.J.
COLIN MAITLAND as Sound Engineer