Spindoe: You Start Winning (ITV 10 May 1968, with Garfield Morgan)

In You Start Winning Spindoe turns up at his wife’s funeral and comes under immediate attack. Meanwhile he, along with Billy Humphries, are fielding lots of calls from former gang members who would be happy to rejoin with Spindoe now he is back in action.

Peach has taken over from D.I. Tierney who has been forced out by the press. He decides to arrest both Edwards and Alec for the two murders. Humphries wants Scaliger to come up with evidence to get Spindoe out but Scaliger isn’t keen, especially after the Renata business (she is in hospital having been badly beaten and left with major cuts all over her face). Humphries pays Renata a visit and persuades her to provide proof that Spindoe had nothing to do with Shelagh’s death with the proviso that if she does Alec will pay for her to get her face fixed. Spindoe is not overly impressed when he finds out – he’s not a doing deals kind of guy. But it does mean he gets out of police custody.

There is an amusing scene where Edwards and Spindoe are brought together in Peach’s office and pretend it’s the first time they’ve met since Spindoe came out of prison.

Later when Edwards is refused bail his gang break him out of the courtroom at gunpoint but it’s at that point that it all begins to unravel for him. Mackleson has decided that Spindoe is the better prospect and decides to get rid of the usurper once and for all. By the end of the episode Edwards is dead and Spindoe is back in charge of the South.

classic quote
The brass neck of it. Kills her in cold blood and then comes to her funeral.

production details
UK / ITV – Granada / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 10 May 1968 at 9.00pm

Writer: Robin Chapman / Production Design: Alan Price / Director: Cormac (Mike) Newell

Series: Spindoe Episode 4 (of 6)

cast
Ray McAnally as Alec Spindoe
Richard Hurndall as Mackleson
Anthony Bate as Edwards
George Sewell as Scaliger
Garfield Morgan as Webster
Glynn Edwards as Billy Humphries
Rachel Herbert as Renata
Bryan Marshall as Peach
Jon Laurimore as Detective Sergeant Fowler
John Bryans as Alfred Birchall
Peter Jesson as Hans
Ronald Harvi as Priest
S. Keith James as Magistrate