Angel For May, An (ITV1 2002, Charlotte Wakefield, Matthew Beard)

In family drama An Angel For May in the present day while sheltering in a ruin during a thunderstorm, Tom falls back in time to the same location but during the second world war. It is a farmhouse and there he befriends an orphan girl, May, who is being looked after by the farmer and his soon-to-be fiance.

May was buried alive for a week under the rubble of a bomb hit house and is very withdrawn but Tom’s friendship brings her out. When Tom returns to the present he discovers that a terrible tragedy befell the farmhouse five days after he left and also discovers that May is still alive in the present day but is living as a down-and-out bag lady.

He tries to get back in time to warn them of the impending danger but by the time of the next thunderstorm it is too late and he fails to warn them. But he unknowingly accomplishes enough and when he returns to the present again he finds that old May’s life is now a happy one.

production details
UK / ITV1 / 1×120 minute episode / Broadcast 23 December 2002

Writer: Peter Milligan / Book: Melvin Burgess / Producer: Michael Cowan / Director: Harley Cokeliss

cast
CHARLOTTE WAKEFIELD as May
MATTHEW BEARD as Tom
ANNA MASSEY as Rosie (Old May)
TOM WILKINSON as Sam Wheeler
GERALDINE JAMES as Susan Higgins
ANGELINE BALL as Tom’s mother
HUGO SPEER as Bob Harris
JULIE COX as Alison Wheeler
JOHN BENFIELD as PC Clegg