The Sweeney: Nightmare (ITV 5 Oct 1978, with Paul Antrim)

In Nightmare Jack’s latest girlfriend is having recurring nightmares in which he ends up badly injured. She is convinced they are a warning that something bad is going to happen to him.

Meanwhile Jack and Carter are watching a couple of villains. They run a seemingly successful antiques business but the pair are ex-IRA and are actually involved in a highly dangerous racket involving both drug and gun running.

A lot of shooting with multiple victims make this an episode with a pretty high body count. The tense final shoot out takes place in an aircraft hangar and when one of the villains turns the gun laser sight right into Jack’s eyes it leaves him temporarily blinded. The episode finishes with him recuperating in hospital and his girlfriend feeling validated about her dreams.

Haskins is still on the scene and it’s George who is wearing the leather jacket in this one. Once again the vibe is tough although there is room as always for humour when it’s needed, especially in the scene when Daniels fits a tracking device to a piano only for it to end up in a commode, which George and Jack have to then retrieve it from.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Thursday 5 October 1978 at 9.00pm

Writer: Ranald Graham / Director: David Wickes

Series: The Sweeney Season 4 Episode 5

cast
John Thaw as Jack Regan
Dennis Waterman as George Carter
Garfield Morgan as Frank Haskins
Paul Antrim as Farrell
Tony Rohr as Flynn
Barry Phillips as Keith Wilson
David Gillies as Norman Charles
Lea Brodie as Jane
Kenneth Watson as Horrocks
John Alkin as Daniels
J.G. Devlin as Hay
Enid Irvin as Mrs Charles
David Ellison as Dutchman
Alfred Maron as Stirk
Linda Brill as Maire
Ritchie Stewart as Cafe Owner