Mind Beyond, The: The Double Echo (BBC-2 1976,Jeremy Kemp, Anthony Bate)

The Double Echo, Episode Two of The Mind Beyond anthology series sees Mr and Mrs Fisher taking their autistic and mute daughter Alison to visit psychotherapist Dr Mallam.

Alison hasn’t spoken a sound since she was a toddler but Mallam is more than a little surprised to discover he has a kind of symbiotic connection to her, following a series of tests it becomes clear that he shares a telepathic link with her.

Mallam allows himself to get too personally involved with the girl and when a colleague tries to suggest that he should take a step back he is killed in a freak accident…

An excellent episode, great central performance from the under rated Jeremy Kemp and a young Geraldine Cowper as Alison. Strong dialogue and Sgt Peppers on the soundtrack too!

classic quote
“You won’t keep me long I hope, what’s it about”
“I’ve got a patient who is a telepath”

production details
UK / BBC-2 / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 6 October 1976

Writer: Brian Hayles / Costumes: Juanita Waterson / Production Design: Richard Henry / Producer: Irene Shubik / Director: Alan Bridges

cast
JEREMY KEMP as Dr Mallam
ANTHONY BATE as Dr Raeburn
GERALDINE COWPER as Alison
CLIFFORD ROSE as Mr Fisher
DIANA FAIRFAX as Mrs Fisher
SHIRLEY CAIN as Mrs Nevinson
HAZEL BAINBRIDGE as Miss Gibson
JOHN RODEN as Colonel Erinson

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• Sextet, The: Follow The Yellow Brick Road (BBC-2 1972, Denholm Elliott, Dennis Waterman)

• Play For Today: The Bankrupt (BBC 1972, Joss Ackland)

• Hamlet at Elsinore (BBC 1964, Christopher Plummer, Robert Shaw)

• A Handful of Thieves (BBC One 1969, Helen Worth, Martin Ratcliffe)

• Hands Across the Sea (BBC, 1938, Nadine March, Nicholas Phipps)

• My Son Reuben (Thames 1975, Bernard Spear, Lila Kaye,)

• The Franchise Affair (BBC 1962, Rosalie Crutchley, Michael Aldridge)

• The Galactic Garden