alan45
09-04-2009, 09:52
Michael (Sam Laurie), Lizzie (Holly-Mai Leighton) and Peter Morley (Jack Downham) are exploring the overgrown gardens of a derelict local house – as they edge closer to the door, Lizzie spots a shadowy figure inside the house, and terrified the children bolt. However as Michael and Lizzie speed home, their younger brother Peter gets stuck in the undergrowth and disappears from sight. PC Joe Mason (Joe McFadden) is called in to help find Peter, but Michael and Lizzie remain secretive – they old house was out of bounds and they refuse to admit they ventured further than their father allows.
Soon, the whole village sets about looking for Peter. Peggy (Gwen Taylor) starts speculating conspiracy theories, while Gina (Tricia Penrose) informs Mason (Jo McFadden) about an ominous van she saw earlier. Meanwhile, Wetherby (Rupert Ward Lewis) finally manages to get the truth out of Lizzie and Michael about where they were playing and as the search moves to the derelict house, Peggy starts telling the village about the mysterious Mr. Druce – who lived in the house and the disappearance of his Spanish wife.
Wetherby eventually finds Peter down an old well which is on the verge of collapse. As he attempts to rescue him, the well caves in and Peter’s situation becomes critical. Firemen begin the rescue and local reporters soon flock to cover the drama, including the famous Sheridan Ralph (Tim Wylton), with whom Peggy is quite star-struck and very hospitable. Wetherby is beside himself – feeling he’s put Pete in extreme danger as Gina comforts him - Blaketon (Derek Fowlds) can’t help but notice their closeness, with increasing disdain.
Sheridan is sent away from the rescue operation after being caught snooping but soon finds a much juicier story in the form of village gossip from an all-too-willing source - Peggy. Meanwhile, the police are sure no-one has been inside the house for years, but given Lizzie’s confession that she saw a man, Mason searches it again, but to no avail.
Finally, as the rescue attempt gets underway, a shot is fired from the house and panic ensues. Shots continue and the villagers try to hide in safety. Peter’s father Ray is half-suspended down the well, as Miller (John Duttine) and Mason re-enter the house to find the mysterious gunman. They find Howard Druce (Freddie Jones), an elderly and frail man with a gun. Once Druce is appeased, the rescue mission continues, and Ray re-emerges with an injured and frail Peter in his arms. Has Peter been saved in time, or has the delayed rescue been tragically late? And will the police determine why Druce was shooting at the firemen?
As Sheridan’s articles begin to appear, Gina’s furious and accuses Blaketon of spreading the rumours. She and Wetherby agree that their behaviour has set tongues wagging, and reluctantly decide they should try and keep a greater distance between them. Blaketon continues to pry about Gina’s relationship with Wetherby and when he accuses her of being a marriage breaker, she’s furious. She and Wetherby are friends and nothing more – it’s his job to support police widows and she’s simply been trying to make him feel better about the incident with Peter. Blaketon admits he’s been insensitive and that he shouldn’t be so paternally protective over Gina. Meanwhile, David and the majority of the villagers are glad to see the back of Sheridan, but when Peggy finally surfaces after her heavy night with him, will she be pleased with her new-found fame in the newspaper?
Soon, the whole village sets about looking for Peter. Peggy (Gwen Taylor) starts speculating conspiracy theories, while Gina (Tricia Penrose) informs Mason (Jo McFadden) about an ominous van she saw earlier. Meanwhile, Wetherby (Rupert Ward Lewis) finally manages to get the truth out of Lizzie and Michael about where they were playing and as the search moves to the derelict house, Peggy starts telling the village about the mysterious Mr. Druce – who lived in the house and the disappearance of his Spanish wife.
Wetherby eventually finds Peter down an old well which is on the verge of collapse. As he attempts to rescue him, the well caves in and Peter’s situation becomes critical. Firemen begin the rescue and local reporters soon flock to cover the drama, including the famous Sheridan Ralph (Tim Wylton), with whom Peggy is quite star-struck and very hospitable. Wetherby is beside himself – feeling he’s put Pete in extreme danger as Gina comforts him - Blaketon (Derek Fowlds) can’t help but notice their closeness, with increasing disdain.
Sheridan is sent away from the rescue operation after being caught snooping but soon finds a much juicier story in the form of village gossip from an all-too-willing source - Peggy. Meanwhile, the police are sure no-one has been inside the house for years, but given Lizzie’s confession that she saw a man, Mason searches it again, but to no avail.
Finally, as the rescue attempt gets underway, a shot is fired from the house and panic ensues. Shots continue and the villagers try to hide in safety. Peter’s father Ray is half-suspended down the well, as Miller (John Duttine) and Mason re-enter the house to find the mysterious gunman. They find Howard Druce (Freddie Jones), an elderly and frail man with a gun. Once Druce is appeased, the rescue mission continues, and Ray re-emerges with an injured and frail Peter in his arms. Has Peter been saved in time, or has the delayed rescue been tragically late? And will the police determine why Druce was shooting at the firemen?
As Sheridan’s articles begin to appear, Gina’s furious and accuses Blaketon of spreading the rumours. She and Wetherby agree that their behaviour has set tongues wagging, and reluctantly decide they should try and keep a greater distance between them. Blaketon continues to pry about Gina’s relationship with Wetherby and when he accuses her of being a marriage breaker, she’s furious. She and Wetherby are friends and nothing more – it’s his job to support police widows and she’s simply been trying to make him feel better about the incident with Peter. Blaketon admits he’s been insensitive and that he shouldn’t be so paternally protective over Gina. Meanwhile, David and the majority of the villagers are glad to see the back of Sheridan, but when Peggy finally surfaces after her heavy night with him, will she be pleased with her new-found fame in the newspaper?