TV I like: Inspector George Gently - Series 2, Episode 2

Gently in the Night

It is still 1964, the place of the crime is Newcastle, and the subject this episode tackles is what ‘goes on in the night’ – sex and attitudes surrounding the subject. Gently needs a bit of translation from Bacchus with the witness who found the body laid out in the church and, as it happens, Bacchus had met her briefly in a gentlemen’s club he had been ‘curious about’, that he had bought a membership to, taken a bit of a shine to one of the cocktail waitresses at (which could compromise the case), and enjoyed champagne he couldn’t afford at (which causes some friction between the duo). When she ‘turns up missing’, Bacchus is concerned, especially when he finds out from the abortion doctor that that same cocktail waitress may have information about a possible motive for her friend’s murder. The investigation looks at the dead girl’s father, boyfriend, lover, lover’s wife, employer, coming up with a theory that her rapist and murderer do not necessarily need to be the same person.

In many ways, the ‘60s are not that different from the 2010s. There are repressive attitudes towards sex (whether within or without a marriage) as well as progressive ones with a view to changing the laws and protecting women, especially those ‘in trouble’. Only now, there are people moving to change the laws back to the repressive ones, except people don’t change. Men and women will always be having sex and there will always be unwanted pregnancies. Knitting needles and dangerous chemicals are not the way to go; they weren’t then and they aren’t now. In my view, people die when religion dictates law – then and now. What this episode is careful about is not overtly dealing with sex, nor does it tell its viewership what to think. It lays the subject bare and it opens the door for frank discussion and equally I hope, some open listening.

The ‘sideshow plot’ is a charity boxing match between the Chief Inspector and his protégé. The bet is three rounds for Gently (who used to box in and for the Army) or three touches for Bacchus (who thinks his DCI is past it). No spoilers here. 

Familiar names from the ‘guest list’: Brendan Coyle (with a consistently wonky American accent) is the club’s American owner Patrick Donovan and Mark Williams is Joe Bishop, a lawyer, married to one of the “God Squad” protesters with connections to the club and the dead cocktail waitress Audrey.  

Context:

1964 – It is illegal for doctors to prescribe oral contraceptives to unmarried women.