EPISODE GUIDE

A record request from a dead girl and a mysterious cover-up in the music business are among the off-key notes Eddie strikes when he tries to trace a missing 1960s pop star…

Series 2, Episode 4:

"THE MAYFLY DANCE" written by BILL CRAIG directed by HENRY HERBERT

CAST & CREW

Original BBC1 tx: Sunday 26 October 1980 2105 - 2205hrs, watched by 10.2 million Filming dates: 2 - 17 June 1980 (drn. 53'56")

Mike Frewin's memory is triggered by hearing the song Lazy Daisy played by Radio West

SYNOPSIS BY NICK:

NICK'S REVIEW:

A "Shoestring" episode that begins off with light moments, notably Lance Percival's wry performance as Jake Rivere, "The Mayfly Dance" has many dark undercurrents which surface as the plot progresses. In many respects this fits in well with the script's look at the sour background behind an apparently saccharine pop song enjoying a new wave of popularity. With trips to London and Cardiff, the episode has plenty of scope. Eddie is at his most subtly eccentric here - my favourite moment in the episode is his handing over of a crumpled set of "expenses" from his London trip to Sonia. These turn out to be not several sheets, but one bill for a curry in Bristol! More good Eddie moments are provided when he tries to bluff his way as a Japanese translator, and as a ministerial agricultural adviser. Another dark and bitter ending, with an icy climax during the flashback sequence as the girl drowns alone. Downbeat, but compelling.

"THE MAYFLY DANCE" contains what can be seen as either a marvellous piece of continuity, or a wonderful in- joke. Over the course of the series, presumably due to the vagaries of actors' availability, we actually separately meet these three Radio West lawyers, all of them thorns in Eddie's side (and vice versa!). No mention is made about why it isn't always the same lawyer.

However, early in this episode Maurice Gilray (seen right, above) is doorstepped by a photographer outside his office, and we get a brief glimpse of a sign saying CORDING, GILRAY & BRIDGEMAN SOLICITORS!

I know what you're thinking. Trivial, maybe, but we watched Shoestring very closely indeed putting this site together, so please indulge us!

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS BY DENE:

A colourful episode this, with Eddie enlisted by Don to locate one Jody Brent, singer of 1962 hit 'Lazy Daisy', which Radio West has been instrumental in initiating a revival in popularity of. 60s stalwart Lance Percival contributes an excellent cameo here as Jake Rivere, whimsical, tomato juice-drinking DJ host of the 'Golden Oldies' slot responsible for the record's current popularity (possibly ad-libbed, he amusingly calls Eddie variously 'bootlace', 'toecap', 'waistband' and 'tie clip'!). There is consequently a nostalgic element to "THE MAYFLY DANCE" which usually adds a nice flavour to proceedings in films & television series and no exception here - plus the fact that the radio station is so very integral to the story is a nice touch.

Eddie and Erica's trip to London in this episode (Eddie to do some investigating naturally, Erica for a legal conference) works well. Their scenes both going and coming back are a delight, written, acted and edited in a very breezy, warm manner. One minor change in Series 2 is that the relationship between Eddie & Erica is more subtly ambiguous (the one exception being in "THE TEDDY BEARS' NIGHTMARE"), perhaps even reminiscent of that between Steed & Mrs Peel in The Avengers in its mix of affectionate put- downs (usually on Erica's part) and vaguely suggestive banter!

Eddie & Erica's scenes together are one of the highlights of "THE MAYFLY DANCE".

When the truth about Jody Brent's disappearance and its connection with the drowning of local 16-year-old girl Penny Billington finally comes out (after 18 years), Eddie cannot keep quiet: her mother deserves some peace of mind about her death, and Gilray & company do not deserve to be allowed to protect their reputations any further. A solidly satisfying episode by Bill Craig.

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