BBC2 Play of the Week - Season 1

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Professional Foul

1 - Professional Foul

Air Date: September 21, 1977

Professor Anderson attends a conference in Prague, but what he really wants to do is attend a football match. Then he meets a former student unexpectedly, and must consider putting his philosophical ideas into practice.

Exiles

2 - Exiles

Air Date: September 28, 1977

In the 1920s, Michael Arlen was one of the most popular and acclaimed writers in the world, but he mysteriously stopped writing altogether. His son tries to work out why.

Abie's Will

3 - Abie's Will

Air Date: October 5, 1977

A once-celebrated writer who has written nothing since the war, lies paralysed and dying as his family gathers at the family home.

The Sinking of HMS Victoria

4 - The Sinking of HMS Victoria

Air Date: October 12, 1977

A dramatisation of events surrounding the loss of the turret ship HMS Victoria during fleet exercises off Tripoli on 22 June 1893.

True Patriot

5 - True Patriot

Air Date: October 19, 1977

A biopic of German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose opposition to Adolf Hitler led to his involvement in an assassination plot.

Shooting the Chandelier

6 - Shooting the Chandelier

Air Date: October 26, 1977

Czechoslovakia, April 1945. A chance meeting between a professor and his former student turns into a violent trial of strength.

The Kitchen

7 - The Kitchen

Air Date: November 2, 1977

A busy day in the kitchen of a great hotel.

Arnhem: The Story of an Escape

8 - Arnhem: The Story of an Escape

Air Date: November 16, 1977

Graeme Warrack was Divisional Chief Doctor of the 1st Airborne Division at the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. With other doctors, medical personnel and padres, he stayed behind with the wounded.

Forgotten Love Songs

9 - Forgotten Love Songs

Air Date: January 4, 1978

A man seeks the perfect relationship.

A Visit from Miss Prothero

10 - A Visit from Miss Prothero

Air Date: January 11, 1978

Arthur Dodsworth has recently retired. He lives alone except for his budgie and memories of his late wife Winnie. One afternoon his nap is interrupted by the doorbell; his former secretary, Peggy Prothero, has come to visit.

Mr. & Mrs. Bureaucrat

11 - Mr. & Mrs. Bureaucrat

Air Date: January 18, 1978

Satire set at the Department of Something or Other, where mistakes in form-filling can bring careers to a sudden end.

Foreign Affairs

12 - Foreign Affairs

Air Date: January 25, 1978

Moscow is the setting for a reunion between Viktor and Susan which brings about unforeseen complications.

The Dissolution of Marcus Fleischman

13 - The Dissolution of Marcus Fleischman

Air Date: February 1, 1978

Marcus Fleischman's reincarnation proves a frustrating one. His widow, in his absence, leads the simple life of a shopkeeper, and brings up their son as best she can.

The O'Hooligan File

14 - The O'Hooligan File

Air Date: February 8, 1978

A former teacher takes on the system armed only with pen, paper and stamps.

The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill

15 - The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill

Air Date: February 15, 1978

Married life starts off full of bright hopes for Alex and Lynda, but soon they are trapped in a nightmare with their friend Bill.

Flayed

16 - Flayed

Air Date: February 22, 1978

A disparate group of guests find themselves locked into a largely empty television studio controlled by an anonymous man.

She Fell Among Thieves

17 - She Fell Among Thieves

Air Date: March 1, 1978

France, 1924. Two English gentlemen join forces to investigate notorious villainess Vanity Fair in her fortified chateau. Tongue-in-cheek 1978 TV film based on the novel by Dornford Yates.

Stargazy on Zummerdown

18 - Stargazy on Zummerdown

Air Date: March 15, 1978

In the 23rd century, Albion (formerly Britain) is made up of two distinct communities — the Aggros (farm workers) and the Toonies (industrial workers). They meet at Zummerdown for the annual midsummer festival of Stargazy.

Liza

19 - Liza

Air Date: March 22, 1978

Lavretsky returns to Russia from Europe and joins the group of admirers of his beautiful young cousin Liza.

For Tea on Sunday

20 - For Tea on Sunday

Air Date: March 29, 1978

Some young women, sharing accommodation, invite their boyfriends for tea on Sunday. But one of them proves to be alarmingly disturbed.

When the Actors Come

21 - When the Actors Come

Air Date: May 3, 1978

In 19th-century Eastern Europe, a group of actors, led by Janos, arrive at a castle to give the Count and his friends a private performance. But the actors are also revolutionaries, and they have another agenda.

Ice Age

22 - Ice Age

Air Date: May 17, 1978

An unexpected stranger arrives at the old peoples home in Norway where a famous writer is kept in confinement after the war. A young partisan plots his assassination, while others advocate handing him over for trial for collaboration.

The Copyist

23 - The Copyist

Air Date: May 24, 1978

A fateful day in the life of a celebrated composer.