|
All references to Katie are in effect
referencing Charlotte as she played her character in the
programme. Click
on Picture for a larger view!
   
The
opening captions to Heartbeat - Acting debut for Charlotte
Church,
  
seen
here in the opening scene of the program...
 
Lord
Ashfordby (played by Rupert Vansittart) finds his deer are being slaughtered
and calls in the local police.
 
Meanwhile
the school choir practice their Christmas carols, Katie looking obviously
unhappy and not even opening her mouth.
   
A
60's petrol-pump - for those who can remember them... and then the
ex-husband, Frank Kendall (played by Rupert Frazer) is visited by
Hadensfield's new police sergeant (Philip Franks)
   
A
further scene with Charlotte, shows her returning home with her mum
and the ensuing argument over her dad
  
In
this scene, PC Bradley (Jason Durr) and his wife Jackie (Fiona Dolman)
discuss the lack of central heating!
 
Fiona
overhears a conversation between Charlotte's mum (the local headmistress)
and an unseen, but very close friend.
   
Meanwhile,
Claude Jeremiah Greengrass (Bill Maynard - the show's "character")
has acquired the local hearse to start his "driving school".
   
Unfortunately,
his first pupil becomes over-confident and speeds through the village,
resulting in a sports-car driver demolishing the phone-box! Claude has
a job explaining his insurance proposal is still "in the post"!
A
plan is hatched - with the "help" of Claude Greengrass - to
catch the deer poachers.
   
Jackie
visits the Kendall home (she is acting as their solicitor). Katie
later leaves, upset, and rides to visit her dad...
   
telling
him all the latest news. He tells her she is a "good girl"...
but... his actions seem just a little too devious!
  
Claude,
having been "persuaded" to assist the police, makes a phone
call to one of his contacts, setting up a bogus meeting to buy some
venison.
   
Meanwhile,
Katie's new-found friend, David, decides to take her out for a drive.
He tells her he is being trained by Greengrass to become a driving instructor.
   
Leaving
the local garage, they head for a nearby stone quarry where her friend
springs a surprise...
   
Getting
out of the car, he suggests Katie "have a go". She tells him
she is too young to drive... he says it is not a problem...
   
Since
she is off-road, she is not breaking any laws. So - Katie takes an enjoyable
spin - wheels throwing up the dust as she "burns rubber".
   
Back
at the hall, Katie admits to being able to sing and, sitting down at
the piano, gives an impromptu performance for her friend...
   
...who
is clearly awed and much moved by her sweet voice.
   
During
her impromptu performance, Jackie and her husband, with Katie's mum,
walk in. Katie's mum is clearly surprised to see her daughter singing.
Earlier, we had been told her father did not like her "making a
noise" as he called her singing and she had grown to believe it
was bad for a child to sing.
  
That
night, Claude meets the poacher's associate who shows him the venison in
the back of his van. The police move in and collar the thief. The highlight
of this scene is when the thief says he thought Claude would be a younger
man...
Claude retorts, "I was when I started waiting!"
   
Several
more mini scene follow, in one of which we learn that Lord Ashfordby is
the third person in a love triangle. The "other man" in Katie's
mum's life!
   
Katie
is seen here cuddling a small child, whilst singing a lullaby.
  
Jackie
says how good she is with children.
Back
in the pub, P.C. Bradley spots Katie's dad with the venison thief
and the association is confirmed.
   
Later
that evening, Katie enter the family's front room loaded with Christmas
presents... closely followed by her dad.
   
Her
mum is not amused... especially when her dad says kids spoil any marriage
and Katie certainly spoiled theirs! He then leaves.
   
Katie
is obviously upset and mum does her best to console her, telling her
she is a "good girl". Katie ends up in mums loving arms.
  
Having
realised the Lord's life is in danger... the deer slaughter is just
a lure... the police rush off to the nearby woods to try and protect
him from the potential assassin.
  
One
of the other policemen tells the occupants of the car where Lord Ashfordby
is to be found and they arrive just in the nick of time to save him
from being shot by Katie's jealous dad.
   
With
the action over... back at the ranch... or at least the village grotto,
Greengrass has come up with yet another of his, more often than not,
hilarious "money-spinners"...
   
Having
been lent one of Lord Ashfordby's fawns, Claude promptly passes it off
as a genuine reindeer - charging 6 (old) pence for a photograph with
"Santa" and the young deer. There seemed to be plenty of
takers.
   
The
closing scene moves to Lord Ashfordby's country house, where retired
Police Sergeant, Oscar Blaketon (Derek Fowlds) thanks him for his
kindness. The Lord replies it is about time the old place saw more
use.
   
Katie
and her mum arrive and the waiting audience are told she is to sing
for them. Greengrass mutters that he hopes she can sing!
   
As
soon as she opens her mouth, the camera cuts to Claude - obviously stunned.
Even Claude's dog is in festive attire as the others look on appreciatively.
   
Katie
continues to sing Ave Maria and her friend is seen totally captivated.
Her proud and happy mum looks on with love in her eyes.
   
Jackie
and her husband smile and move closer, whilst "the friend",
still in his gnome attire, remains overwhelmed.
   
The
program ends as Katie finishes her performance and the closing captions
scroll up the screen... I can't wait to see the mandatory repeat. If
it comes YOUR way... Don't miss it! |
