Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | P And O | 20080721 | Stories by Somerset Maugham. One Christmas in the late 1920s, Mrs Hamlyn is returning home to England by ship. She leaves her unfaithful husband in the Far East, having asked for a divorce. As the journey progresses, a mysterious illness strikes a fellow passenger and Mrs Hamlyn finds herself making an unexpected decision. Maugham - David Troughton Gallagher - Glenn Cunningham Mrs Hamlyn - Olwen May Mr Hamlyn - David Fleeshman Pryce - Jonathan Keeble Directed by Pam Marshall. |
| 02 | The Letter | 20080722 | Stories by Somerset Maugham. In Singapore during the 1920s, Leslie Joyce has been arrested for shooting dead a family friend in self-defence. As she and her husband nervously await the trial, the events of the night of the shooting are gradually revealed. Maugham - David Troughton Mr Joyce - Jonathan Keeble Mr Crosbie - David Fleeshman Chi Seng - Paul Courtenay Hyu Leslie Crosbie - Olwen May Hammond - Andonis James Anthony Mrs Joyce - Barbara Marten Directed by Pam Marshall. |
| 03 | Daisy | 20080723 | Stories by Somerset Maugham. When their daughter Daisy elopes with a married man, the Griffiths find themselves the object of gossip in their little fishing village. To keep face they decide that they want nothing more to do with Daisy, even after she begs to return home when the relationship fails. Years go by and word reaches the town about Daisy. Far from being destitute, she is a successful actress with a very rich and powerful fiance. Suddenly the Griffiths family feel themselves warming towards her. Maugham - David Troughton Miss Reed - Kerry Peers Robert Griffith - David Fleeshman Mrs Griffith - Sue Jenkins George - Marc Parry Daisy/Mrs Howlett - Julia Rounthwaite Directed by Carrie Rooney. When their daughter elopes with a married man, the Griffiths want nothing to do with her. |
| 04 | Book Bag | 20080724 | Stories by Somerset Maugham. An unsettling tale of sibling devotion and the claustrophobia of 1920s colonial life in the Far East. Maugham finds himself lending books to a young man who wants to tell him the story of his unhappy engagement. What begins as an ordinary evening for Maugham turns into a night he will never forget. Maugham - David Troughton Featherstone - David Fleeshman Olive - Julia Rounthwaite Tim - Andonis James Anthony Sally - Victoria Brazier Doctor - Glenn Cunningham Directed by Pam Marshall. Maugham lends some books to a young man who wants to talk about his unhappy engagement. |
| 05 | Before The Party | 20080725 | Stories by Somerset Maugham. Millicent returns home from colonial life in Borneo, seemingly lacking in emotion following the death of her husband. As her parents and sister prepare for a party with the bishop, they hear the story of what happened to poor dear Harold. Maugham - David Troughton Millicient - Julia Rounthwaite Mrs Skinner - Barbara Marten Mr Skinner - David Fleeshman Kathleen - Victoria Brazier Harold - Jonathan Keeble Simpson - Andonis James Anthony Directed by Pam Marshall. Millicent's parents and sister hear the story of what happened to poor dear Harold. |