- Title: Karaoke
- Date: 20th May 1996
- Summary: Daniel Feeld, an acerbic but talented playwright discovers he has only a few months to live.
- Description:DANIEL FEELS GUILTILY CONFESSES TO BEN BAGLIN THAT HE HAS DISCOVERED AMONGST HIS PAPERS AN OLD NEWSPAPER CUTTING ABOUT THE REAL ARTHUR 'PIG' MAILION.HE IS PREPARING A NEW WILL. ARTHUR MAILION, IN BED WITH LINDA LANGER, INSTRUCTS A PAIR OF HEAVIES CALLED DEAN AND SEAN TO BEAT NICK BALMER UP. AT THE CUTTING ROOM, NICK, WHO IS ALREADY SPORTING A BLACK EYE FROM DANIEL'S ATTACK THE NIGHT BEFORE, ADMITS TO IAN THAT HE HAD BEEN WRONG ABOUT LINDA. THEY WATCH A SCENE WITH LINDA'S CHARACTER 'SANDRA' WHICH BEARS AND UNCANNY RESEMBLANCE TO THE REAL LIFE SITUATION, BUT ARE INTERRUPTED BY DEAN AND SEAN. NICK ACCOMPANIES THEM TO A SPARE OFFICE WHERE THEY ARE SUBJECT TO A VICIOUS ATTACK. BEN BAGLIN VISITS SANDRA, WHO IS FURIOUS THAT DANIEL HAS STOLEN HER GUN, AND TELLS HER THAT SHEIS TO BE A BENEFICIARY UNDER DANIEL'S WILL. HE REVEALS THAT DANIEL HAS NO FAMILY AND IS PLANNING TO LEAVE TWO-THIRDS OF HIS ESTATE TO A CYROGENIC ORGANISATION AND THE REMAINDER (ABOUT ONE MILLION POUNDS)IN TRUST FOR SANDRA AND HER MOTHER, ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS. DANIEL HINSELF IS IN HOSPITAL UNDERGOING TWO BIOPSIES ADN READING ABOUT CYBERSPACE. BACK IN THE CUTTING ROOM, IAN AND ANNA BECOME CONCERNED AT NICK'S LONG ABSENCE, AND FIND HIM LYING BLOODIES AND BATTERD. HE REFUSES TO SEE A DOCTOR AND INSISTS ON BEING MADE-UP TO MINIMISE THE DAMAGE BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO MEET HIS WIFE AT THE RESTAURANT WHERE HE USED TO MEET LINDA. RUTH IS HORRIFIED AT HIS APPEARANCE, HE CLAIMS THAT HE WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY A DELIVERY VAN BUT SHE DOESN'T BELEIVE HIM. HE CONFESSES TO HIS AFFAIR WITH LINDA ADN RUTH WALKS OUT, LEAVING NICK IN DEEP EMOTIONAL DISTRESS. HE SETS OFF TO LIMP BACK TO THE CUTTING ROOM, WITH RUTH TAILING HIM IN THE ROLLS ROYCE. TO THE RELIEF OF THEIR BEWILDERED CHAUFFEUR, THE SHATTERED PAIR EVENTUALLY FALL INTO EACH OTHER ARMS. A CONSULTANT CAREFULLY BREAKS THE NEW TO DANIEL THAT HE ONLY HAS EIGHT WEEKS TO LIVE, AND UNDER HIS GENTLE ENCOURAGEMENT, DANIEL RESOLVES TO COMPLETE HIS NEW SCREENPLAY AND TAKE CONTROL OF HIS OWN STORY. BEN AND SANDRA COME TO VISIT HIM, AND HE ENTRUSTS A GRIEF-STRICKEN BEN WITH CARRYING OUT HIS WISHES. DANIEL TELLS SANDRA THAT SHE REMINDS HIM OF A LONG-LOST LOVE FROM HIS YOUTH IN THE FOREST OF NEAD. SANDRA CONFESSSES HER HATRED OF THE SORDID KARAOKE CLUB AND HER AMBITION TO BE HAIRDRESSER. DANIEL INSISTS THAT SHE SHOULD GIVE UP HER WORK AS A HOSTESS, TAKE A COURSE IN HARIDRESSING AND FORGET ABOUT THE GUN, IN RETURN FOR WHICH SHE AND HER MOTHER WILL RECEIVE A MONTHLY INCOME FOR LIFE. OVERCOME WITH GRATITUDE SHE PROMISES TO COMPLY WITH HIS CONDITIONS AND THEY KISS. HOWEVER, TO HIS DISMAY, HE IS UNABLE TO SHAKE HER DETERMINATION TO TAKE REVENGE ON ARTHUR MAILION. THAT NIGHT, DANIEL DRESSES AND STEALS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, TAKING SANDRA'S GUN WITH HIM. AT THE KARAOKE CLUB, MAILION' ATTENTION IS CAUGHT BY DANIEL, WHI IS LIP-SYNCHING PERFECTLY TO BING CROSBY SINGING PENNIES FROM HEAVEN - A 'PERFORMANCE' GREETED WITH WILD ACCLIAM. FIGHTING AGAINST HIS OWN PAIN, DANIEL FOLLOWS MAILION INTO HIS OFFICE.
- Broadcaster:Channel 4
- Collection: Channel 4
- Genre:Entertainment
- Producer:WHISTLING GYPSY PRODUCTIONS LTD
- Programme Episode:4
- Transmission Date:20/05/1996
- Decade: 1990s