Ring Once
For Death
(ITC Movie title "Death In Small Doses")
Original UK transmission: 23rd February 1974
Original US transmission: 6th December 1973
WRITTEN BY: Terence Feely based on a story by Brian
Clemens
DIRECTED BY: Robert D. Cardona
PRODUCED BY: John Sichel
MAIN CAST: Michael Jayston (Roger Masters), Nyree Dawn Porter
(Laura Vallance), Barry Nelson (Hugo Fane), Janet Key (Lisa),
Thorley Walters (Dr Ledworth), Victor Winding (Det. Sgt. Rainer),
Clare Sutcliffe (Betty), Richard Oldfield (Piers Fane)
Teaser
Sequence
The camera slowly pans across
a busy urban highway, and then turns out towards a distant
pastoral location. Gentle soothing music plays as a butler stands
by a bedside, smiling kindly and voicing his sadness about having
to leave his position. The camera cuts to the occupant of the
bed, who is a frail old woman clearly in a state of advanced
illness. She looks up as he says "now all that remains is to
tidy up", and screams in terror.
(Note: in the "movie" version this sequence is somewhat spoiled by the addition of some rather inappropriate music).
Plot
Summary
When the recently widowed
Laura Vallance advertises for the services of a butler, she
doesn't reckon on the cunning Roger Masters, a ruthless con man
who preys on wealthy lonely women. The personable Masters is
appointed to the position and appears to be the soul of
efficiency, but is in reality rapidly scheming the demise of his
employer. After substituting the maid with his own partner, he
sets about slowly poisoning the lady of the house with a
carefully administered daily dose of poison. Confining her to her
bed, Masters gradually removes from her any contact with the
outside world until she verges on the edge of insanity.
Frightened, half starved and desperately ill, Laura Vallance has
only one hope left: her friend Hugo Fane. In order to seize
control of his mistress's fortune, Masters must drive Laura
Vallance over the edge before the persistent Fane can unmask the
deception.
Comments
An unforgettable episode, with Michael Jayston turning in a
superb performance as the utterly ruthless Masters. Jayston was
made for roles like this, and he handles the part with perfect
precision (returning to play an almost identical part in A
Coffin For The Bride only a few months later). The production is
claustrophobic, with most of the action taking place in small
rooms as Laura Vallance becomes ever more desperate to regain
control of her life. The images of her laying wraith-like in her
bed as the evil house staff casually plot her demise are some of
the most memorable in the series. Highly recommended.
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