A five-part vintage crime drama about a mysterious death on an ocean linerAboard the Carthena, on its way from Sydney to Southampton, a passenger walks on the dark deck, unaware his death is only seconds away. It''s a death which will set in motion a criminal investigation stretching from England to Australia.In London, Ruth Cobb receives a visit from the Southampton police, informing her that the dead man was her brother, Stuart. DC ''Birdie'' Partridge and his sergeant believe it was an accident, or suicide, but the feisty Ms Cobb is adamant that it was murder. The official report suggests her brother was drunk and depressed after a row with his girlfriend - but the Stuart she knew was gay, and teetotal...Sensing a conspiracy, Birdie disobeys orders and starts probing further - and he soon finds that in Ruth, he has an amateur sidekick who is equally keen to uncover the truth. But the more she pursues her enquiries, the more she puts herself in danger. Can Birdie stop Ruth from becoming the next victim?Created by screenwriter and script editor Chris Boucher, whose TV credits include Shoestring, Juliet Bravo and Bergerac, this absorbing thriller stars Patrick Mower (Emmerdale) as Birdie and Helen Atkinson Wood (Blackadder the Third) as Ruth.Production creditsWritten by Chris BoucherDirected and produced by Gerry JonesNB: Due to its age, this serial contains some dated attitudes and languageCastDC ''Birdie'' Partridge - Patrick MowerDS Dunne - Geoffrey MatthewsRuth Cobb - Helen Atkinson WoodMartin Lennister - David McAlisterCaptain of the Carthena - Nicholas CourtneyAustralian driver - Anthony JacksonDaryl Kennedy - John RoweServer in chip shop - John WarnerHotel receptionist - John HollisSuperintendent - Alan DudleyMrs Flanders - Heather BellDetective - Crawford LoganJones - Derek PollittMinicab driver - Martin FriendHotel landlord - Peter TuddenhamGarvey - Gregory de PolnayInspector - Michael GodleyMr Dibley - Michael Tudor BarnesShop assistant - Patience TomlinsonBank clerk - Gary CadyStuart Cobb - David TimsonFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 22 November-20 December 1981
