Episode 8 (Ashes to Ashes)

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“Episode 8”
Ashes to Ashes episode
Episode no. Episode 8
Written by Ashley Pharoah
Directed by Johnny Campbell
Guest stars Geoffrey Palmer
Original airdate 27 March 2008
Episode chronology
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"Episode 7" "Series 2"
List of Ashes to Ashes episodes

The eighth episode of the British science fiction television series Ashes To Ashes was first broadcast by BBC One on 27 March 2008.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

It's the biggest day of Alex's life: the day her parents were killed. She believes that if she can prevent this from happening she can leave the prison of 1981 and get back to her daughter Molly. With Gene waylaid by a station inspection, Alex needs to use every ounce of her strength and energy to stop the elements coming together, throw a cog into the wheel of fate, and finally return home.

[edit] Plot

Hoping to prevent her parents from being killed by a car bomb, Alex turns it into a case for CID. In an effort to relay the seemingly implausible knowledge of her parents' imminent deaths, she discreetly places a phone call to her own phone and pretends to receive a call from an informant with information concerning a terrorist attack against Tim and Caroline Price. The information draws little interest from her colleagues, however she enlists the help of Ray to help her with the investigation.

Alex goes to see Layton thinking he will plant the bomb but he doesn't tell her anything.

Viv reveals that Lord Scarman is coming to investigate the station. Gene focuses his efforts on making the station look its best for Scarman's visit and locks Chris in a police cell, informing him that he is locking him up for indecent exposure and instructs him to let Scarman know how hospitable their custody has been.

Meanwhile, Alex goes to meet Timothy Price and tries to convince him to leave the city by telling him that somebody is plotting to kill him. He is slightly surprised to learn that Alex knows Evan, commenting that he is "A very charming man". Tim thanks Alex for her concern but tells her that he receives such threats all the time and as such he will not heed her warning. Frustrated, Alex takes measures to ensure the attack will not occur; remembering that (amongst other details) the car was a Ford Escort, Alex locates the most likely vehicle and destroys it. She then plants drugs in the Price's house giving cause to arrest them.

Scarman's visit is going well, despite showing an immediate interest in Alex's illustrations of a whiteboard, illustrating the forthcoming bomb plot to kill her parents, seen by the others as "a crime that hasn't yet happened", but just when he is about to leave the station Alex arrives with the Prices to lock up. On seeing his friends arrested Scarman decides to stay. After voluntarily spending time in police custody, Scarman begins to see the station as it really is and announces that it is a disgrace. Gene doesn't care, triumphantly exclaiming that, to the great appreciation of his officers, "You can despise us; you can disown us; you can even try and close us down but you will never break us, because we are police officers; we are brothers; we are un-bloody-breakable!"

Gene then informs Alex that he has had to release a furious Tim and Caroline Price, who are already pursuing legal action. Alex becomes irate, only to be interrupted by an unsettling call from her informant - who turns out to be Layton. As her and Gene drive to see Evan, Ray confirms that Layton has been bailed by the Prices' legal team. Alex is shocked to learn from Evan that the car her parents borrowed (and would subsequently be killed in) was not the car she destroyed, it was Evan's.

Alex arrives at the scene and sees things she recognises from her flashbacks, realising everything is happening like it did. As Caroline shouts for the young Alex, DI Drake sees Layton nod at the car, followed by Tim acknowledging him and making the sign of the cross. He then turns into the clown, winks at Alex and the car explodes.

Gene rushes to the young Alex's aid and carries her away. Alex is confused by the fact that Gene was actually there, and that he is part of her memories from when she was younger. Later, Evan, Alex and Gene watch a tape made by Tim saying he killed them all because of Caroline and Evan's affair. Evan takes Alex into his care and Alex asks Gene how he was there when he isn't real, thus leaving Alex to question whether 1981 is in her head after all.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Music

[edit] References


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