The Best Episodes of Play for Today Season 5

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

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   #1 - Leeds--United!

   S5:E110/31/1974

   About a strike in a textile factory, based on a true story

   Director:Roy Battersby

   Writer:Colin Welland

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   Director:Roy Battersby

   Writer:Colin Welland
2. 

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   #2 - Baby Love

   S5:E211/7/1974

   After the stillbirth of her illegitimate baby, a woman steals a baby at random and is sentenced to 9 months in prison.

   Director:Barry Davis

   Writer:David Edgar

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   Director:Barry Davis

   Writer:David Edgar
3. 

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   #3 - Back of Beyond

   S5:E311/14/1974

   Olwen lives in a tumbledown farm up in the mountains - a lonely widow, virtually a recluse. Her only human contact is with the occasional shopkeeper and young Rachel, who delivers her papers. For Rachel, her visits to Olwen are half adventure, half honest friendship. But they also mean a time to 'put aside childish things.'

   Director:Desmond Davis

   Writer:Julia Jones

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   Director:Desmond Davis

   Writer:Julia Jones
4. 

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   #4 - The Bevellers

   S5:E411/21/1974

   The first (and last) day at work of a young apprentice in a bevelling shop at a Glasgow glass factory

   Director:Moira Armstrong

   Writer:Roddy McMillan

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   Director:Moira Armstrong

   Writer:Roddy McMillan
5. 

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   #5 - Taking Leave

   S5:E511/28/1974

   "Well, I hope I won'be seeing you come home in that uniform much more. Six years - that's long enough out of any man's life." Mike's time is nearly up. The army gives him a weekend pass so he's home from Ulster to decide whether to sign on again. His parents want him to stay but he's wondering whether the family's own flare-ups aren't a bit too like the Troubles he has left behind.

   Director:John Mackenzie

   Writer:Joyce Neary

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   Director:John Mackenzie

   Writer:Joyce Neary
6. 

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   #6 - Fugitive

   S5:E612/5/1974

   After 18 years as a friar, Peter is no longer sure of his vocation. It is a happy life, maybe too much so, and now he has met Clare. Will his doubts run away with him? Runaway friars are officially "fugitives" who must be persuaded back to their order.

   Director:Peter Gill

   Writer:Sean Walsh

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   Director:Peter Gill

   Writer:Sean Walsh
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7. 

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   #7 - Eleanor

   S5:E712/12/1974

   Eleanor is unable to communicate her inner thoughts as she's bullied at school and virtually ignored by her parents. With a mundane working existence awaiting her, she desires a chance at another life - but at what cost?

   Director:Barry Davis

   Writer:William Trevor

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   Director:Barry Davis

   Writer:William Trevor
8. 

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   #8 - Gangsters

   S5:E81/9/1975

   A story exploring the Birmingham underworld

   Director:Philip Saville

   Writer:Philip Martin

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   Director:Philip Saville

   Writer:Philip Martin
9. 

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   #9 - The After Dinner Game

   S5:E91/16/1975

   Vice-Chancellor Bartley Humbolt has problems. His young university is almost bankrupt, his wife is threatening to leave him, his protége professor from industry is threatening to overshadow him, and his prestigious professor of history is threatening to resign. But Bartley is a born manipulator. And when he gives a dinner party, he has something very special in mind - for afters.

   Director:Robert Knights

   Writers:Christopher Bigsby, Malcolm Bradbury

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   Director:Robert Knights

   Writers:Christopher Bigsby, Malcolm Bradbury
10. 

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    #10 - Breath

    S5:E101/23/1975

    A story about an asthma sufferer

    Director:Matthew Robinson

    Writer:Elaine Feinstein

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    Director:Matthew Robinson

    Writer:Elaine Feinstein
11. 

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    #11 - The Death of a Young, Young Man

    S5:E111/30/1975

    Three young students suspended from school face various problems.

    Director:Viktors Ritelis

    Writer:Willy Russell

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    Director:Viktors Ritelis

    Writer:Willy Russell
12. 

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    #12 - Sunset Across the Bay

    S5:E122/20/1975

    A elderly couple become disillusioned when they retire to their favorite holiday resort.

    Director:Stephen Frears

    Writer:Alan Bennett

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    Director:Stephen Frears

    Writer:Alan Bennett
13. 

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    #13 - Funny Farm

    S5:E132/27/1975

    One day in the life a nurse in a mental hospital

    Director:Alan Clarke

    Writer:Roy Minton

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    Director:Alan Clarke

    Writer:Roy Minton
14. 

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    #14 - Goodbye

    S5:E143/6/1975

    "All I said was the gramophone's too loud." Tony and Zoe Lyle 's silly row starts like any other, but Tony finds that Zoe means it this time. She's walking out and he's got a week to save a marriage that he hasn't looked at in 18 years, and with it all the trappings of a good life in Maida Vale.

    Director:Gavin Millar

    Writers:Hugh Whitemore, William Sansom

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    Director:Gavin Millar

    Writers:Hugh Whitemore, William Sansom
15. 

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    #15 - Just Another Saturday

    S5:E153/13/1975

    A young man participating in the Orange Parade in Glasgow becomes disillusioned with the pageant when he discovers its unpleasant and violent history and witnesses the participants' attacks on Catholics.

    Director:John Mackenzie

    Writer:Peter McDougall

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    Director:John Mackenzie

    Writer:Peter McDougall
16. 

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    #16 - A Child of Hope

    S5:E164/24/1975

    Thirty-seven men from the disputed territory of South West Africa are on trial for their lives in Pretoria, 1,000 miles from their home. They are to be tried under South Africa's Terrorism Act despite the UN ruling that South Africa must abandon its "illegal administration" of their country.

    Director:Graham Evans

    Writers:John Elliot, Joel Carlson

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    Director:Graham Evans

    Writers:John Elliot, Joel Carlson
17. 

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    #17 - The Saturday Party

    S5:E175/1/1975

    When a stockbroker loses his job, he decides to throw a party.

    Director:Barry Davis

    Writer:Brian Clark

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    Director:Barry Davis

    Writer:Brian Clark
18. 

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    #18 - Wednesday Love

    S5:E185/8/1975

    Two women, looking for amusement on their afternoons off, visit a drinking club.

    Director:Michael Apted

    Writer:Arthur Hopcraft

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    Director:Michael Apted

    Writer:Arthur Hopcraft
19. 

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    #19 - The Dandelion Clock

    S5:E195/15/1975

    In Belfast, a girl awaits the return of her missing father.

    Director:John Bruce

    Writer:Wilson John Haire

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    Director:John Bruce

    Writer:Wilson John Haire
20. 

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    #20 - Brassneck

    S5:E205/22/1975

    England, 1945-75: Builder Alfred Bagley makes a fortune, with a little help from his friends.

    Director:Mike Newell

    Writers:Howard Brenton, David Hare

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    Director:Mike Newell

    Writers:Howard Brenton, David Hare
21. 

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    #21 - The Floater

    S5:E215/29/1975

    A comedy about the law - seen from the inside. All formality and procedure on the surface but not quite so convincing when you see the works.

    Director:Barry Davis

    Writer:Peter Prince

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    Director:Barry Davis

    Writer:Peter Prince
22. 

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    #22 - By Common Consent

    S5:E226/5/1975

    Political fantasy about a fascist regime

    Directors:John Robins, Ron Daniels

    Writer:Unknown

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    Directors:John Robins, Ron Daniels

    Writer:Unknown