Economist 'John Burnham' ( Donald Houston ) and wife 'Mary' ( Lois Maxwell ) are going out for the evening when an unknown gun-man shoots the latter dead in an underground garage. A distraught John returns home from hospital some hours later, only to see his late wife, apparently still alive, standing on the doorstep, smiling enigmatically. Department S is called in. John finds items of Mary's clothing scattered over the bathroom floor, the taps are left running, her lighted cigarettes turn up in ashtrays, and he is pestered by handwritten cards and phone calls from her. So what is going on? Burnham is in line to become the new head of the International Monetary Fund, and someone ( with a vested interest in seeing economic ruin across the Western world ) wishes to discredit him...
'Department S' can now be seen as the forerunner to the B.B.C.'s 'Jonathan Creek' - a baffling mystery is established in the first few minutes, then the team of novelist Jason King ( Peter Wyngarde ), American action-man Stewart Sullivan ( Joel Fabiani ) and ice-cool Annabelle Hurst ( Rosemary Nicols ) attempt to work out a solution. In truth, the one presented here is not really all that surprising. Besides, Burnham appears far too intelligent to believe in ghosts. Donald Houston was a major star of British films and television shows, amongst the former was 'Where Eagles Dare'. Lois Maxwell will forever be remembered as the original ( and best ) 'Miss Moneypenny' from the James Bond films. Anthony Nicholls - 'Dr.Grant' - was NEMESIS boss 'Tremayne' in I.T.C.'s 'The Champions' two years before. In a surprising bit of casting, the main villain - 'Drayton' - is played by none other than the late Norman Bird, usually known for comedy roles.
King does not enter the episode until a half an hour in, but the scene where he has a run-in with a spoilt brat ( Gustav Henry ) is worth waiting for.
'Department S' can now be seen as the forerunner to the B.B.C.'s 'Jonathan Creek' - a baffling mystery is established in the first few minutes, then the team of novelist Jason King ( Peter Wyngarde ), American action-man Stewart Sullivan ( Joel Fabiani ) and ice-cool Annabelle Hurst ( Rosemary Nicols ) attempt to work out a solution. In truth, the one presented here is not really all that surprising. Besides, Burnham appears far too intelligent to believe in ghosts. Donald Houston was a major star of British films and television shows, amongst the former was 'Where Eagles Dare'. Lois Maxwell will forever be remembered as the original ( and best ) 'Miss Moneypenny' from the James Bond films. Anthony Nicholls - 'Dr.Grant' - was NEMESIS boss 'Tremayne' in I.T.C.'s 'The Champions' two years before. In a surprising bit of casting, the main villain - 'Drayton' - is played by none other than the late Norman Bird, usually known for comedy roles.
King does not enter the episode until a half an hour in, but the scene where he has a run-in with a spoilt brat ( Gustav Henry ) is worth waiting for.
