Women star in thriller series

Press, 31 October 1983, Page 11

Women star in thriller series

“Widows,” a six-part thriller series, will begin on Two tonight. “Widows” marks a new departure in television action drama. In making four independent-minded, highly resourceful women the main characters, it gives an original twist to a well-estab-lished genre. A strong plot, with well-written, wellresearched scripts, maintains interest and tension, says TVNZ. The story of women learning to survive in what, until now, has become a male preserve will hold a special appeal. A security van hold-up goes disastrously wrong. Three men, members of an organised gang, are tragically killed. Three women, Dolly Rawlins, Linda Perelli and Shirley Miller, are widowed. For each it is a time to stop, take stock and start life afresh. In trying to do so, Dolly Rawlins discovers her husband’s bank deposit box. It contains a gun, banknotes and ledgers, detailing the plan for the robbery which went wrong. For Dolly, Linda and Shirley, the plan presents a fascinating possibility. Suppose they were to carry out the robbery themselves? To finish the job which their husbands started? To see it

through to its logical conclusion? Novices in the craft of crime, they put preparations in hand. They buy fast cars; acquire vans to use in the robbery; and train daily, rehearsing every movement of the raid to perfection. The three women discover _ that a fourth is needed for the plan to work, and recruit Bella O’Reilly, a black hooker. In doing so, they realise that four men must have been used in the original robbery. Only three bodies were discovered. Who was the fourth man, and where is he now?

The widows are under pressure from Detective Inspector Resnick, a policeman with a personal grudge against the late Harry Rawlins, and from local villains, Arnie and Tony Fisher, set to take over Harry’s patch

after the tragic outcome of the robbery. As tension mounts, tempers flare. There are moments of weakness, indecision and fear. But differences are resolved by the women’s dedication to seeing the job through. The fateful day dawns. Getaway routes are organised, plane tickets are waiting. Dolly, Linda, Shirley and Bella head for an early morning rendezvous with a security van . . .

“Widows” stars Ann Mitchell as Dolly Rawlins, Maureen O’Farrell as Linda Perelli, Fiona Hendley as Shirley Miller and Eva Mottley as Bella O’Reilly.

The series was written by Lynda La Plante, was produced by Linda Agran and directed by lan Toynton.