Close Encounters (3 Mar. 2003)

Frost investigates the murder of a security guard at a quarry with an autistic teenager the only witness while DS Williams helps Frost with an unusual series of burglaries.

Director:

Paul Harrison

Writers:

R.D. Wingfield (characters), Michael Russell (screenplay)

Stars:

David Jason, Bruce Alexander, Caroline Harker

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Jason	...	Insp. Jack Frost
Bruce Alexander	...	Supt. Mullett
Caroline Harker	...	DS Hazel Wallace
John Lyons	...	DS George Toolan
Jimmy Yuill	...	Charles Lightfoot
Maurice Roëves	...	Stuart Mackintosh
Jane Gurnett	...	Janet Carter
Jim Sturgess	...	Laurence Burrell
Rob Spendlove	...	Martin Burrell
Elizabeth Rider	...	Helen Burrell
Paterson Joseph	...	Colin Stokes
Sheila Whitfield	...	Sally Stokes
Sam Graham	...	Ben Stokes (as Samuel Graham)
Andy de la Tour	...	Oscar Manning (as Andy De La Tour)
Wayne Foskett	...	Les Jameson

Storyline

Autistic teenager Laurence Burrell is the only witness to an attack on a security guard at Denton's last remaining quarry and is hauled in by the police, later escaping back to the quarry, which he threatens to blow up. Frost is also kept busy when a woman claims that her ex-partner has abducted their young son, and Mr. Mullet is anxious that he investigate a series of burglaries which are strangely related.

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Plot Keywords:

quarry | witness | autistic teenager | burglary | security guard | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 March 2003 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Excelsior, ITV Productions, Yorkshire Television (YTV)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Dr. McKenzie: There's one odd thing.
Insp. Jack Frost: Odd? That's what I like!

User Reviews

Jim Sturgess brilliant performance

I think this was an amazing performance by Jim Sturgess. He plays an autistic boy who is witness to a murder, but he is so locked into his beliefs about invading aliens he proves very difficult to question and not much help to inspector Frost. He eventually becomes a suspect in the murder. The scene where he is scared and alone in the cell is particularly poignant. But it is his way of speaking and interactions with Frost and the other Police that really impressed me.

He is totally believable as someone who is mentally impaired and if he didn't win some sort of award for this performance he certainly should have.