The Big Bonanza (29 Mar. 2009)

The agency makes inquires about a dentist, searches for a missing dog, and investigates the case of a missing husband.

Director:

Charles Sturridge

Writers:

Alexander McCall Smith (novel), Nicholas Wright

Stars:

Jill Scott, Anika Noni Rose, Lucian Msamati

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jill Scott	...	Precious Ramotswe
Anika Noni Rose	...	Grace Makutsi
Lucian Msamati	...	JLB Matekoni
Desmond Dube	...	BK
Nicholas Beveney	...	Dr. Komoti
Tsholofelo Mashishi	...	Petal Siphambe
Mosako Mogara	...	Wellington
Michael Mabizela	...	Rra Banda
Adanna Oji	...	Jinger-May
Maggie Benedict	...	Violet
Thabo Malema	...	Charlie
Tau Maserumule	...	Fanwell
Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole	...	Apostolic Bishop
Edmund Dladla	...	Father Zadok
Sello Sebotsane	...	Reverend Shadrack

Storyline

The agency has now been open for two months and Precious is still trying to drum up business. She decides to advertise and hires young Wellington to distribute handbills for her. Cases continue to trickle in. She investigates a Nigerian dentist, Dr. Komoti, whose receptionist claims is hurting patients. She poses as a patient herself but finds the doctor to be quite professional. She follows him and does find it odd that he makes frequent short trips by car to neighboring South Africa. There she finds double trouble. She also gets hired by someone whose dog has gone missing. The man's wife is beside herself and while Precious doesn't fancy herself a dog catcher, she decides to take him on as a client. Wellington solves the case. When she sees a crying woman reading one of her leaflets, Precious gets a case of a missing husband. The man had joined a new church group and he had never returned from services some two weeks before. The problem is all in the water.

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Plot Keywords:

dentist | missing husband | church | insurance fraud | fake identity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Family | Mystery

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Botswana

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Cinechicks, Film Afrika Worldwide

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Wellington: [Wellington is a very small child] I would like a job.
Grace Makutsi: You cannot have a job. You are too low.

User Reviews

Bonanza

The agency is now in full swing, but the money is still not pouring in. Grace comes in with the pamphlets that were ordered advertising the agency. Precious asks the secretary to make a dentist appointment with a Dr. Komoti. JLB had asked Mme. Ramotswe, as a small favor, to go check out the doctor because Jinger-May, a relative, had asked him to do a background check.

A young boy, Wellington, arrives at the agency asking Grace if he could get a job. He knows how to read and write; he feels he could be useful. Grace, who knows they hardly can afford to pay anyone, refuses him, but Precious sees the possibility the boy can go distributing the printed ads, against her secretary's better judgment; she feels the boy will discard the printed material. Precious offers a small fee if she gets clients that will bring the notices in exchange of a discount for new business.

The visit to the dentist unnerves Mme. Ramotswe. She feels there is something wrong with Komoti, a dentist that is flighty and moody. She believes he has something fishy going on. What's more, she discovers it is her receptionist, Jinger-May the one that had sounded the alarm about him. Precious decides to follow the doctor to the border of South Africa, where he is headed. Since she did not bring along her passport, she loses him.

Another client comes in to ask about his wife's pet dog that has disappeared. The lady is inconsolable. Precious is not too happy to be looking for animals, but Grace convinces her to do it because of the fee it will bring. Then, there is another woman that is answering to the ad, wanting to locate her husband, a man that is a cheat and a womanizer, who suddenly turns to religion.

All the three cases are resolved using Precious' common sense, plus her detection instinct. At least, there is some money now. On the other hand, we get to know a little bit more from Grace's own life. There is a man in her life. It is Richard, a young man, that appears to be sick. There is an aura of mystery surrounding Grace's life.

Charles Sturridge is the director of the episode, written by Nicholas Wright, and based on the beloved novels about the charismatic detective, Mme. Precious Ramotse, that Alexander McCall Smith created for the delight of the many fans of the novels. The series was filmed in Botswana, where the action takes place. The African country comes alive in the screen adaptation of the books.

The creators' choice of Jill Scott, an American actress, to bring life to the detective paid off in unexpected ways. Ms. Scott is an enjoyable presence in the different stories and does not feel out of place. Anika Noni Rose, appearing as the secretary, Grace, is another find. She is the perfect foil for her boss, as well as having a 97% average, something she is proud of. Lucian Msamati plays the good hearted JLB, the garage owner with a heart. Desmond Dube is the hairstylist BK, a man that hears a lot in the salon he operates next to the detective agency.