Talking Heads 2 (TV Mini Series)
Waiting for the Telegram (1998)
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- 30min
- Short, Comedy
- 11 Nov 1998
- TV Episode
Violet is a confused, elderly woman in a nursing home who has been told by the excited staff she will soon be receiving a congratulatory telegram from the Queen in honour of her one hundredth birthday. This, however, perplexes Violet as...
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Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Thora Hird | ... |
Violet
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Directed by
| Stuart Burge | ||
Written by
| Alan Bennett | ... | (writer) |
Produced by
| Alan Bennett | ... | executive producer |
| Lorraine Goodman | ... | associate producer |
| Mark Shivas | ... | producer |
Music by
| George Fenton | ||
Editing by
| Sue Wyatt | ||
Editorial Department
| Liz Pearson | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Alan Tully | ... | telecine grader |
Production Design by
| Stuart Walker | ||
Art Direction by
| Diane Dancklefsen | ||
Costume Design by
| Dany Everett | ||
Makeup Department
| Frances Hannon | ... | hair stylist / makeup designer |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| William Campbell | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| John Bush | ... | production buyer |
| Jack Carter | ... | construction manager |
| John Hogan | ... | property master |
| Mina Martinez | ... | graphic designer |
Sound Department
| Paul Harris | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Anthony Jackson | ... | sound recordist (as Tony Jackson) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| David Fader | ... | camera operator |
| Joe Ryan | ... | gaffer |
| Alan Tabner | ... | key grip |
| John Treays | ... | lighting director |
Script and Continuity Department
| Heather Storr | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Sarah Atkinson | ... | production coordinator |
| Patrick Isherwood | ... | production accountant |
| John Rakoff | ... | rehearsal manager |
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Special Effects
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Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Violet is a confused, elderly woman in a nursing home who has been told by the excited staff she will soon be receiving a congratulatory telegram from the Queen in honour of her one hundredth birthday. This, however, perplexes Violet as she wanders far back in her memory to an age where telegrams brought news of death on a battlefield. Violet ruminates about a long-lost love to her only real friend, a gay male nurse at the home named Francis, who ultimately dies of AIDS. Written by Anonymous |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Movie Connections | Featured in Alan Bennett at 80: Bennett Meets Hytner (2014). See more » |
| Quotes |
[now an old woman, Violet tearfully recalls her regret at missing the opportunity of losing her virginity to her fiancé when he last came home from leave before going back to fight in World War I]
Violet: I gave him his tea and then we went in and sat in the front room. And he started on, like, undoing me buttons and kissing and whatnot. Only I'd wanted to look nice so I'd put on me best frock and he couldn't fathom how it unfastened. I should just have taken it off. But I didn't. [her eyes fill with tears] Violet: And poor lamb, he got so fed up with these flaming button things, in the finish he gave up. He'd taken his leggings off, his puttees, because they were hot. And he was in his shirt-sleeves. They were right rough khaki shirts, then, real cheap and itchy. Anyway, in the finish he gets up off the sofa and says "Hang this lot". And he takes his shirt off - and everything else besides. He doesn't say a word. Just taken it all off and stands there on the hearth-rug. He looked a picture, with the fire and all that. Not a mark on him. And then he says "Take *your* clothes off now". [she sobs] Violet: And I didn't. I didn't. And I wanted him so much. I don't know - it was just the way I'd been brought up. And he stands there looking down at me. Then he picks his clothes up and he goes next door. And after a bit I heard the front door bang. [pause] Violet: I saw the yellow thing the boy on the bike brings - his sister fetched me round. The telegram. And then later on they had a letter - reckoning to be from the King - same as everybody did who lost somebody. See more » |