The following is commentary on Episode No. 46 ("The Sensible Thing") from members of AFAMILYATWAR-LIST. If you wish to add your thoughts to what is being said on this page, become a part of our discussion group by clicking the "Join" button.
Richard Veit
On the surface, this episode concerns the proposed sale of the printing works of Briggs & Son, but actually it goes much deeper than that, thanks to the interaction of well-drawn characters. Sefton Briggs is determined to sell the unprofitable side of his business, to raise needed capital for investing in a commercial venture with Trevor Howells. But Edwin Ashton stands to lose his managerial position in the process, not to mention his thirty-five years of loyal service to the firm.
At the ensuing board meeting, Freda and Margaret go with their hearts and cast votes in support of their father, but Tony and Helen waver and ultimately side with Sefton. Thus is the sale affirmed—on V-E Day, as it happens—and Edwin walks away in a daze, stunned by the brutal finality of what has just occurred. A token provision, stipulating that he shall remain as manager after the printing plant passes to its new owner, strikes Edwin as nothing more than "a lump of coal." Most painful of all is the knowledge that Tony betrayed him to follow his father's dictates. Tony, as we shall see, has reasons of his own.
Two other story lines are presented as well. Sheila has reunited with husband David, after his medical discharge from military service. Predictably, he finds civilian life not to his liking, frustrated in his attempts to secure gainful employment. That all changes when Sheila secretly begs Trevor Howells to hire him, a position that, unfortunately, turns out to be little more than door-to-door selling. David, rejecting Sheila's practicality, decides that it is time to buy a house. Meanwhile, at the Mackenzies', Doris Jackson has appeared from out of the blue, seeking advice from her trusted friend, Freda. Her most recent American boyfriend has abandoned her, leaving Doris broken-hearted and pregnant. Ian tells his wife that he is willing to assist Doris in any way he can, even after the baby arrives, but Freda has a more extreme solution in mind, one that Ian says crosses the bounds of legality. Doris overhears their conversation and chooses to go elsewhere, vanishing as suddenly as she came.
Some random comments about "The Sensible Thing"…
How nice it is to see David and Sheila together again. Like him or not, even his most severe critic must admit that David, at long last, is making a sincere effort to turn his troubled marriage around. Human nature is well depicted here by writer Roy Russell: Sheila remains skeptical and prudent, while David, ever impulsive, throws caution to the wind and buys a house they can ill afford.
Trevor Howells (deliciously played by Leonard Sachs) is one of the most reprehensible figures in the entire series. His eyes linger lustfully when he meets Sheila, and his hand caresses hers when they shake. (Director Gerry Mill asks for a telling close-up here, to good effect.) Later, Howells suggestively explains that David will be on the road much of the time, leaving his wife alone. Upon giving Sheila the envelope containing a card of introduction for David, he grasps her hand again, this time quite overtly, leaving little doubt as to his intentions.
In stark contrast, I find another businessman, Eric Fraser, to be one of the most upright characters to be seen in "A Family at War." He positively exudes honesty and trustworthiness, from the very first moment we see him on camera. Much of this aura, of course, should be credited to a noble performance by Donald Pickering, both in this episode and in "Coming Home."
I think Tony Briggs is granted some of the series' funniest lines, and actor Trevor Bowen delivers them with wonderful timing and just the right touch of sarcasm. I love the way he tells Helen, "I'd listen at the keyhole, if it weren't so damned undignified." But he also can be forceful when his principles are wronged. I am moved by his integrity when he informs his father that he need not expect his support in unseating Edwin. Beyond a fair amount of courage, young Tony can be quite shrewd, as exemplified by the way he arranges for Fraser to buy the printing works, even at the risk of losing his uncle's faith in him.
Does Barbara Flynn (Freda) misspeak one of her lines to Doris? Even after repeated hearings, I am convinced that she says, "Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Go-Cart in To Have and Have Not." It certainly does not sound like "Humphrey Bogart" to my ears. Was there some legal reason why they could not use his actual name?
The two scenes in the printing works are well staged, complete with antiquated presses that do seem like they are, as Edwin confesses to Fraser, "on their last legs." Was this an actual plant or a set within a soundstage? So authentic does it seem that I suspect the former.
Colin Douglas, ever reliable in a challenging role, is at his best when his injured pride brings strong emotion to his voice. Without question, the leading character of Edwin Ashton could either make or break this series, and Colin Douglas shines throughout. Edwin's moral strength and humane concern for others make us yearn for his happiness and grieve along with him when disappointment intrudes. The role is not a flashy one, and so we may not appreciate this actor's fine achievement as much as perhaps we should.
Just for the record, I should mention that the writer of "The Sensible Thing," Roy Russell, went on to author volume three in the novelisation of "A Family at War."
