A retired sea captain in the Orkneys finds his lonely life transformed by the arrival of a mysterious young woman.
Living a solitary life in a remote Orkney cottage, retired sea captain Bill Torvald (Cyril Cusack) is surprised when a mysterious young woman, Andrina (Wendy Morgan), enters his life. She begins to tend to his house, preparing his meals and caring for him without explanation. In exchange, she asks only for stories from his past seafaring days, persistently requesting a tale of love. Torvald, initially reticent, eventually recounts a long-forgotten romance from his youth, which holds a deep connection to his visitor’s presence.
Made in the wake of his cinematic success with Gregory’s Girl, this single play was a significant television project for director Bill Forsyth. Forsaking the urban comedy for which he was known, Forsyth crafts a quiet and lyrical piece of television. Adapted from a George Mackay Brown story, the production makes full use of its Orkney locations, with Forsyth’s direction capturing the islands’ austere beauty and isolation. Broadcast to mark St. Andrew’s Day, the film is a deliberately paced, atmospheric tale. Its drama is found not in overt action, but in the gentle unfolding of memory and the unspoken connection between its two central characters.
Broadcast: BBC One – BBC Scotland, 1 Episode, 30 November 1981
Adapted by: Bill Forsyth
Based on a story by: George Mackay Brown
Director: Bill Forsyth
Producer: Roderick Graham
Main Cast: Cyril Cusack (Captain Bill Torvald), Wendy Morgan (Andrina), Sandra Voe (Tina Stewart), Jimmy Yuill (Stanley), Dave Anderson (Isaac)
