• Michael Sheen – Joe
• Paul Rhys – Sandor
• Arkie Whiteley – Nina Abbot
• John McArdle – Paul Garnet
• Claire Hackett – Tilly

Elsewhere, ex-teacher Paul Garnet is interviewed by Apsoland, a wealthy business man. He is looking for someone to be a driver/body guard for his beautiful ex-model wife, Nina. The job comes with a house, which is perfect for Garnet and his young daughter Jessica.

Joe comes home one day, after visiting with his sister Tilly, and finds Sandor packing. He informs Joe that they are moving to East Anglia to be nearer ‘the Princess’, meaning Nina. He tells Joe about the Princess, and how she was captured years ago while living in Italy with her first husband. There were 3 kidnappers, a father and son, and a foreigner.

Sandor steals his mother’s car, and they go for a drive past a big country house. Sandor explains to Joe that this is where the Princess lives, and he must do some reconnaissance. Seeing her leave the house, driven by Garnet, he follows as per Sandor’s instruction. Unfortunately, he is spotted and Garnet confronts him. Sandor is annoyed at this setback but decides to give Joe a disguise by forcing him to bleach his hair and shave off his beard.

That evening, Sandor tells Joe more of the story. He explains how only the foreigner loved and cared for the Princess and talked with her every day. Joe asks how Sandor knows all this about the Princess, and Sandor explains – he was the foreigner. He said he was corrupted by his friend Gianni, and his father. He explains that kidnapping is very common in Italy.

Garnet and Nina spend an afternoon together on the beach with his daughter. Nina told him a little of her kidnapping, and that one day, he may be offered money to betray her. That evening, Garnet receives a phone call offering him a large sum of money for his assistance. He refuses.

Joe and Sandor visit Sandor’s mother. While Sandor is having a nap, his mother tells Joe about his past, and mentions Gianni, and also that he has spent time in prison.

When they return, Joe’s sister Tilly visits unexpectedly. At dinner Sandor reveals his plans to kidnap Nina. Tilly mocks his ideas and asks how Joe fits in. Sandor angrily explains that Joe was about to kill himself and he saved him so now Joe does what he tells him.

In the car going home, Tilly announces that she knows how to do the kidnapping what means they do not need to worry about security cameras or electric fences. Sandor allows her to seduce him in order to get the details.

Paul and Nina enjoy a private picnic while her husband is away on business. When they return to the house, she gets upset and cries in his arms, but he reluctantly leaves to pick up his daughter from school. He receives another call from the kidnappers, they leave a message for him with his daughter. During the night, the alarm is raised, and he is told by one of the staff, Columbo, that an intruder is on the grounds. He goes to investigate but finds no one. When he returns to check on Nina, she is in a terrible state. He consoles her, but cannot contain his feelings any longer and they spend the night together. The next day, Nina confesses her love for Paul, and insists that she will tell her husband once he returns.

Tilly and the boys put their plan into action. Tilly picks up Jessica from school and takes her back to her camper van which is parked in a field, then cuts off her pigtails. Sandor phones Paul and tells him that he has to comply with their wishes as they have his daughter. Paul stays up all night worrying, and in the morning when they phone him again, to Sandor’s surprise, he refuses. Nina visits Paul in the cottage, and assumes that his agitated state is due to her delay in telling her husband.

Joe is left to mind the girl while Sandor is out making his phone call and scouting for a hotel. He gets distressed at the young girl’s tears. He crumbles, and is just about to take her home when the others return.

Paul cannot keep things a secret any longer, and tells Nina about the phone calls. She is about to phone the police, but he stops her, telling her that they have Jessica. Sander and Joe check into a grand hotel, and Sandor phones Paul one last time. This time, he agrees to help.

The plan is revealed. Garnet is to drive Nina out near to an old church, and then feign engine trouble. He is to get out of the car and just keep walking. When it comes to the time he finds he cannot do it. So Nina steps out of the vehicle and calmly walks towards the van where Sandor now stands waiting. The plan is quickly falling apart, and Paul asks a masked Joe where his daughter is. He doesnt know, and so Garnet hits him. Tilly leaps to Joe’s defense and tells him where his daughter is.

The three kidnappers and Nina arrive at the hotel. Tilly and Joe are now slightly confused as they dont know how the ransom is to be paid. Sandor asks to be alone with Nina.

He asks her why she didnt meet him as arranged after she gained her freedom last time. He asks her if she ever truly cared, and she said no. Tilly bursts in, and demands to know what is going on, and where the money is. Nina explains that there is no ransom money, and that it is her he wants. Sandor is still under the delusion that they have a future together but she tells him that she lied, and would have said anything to save her life. Sandor flips and grabs Nina holding a cut-throat razor to her throat. Tilly reasons with him until his guard drops, then threws hot coffee in his face. At this point, the hotel manager knocks on the door, and Nina leaves.

Joe stays with Sandor, apologising for his sister’s behaviour, and helps him get cleaned up. Joe says he will never leave him, and asks what will they do now. They are then sat at a train station, and as Joe jokes about how Nina looked when Sandor had his knife at her throat, Sandor walks closer and closer to the edge of the platform. Just then, an express train comes hurtling through the station, and Joe cries out as Sandor obviously jumps.

Nina is then seen on the phone to Paul, saying that Columbo is going to drive her out to meet him. In the car, she asks Columbo about his unusual name. He explains that it is really his middle name, and that his first name is Gianni. When her husband later discovers an empty house, he contacts the Police. The drama ends with Paul being interviewed by the Police, some remains are found in the woods, and Joe is consoling Sandor’s mother. She says to him that he will be a second son to her now, and he adds that he would like that very much.

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