Plays on One was a drama anthology series which ran on the BBC from 1988 to 1991. I never knowingly saw any of it (I might have watched some accidentally when I was ill at home from school but can’t say for sure) but had recently heard that Govan Ghost Story was a particular highlight. I found the whole one hour film on YouTube and gave it a watch.
Govan Ghost Story tells the story of Jock, a former shipwright who used to work in the shipyards before the strikes and recession brought the industry down. This is a bleak visions of Thatcher's Britain where proud people who used to work and want to work cannot find employment. Jock has been out of work for nearly six years; “five years, four months and twenty-three days” and this puts him in conflict with his daughter, who is a part of the new yuppie culture. Whilst she is thriving within this new economic model, Jock struggles and lives in the dilapidated high rise council tower blocks of Iona Court, an area that would soon be demolished within a few years. In the empty flat next door, Jock keeps hearing eerie noises and sees a little girl playing in the hallway. At night, he hears the terrible sounds of the girl being beaten by her violent abusive father. Why is Jock hearing these sounds and what can he do to help the girl move on?
It's interesting to see how the film uses the supernatural element as a backdrop to explore these very real social issues. Jock's character, ably played by Tom Watson, is complex and relatable as his disillusionment with society and his personal struggles are mirrored in the crumbling concrete and steel of his surroundings. Also, the contrast between Jock's working-class background with the affluent lifestyle of his daughter's friends is a poignant commentary on the growing social divide that arose in the 80s.
The film is informative for someone like me who didn’t grow up in this period of time and was not able to see the effects that the recession had on traditional industries. The decaying physical environment of Iona Court reflects the psychological decay of the main character and is incredibly potent. This film is well worth an hour of your time as it is a time capsule of a difficult time in British society.