The Flipside of Dominick Hide
| The Flipside of Dominick Hide | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Alan Gibson |
| Produced by | Chris Cherry |
| Written by |
Jeremy Paul, Alan Gibson, from an idea by Alan Gibson |
| Starring |
Peter Firth, Caroline Langrishe, Pippa Guard, Patrick Magee |
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Release date
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Running time
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90 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Flipside of Dominick Hide is a British television play first transmitted by the BBC 1 on 9 December 1980 as part of the Play for Today series.
Peter Firth stars in the title role as a time traveller from Earth's future who illegally visits the London of 1980 to search for an 'ancestor' and finds a world very different from the one he left behind. The story concludes with a plot twist involving a causal loop, a popular concept in time-travel fiction.
In 2130 earth has attained a clean, safe and anaesthetised future. Dominick is a time traveller whose job is to observe transport systems on the 'flipside' - the era before the Time Barrier was broken. Dominick's 'Circuit' (the period in time and space he must observe) is London 1980, where he believes he may have an ancestor - his great-great-grandfather, also named Dominick Hide. Breaking the rules, Dominick lands on the flipside to search for his great-great-grandfather.
London of 1980 is a very different place to London 2130, and Dominick is completely unprepared for the amazing culture shock of Portobello Road. He has no money, and almost no idea how to behave. He concocts a story about finding a 'distant relative', and to avoid suspicion, calls himself Gilbey, after a brand of Gin. While he is on the flipside, he relies entirely on the kindness of strangers, including the owner of a clothes shop, Jane Winters.
After an unsuccessful visit to the flipside, Dominick returns to 2130 determined to try again. Dominick tells his wife, Ava, that he plans to visit the flipside. She is upset and confused, and asks him not to go.
Despite the risks involved, and the promise of trouble from his superior, Caleb Line, Dominick visits the flipside again. While he is there, and against all sense, Dominick begins a relationship with Jane.
Still Dominick has not found his great-great-grandfather, but now his visits seem to be more concerned with seeing Jane than with finding the elusive 1980 Dominick. They spend a weekend together at a guesthouse in Herne Bay where his flying saucer has been taken. As a result, Jane becomes pregnant. When Dominick learns this, he goes to Caleb Line to admit his guilt, whatever the consequences.
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