Mac is leaving a pub in the company of his current girlfriend 'Moira' ( Rosemary Nicols ) and his drunken American chum 'Willard' ( Donald Sutherland ) when a car races by, and the driver calls out: "Mariocki, we are going to kill you!". Mac shouts back: "You crazy idiot...my name's McGill!". Later, Mac gets a phone call repeating the mysterious death threat. A suit that does not belong to him is delivered to his flat, the name 'Mariocki' inscribed on the collar. Then he is sent a wreath bearing the inscription: 'Mariocki Midnight'. So who is Mariocki, and why is Mac being threatened? It could not come at a worse time for him as he is currently in a serious relationship. Perhaps the answer lies in the past?
1967 was a good year for Donald Sutherland. He was one of 'The Dirty Dozen' ( that year's biggest movie ), and 'Kelly's Heroes' and 'M*A*S*H' were just around the corner. He appeared in a few I.T.C. shows, such as 'The Champions' episode 'Shadow Of The Panther' and no less than two editions of 'Suitcase' ( he was also in 'The Superlative Seven' from A.B.C.'s 'The Avengers' ). Here he plays the drunken, snivelling Willard, who seems to be Mac's friend only to betray him to his enemies. Rosemary Nicols, later to play 'Annabelle Hurst' in 'Department S', is 'Moira' ( looking somewhat heavier and with a different hairstyle ). The final shot of a tearful Moira running away from Mac's flat tells us their relationship is at an end.
When Mac realises who his would-be killers are ( a gang of dope pushers he busted in Beirut in his C.I.A. days ), we get a startling flashback. Had a second season been commissioned perhaps we might have seen an entire episode along similar lines. Robert Urquhart makes the second ( his first was in 'The Bridge' ) of two appearances as seedy Fleet Street man 'Jarvis', only this time he is credited.
Excitingly done, smoothly directed by Charles Crichton, and with a nice car chase through the dark streets of London ( not quite 'Bullitt' standard. but good enough ).
When H.T.V. showed 'Suitcase' in a late-night Tuesday slot in the mid-to-late '80's, they pulled this episode at the eleventh hour to make way for an unscheduled rugby match. Unfortunately, it did not go out later in the run. A year later, one wet Sunday afternoon, I switched on the television expecting to find rugby and guess what was on? This very episode! And it was half way over to boot. Luckily when I.T.C. Home Video began issuing 'Suitcase' in the early '90's, this was one of the first episodes released.
Things To Look Out For: Sally Geeson, future 'Bless This House' star, has a cough-and-spit role as a shop assistant.
1967 was a good year for Donald Sutherland. He was one of 'The Dirty Dozen' ( that year's biggest movie ), and 'Kelly's Heroes' and 'M*A*S*H' were just around the corner. He appeared in a few I.T.C. shows, such as 'The Champions' episode 'Shadow Of The Panther' and no less than two editions of 'Suitcase' ( he was also in 'The Superlative Seven' from A.B.C.'s 'The Avengers' ). Here he plays the drunken, snivelling Willard, who seems to be Mac's friend only to betray him to his enemies. Rosemary Nicols, later to play 'Annabelle Hurst' in 'Department S', is 'Moira' ( looking somewhat heavier and with a different hairstyle ). The final shot of a tearful Moira running away from Mac's flat tells us their relationship is at an end.
When Mac realises who his would-be killers are ( a gang of dope pushers he busted in Beirut in his C.I.A. days ), we get a startling flashback. Had a second season been commissioned perhaps we might have seen an entire episode along similar lines. Robert Urquhart makes the second ( his first was in 'The Bridge' ) of two appearances as seedy Fleet Street man 'Jarvis', only this time he is credited.
Excitingly done, smoothly directed by Charles Crichton, and with a nice car chase through the dark streets of London ( not quite 'Bullitt' standard. but good enough ).
When H.T.V. showed 'Suitcase' in a late-night Tuesday slot in the mid-to-late '80's, they pulled this episode at the eleventh hour to make way for an unscheduled rugby match. Unfortunately, it did not go out later in the run. A year later, one wet Sunday afternoon, I switched on the television expecting to find rugby and guess what was on? This very episode! And it was half way over to boot. Luckily when I.T.C. Home Video began issuing 'Suitcase' in the early '90's, this was one of the first episodes released.
Things To Look Out For: Sally Geeson, future 'Bless This House' star, has a cough-and-spit role as a shop assistant.
