It is 1979 and hapless accountant Arthur and his wife, Gwen, have made a new friend. Flashy novelist Reeve is everything they're not - carefree, charismatic, and seemingly irresistible. At first, his friendship seems to offer an enticing window into a world beyond their cloistered suburban existence, but it doesn't take long for the relationship to slip into rather more sinister territory.
From the moment Reeve arrives on the scene, it's clear that Arthur and Gwen don't stand a chance, and it's this festering inevitability, lurking in awkward pauses and fidgety middle-class tics, that gives this play its most haunting moments.
Dramatised by Mike Walker from a short story by Ruth Rendell. Starring Reece Shearsmith as Arthur, Laura Pyper as Gwen and Michael Maloney as Reeve. Other parts are played by Rachel Atkins and David Holt. Sound Design: Steve Bond. Directed by John Dryden. A Goldhawk Production for BBC Radio 4.
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