| The Murderer | |
|---|---|
| Series A for Andromeda Season 1, Episode 5 | |
| |
| Air date | October 31st, 1961 |
| Writers | Fred Hoyle John Elliot |
| Director | Michael Hayes |
| Producers | Michael Hayes Norman James |
| Starring | Esmond Knight; Patricia Kneale; Peter Halliday; Noel Johnson; Julie Christie |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous "The Monster" |
Next "The Face of the Tiger" |
"The Murderer" is the fifth episode of A for Andromeda and first aired on the BBC on October 31st, 1961.
Synopsis
Doctor Fleming and Madeleine Dawnay are still in shock over the sudden death of Dawnay's assistant, Christine. The computer outputs a new set of protocols, this time demanding the synthetic creation of living embryonic cells. Fleming is outraged and wants to destroy the computer as well as the "Cyclops" entity. Doctor Dawney obeys the supercomputer's demands and begins cultivating live human embryos. The embryo grows at an alarming rate and assumes the form of Christine. This veritable clone is dubbed Andromeda and interfaces directly with the computer. The computer realizes that Andromeda is the true result of what it was trying to create and as such, destroys the inferior Cyclops.
Politically, the work carried out at the Thorness facility is creating an international quagmire. The Ministry of Defence attempts to contain and quell public knowledge of the military's work, but as the controversy worsens, the Prime Minister turns to Andromeda in the hopes of finding a solution to the deteriorating political fallout.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Peter Halliday | Doctor John Fleming |
| Esmond Knight | Professor Ernest Reinhart |
| Mary Morris | Madeleine Dawnay |
| Patricia Kneale | Judy Adamson |
| Noel Johnson | J.M. Osborne |
| Donald Stewart | General Vandenberg |
| Julie Christie | Andromeda |
| Geoffrey Lewis | Doctor Geers |
| John Hollis | Kaufmann |
| John Murray-Scott | Harvey |
| David King | Minister of Defence Burdett |
| Ernest Hare | Minister of Defense Ratcliff |
| Maurice Hedley | Prime Minister |
| Peter Ducrow | Doctor Hunter |
| Brenda Peters | Secretary to J.M. Osborne |
| Richard Mayes | Teacher |
| Michael Hayes | Countdown announcer |
Notes & Trivia
- Cameo appearance by director/producer Michael Hayes as the countdown announcer.