History Series / AlanBennettsTalkingHeads

* EuropeansAreKinky: The [[spoiler:pornographic]] movie in which Lesley stars [[was made by a German director for release in his home country, and he originally wanted to cast a French actress in the role.]]

* EuropeansAreKinky: The [[spoiler:pornographic]] movie in which Lesley stars was made by a German director for release in his home country, and he originally wanted to cast a French actress in the role.

* NerdsAreSexy: Lesley's movie ends with an explicit sex scene between the hero and his bespectacled librarian girlfriend, after he chose her over the glamorous {{Moll}} Lesley plays.

* ParentalIncest: Gwen in ''An Ordinary Woman'' [[spoiler:has a sexual obsession with her young teenage son.]] In ''A Chip in the Sugar'', Graham's relationship with his mother has overtones of this even though he is gay.

* '''An Ordinary Woman''': Gwen (Sarah Lancashire) is a middle-aged mother who begins developing sexual feelings toward her teenage son. [[spoiler: This leads to her family falling apart, and Gwen having a breakdown and spending time in hospital.]] She returns home and resumes normal life with her family, [[spoiler:convincing them that she has now recovered from her "mental illness" - though her feelings for her son remain unchanged.]]
* '''The Shrine''': Lorna (Monica Dolan) is suddenly widowed when her husband dies in a motorbike accident. The local authorities mark the spot with flowers, and she visits the location regularly, keeping it exactly as it was when he died. [[spoiler:Her image of him is shattered when she learns he was living a double life, and she destroys the shrine, deciding she doesn't want to find out any more than she already knows.]]

* BittersweetEnding: Susan might still be married to a vicar and her [[spoiler:Asian lover]] has moved away to a better shop and [[spoiler:to bring his young bride]] to the UK, but she's going to AA and her husband is focusing more on her than the 'Fan Club'. Irene might be [[spoiler:in jail]] but she has learnt skills that means a [[spoiler:early release]] and a second chance in life.

* BrokenPedestal: Lorna develops this toward her late husband in ''The Shrine'' with the discovery that [[spoiler:her late husband had a secret double life which, it is suggested, included an affair with a much younger man.]]

* EatTheEvidence: Doris finds the cream cracker [[spoiler:the home-help did a bad job]] (in her mind) however due to her mind going places due to the [[spoiler:broken hip]] she eats the cracker and even remarks this trope when she realises it.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone?: Irene has this moment when [[spoiler:arrested]] after she realised her letters have been sent to a family whose child has [[spoiler:died of cancer]] was unwanted harassment. Marjory has one at the end when she [[spoiler:aided her killer husband in hiding evidence]] and is forced to bring the outside dog indoors.

* '''A Woman of No Importance''': When Peggy (Patricia Routledge), an office worker who sees herself as the backbone of the place, is hospitalised she realises due to [[spoiler:the lack of visitors]] that she wasn't the [[spoiler:figurehead]] she felt she was. Not remade for the 2020 series.

* '''Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet''': Miss Fozzard (Patricia Routledge / Maxine Peake) a lonely middle-aged woman is caring for her brother after his stroke. Her only escape is her "foot fella" but after she gets a new one, he reveals a [[spoiler: foot fetish]]. When her brother [[spoiler:goes broke after overpaying the carer]], Miss Fozzard finds escape with her podiatrist.
* '''The Hand of God''': Celia (Eileen Atkins / Kristin Scott Thomas) owns a antique shop and she gets close to older neighbours, so she can get something from their grand houses. Her latest target dies and leaves everything to a relative, and Celia gets only a box of "junk". However, after one item in the box turns out to be [[spoiler:a Michelangelo study for the Sistine Chapel]], she is made a fool of by the media and nothing is sold in her beloved shop.
* '''Playing Sandwiches''': Wilfred (David Haig / Lucien Msamati) is a park maintenance man with a good working skill. However, he hides a dark secret: [[spoiler:he's a paedophile who is trying to be on the straight and narrow]]. The stress of his superior pressuring him for information for his personnel file, and the friendship of a mother and her daughter, results in Wilfred [[spoiler:giving in to his old ways and he is fired and arrested. In jail, he reflects on his flaws.]]

* '''The Hand of God''': Celia (Eileen Atkins / Kristin Scott Thomas) owns a antique shop and she gets close to older neighbours, so she can get something from their grand houses. Her latest target leaves everything to a relative, and Celia gets only a box of "junk". However, after one item in the box turns out to be [[spoiler:a Michelangelo study for the Sistine Chapel]], she is made a fool of by the media and nothing is sold in her beloved shop.

* '''The Outside Dog''': Clean freak Marjory (Julie Walters / Rochenda Sandall) discovers as the story goes on that her husband Stuart is up to something; she is annoyed he owns a dog, and refuses to let the dog into the house. Stuart is highly sexual and frequently makes demands of Marjory after he comes home. [[spoiler:When he is arrested as a murderer, Marjory tries to carry on, only then she finds proof of his crimes. Stuart is acquitted due to lack of evidence,]] and she is forced to allow his dog into the house.

* '''A Chip in the Sugar''': Middle-aged Graham (Alan Bennett in the original, Martin Freeman in the 2020 remake) lives with his elderly mother and lives by a strict routine, however an old flame of his mother's appears, causing trouble. Just as they prepare for a late marriage, Graham discovers the old man's truth at the cost of [[spoiler:his mother's happiness]].

* '''Bed Among the Lentils''': Susan (Maggie Smith in the original, Anna Massey in the 1991 radio adaptation, Lesley Manville in the 2020 remake) is the unhappy, [[spoiler:alcoholic]] wife of a Vicar who has a 'fan club' of older women that he focuses more of his time on. Susan goes to Leeds to [[spoiler:buy her drink]] and it's there she finds her escape with an understanding Asian greengrocer [[spoiler:with whom she has a brief affair]].
* '''Soldiering On''': Muriel (Stephanie Cole / Harriet Walter), a pillar of her community has always learnt to adapt; newly widowed, she hopes she can carry on regardless, but after trusting [[spoiler:her son]] her situation changes, resulting in [[spoiler:her losing her home and leaving her poor]]. She still thinks nothing bad of the situation.
* '''Her Big Chance''': Lesley (Julie Walters / Jodie Comer), an actress who has had only minor credits as an extra, finally gets a big role in a movie. As she makes the film and then returns home it's clear to the viewer that she has starred in [[spoiler:a Softcore Porno]].
* '''A Cream Cracker under the Settee''': Doris (Thora Hird), an old woman [[spoiler:with OCD]] has fallen after trying to clean. Whilst trapped under the sofa, she thinks back to the past and realises that her home help isn't cleaning up like she wants. Doris fears that if rescued, she would be sent to an old folks home [[spoiler:so she prefers to die, and chooses not to let a visitor know that she is hurt]]. Not remade for the 2020 series.

* '''Playing Sandwiches''': Wilfred (David Haig / Lucien Msamati) is a park maintenance man with a good working skill. However, he hides a dark secret: [[spoiler:he's a paedophile]] who is trying to be on the straight and narrow. The stress of his superior pressuring him for information for his personnel file, and the friendship of a mother and [[spoiler:her daughter]], results in Wilfred giving in to his old ways and he is fired and [[spoiler:arrested.]] In [[spoiler:jail]] he reflects on his flaws.
* '''The Outside Dog''': Clean freak Marjory (Julie Walters / Rochenda Sandall) discovers as the story goes on that her husband Stuart is up to something; she is annoyed he owns a dog which is never allowed in. Stuart is highly sexual and frequently makes demands of Marjory after he comes home. When he is arrested as a [[spoiler:murderer]] Marjory tries to carry on, only then she finds [[spoiler:proof of his crimes.]] Stuart is acquitted due to lack of evidence, and she is forced to allow his dog into the house.
* '''Nights in the Gardens of Spain''': Rosemary (Penelope Wilton / Tamsin Greig), a golf widow, befriends a neighbour who [[spoiler:killed]] her husband after years of being used as a [[spoiler:sex slave]]. Rosemary finds that her own husband might have been involved, and before she gains enough confidence to leave him, her friend [[spoiler:dies]] and Rosemary is [[spoiler:trapped]] in Spain for the remainder of her life.
* '''Waiting for the Telegram''': Violet (Thora Hird) is confused after having a stroke and her memories come and go. She can't remember her [[spoiler:son]] and when told she will be receiving a telegram from the Queen, she recalls a sad moment from the past. As she reflects on this story to her only friend, a gay nurse called Francis, she notices the [[spoiler:AIDS]] that will kill him soon. Not remade for the 2020 series.

* '''A Cream Cracker under the Settee''': Doris (Thora Hird), an old woman [[spoiler:with OCD]] has fallen after trying to clean, she tries to get help. Whilst trapped under the sofa, she thinks back to the past and realises that her home help isn't cleaning up like she wants. Doris fears that if rescued, she would be sent to an old folks home [[spoiler:so she prefers to die, and chooses not to let a visitor know that she is hurt]]. Not remade for the 2020 series.

* '''The Outside Dog''': Clean freak Marjory (Julie Walters / Rochenda Sandall) discovers as the story goes on that her husband Stuart is up to something; she is annoyed he owns a dog which is never allowed in. Stuart is highly sexual and frequently makes demands of Marjory after he comes home. When he is arrested as a [[spoiler:murderer]] Marjory tries to carry on, only then she finds [[spoiler:proof of his crimes.]] When Stuart is acquitted due to lack of evidence, she is forced to allow his dog into the house.

* '''A Woman of No Importance''': Peggy (Patricia Routledge) an office worker who sees herself as the backbone of the place is hospitalised, she realises due to [[spoiler:the lack of visitors]] that she wasn't the [[spoiler:figurehead]] she felt she was. Not remade for the 2020 series.

* '''Bed Among the Lentils''': Susan (Maggie Smith in the original, Anna Massey in the 1991 radio adaptation, Lesley Manville in the 2020 remake) is the unhappy, [[spoiler:alcoholic]] wife of a Vicar who has a 'fan club' of older women that he focuses more of his time on. Susan goes to Leeds to [[spoiler:buy her drink]] and it's there she finds her escape with an understanding Asian greengrocer [[spoiler:whom she has a brief affair]].

* '''A Chip in the Sugar''': Middle-aged Graham (Alan Bennett in the original, Martin Freeman in the 2020 remake) lives with his elderly Mother and lives a strict routine, however an old flame of his Mother's appears causing trouble and just as they prepare for a late marriage Graham discovers the old man's truth at the cost of [[spoiler:his Mother's happiness]].
* '''A Lady of Letters''': Irene (Patricia Routledge in the original, Imelda Staunton in the remake) writes to anybody to raise her complaints, what she sees as a chance to improve or [[spoiler:help the police]], however, she has gone too far with her latest letter resulting in [[spoiler:a spell at prison]] but she makes good of a bad situation.
* '''Bed Among the Lentils''': Susan (Maggie Smith in the original, Anna Massey in the 1991 radio adaptation, Lesley Manville in the 2020 remake) is the unhappy [[spoiler:alcoholic]] wife of a Vicar who has a 'fan club' of older women that he focusing more of his time on. Susan goes to Leeds to [[spoiler:buy her drink]] and it's there she finds her escape with an understanding Asian Greengrocer [[spoiler:whom she has a small affiar]].
* '''Soldiering On''': Muriel (Stephanie Cole / Harriet Walter), a pillar of her community has always learnt to adapt, newly widowed, she hopes she can carry on regardless, but after trusting [[spoiler:her son]] changes her situation resulting in [[spoiler:her losing her home and leaving her poor]] she still thinks nothing bad of the situation.
* '''Her Big Chance''': Lesley (Julie Walters / Jodie Comer), an actress, who has only minor credits as extras, finally gets a big role in a movie, as she makes the film and then returns home it's clear to the viewer that she has starred in [[spoiler:a Softcore Porno]].
* '''A Cream Cracker under the Settee''': Doris (Thora Hird) an old woman [[spoiler:with OCD]] has fallen after trying to clean, she tries to get help, thinking back to the past and realising that even with proof her home help isn't cleaning up like she wants, she would be sent to an old folks home [[spoiler:so she prefers to die]]. Not remade for the 2020 series.

* '''Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet''': Miss Fozzard (Patricia Routledge / Maxine Peake) a lonely middle-aged woman is caring for her stoke ridden brother, her only escape is her "foot fella" but after she gets a new one, he shows a [[spoiler:fetish]] and after her brother gets [[spoiler:broke]] after [[spoiler:overpaying]] the carer Miss Fozzard finds escape with her podiatrist.
* '''The Hand of God''': Celia (Eileen Atkins / Kristin Scott Thomas) owns a antique shop and she gets close to older neighbours, so she can get something from their grand houses. After her latest one has a relative who [[spoiler:has the lot]] Celia only gets a box of "junk". However, after one of the said junk turns out to be [[spoiler:a Michelangelo study for the Sistine Chapel]] she is made a fool by the media and nothing is sold in her beloved shop.
* '''Playing Sandwiches''': Wilfred (David Haig / Lucien Msamati) is a park maintenance man with a good working skill, however, he hides a dark secret [[spoiler:he's a paedophile]] who is trying to be on the straight and narrow, the stress of his superior for personal information to add into his file and the friendship of a mother and [[spoiler:her daughther]] results in him giving in and he is fired and [[spoiler:arrested]] in [[spoiler:jail]] he reflects on his flaws.
* '''The Outside Dog''': Marjory (Julie Walters / Rochenda Sandall) a clean freak as the story goes on discovers that her husband Stuart is up to something, she is annoyed he owns a dog which is never allowed in. Stuart is highly sexual and after coming home regularly makes love. When he is arrested as a [[spoiler:murderer]] Marjory tries to carry on, only then she finds [[spoiler:proof]] she gives into the request that the dog is allowed in when he is acquitted due to lack of evidence.
* '''Nights in the Gardens of Spain''': Rosemary (Penelope Wilton / Tamsin Greig), a golf widow, befriends a neighbour who [[spoiler:killed]] her husband after years of being used as a [[spoiler:sex slave]] Rosemary finds that her husband might have been involved and before she gains enough confidence to leave her husband her friend [[spoiler:dies]] and she is [[spoiler:trapped]] in Spain for the remainder of her life.
* '''Waiting for the Telegram''': Violet (Thora Hird) is confused after having a stroke and her memories come and goes, she can't remember her [[spoiler:son]] and when told she will be receiving a telegram from the Queen, she remembers a sad moment from the past. As she reflects on this story to her only friend a gay nurse called Francis she notices the [[spoiler:AIDS]] that will kill him soon. Not remade for the 2020 series.

* '''An Ordinary Woman''': Gwen (Sarah Lancashire) is a middle-aged mother who begins developing sexual feelings toward her teenage son. [[spoiler: This ultimately leads to her family falling apart, and Gwen having a breakdown and spending time in hospital.]] She returns home and resumes normal life with her family, [[spoiler:convincing them that her actions were a result of her mental illness and she's now recovered - though her feelings for her son remain unchanged.]]

* '''The Shrine''': Lorna (Monica Dolan) is suddenly widowed when her husband dies in a motorbike accident. The local authorities mark the spot with flowers, and she visits the location regularly, keeping it exactly as it was when he died. [[Her image of him is ultimately shattered when she learns he was living a double life, and she destroys the shrine, deciding she doesn't want to find out any more than she already knows.]]

* '''An Ordinary Woman''': Michael is only 15, but you wouldn’t know. Gwen (Sarah Lancashire) thought there would be something that gave you immunity, that you couldn’t fall for your own child.
* '''The Shrine''': Lorna (Monica Dolan) visits the spot where Clifford’s motorbike crashed.

* TypeCasting: [[invoked]] Lesley is concerned about this, saying that she would like to play more serious roles but only ever seems to be cast as "fun-loving" women "at home on a bar stool"

* TypeCasting: Lesley is concerned about this, saying that she would like to play more serious roles but only ever seems to be cast as "fun-loving" women "at home on a bar stool"

* DueToTheDead: The title of ''The Shrine'' refers to flowers placed at the roadside where Lorna's husband was killed in an accident. Played with in that, even when Lorna asked the police not to mark the spot because her husband didn't like flowers, they insisted on doing it anyway because it encourages the public to drive safely.

* EatTheEvidence: Doris finds the cream cracker [[spoiler:the home-help did a bad job]] (in her mind) however due to her mind going places due to the [[spoiler:broken hip]] she eats the Cracker and even remarks this trope when she realises it.

* ParentalIncest: Gwen in ''An Ordinary Woman'' [[spoiler:has a sexual obsession with her young teenage son.]]

* DuringTheWar: Violet’s clearest recollections.

* ShoutOut: Lesley's cheap European soft-porn film is obviously a cheap European rip-off of the Film/JamesBond film ''Film/{{Thunderball}}''.

* ''An Ordinary Woman'': Michael is only 15, but you wouldn’t know. Gwen (Sarah Lancashire) thought there would be something that gave you immunity, that you couldn’t fall for your own child.
* ''The Shrine'': Lorna (Monica Dolan) visits the spot where Clifford’s motorbike crashed.

Talking Heads (1988) and Talking Heads 2 (1998) are two series of six half-hour monologues by British playwright Creator/AlanBennett. There are two slightly different versions of each one, radio and televison. Also Bennett created a monologue called A Woman of No Importance in 1982, which could be seen as the pilot for the series using the same blocking and style, in fact it is often added to the book.

Some surprisingly dark subject matter, especially in series two which includes a paedophile falling off the wagon, a serial killer who gets away with it and a non-con BDSM club whose victim finally snaps and shoots her abusive husband.


!The Monologues are:
* '''A Woman of No Importance''': Peggy an office worker who sees herself as the backbone of the place is hospitalised, she realises due to [[spoiler:the lack of visitors]] that she wasn't the [[spoiler:figurehead]] she felt she was.
!!Series One Screened in 1988
* '''A Chip in the Sugar''': Middle-aged Graham lives with his elderly Mother and lives a strict routine, however an old flame of his Mother's appears causing trouble and just as they prepare for a late marriage Graham discovers the old man's truth at the cost of [[spoiler:his Mother's happiness]].
* '''A Lady of Letters''': Irene writes to anybody to raise her complaints, what she sees as a chance to improve or [[spoiler:help the police]], however, she has gone too far with her latest letter resulting in [[spoiler:a spell at prison]] but she makes good of a bad situation.
* '''Bed Among the Lentils''': Susan is the unhappy [[spoiler:alcoholic]] wife of a Vicar who has a 'fan club' of older women that he focusing more of his time on. Susan goes to Leeds to [[spoiler:buy her drink]] and it's there she finds her escape with an understanding Asian Greengrocer [[spoiler:whom she has a small affiar]].
* '''Soldiering On''': Muriel, a pillar of her community has always learnt to adapt, newly widowed, she hopes she can carry on regardless, but after trusting [[spoiler:her son]] changes her situation resulting in [[spoiler:her losing her home and leaving her poor]] she still thinks nothing bad of the situation.
* '''Her Big Chance''': Lesley an actress has only minor credits as extras, finally gets a big role in a movie, as she makes the film and then returns home it's clear to the viewer that she has starred in [[spoiler:a Softcore Porno]].
* '''A Cream Cracker under the Settee''': Doris an old woman [[spoiler:with OCD]] has fallen after trying to clean, she tries to get help, thinking back to the past and realising that even with proof her home help isn't cleaning up like she wants, she would be sent to an old folks home [[spoiler:so she prefers to die]].
!!Series Two Screened in 1998
* '''Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet''': Miss Fozzard a lonely middle-aged woman is caring for her stoke ridden brother, her only escape is her "foot fella" but after she gets a new one, he shows a [[spoiler:fetish]] and after her brother gets [[spoiler:broke]] after [[spoiler:overpaying]] the carer Miss Fozzard finds escape with her podiatrist.
* '''The Hand of God''': Celia owns a antique shop and she gets close to older neighbours, so she can get something from their grand houses. After her latest one has a relative who [[spoiler:has the lot]] Celia only gets a box of "junk". However, after one of the said junk turns out to be [[spoiler:a Michelangelo study for the Sistine Chapel]] she is made a fool by the media and nothing is sold in her beloved shop.
* '''Playing Sandwiches''':Wilfred is a park maintenance man with a good working skill, however, he hides a dark secret [[spoiler:he's a paedophile]] who is trying to be on the straight and narrow, the stress of his superior for personal information to add into his file and the friendship of a mother and [[spoiler:her daughther]] results in him giving in and he is fired and [[spoiler:arrested]] in [[spoiler:jail]] he reflects on his flaws.
* '''The Outside Dog''': Marjory a clean freak as the story goes on discovers that her husband Stuart is up to something, she is annoyed he owns a dog which is never allowed in. Stuart is highly sexual and after coming home regularly makes love. When he is arrested as a [[spoiler:murderer]] Marjory tries to carry on, only then she finds [[spoiler:proof]] she gives into the request that the dog is allowed in when he is acquitted due to lack of evidence.
* '''Nights in the Gardens of Spain''':Rosemary a golf widow befriends a neighbour who [[spoiler:killed]] her husband after years of being used as a [[spoiler:sex slave]] Rosemary finds that her husband might have been involved and before she gains enough confidence to leave her husband her friend [[spoiler:dies]] and she is [[spoiler:trapped]] in Spain for the remainder of her life.
* '''Waiting for the Telegram''': Violet is confused after having a stroke and her memories come and goes, she can't remember her [[spoiler:son]] and when told she will be receiving a telegram from the Queen, she remembers a sad moment from the past. As she reflects on this story to her only friend a gay nurse called Francis she notices the [[spoiler:AIDS]] that will kill him soon.