Gallowglass is a three-episode television drama series from 1993 starring Paul Rhys, Michael Sheen, and John McArdle. It is adapted from a 1990 novel of the same name written by Ruth Randell under the Pen Name Barbara Vine.
Joe (Michael Sheen) is saved by Sandor (Paul Rhys) from throwing himself into the path of an oncoming train. Sandor demands Joe’s loyalty and servitude in return and teaches Joe that he is a “gallowglass,” the servant of a chieftain. With his undying loyalty, Sandor convinces Joe to help him commit the kidnapping of a wealthy former model named Nina that the former is obsessed with. Joe’s adoptive sister Tilly assists in the plan, which involves the abduction of the daughter of the Nina’s bodyguard Paul Garnet (John McArdle).
When the ransom is paid, the bodyguard’s daughter is released and Sandor throws himself into the path of an upcoming train as Joe watches. The model is then lured to her death by Sandor’s former lover, Gianni, and her body is discovered in a woodland days later. Sandor’s mother, who had no other children, takes Joe in as her own and he begins a relationship with Tilly.
This series provides examples of:
- Book Ends: The series begins with Joe trying to kill himself by throwing himself in front of a train, and it ends with Sandor throwing himself in front of a train.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": Sandor is called “Alexander” by his mother, but to every other character in the story he’s “Sandor.”
- Dye or Die: Sandor first makes Joe grow a beard to disguise himself, but after he fails he is forced to shave his beard and dye his hair blond.
- Mutually Unequal Relationship: While Joe is infatuated with Sandor for buying him nice things and in his view “taking care of him,” Sandor just uses the fact that he saved Joe from killing himself to use him as a pawn in his scheme to kidnap Nina.
- Not Blood Siblings: Joe and Tilly are adoptive siblings and at the end of the series he begins an affair with her.
- Physical Scars, Psychological Scars: At multiple points in the series Joe is abused verbally, but on two occasions when he goes against what he wants, Sandor cuts him—first on his upper lip for letting Paul see his face, then on his hand for attempting to release Paul’s daughter.
- Saved to Enslave: Sandor forces Joe into servitude after saving his life. "Gallowglass" is the cultural term for this kind of life-debt.
