Rural village faces an American occupation
MY MOTHER AND OTHER STRANGERS BBC One, Sunday, 9pm
SET in Northern Ireland during World War II, this new drama series follows the fortunes of the Coyne family and their neighbours as they struggle to maintain a normal life after a huge United States Army Air Force (USAAF) airfield, with 4,000 servicemen and women, lands in the middle of their rural parish.
Compelling weekly stories, many based on events of the time, are held together by an ongoing love story that enfolds Rose Coyne, parish schoolteacher and pillar of the community, in a dangerous love triangle with her husband Michael and charming USAAF officer Captain Ronald Dreyfuss.
Meanwhile, the Coyne’s children, 16-year-old Emma, Francis, 10, and Kate, seven, have no idea of the strains under which their parents’ marriage creaks.
English born and bred Rose (Hattie Morahan) met her husband Michael (Owen McDonnell) in England and followed him home to the rural community of Moybeg, Northern Ireland, where they now live with their children Emma (Eileen O’Higgins), Francis (Mi- chael Nevin) and Kate.
Ten year-old Francis and his best friend Seamie take delight in watching the B17s land and take off from the American air base which has been built slap-dab in the middle of their parish.
Seamie tries to drag Francis to the air base dump with the promise of untold treasures, leaving Francis torn, as he has been forbidden by his mother to go.
On her usual walk to her favourite spot by the lough, a chance meeting with a mysterious American has a huge impact on Rose.
He’s Captain Dreyfuss (Aaron Staton), recently assigned to the airbase in the role of liaison officer, ensuring the locals and the airmen coexist peacefully – and he asks for Rose’s help.
Meanwhile, Rose and Michael’s teenage daughter Emma has a chance encounter of her own with a handsome young airman, Lieutenant Barnhill.
Defying her father, Emma goes to the cinema with him – but it’s not just Michael who’s furious when he sees them return. Fed up with the Americans stealing their girls, a local family, the Hanlons, lead an attack Barnhill as retribution...