Episode Three
Tomorrow is the final day of the report stage of Hugh Abbot's (Chris
Langham) Housing Bill in the Commons, and everything's going
splendidly.
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But envy is brewing in the Department over the media attention that
charming Junior Minister Dan Miller (Tony Gardner)
is receiving for his input on the bill - leaving Abbot starved of the
limelight.
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Abbot and Glenn Cullen (James Smith) seem slightly
allergic to the bright young Minister - and annoyed that everyone, including
Malcolm Tucker (Peter Capaldi), appears to be Miller's
back-slapping friend.
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Abbot tries desperately to downplay the imposition. Why should he care?
He has been invited to a private supper with the PM.
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The air of success is soon overturned. Word gets out that Abbot has
two houses, one within commuting distance and the other in Notting Hill
(that he barely gets to use) - which ultimately undermines his own Housing
Bill.
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Glenn tries to satiate the situation by placing Abbot's flat in Notting
Hill on the market - but rejecting all offers.
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The press can smell blood. Will their hunt for evidence of a scandal
end before they completely destroy Abbot's empire?
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Poor Abbot can't understand what the fuss is all about - he hasn't
killed anyone - he just wants to see his family!
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Tensions build within the Department as they anxiously seek to protect
their positions. Heads will roll… but who will be scalped?
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But it is not only in the Department where allies are suddenly becoming
enemies. Their friendly journalist Angela Heaney (Lucinda Raikes)
has bent over backwards for far too long.
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Abbot enters an interview with Heaney expecting a warm fuzzy profile
piece, but Heaney has turned cold - she intends to portray a rather
unattractive image of the Minister. Can Tucker stop things from turning
ugly?
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