What Happens in The Show?
The complete story of The Show, from the first scene to the last, in 267 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Tom Burke, playing the role of Fletcher Dennis, arrives in Northampton on a mission to locate a missing individual named James Mitchum. During his investigation, he visits the local library and meets the librarian, Henry Gaunt (Richard Dillane), who assists him by hacking into a hospital network. This lead reveals that James had been admitted the previous night; however, upon arriving at the hospital, Fletcher is led to the morgue and discovers that James has passed away from his injuries.
Continuing his search, Fletcher follows several leads, encountering a pair of young adolescent detectives in a garden shed and a local gangster. He also speaks with a nightclub bouncer and eventually finds Siobhan Hewlett, who plays Faith. While in the hospital, Faith describes a near-death experience where she danced with James in a club. In return, Fletcher confesses that he is actually a private investigator hired by an elderly businessman from the East End, Patsy Bleeker, to recover a missing necklace.
As the story progresses, Fletcher begins having vivid, strange dreams. In one, he visits the same club from Faith’s vision and meets a man named Frank Metterton, who warns him that Patsy has been lying about his identity and the necklace. After sharing these revelations with Faith, the two plot to lure Patsy to Northampton to settle the score.
When Patsy arrives, he and his associates kidnap Faith to trap Fletcher in an ambush. Fortunately, Fletcher is able to thwart the criminals and rescue her. Unbeknownst to them, the entire confrontation is being watched via CCTV by Henry Gaunt, who is dressed as a masked superhero.
The Show Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Fletcher Dennis Arrives in Northampton” to “A Superhero Watches on CCTV”. 13 events name a place, across 8 locations.
- 1
Fletcher Dennis Arrives in Northampton
Fletcher Dennis arrives in the town of Northampton on a mysterious mission. He has come in search of a missing person named James Mitchum, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Where:Northampton
- 2
A Meeting at the Public Library
Fletcher visits the local public library in hopes of tracking down information about James Mitchum. There he meets the librarian, Henry Gaunt, who offers to assist him in his search.
Where:Northampton Public Library
- 3
Henry Hacks the Hospital Network
Proving surprisingly resourceful, Henry Gaunt hacks into the network of the local hospital. The search reveals that James Mitchum was admitted there the previous evening, giving Fletcher his first solid lead.
Where:Northampton Public Library
- 4
James Found Dead in the Morgue
Fletcher heads to the hospital, where he is ushered down to the morgue by a strange man named Clive. There he makes the grim discovery that James Mitchum is dead, having succumbed to his injuries.
Where:Hospital morgue
- 5
Following Leads to Young Detectives
Following a series of leads through the town, Fletcher meets with a pair of adolescent detectives. The youthful investigators receive him in their headquarters, a modest garden shed.
Where:Garden shed
- 6
Encounter with a Local Gangster
On his way out of the shed, Fletcher chances upon a local gangster who is waiting to see the young Hardy Boys. The encounter hints at the criminal underbelly quietly operating in Northampton.
Where:Outside the garden shed
- 7
Questioning the Nightclub Bouncer
Fletcher next pays a visit to the nightclub where James Mitchum was fatally injured. He speaks with the bouncer there, gathering more information about the circumstances surrounding James's death.
Where:Nightclub
- 8
Faith's Near-Death Experience
Fletcher finds Faith in hospital and listens as she recounts her near-death experience. She describes meeting James and dancing with him in a strange club during the ordeal.
Where:Hospital
- 9
The Truth About the Client
Fletcher reveals to Faith his true purpose in Northampton. He is not looking for a friend but is in fact a private investigator hunting for a missing necklace, hired by an elderly East End businessman named Patsy Bleeker.
Where:Hospital
- 10
Dreams Grow Increasingly Strange
Night after night, Fletcher's dreams become increasingly strange and unsettling. Eventually he finds himself dreaming of the very same club that Faith visited during her near-death experience.
When:Night Where:The dream club
Show the other 5 events of The Show Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Frank Metterton's Revelation
Within the dream, Fletcher meets a man named Frank Metterton. Frank warns him that his client Patsy Bleeker is not telling the truth, neither about himself nor about the missing necklace.
When:Night Where:The dream club
- 12
A Plan to Lure Patsy
The next day, Fletcher explains to Faith everything he discovered about Patsy in the dream. Together they decide that they must lure Patsy to Northampton in order to finally resolve the matter.
When:The next day Where:Hospital
- 13
Patsy Arrives and Faith Is Kidnapped
Patsy arrives in Northampton that evening and moves quickly. With the help of his minions, he kidnaps Faith in order to lure Fletcher into a deadly ambush.
When:Evening Where:Northampton
- 14
Fletcher Rescues Faith
Fletcher walks into the trap but refuses to succumb to it. He thwarts Patsy and his men, fighting through the ambush and successfully rescuing Faith from their clutches.
- 15
A Superhero Watches on CCTV
Unbeknownst to everyone involved, the dramatic confrontation is being watched live on closed-circuit television. The mysterious observer is Henry Gaunt, bizarrely dressed as a masked superhero.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Show? Test yourself on the story.
