John Castle's talents are under-used in an otherwise excellent episode. Would have liked a bit more humour but then this is quite a hard, brutal story.

The Lads arguing in the hospital ("You great clown – do you think I don't know how you feel?!") is a terrific scene showing their knife-edged relationship at work.

We get a great early example of the show making fun of itself: the people at the bus-stop applauding Bodie trying to ambush a following car.

At least he gets his revenge in the later car chase – superbly choreographed and edited stuff, there!

The chase scene between Doyle and Arthur is brilliantly photographed, along with Laurie's excellent music. And it's difficult to tell a stunt double is being used when Doyle is run down.

A classic ep - great plot, loads of action, good musical score and some self-mocking humour. Good to see it wasn't just Brian Clemens who could come up with the goods.

"You're a good team, you and Doyle. I don't want to lose either of you if I can help it." / "Sorry, sir." / "Like hell you are!"

Excellent twisty plot in this one. It took several viewings before I actually figured out who was what to whom and why. This was in part because the sound on the old Video Gems tapes is awful. The street scenes in particular are nearly inaudible. Nevertheless the characters are all interesting, definitely not cardboard and leave plenty of room for speculation about their background stories. Nice to see "Shotgun Tommy" (John Castle) back even as a baddie.

Showcase for Bodie. Lewis is just beautiful here. He emotes and runs around gorgeously and gives us his very best scene of all: the driving bootlegger's turn, stop, jump out, jump over, aim the gun and...

No baddies. And the pensioners at the bus stop whistle and clap. Bodie takes it with proper humor.

Marvelous!

Bodie wears black in this one. Yummy.

It's also a preview of 'Wild Justice' and 'Discovered in a Graveyard' showing us a Bodie who will use his skills and job to exact revenge. Although Cowley does eventually sanction his work, he is very much out there for most of the story. The scene where Cowley chews him out is surprising in that Bodie has disobeyed a direct order yet Cowley allows him to get on with the investigation once he's had his tongue-lashing. Nice job by both actors in that, btw. The strength of the agent/boss relationship comes through nicely. Even when he's being bad, Cowley trusts Bodie.

The scene between the mother and daughter once the truth is out about the dad is an excellent one.

Two good car chases accompanied by stirring music. <G>

But the best part is Doyle, beaten, scruffy and suffering (oh, he whimpers so nicely) being rescued by Bodie. "You dumb crud, what took you so long?" (Doyle to Bodie) and "You look terrible." (Bodie, wearing a relieved grin, to Doyle) They care deeply about one another and verbalise this by insulting one another in times of stress, crisis and relief. Ah, male communication techniques.

Medical alert - in the last scene when Doyle raises his arms... Wouldn't happen if those ribs really were busted. Nope. Not.

Good episode - I'd like to see/hear it in decent copy.

Forrest's house is along Totteridge Common, Totteridge, N20.

Bodie's first car chase with the FBI guys involves Highwood Hill, Partingdale Lane, Firth Lane and Lullington Garth, all in the Mill Hill area.

Forrest's offices and the car park where the explosion occurs is around the National Theatre. The area has changed somewhat in the intervening years, however.

Doyle's meeting with mad Arthur's probation officer ("Paperwork!") takes place in Stamford Street and Waterloo Road, close to Waterloo Bridge. (Thanks toBob Rocca for the pic).

Doyle chases Arthur down Swan Street, Southwark.

Bodie calls the hospital from the phone box in Bridge Street, Pinner.

There is some debate as to where Doyle meets up with the unnamed brunette (actress Ann Michelle - sister of Vicki). It could be Roman Way, Barnsbury or, as suggested by fan Mike Serby, opposite the Bridge Street phone box. However when the scene cuts to the RS2000 parked in the background, we're back in the Stamford Street/Waterloo Road area: just off Mepham Street. It's not at clear why this was required but as Bridge Street was obviously packed with members of the public, maybe they proved to be a nuisance. The tunnel is now a walkway only. (Many thanks again to Bob Rocca for info and pic!)

In the scene where Cowley interrogates Mrs Forrest in her home, Gordon appears to almost trip over something (perhaps a camera cable?) when he walks from the foreground to the window. (Thanks to Amanda Cable)

During Bodie's second car chase we see him swing the steering wheel to the left but the Cari magically turns the other way! (Thanks to Baz Taylor).

Apparently Martin Shaw was hospitalised for 24 hours after being KO'd by Rod Culbertson in their fight scene!

The surreal humour of the bus-stop scene was heightened when, a few minutes after filming completed, a real bus arrived and the extras employed to applaud Bodie's driving skills jumped aboard and rode into London!

The scene of the Triumph crashing was no carefully-staged accident - it skidded and collided with camera op John Maskall.

Note John Castle and (a noticeably slimmer!) Anthony Bailey also appeared together in 'Heroes'.

John Carson (Forrest) regularly featured as support characters in just about every series made by Lew Grade's ITC company during the 1960s and early 70s. He also appeared as the doctor in Brian Clemens' cult classic Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter, an episode of The New Avengers and cameod in the episode 'Samurai Wind' from The New Professionals.

Robert Rietty (Gino, the restaurant owner) is primarily a voice-over artiste but also appeared in the episode 'Hijack'.