Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20120319 | Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. Stewart Gilmour returns home to Stonemouth after fleeing five years ago. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 02 | 20120320 | Stewart is catching up with old friends and a flashback takes us back to his childhood when he first met Ellie Murston. Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. Stewart catches up with old friends and recalls his first meeting with Ellie Murston. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 03 | 20120321 | The story, now, focuses on Stewart's teenage life in Stonemouth, his first meeting with Ellie's grandfather Joe Murston and his deepening relationship with the daughter of the town's boss - Don Murston. Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. Teenage Stewart meets Ellie's grandfather and their relationship deepens. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 04 | 20120322 | A game of pool in the present and a teenage game of paintball start harmlessly but turn violent and deadly in today's episode of Iain Banks' novel. Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. Violence past and present come to the fore in Stonemouth. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 05 | 20120323 | Stewart's return to Stonemouth causes tensions to rise with the Murston family. These reach a peak with Ellie's brothers kidnapping Stewart and threatening him high above the churning waters flowing beneath the suspension bridge. Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. Stewart has a dangerous encounter on the suspension bridge with Ellie's violent brothers. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 06 | 20120326 | Tonight the reasons for Stewart's flight from Stonemouth five years ago, and his enforced exile, are finally revealed. Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant. Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. A man's homecoming takes a lethal turn. Stewart's five-year-old secret is finally revealed Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 07 | 20120327 | Stewart's life is inextricably entwined with the Murstons. He reveals a surprise visit in London by Ellie's sister Grier, whilst in the present day the two former lovers finally meet for the first time in five years. Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. Stewart finally comes face-to-face with Ellie Murston for the first time in five years. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 08 | 20120328 | Ignoring the threats from Ellie's brothers, she and Stewart are spending more and more time together. However, when everyone gathers for Joe Murston's funeral tensions rise. Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. Stewart and Ellie spend more and more time together, despite her brothers' threats. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 09 | 20120329 | Joe Murston's funeral brings Stewart back to the hotel where he was photographed with Jel. As the Murstons get more drunk, tension mounts - and Stewart makes a dramatic discovery. Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. Stewart makes a dramatic discovery about the photos that incriminated him five years ago. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |
| 10 | 20120330 | Iain Banks' novel concludes tonight with a reunion of childhood friends on the beach. Stewart and Ellie think of their future, but her brother has other ideas. Stewart Gilmour is back in Stonemouth. After five years in exile his presence is required at the funeral of patriarch Joe Murston, and even though the last time Stu saw the Murstons he was running for his life, staying away might be even more dangerous than turning up. An estuary town north of Aberdeen, Stonemouth, with its five mile beach, can be beautiful on a sunny day. On a bleak one, it can seem to offer little more than seafog, gangsters, cheap drugs and a suspension bridge irresistible to suicides. And although there's supposed to be a temporary truce between Stewart and the town's biggest crime family, it's soon clear that only Stewart is taking this promise of peace seriously. Before long a quick drop into the cold grey Stoun begins to look like the soft option. As he steps back into the minefield of his past to confront his guilt and all that it has lost him, Stu uncovers ever darker stories, and his homecoming takes a more lethal turn than even he had anticipated. Read by David Tennant Producer: David Roper A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4. A reunion of childhood friends on a beach turns violent. Readings from modern classics, new works by leading writers and world literature |