''U Be Dead'' is a British

TV movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

first

broadcast Broadcasting is the distribution of audio or video content to a dispersed audience via any electronic mass communications medium, but typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum ( radio waves), in a one-to-many model. Broadcasting began ...

in New Zealand in 2009. The film is based on a true story. The film was shown in the United Kingdom on 5 September 2010 on

ITV1 ITV1 (formerly known as ITV) is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the British media company ITV plc. It provides the Channel 3 public broadcast service across all of the United Kingdom except for t ...

, and released in France on 2 July 2010 on television '' Arte HD'', and in Australia premiered as a telemovie on the ABC in January 2011.

Plot

psychiatrist A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in psychiatry, the branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, study, and treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrists are physicians and evaluate patients to determine whether their sy ...

Dr Jan Falkowski and his

fiancee An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between the declaration of acceptance of a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be ''fi ...

Debra Pemberton are mysteriously stalked and harassed by a woman they have never met who claims to be in love with Falkowski. The woman sends

text messages Text messaging, or texting, is the act of composing and sending electronic messages, typically consisting of alphabetic and numeric characters, between two or more users of mobile devices, desktops/laptops, or another type of compatible compute ...

and anonymous phone calls to the couple, their colleagues and even their wedding caterer. Debra receives death threats claiming that she will be burnt and shot if she goes through with the wedding. The relationship has broken down under the strain and the wedding is called off, but a trap is set for their tormentor. On police advice, the engaged couple pretend to go ahead with their wedding plans, and the anonymous

stalker Stalking is unwanted and/or repeated surveillance by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are interrelated to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring them. The term ...

is caught in a

phone booth A telephone booth, telephone kiosk, telephone call box, telephone box or public call box is a tiny structure furnished with a payphone and designed for a telephone user's convenience; usually the user steps into the booth and closes the booth ...

on the "wedding day", preparing to send more threats. She is revealed as Maria Marchese, whose former boyfriend was a patient of Dr Falkowski. A police investigation begins, but then suddenly the

Crown Prosecution Service The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is the principal public agency for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales. It is headed by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The main responsibilities of the CPS are to provide legal adv ...

lawyers reveal that they are dropping the case against Maria. Dr Falkowski starts a new relationship with Bethan Ancell, a friend from his powerboat racing exploits. But worse is yet to come as Dr Falkowski is accused of rape by Maria. The evidence seems damning and a

criminal prosecution A prosecutor is a legal representative of the prosecution in states with either the common law adversarial system or the Civil law (legal system), civil law inquisitorial system. The prosecution is the legal party responsible for presenting the ...

begins against him, causing him to lose his job. A further 18 months of torment go by until a crucial new piece of

forensic Forensic science, also known as criminalistics, is the application of science to Criminal law, criminal and Civil law (legal system), civil laws, mainly—on the criminal side—during criminal investigation, as governed by the legal standard ...

evidence shatters the web of lies spun by Maria Marchese and leads to her downfall. Dr Falkowski and Bethan have to try to put it behind them and start a new life, hoping that Maria will never be able to track them down again.

Cast

David Morrissey David Mark Joseph Morrissey (born 21 June 1964) is an English actor and filmmaker. Described by the British Film Institute as "one of the most versatile English actors of his generation", he is noted for the meticulous preparation and research h ...

– Dr. Jan Falkowski *

Alex Lowe Stewart Alexander Lowe (24 December 1958 – 5 October 1999) was an American mountaineer. He has been described as inspiring "...a whole generation of climbers and explorers with his uncontainable enthusiasm, legendary training routines, and sig ...

– Drew Langdon *

Tara Fitzgerald Tara Anne Cassandra Fitzgerald (born 18 September 1967) is an English actress who has appeared in feature films, television, radio and the stage. She won the New York Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play in 1995 as Opheli ...

– Debra Pemberton *

Dearbhla Molloy Dearbhla Molloy (; born 1946) is an Irish actress. Early life Molloy was born to John Molloy and Evelyn Ryan and grew up on Yellow Walls Road in Malahide, County Dublin, Ireland, the eldest of seven children. She attended an Irish-language sc ...

– Dr. Bernice Falkowska *

Michael Elwyn Michael Elwyn (born 23 August 1942) is a Welsh actor, notable for his work in film ('' Shadow Man''), stage ('' The Audience'', as Anthony Eden) and television ('' Stella''). Elwyn was born in Pontypridd. He is the partner of actress Alison Ste ...

– Prof. Wojciech Falkowski * Thomas Craig – DC Lee Rutter *

Alexis Zegerman Alexis Zegerman is a British actress and writer. Early life and training Zegerman grew up in a Jewish family in London, and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Acting career Film and TV Zegerman won a British Independent Film ...

– Gemma *

Richard Lumsden Richard James Lumsden (born 24 June 1965) is an English actor, writer, composer and musician. He has made regular appearances on TV and film throughout his career. Notable series include Channel 4's Emmy-award winning ''Sugar Rush'', ''Is it L ...

– DI Steven Thorpe * Lucy Griffiths – Bethan Ancell *

Susannah Wise Susannah Walker Wise is an English people, English television and stage Actor, actress. Life and career She trained as an actress at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, graduating in 1995. Wise is best known for her work in the Briti ...

– Laura *

Jan Francis Janet Stephanie Francis (born 5 August 1947) is an English actress. She appeared as Penny Warrender in the 1980s romantic comedy ''Just Good Friends''. Early life Francis was born at the former Charing Cross Hospital London. She is the eldes ...

– Irene Pemberton *

John McArdle John McArdle (born 16 August 1949) is an English actor. He is most notable for playing Billy Corkhill in the soap opera ''Brookside'', with many other smaller appearances in other soaps and dramas. Playing a regular character in ''Brookside'' ...

– Brian Pemberton * Kate Steavenson-Payne – Helena *

Monica Dolan Monica Margaret Dolan (born 15 March 1969) is an English actress. She won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Rosemary West in ''Appropriate Adult'' (2011). Career Dolan was born in Middlesbrough and trained at the Guildh ...

– Maria Marchese * David Groves – Damian Falkowski

References

External links

www.bournemouthecho.co.uk
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Bournemouth Daily Echo The ''Bournemouth Daily Echo'', commonly known as the ''Daily Echo'' (a.k.a. the ''Bournemouth Echo''), is a local newspaper that covers the area of southeast Dorset, England, including the towns Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch. Published ...

: TV Drama recreates Poole stalker's

reign of terror The Reign of Terror (french: link=no, la Terreur) was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the First Republic, a series of massacres and numerous public executions took place in response to revolutionary fervour, ...

; Retrieved 3 September 2010. * {{IMDb title, 1243617 English-language television shows British television films ITV television dramas