angela’s eyes
political eyes (6/13)

Continuing tonight on Five is the US drama series that focuses on the work of Angela Henson – an FBI agent with a unique talent for seeing through lies. In tonight’s episode, the disappearance of an opera star implicates a congressman running for re-election; while Angela’s birthday drags up memories from her past.

Francesca Bouchard, a beautiful young opera star, has disappeared. A witness saw her walking out of the theatre after a performance one night, and her clothes were found on a river bank two days later. The FBI gets involved when a wellknown name surfaces in the case – local congressman Wade Keene. A memo written on Keene’s notepaper detailing a meeting in a hotel was found in Francesca’s jacket.

Avoiding his questions about her forthcoming birthday, Angela takes Leo to visit Keene at his campaign office. Keene admits that he vaguely knew the missing girl – he and his wife had met the star after a show – but he denies any further relationship. He then rushes off for a meeting.

As the agents leave the office, they run into Jack Stillman –advisor to the congressman and an old adversary of Angela’s. Stillman informs the agents that his client is happy to cooperate in the case, but wants his involvement kept out of the media. “A lying politician, Jack Stillman and opera,” says Angela. “This is going to be one hell of a birthday.”

Meanwhile, Dozer tracks Keene’s wife, Laura, and spots her discarding a necklace engraved with Francesca’s initials in a park bin. Angela and Leo go back to Keene who admits to an affair with Francesca, but claims she ended it long before her disappearance. Laura had realised what was going on when she found the necklace, and disposed of the evidence in order to protect her husband’s career. But the congressman still protests his innocence, claiming to have been at a bar on the night of the disappearance.

Angela and Leo visit the bar in question and the barman corroborates Keene’s story, but Angela knows he is lying. Sure enough, an examination of a recent surveillance tape shows that Jack Stillman had also gone to see the barman – probably to coerce him into providing an alibi.

When Angela threatens to go to the media, Stillman allows access to Keene, and the congressman soon opens up. Keene admits to visiting Francesca on the night of her disappearance, but still insists he left her alive and well: “I didn’t kill her,” he exclaims. “I loved her!” Angela seems to believe him. “You don’t think he did it?” asks Leo. “No,” she replies, “but the way he talked about Francesca sure gave someone else a good reason to want her dead.”

Laura is now the prime suspect, but she has an alibi –she was at home receiving a takeaway at the time Francesca vanished. Angela and the team are forced to reassess the case, and begin investigating some other leads, including a rival performer and the wardrobe mistress at the opera. However, it is the spectacle of the opera itself that gives Angela a brainwave – what if Francesca did not leave her dressing room at all? Angela theorises that the witness may have seen someone dressed as Francesca leaving the scene, but this throws up another problem – where is the body?

Elsewhere in tonight’s episode, Dozer arranges for Angela to have a surprise reunion with her estranged brother, Jerry, on her birthday. She is initially angry, but Jerry wishes her a happy birthday and presents her with a gift –a family time capsule containing old photographs and toys. The two share a number of happy childhood stories and seem to be getting on well together, until Angela comes across a photo of her parents with a strange man. Does Jerry have an ulterior motive in taking his sister down memory lane?