The second episode of Nolly begins in 1958 with Noele Gordon (Helena Bonham Carter) interviewing Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. She admits it is history since it is the first time a woman has interviewed the Prime Minister. Then, there is an episode about Meg no longer being a majority shareholder of Crossroads. In 1981, the performers are eager to get their hands on the script so they’ll know what happens to Nolly. Once they get the scripts, they begin looking through them for clues. Susan Hanson (Chloe Harris) thinks there has to be something in there since Nolly only has two weeks left.

It only mentions that she writes a will. Nolly admits she has asked the writers over and over, but they won’t tell her anything. Jack Barton (Con O’Neill) blames Noele for going to the papers. He admits the problem is that Meg’s exit has been a miracle and the show has never been so popular. Jack believes this is their chance to be as big as Dallas when JR Ewing was shot. He isn’t going to spoil that for anyone. Jack tells the media that he has one script with one ending and it is locked away where they can’t see it. In the present, Tony Adams (Augustus Prew) says he can’t crack a safe so he isn’t sure what to do.

Paul, who plays Benny, says that he is friendly with a newcomer by the name of Sam Hurst. Sam is an artist who paints a mural. When Meg sees the mural, she recognizes the artist. It turns out that Sam has changed his name because he has a mysterious past. Nolly learns that Brian Badcoe will be playing Sam Hurst. She tracks him down to see if he knows anything about Meg’s future. He was told that Sam is escaping his past because his wife and children died in a fire. Brian doesn’t know if he is an arsonist or if he kills Nolly. Paul mentions that Brian’s final episode transmits on bonfire night.

Later, Jane comes over to tell Nolly that she has been filming on her own. She reveals she has been filming her funeral. Nolly calls Tony to tell him. After he rushes over to join them, Jane Rossington (Antonia Bernath) tells Nolly and Tony about her day. She admits they had a coffin for Nolly. Her script required her to stand at the grave and cry. She had to do it with a press helicopter overhead. Tony reminds Nolly that they said they were shooting multiple endings. When they get the next scripts, they begin scouring through them as well. It provides mixed signals so they can’t tell whether Meg is dead. Tony is surprised that they actually created multiple endings. They won’t know what happened until next week.

Nolly begins worrying that it is going to be crap. Later, Iris rushes outside to tell Nolly that a team came in and everything is gone now. A member of the special effects team said they were going to take it all to an airfield, rebuild it on the tarmac, and burn it. They never spent any money on the show, but they’re going to spend a fortune just to get rid of Nolly. At home, Nolly receives the latest script. Once she reads it, she breaks down crying. Tony sees her driving away moments later. She goes to the theatre to listen to Larry Grayson (Mark Gatiss). After the show, Bruce (Omari Douglas) lets her go backstage to speak to Larry. Once they’re alone, they speak about Bruce and his boyfriend as well as how Nolly is being treated.

Nolly confirms she got the final script which reveals she survives. She sails off on the QE2. It is all rather silly. Meg is tired of the motel so she leaves a note for Jill, but the motel burns down so no one sees the note. Then, she telephones and Jill rushes off to see her on the actual QE2. They celebrate that she gets to live. Larry says he can’t help thinking that he would’ve helped if he was still alive. He thinks he loved her right to the end. Larry believes she has been set free and she’ll be a bigger star than ever. Although he says she can have whatever she wants, Nolly says she has tried and tried, but they won’t have her.

She could’ve carried on for a hundred years, but they took it all away. Larry is chucking it in. It is gone and he is out. His show was beaten in the ratings by Game For A Laugh. He is going to look after Fan. Larry argues that they’re two old dinosaurs bellowing at the night. Nolly reveals she still gets cards congratulating them on their engagement. Larry wonders what people say when they look at him. Nolly doesn’t know what she’ll do. She wasted all those years and kept her life empty. She was waiting for him, but she has nothing now. As Larry comforts her, Nolly questions what she is going to do.

At the studio, the actors and actresses still don’t sit in Noele’s chair. They talk about her being on the QE2. Susan mentions that she knew everyone and their birthdays, yet she is spending her final days in Southampton. She’ll go all the way to Cherbourg on her own since the QE2 can’t turn back. Susan says it is wrong for her to fly back with no one with her. Tony decides to leave before the rehearsals because he has something much more important to do. Jack checks on Nolly and asks if everything is okay. She complains about shooting in a tiny little corner. Nolly asks what happens when Meg gets to New York. She admits she isn’t happy before telling Jack that he is going to miss her.

Once everyone says they’re happy, they begin shooting the scene. Tony rushes out to his boat and launches it. Jack gives Nolly instructions for the scene on the QE2. Iris comes over for final checks even though she says Nolly never needed her. Noele thanks her for everything. Then, she talks to Liz about their good and bad times including Liz’s parents dying in a car crash. On the day she got married, Nolly offered her Rolls-Royce and drove her. Once Jack says he knows, Liz tells him to make sure they know upstairs. They shoot the goodbye scene. Nolly sees Tony in his boat below her. Later, Nolly sits down alone at home and prepares to watch the episode.

She goes out with Tony and pretends she doesn’t care if they change the ending. She wants to go shopping the old way. On the bus, passengers spot Noele and begin asking her about the show. One says she is only watching for Tony and they want to know if he is spoken for. After one man says he doesn’t know who she is, Nolly is asked why they got rid of her. She eventually blames men. The man who doesn’t watch tells another passenger that it is just a program, but she says she has been watching it for 20 years. He suspects it is for women. When Noele pushes him on that, he claims it is a load of old rubbish. Nolly says women have their soap operas while men have their pub, football, and beer.

She continues joking about men as the other passengers start laughing. Once they get off the bus, Tony tells her that she was magnificent for 18 years. She believes she’ll have to sell his flat and the vehicle will have to go back. Nolly says he’ll go to work and continue on as he always has. She wants him to be careful because the show is a machine and it is ruthless. Poppy learns that there is no script for her. Nolly tells Tony she is just getting started because she isn’t going to let them stop her. Larry makes her get up and come with him. He takes her on the stage. Nolly says she is 61 and exhausted, but he thinks it is the perfect age.

He tries to convince her that she was born for the stage. Larry asks if she can start over again and show all those men and everyone who ever doubted her. She says watch me.

 

Nolly Review

The second episode of Nolly followed the path created by the first and focused primarily on Nolly’s final episode of Crossroads. There is plenty to like about Nolly since it is well-acted, humorous, and authentic. Helena Bonham Carter is perfect for the role of Noele Gordon and Augustus Prew has been thoroughly enjoyable as Tony Adams.

On the other hand, it is somewhat difficult to see the purpose of Nolly after two episodes. It has really been more about Crossroads and the removal of Noele than about Noele Gordon. Some viewers may feel that the issues are pretentious compared to their own personal situations and the issues they see around them. If the intention was to highlight Nolly’s exit as the central struggle, now probably wasn’t a great time to do that since it seems so meager through two episodes.

There just isn’t enough substance to Nolly. On the other hand, it is fun to see today’s actors portray the cast and crew of Crossroads. In particular, Augustus Prew’s Tony Adams is a real strong point and probably the most impactful character at this point. The episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of Nolly can be found on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support our independent site at this link. Find out more about advertising opportunities on Reel Mockery here.