Ep 5. Blade

The Gentle Touch is a British police drama that aired from 1980 to 1984. This particular episode, Blade, is part of the show's first season.

The episode begins with Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes (played by Jill Gascoine) investigating a series of murders in the Soho area of London. All of the victims were young women who worked as prostitutes. Despite their line of work, Maggie is determined to bring their killer to justice.

One evening, Maggie is patrolling the area with her partner Detective Sergeant Bill Duffy (played by William Marlowe) when they see a man attacking a prostitute. They rush to her aid, but the man manages to escape. The prostitute, who goes by the name of Blade, is shaken but unharmed. She is subsequently interviewed by Maggie and Bill, but refuses to provide any information that could help with their investigation.

Maggie is convinced that Blade knows more than she's letting on, so she decides to keep an eye on her. Over the next few days, Maggie follows Blade as she goes about her business. She watches as Blade flirts with potential clients and spends time with her friends, all the while keeping an ear out for anything that could help her catch the killer.

Meanwhile, Maggie is also dealing with personal issues. Her husband is away on business, and she's feeling lonely and frustrated. To make matters worse, she's being threatened by an unknown individual. Maggie tries to ignore the threats, but they continue to escalate.

As Maggie continues her surveillance of Blade, she begins to uncover some disturbing information about her past. Blade grew up in care and was repeatedly abused by her foster parents. She was forced into prostitution at a young age and has been trapped in that world ever since. Maggie starts to see Blade in a different light and begins to feel sorry for her.

Eventually, Maggie's persistence pays off and Blade agrees to help her with the investigation. Together, they start to piece together the killer's identity. The trail leads them to a local businessman who has a dark secret. With Blade's help, Maggie is able to apprehend the killer and bring him to justice.

Overall, Blade is a gripping episode that deals with some tough subject matter. It's a testament to the show's quality that it was able to tackle such difficult themes with sensitivity and respect. Jill Gascoine's performance as Maggie Forbes is outstanding, and the supporting cast is equally impressive. If you're a fan of police procedurals, The Gentle Touch is well worth checking out.