Dancing on the Edge

Drama set in the early 1930s, following a black jazz band in London at a time of extraordinary change. Music journalist Stanley Mitchell befriends The Louis Lester Band and helps its rise to fame from playing in a basement jazz club to the illustrious Imperial Hotel. At first, the band is treated with hostility by the hotel's elderly audience, most of whom have never heard jazz music nor seen black musicians before.

The Louis Lester Band has yet to reach the fame it so desires, and is stuck playing children's birthday parties at the Imperial Ballroom. Louis is frustrated. However, the band is introduced to wealthy recluse Lady Lavinia Cremone, and she may be able to change its fortunes.

The band and their friends are devastated by Jessie's hospitalisation, and take turns to visit her. Louis is interviewed by police about events on the night of Jessie's attack, and he tells them that he saw Julian when he should have been on a train to Paris. The band have to be persuaded to play without Jessie for the Imperial Hotel's Christmas lunch and they are unsettled when a table of racists walk out.

After the band play at the funeral and Mr Masterson holds a wake, the police interrupt Louis and Sarah in her bedroom. He is subjected to intense questioning at the police station, which results in him becoming confused about what he saw on the night of the murder. The band also plays for the Freemasons dinner at the Imperial Hotel, during which Louis makes a discovery.

Louis can no longer hide out at the Music Express office so Stanley takes him to a suburban flat to escape the manhunt. He is to wait until nightfall, whilst Stanley goes to find his passport as they plan his escape out of the country. Stanley returns to the Imperial Hotel, to find that it's reputation has been badly affected by the murder there. Everyone is leaving, and the hotel will close down.