Foyle's War (series 2)

This episode introduces Foyle's former love, Elizabeth Lewes, whom he had intended to marry but was declined permission by her father some 20 years ago. Later, true to his word, in "The Eternity Ring" (Series 7, Episode 1), Foyle returns from America after confronting Paige. In this episode it is established that Stewart is 22 years old.

The title refers to the Destroyers for Bases Agreement, under which the United States traded 50 U.S. Navy destroyers to the U.K. in exchange for land rights in certain British colonies. The agreement was a reversal of the U.S.'s isolationist policy and a precursor to the much more substantial Lend-Lease programme. The edition of the Eastbourne Chronicle announcing the visit of Paige to Hastings is dated 'Wednesday September 14, 1940'. Therefore, this episode starts the day after the Season 1 episode - "Eagle Day". The episode also reveals the darker side of the war effort: those willing to profit in wartime at the expense of their countrymen. The subplot with the character Hans Maier is based upon a real incident in which the German spy, Carl Meier, was caught in a similar way to the depiction in the episode.[3]

The relationship and sense of trust between the Foyles is tested when Foyle learns details of Andrew Foyle's secretive sexual relationship and "engagement" to Dewar's friend Violet Davies. Foyle again "bends the rules" to the needs of wartime by allowing Talbot, who has confessed to accidentally causing Dewar's death, to lead the squadron on one last sortie (where he is killed), and then by consoling his son afterwards by praising Talbot as a good man.

This episode addresses petrol theft and black-marketeering in the new era of wartime rationing, in which petrol was the first item to be restricted.. The flying Supermarine Spitfire featured in this episode was Historic Aircraft Collection's Spitfire Mk.Vb BM597 and the airfield filming took place at Dunsfold.

This episode marks the temporary return (prior to reassignment to North Africa with the 7th Armoured Division) of Foyle's former police sergeant, now British Army captain, Jack Devlin, who left with the BEF for France and was wounded by shrapnel there, and it provides details of how Devlin was involved in planting evidence and perverting the course of justice in the Markham case six months earlier. Throughout the episode, Foyle is confronted with moral dilemmas and legal compromises made for the sake of the war. It also marks the first appearance of Hilda Pierce, played by Ellie Haddington, who later appears in the episodes "The French Drop" and "All Clear", before becoming a lead character in series 7 and 8.

This episode introduces children competing to win minor salvaging competitions, particularly with aluminium, glass and used paper. It also deals with the phenomena of the looting of Jewish treasures and the continued collaboration of British companies with the Germans in the guise of war profiteering contrary to the Trading with the Enemy Act 1939.

Andrew is temporarily on medical leave for one week, after forcibly having to ditch his plane into the English Channel due to fog. After an invitation for a drive at his father's suggestion goes bad, he apologises to Stewart and takes her to see Gone With the Wind. After the movie, while walking back home, they share a kiss and begin a relationship. Meanwhile, Foyle's tense relationship with his former boss's successor is also shown, when he arrives unannounced in London, and confronts him over the handling of the case against him. Also, in Foyle's absence, Stewart is unwillingly compelled to temporarily return to her position at the Mechanised Transport Corps depot.

In the first year of the war, the British government made dire predictions of the amount of bombing in major cities that would occur and moved large numbers of people out to the countryside. Later, the government reversed these predictions, but certain people who had the means to pay preferred to stay in their temporary lodgings, out of danger. Such hotels and guest houses became known as "funk holes" because their residents' actions were regarded as cowardice. Further, with daily goods and pet-food in short supply due to wartime rationing, black marketeering of foodstuffs was also an ongoing issue for the authorities.