A Quiet Night In
A dialogue-free episode of Inside No. 9 featuring bumbling burglars.
"A Quiet Night In," the second episode of the first series of the British dark comedy anthology *Inside No. 9*, aired on BBC Two on 12 February 2014. Written by and starring Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, the episode follows two hapless burglars trying to steal a painting from a large modernist house. The homeowners, played by Denis Lawson and Oona Chaplin, remain unaware of the intruders as they argue. The episode unfolds almost entirely without spoken words, using physical comedy and slapstick, though darker elements also emerge. Alongside Pemberton, Shearsmith, Lawson, and Chaplin, the cast includes Joyce Veheary and Kayvan Novak.
The idea for a dialogue-free segment had been considered for Shearsmith and Pemberton’s earlier series *Psychoville* but was never realized; the format of *Inside No. 9* allowed them to revisit it. Critics and production staff noted Chaplin’s casting—she is a grandchild of silent film star Charlie Chaplin—in a nearly silent episode, though this was not intentional. Reviews were largely positive. A particularly enthusiastic review by David Chater in *The Times* prompted a reader complaint that the episode was more traumatic than funny. On its first broadcast, it drew 940,000 viewers, a 4.8% audience share.
The episode was submitted for the 2015 British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards but did not receive a nomination. Pemberton and Shearsmith stated they had no plans for further silent episodes, though they and some critics have compared it to the experimental second-series episode "Cold Comfort."
**Production**
Pemberton and Shearsmith, previously co-writers and stars of *The League of Gentlemen* and *Psychoville*, drew inspiration for *Inside No. 9* from “David and Maureen,” a *Psychoville* episode set in a single room and filmed in two shots. They saw the anthology as a reaction to *Psychoville*’s complex story arcs, offering self-contained stories each week. The series also pays homage to *Tales of the Unexpected*, *The Twilight Zone*, and *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*.
The anthology format let the writers explore ideas less suited to other approaches, like a script with minimal dialogue. Before writing this episode, Shearsmith had discussed dialogue-free television with directors, including Ben Wheatley, who expressed doubts because success depends entirely on visuals and filming.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Inside No. 9
- Series No
- 1
- Episode
- 2
- Writer
- Steve Pemberton / Reece Shearsmith
- Director
- David Kerr
- Airdate
- 2014-02-12
- Length
- 30 minutes
- Guests
- Denis Lawson as Gerald / Joyce Veheary as Kim / Oona Chaplin as Sabrina / Kayvan Novak as Paul
- Prev
- Sardines
- Next
- Tom & Gerri
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The episode was inspired by an idea Shearsmith and Pemberton had considered for their earlier series Psychoville, but they found the format of Inside No. 9 more appropriate for a dialogue-free segment. The script, at 18 pages of stage directions, contained every joke, an exercise in planning atypical for the writers. The only dialogue occurs at the very end. The episode was filmed at the White Lodge in Oxted, Surrey. The burglars are played by the writers, who said they knew they would be the burglars if writing about two burglars. Pemberton suggested a partial influence may have been the children's series Brum.
Reader's Guide
"A Quiet Night In" was submitted to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for the 2015 awards but was not nominated. Critics generally responded positively; a laudatory review by David Chater in The Times prompted a complaint from a reader who found the episode more traumatic than comedic. On its first airing, it was watched by 940,000 viewers (4.8% of the market). Pemberton and Shearsmith said they had no plans to do further silent episodes but compared it to the highly-experimental "Cold Comfort" from the second series. The casting of Oona Chaplin, a grandchild of silent film star Charlie Chaplin, in an almost dialogue-free episode was noted by journalists and those involved, though her casting was not a deliberate homage.
Did You Know?
- The episode was inspired by an idea Shearsmith and Pemberton had discussed for Psychoville but did not use.
- Oona Chaplin, who appears in the episode, is a grandchild of silent film star Charlie Chaplin.
- The only dialogue in the episode occurs at the very end.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "A Quiet Night In"?
It is the second episode of Series 1 of the British dark comedy anthology Inside No. 9, broadcast on BBC Two on 12 February 2014. The story centres on two incompetent burglars attempting to lift a painting from a large modernist house while the oblivious owners argue upstairs.
Who stars in "A Quiet Night In"?
Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton play the two bumbling intruders, and Denis Lawson and Oona Chaplin portray the bickering homeowners. Joyce Veheary and Kayvan Novak also appear in supporting roles.
Why is "A Quiet Night In" notable for having almost no dialogue?
The episode is staged as a near-silent physical comedy, relying on slapstick, visual gags, and sound design rather than spoken lines. This makes it a striking outlier in the Inside No. 9 catalogue, which is otherwise heavily dialogue-driven.
What is the plot of "A Quiet Night In"?
Two hapless burglars break into a modernist house to steal a painting, but the homeowners—locked in a heated argument—never notice their presence. The situation spirals through increasingly chaotic physical misadventures before the tone shifts toward something darker.
Who wrote "A Quiet Night In"?
The episode was written by the show's co-creators, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, who also star in the two lead roles. It served as the second instalment of the first series.
More in Inside No. 9 episodes 1-24
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