"Another Bride, Another Groom"

The last episode of MatH is possibly the best:  funny, touching, and chockful of guest stars.  It takes its title from the lyrics to "Making Whoopee," the version that goes "Another bride, another groom, another sunny honeymoon."  The episode aired on 7 April, 1976.

Making Whoopee:  The episode opens with a close-up of a Cupid decoration on a wedding cake.  Robin is singing a da-da-da-dee version of "Making Whoopee."  The cake is three-tiered and very elaborate.  Robin is wearing his naughty apron as he decorates.  It's later revealed that he's wearing a T-shirt for the WSU Cougars.  (Washington State U.  Less likely than Larry at Oxford, but not impossible.)

He says, "Now for the finishing touch."  He picks up bride and groom figurines and acts out a wedding ceremony, officiator included.  As he sets them on the cake, he says, "Those whom the registrars have put together, let no cake knife put asunder."

Jo looks on with her hands on her hips.
Jo:  Can I have a slice now please?
Robin:  Certainly not.  You can't have any till after the wedding.
Jo:  (giggling) That's what my mum always told me to say.

She says that he's taking it very well about Chrissy and Norman.  He says there are plenty more fish in the sea.  As he goes to answer the doorbell, he adds, "I've given up girls.  From now on, I'm going out with fish."

Chrissy and Norman are at the door.  She says Norman bought the ring.  Robin wants to see it, through Norman's nose.

Norman wants to rehearse Robin handing the ring to him.  He doesn't want anything to go wrong.  He hands the ring to Robin, who hands it back.  Norman says that's perfect and Chrissy says it's very good.  Feigning feigning modesty, Robin says, "Well, there wasn't a lot to it really."

Norman tells him to just do it like that tomorrow.
Norman:  Remember, as best man, you're responsible for all the arrangements until we leave for the honeymoon.  (He sits on the settee next to Chrissy.)  After that, I can manage on my own.
Chrissy:  Oh, can you now?
Norman:  Well, it would help if you're around.
She giggles.  He leans in for a kiss, but Robin breaks it up.

Robin sent the invitations by post two weeks ago.  (So we know at least that much time has passed since Math38.)  Chrissy says they should start arriving any day now, the last of the "slow post office" jokes on the show.  He gave the Ropers' invitations to Mr. Roper.

The Grand Old Duke:  Downstairs, Mr. Roper is looking at that invitation.  When Mildred comes in with a cup of tea for him, he quickly hides the invitation under his jumper.

She says it's a big day tomorrow.  He says yeah, it'll be the finals of the darts tournament at the British Legion.  She's talking about the wedding.  "Oh, you mean her upstairs?  We're playing the Duke of Edinborough.  Well, not him personally.  His pub."

Mildred:  I do think they might've invited us, George.  I mean, if just for the, you know, the reception. 
George:  Well, maybe it's just the family, Mildred.
Mildred:  Well, Mr. Simmonds from the top flat's going and he's not family.
George:  Well, maybe it's family and people they like.  I mean, they never liked us.  Apart from you.
Mildred:  You know, I enjoy weddings, George.  I even enjoyed ours.  Look how that turned out.

He says they won't have to fork out money on a present.  She says she's already bought one, a pop-up toaster.  Laughing, she says, "I'll pop up with it later."  We cut to George looking surprised as he sips his tea.

Don't it make your blue eyes brown?:  Robin shows Norman the cake, telling him all the ingredients, nothing but the best.  Robin says it's his masterpiece.  Norman says he hasn't got brown eyes.  The groom figurine has brown.  Robin sarcastically says, "Oh, well, scrap the whole thing then!"  Norman says they can still use it.  It's perfect, the finest wedding cake he's ever seen, apart from the brown eyes.

Day Tripper:  Chrissy answers the doorbell.  Robin's dad is there, carrying a flat package.  They hug hello.  He drove down a day early.  Mrs. Tripp wants to look at the London shops, and it's cheaper if she does that on a Sunday. 

Mr. Tripp:  Hello, Jo.
Jo:  Hello, Mr. Tripp.  Did you have a good trip?  (She winces.)  Journey.
He says Mrs. Tripp only got sick in the car once.  Luckily, the nodding dog got most of that.  (I assume he's talking about a bobble-head dog or the like.)

His sons enter from the kitchen.  He tells them that their mum is back at the hotel, practising her sobbing for the wedding.

He gives Chrissy the package and tells her it's an electric blanket. 
Norman:  Do you think we'll need it?
Mr. Tripp:  Well, not for a week or two certainly.  There'll come cold nights, you know, when you're not in the mood.
Chrissy:  About 1990.
Mr. Tripp:  (to Norman) (unintelligible) You've got a cracker here, eh, Laddie?  (to Chrissy) You've not so bad, Love.  Me and his mother are very, very proud of our Norman.
Chrissy:  And your Robin.
Mr. Tripp:  Robin?  Well, he does his best.

Robin asks if his dad wants to see the cake he baked.  His dad says not right now.
Robin:  I said the cake I baked.  I didn't say the dress I made for my dolly!
Mr. Tripp:  You made a dress for your what?
Norman thinks their dad should see the cake because it's very good.  Dad says, "Well, if you think so, Norman."  He and Robin go in the kitchen.  Jo says, "I didn't know he had a dolly."

Mr. Tripp puts on his reading glasses to look at the cake.  Robin says it's his personal gift to Norman and Chrissy.
Mr. Tripp:  Your mother makes a fair to middling sponge.
Robin:  Well, I couldn't give them a fair to middling sponge as a wedding present, could I?
Mr. Tripp agrees and he says the cake is very good, except Norman hasn't got brown eyes.  Robin is very annoyed.

Anything You Want:  Jo asks what Norman and Chrissy are doing on their honeymoon, for the rest of the time.  Norman is sitting on the settee.  Chrissy is on its arm, and his hand is around her hips.  He puts his other arm around her and asks, "What rest of the time?"

Mildred comes in without knocking.  She says she "popped up" with the wedding present.  Chrissy says, "A toaster, what a lovely surprise."  Norman asks how she knew, and Chrissy says that's what she asked for.

Mildred says it's an exciting day tomorrow.  She asks if quite a few people are coming.
Chrissy:  Just family and poeple we like.
Mildred:  I see.  I'll be thinking of you, Love.
Norman:  But you'll be there.
Mildred:  What?
Chrissy:  Well, surely Mr. Roper gave you the invitation.
Mildred pretends he did and then excuses herself.

The Joker:  George shows a feathered dart to Oscar.  "You know a bit about feathers, don't you?"  He says the most important thing to remember is to let go of it when you throw it, or you'll hit the dartboard.  He says Oscar can appreciate a good joke.

Mildred has returned, so she says we all do (appreciate a good joke).  "Shall I tell you one?"  She has him sit in the chair, while she sits on the arm.  Punctuated by his anticipatory laughter, she tells of a little man whose wife said she was going to break his neck.  "I won't attempt the accent."  The man asked why she was going to break his neck and his wife said, "Because you didn't tell me you received a wedding invitation."  George has stopped laughing.  He pulls the invitation out from under his jumper.

A Quick One (While He's Away):  The Tripp brothers enter the pub, smoking, and Norman says they'll just have a quick one, as it's traditional.  Robin says it's not really right to get stoned (in the drunk sense) out of your mind the night before the wedding.
Norman:  I don't plan to.
Robin:  But I intend to.

They go to the bar.  Robin starts to order two pints of the best bitter, but has to change it to three when he sees Larry. 
Larry:  Last night before the big drop then?
Norman:  It's not an execution.  I'm going into it quite willingly.
Larry:  Ah, suicide.
Norman laughs.

Larry's offscreen wedding present turns out to be a garden gnome with a fishing rod.  Larry thought it was tasteful.  Norman notes that there seemed to be a little earth around the base.  Larry says, "Well, that's Harrod's for you."

They take their drinks to a table as Mr. Roper comes in and goes to the bar.  Robin asks if he has to make a speech.  Norman says it'll be just a few words at the reception.

Robin asks for a piece of paper and a pencil.  Larry hands him the bill from Harrod's.  Robin gives him a "You're kidding" look, and Larry gives him a "That shows you" look back.  Robin is surprised when he realises that Larry was telling the truth for once.

Norman says to just mention the couple, how beautiful the bride is, how handsome the groom.  "Find your own words."  Robin sarcastically says, "Thank you very much."

Writing it down, Robin says, " 'Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends.' "  George comes over with a drink and says, "Evening."  Robin adds, " 'And Mr. Roper.' "  George sits down.

George tells Norman he's going to "your whatshisname" tomorrow.  He hopes they'll hurry it up, since he's got this darts match.  Norman says he'll bear it in mind.

He's dubious about marriage and says that women can be-- He breaks off and looks round.  The other men lean in as he confides that women can be very demanding physically.
George:  I'm not putting you off, am I?
Norman:  (laughing) No.
George:  Oh well, it takes all sorts.
The men all pick up their glasses.

I've Got a Little List:  Meanwhile, the girls are on the settee, Mildred in the chair, as they laugh and drink together.

Mildred says George was ever so nervous when they got married.  He put the ring on the vicar's finger.  "If I hadn't mentioned it, they'd be together yet."  This is crazy enough on its own, but combined with the image of Mildred doing up George's fly buttons (revealed on "The Party's Over"), it suggests total chaos.  Yet Mildred claims to have enjoyed her own wedding.

Jo asks if Chrissy's nervous.  Chrissy says, no, there are only 156 things that can go wrong.  She's made a list.  Laughing, Jo says, "When my Uncle Cyril got married, his braces snapped and his trousers fell down."  Chrissy says, "157." 

(On "And Then There Were Two," Jo said that her nephew Cyril was named after a fellow Cyril who was after Uncle Charles.  Either she has an Uncle Cyril after all or they've started calling that man "uncle," as in a family friend.  Or she and/or the writers can't keep her family members straight.)
 
It's Late:  George is also recalling the wedding.  When the vicar said "Speak now" etc., not a soul spoke.  "Not a bloody soul."

Norman stands up and wants to go.  George says it's Norman's turn to buy a round, but Robin says it's actually George's.  So George says, "It is getting late," and leaves.

As Norman leaves, Larry tells him, "Get your head down.  It's your last chance for a good night's kip."  Then Robin suggests he and Larry have a few more drinks.

Love and Marriage:  We return to the lounge, now dark.  We hear Robin and Larry singing something.  Then Larry sings the line, "Love and Marriage."  They come in.  Robin shushes Larry and turns on a light.  More quietly, Larry sings, "Go together like a railway carriage."  Robin says that's horse.  Larry says, "Yeah, I am a bit.  It's all the singing."

They're leaning on each other, arms around each other.  They can barely walk.

Robin wants Larry to see the cake.  He says it should be hung up in the Gational Nallery.  He goes in the kitchen.  Larry drops his cigarettes.  He gets on all fours to pick them up.  Robin of course trips over him, dropping the cake.  There's much audience reaction.

And we go to adverts.

Goin' out of My Head:  There's again a close-up of a cake, but this time the groom is headless.  The camera backs out to show that this cake is only one layer, which Robin is quickly frosting.

The girls come in wearing their nightclothes.  They say good morning.  Then they see the cake.
Jo:  It's shrunk.
Robin:  It's a different cake. It's two jam sponges stuck together.
He tells them that some idiot fell on the other cake, then admits it was him.  Chrissy says 158.

Chrissy goes to answer the doorbell.  Jo says that the groom's got no head.  Robin says, "You noticed that, did you?"

Chrissy's mum arrives with a big white box.  She and Chrissy hug hello.  Her dad comes in with a dead cockerel, which he hands to her. 

Mrs. Plummer says she hates traveling with her back to the engine. 
Mrs. Plummer:  If God had wanted us to travel backwards, He'd have put our feet the other way round.
Mr. Plummer:  At least you can see where you've been.
Mrs. Plummer:  I want to see where I've been before I get there.

She asks if Chrissy is nervous, but doesn't give her a chance to reply.  She herself is very nervous.  Mr. Plummer says that's true.  "She tried to milk one of the pigs yesterday."

She wants a quiet word with Chrissy about you-know-what.
Chrissy:  About?
Mrs. Plummer:  You know.
Chrissy:  What?
Mrs. Plummer:  That's it.
She has Dudley go to the kitchen.

Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps:  Jo tells Robin you can't have a groom with no head.  She takes out the prize from a Corn Flakes box and replaces the damaged groom with a figurine of a football player.

Dudley comes in and hands Robin the cockerel.  He asks, "Where's this fantastic wedding cake I've been hearing about, eh?"  Robin tries to block his view.  Dudley says Chrissy told him it was a masterpiece.  Then he sees it.  Robin says this is the second version.  Dudley says perhaps it's as well he didn't see the first. 

He asks, "She's not marrying Michael McDonald is she?"  I laughed even though I'm not quite sure who that is.  (Possibly this man:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_McDonald_(footballer) )  Jo says it's better than a groom with no head.  Dudley asks, "Is that the only choice?"

White Wedding:  Back in the lounge, Mrs. Plummer says she's not one to fuss.  It is Chrissy's day.  "But I thought you'd be married in a church."  Chrissy says Norman is sort of Agnostic.  Her mum asks, "Couldn't you find an Agnostic church?"

She was also hoping that Chrissy would wear white. 
Mrs. Plummer:  Unless there's a reason you shouldn't.
Chrissy:  (amused) What's that supposed to mean?
Mrs. Plummer:  Well, nowadays, a lot of you young people, well, you do have a relationship before the wedding ceremony.
Chrissy:  Oh, well, I won't have time for that.  I've got to get bathed and changed.
Mrs. Plummer:  (angrily) I didn't mean immed-- (as Chrissy laughs) Oh, you.

Robin brings them tea.  She says, "Bless you, Robin," but then asks if he's going to clean up a bit before the ceremony.  He's in his dressing gown, as usual with no pyjama top, so we can see his hairy chest and gold necklace.  He says he'll wash, shave, and put on a clean pair of pyjamas.

She wants him to get Norman to the registry office on time.  Robin says his brother won't escape him.  And he's already whitewashed the shotgun especially for the occasion.  She rolls her eyes.

Signs:  We next see a sign that reads,
ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON
SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRAR ROBIN N. PARKER
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES
MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9.30 A.M. to 4.0 P.M.
SATURDAY BY APPOINTMENT

I love this episode so much, I even love this sign.  We again confirm that we're in Kensington.  The registrar shares a first name with "our Robin," and his middle name might well be Norman.  Not only that, he's actually named after the show's designer, Robin Parker.  Some of the punctuation and capitalisation feels random.  Why the ampersand?  Why "to" in little letters?  And is that really how they write four o'clock?  (I knew about the period instead of colon thing already.)  Finally, what happens if you want to be born, die, or get married on a Sunday?  Do you go ahead but just register it on Monday?

The camera backs out and a dark-coloured car pulls up.  Norman is driving, as Robin smokes. 
Robin:  So, what happened to the flashy little sports car, then?
Norman:  Oh, that was just for pulling the birds.  Well, now that I've pulled one, a little more dignity is called for.
They get out of the car.

The Waiting:  Their parents are on a settee in the waiting room.  She's crying into her handkerchief.  She's played by Hilda Kriseman, whom I noted at the time was on MatH15.  As the only newbie among the performers playing parents, she's not given a lot to do besides cry, but she does it well.

Mr. Tripp tells her to give it a rest. 
Mr. Tripp:  The lad's got to get married sometime.  He can't be happy all his life.
Mrs. Tripp:  He's so young!
Mr. Tripp:  Young?  Up North, he'd have eight kids by this time.  And two of them in a raincoat factory.
(This amuses me, even though it means Norman would be married before he's 16.  I figure Robin is 25 max at this point, making Norman 27.)

Their sons enter.  Norman kisses his mum hello.  Norman is in a dark suit with a tan shirt and a red carnation.  Robin's suit is tan, while his shirt is dark.  He, and all the other men, wear white carnations.

Sobbing, Mrs. Tripp says, "I'm so happy for you!"  Norman says they could hear her being happy all the way down the hall.

Robin:  Hello, Mum.
Mrs. Tripp:  Oh, Robin, my baby!"
She hugs him.

Mr. Tripp tells Norman that she's been going on like that every since they left the hotel.  The carpets in their car are soaking wet.

The Ropers enter, followed by Jo and Larry.  Mildred is in a pink dress, a white hat with a pink flower, and white heels with straps.  Jo is wearing a red pantsuit with a white turtleneck and a blue scarf.  Larry is in a checked suit.  And George is in a forgettable dark suit.

Norman introduces the Ropers to his parents.  They shake hands.  Mr. Tripp asks George, "Friend of the bride?"  George says, "No, we're not friends of anybody."  Mr. Tripp is confused.

Larry shakes his hand and introduces himself as "Larry, mate of Robin's.  So you're the condemned man's father, eh?"  Mr. Tripp says that's right, and he and Jo say hello to each other.
Mr. Tripp:  Well, if we're all here then.
Jo:  Don't you think we might need a bride?
Mr. Tripp:  Good idea.
His wife sobs and he tells her to pull herself together.

At his suggestion, they all sit.  The door of Mr. R. N. Parker opens and he says, "Mr. Tripp?"  All three Messrs. Tripp stand and say, "Yes?"  He means the one who's getting married. 
Norman:  Oh, that's me, but I'm not all here yet.  I mean, I, we are not all here yet.
Mr. Parker:  When you are, do come in. 
He goes back in his room.  He's played by Dennis Ramsden, who would have a couple roles each on Robin's Nest and George & Mildred.

Norman says, "She does know where it is, doesn't she?"  Robin says it was on the invitiation.  Norman says they didn't send her one.  Jo says Chrissy will be here.  As Chrissy comes in, followed by her parents, Norman wonders if she could be lost.  Jo says, "I don't know.  Why don't you ask her?"

Chrissy wears an ecru peasant-style dress with big sleeves and flowered embroidery.  She doesn't have a veil, but there are flowers in her hair.  She's also holding a pink bouquet.  She's smiling.  Her father is in a suit of course.  And her mother has a blue dress and a big blue hat.

Everyone stands and admires Chrissy.  Taking her hand, Norman says, "Oh, marvelous."  He and Chrissy say hello to each other and he kisses her cheek. 
Norman:  You came then?
Chrissy:  I thought I'd better, in case you started without me.

Norman escorts Chrissy to a door, but it's the broom cupboard.  His father says, "You're going on just like our Robin."  We cut to Robin looking insulted.

Norman then escorts Chrissy to the door his father indicates.  Everyone follows them in.  Mrs. Roper tells her husband to behave himself and not fidget.  She finds the dart in his breast pocket.  He says he might still make it to the tournament.  She tells him, "Get in there!"

I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do:  Everyone has sat down in the registry office or is about to.  Chrissy and Norman are in the front two chairs, facing the table where Mr. Parker stands.

As he and Robin come in, Larry says, "So this is where you get married.  It always looked different in me nightmares."

Pointing at Mrs. Tripp, Mrs. Plummer tells her husband, "I'm determined I'm not going to cry."  He says, "I'll do it for you.  I'm paying for this lot.  I'm not losing a daughter, I'm gaining an overdraft."

Mr. Parker has Norman and Chrissy stand.  They shake hands with him.  Then he asks them to excuse his eyes watering.  It's not emotion.  He has a head cold.

Robin and Jo stand in the background, I assume as witnesses, although Jo is probably maid of honour.  And Robin is of course best man.

Mr. Parker starts the ceremony, punctuated by blowing his nose.  Then the scene dissolves.

Norman is now facing Chrissy as she repeats the vows.  Neither of them has a middle name.

George is falling asleep, but Mildred is crying a little.

Mr. Parker asks for the rick, meaning the ring, since he's congested.  Robin steps over and reaches into his waistcoast pockets, but the ring has gone through the lining.  He takes off his coat.  Chrissy says 159.  He tears his waistcoat and the ring falls out.  Everyone but him and Chrissy look for the ring. 
Robin:  (to Chrissy) Sorry, there was a hole in it.
Chrissy:  That was for my finger to go through.

Mr. Tripp finds the ring and hands it to Robin, who says, "Oh, thank you."  Norman comes back, but Robin is now standing next to Chrissy.  Mr. Parker says, "Now, if you'll place the ring on the bride's finger."  Robin starts to, so Norman says, "Not you, me!"  The audience is very amused.  Norman puts the ring on Chrissy's finger.

The registrar sneezes as he congratulates them.  Norman and Chrissy kiss.  And the scene dissolves.

Cuts Like a Knife:  We cut to Norman and Chrissy cutting the cake.  Her dad takes a picture with a flash camera.  Robin apologises about the ring, and the cake.  Chrissy says she quite likes jam sponge.  Norman says they'll look back on this and laugh, eventually.

Mr. Tripp prompts Robin to say  a few words.  Robin breaks his glass when he taps it with a knife.  Chrissy takes the glass.

Robin says he's written a speech, but perhaps it's better if he speaks straight from the heart.  He hands his speech to his dad.  He says he's known Chrissy and Norman for some time.  He flounders.  His dad hands the speech back.  He says, "Well, long life and happiness.  Well, that's about it, really.  Well, cheers." Everyone raises their glass.

George hopes to still make it to the tournament.  Mildred says, "You are staying!"  He says the team is relying on him, if three other fellows don't turn up.

Larry makes Robin leave with him.

Mr. Tripp and Jo are sitting on the settee together.
Mr. Tripp:  Your turn next, Love.  I, er, don't suppose you fancy our Robin, do you?
Jo:  Well, he's very nice, but he's a bit scatter-brained.
Mr. Tripp:  Takes after his mother.
Mrs. Tripp is now drinking and laughing in the middle of the group.

Like a Virgin:  Larry and Robin are decorating a dark car, with cans and the usual "just married" stuff.  Robin is hesitant but Larry says it's tradition.

Upstairs, Chrissy just hands Jo the bouquet, but then Jo is the only single woman there.  Chrissy and Norman are about to leave, because as he says, Scotland's a long way, even at 70 mph.

Mrs. Plummer pulls Chrissy aside and says she mustn't worry if it isn't perfect the first time.
Chrissy:  Yes, I remember.
Mrs. Plummer:  Hm?
Chrissy:  I remember you telling me.
She giggles.

Her dad squeezes her shoulder as he says goodbye.  Then they hug.  Mr. Tripp says, "I haven't had my kiss yet, from the blushing bride."  He gives her a peck on the cheek.  Larry says to Robin, "Just in time, eh?", as they 've apparently just returned.  He also gives Chrissy a peck on the cheek.

Chuckling, George says, "My turn now."  He gives her a peck, too.  Mildred tells Jo, "Done with his usual passion."  Jo smiles and nods.

Robin and Chrissy smile at each other, a bit shyly.  He comes over and takes both her hands.  He says, "Well, what can I say?"  She shrugs.  He gives her a peck on the lips.  Then they kiss again, and after a couple seconds she puts her arms around him.

Jo, Norman, and the Ropers look on, stunned.  Robin is holding Chrissy tight, and they sway a little.  The audience laughs. 

Norman comes over and gently grips Chrissy's hand that's on Robin's shoulder.  The kiss stops after 22 seconds.  Norman says, "Um, I hate to break this up, but that's my Mrs. Tripp.  And I'd like her with me on the honeymoon."  Robin has an "Oh, right" expression.  Chrissy just smiles contentedly.

The End:  Everyone comes down the exterior steps.  Chrissy hugs her mum.  Mrs. Roper gives Norman a peck, then hugs Chrissy.

Larry tells Robin, "This'll be a giggle.  Wait till you see their faces."

Chrissy waves goodbye and then clasps Robin's hand.  She hugs Jo. 

Chrissy and Norman go to another dark car.  Larry and Robin are surprised.  They look over at the car they decorated.  The audience laughs a lot.  Norman and Chrissy drive off, past the other car.  Mr. Tripp looks angry, and it might be his car. 

The credits show the wedding party posed on the steps:  Jo, Norman, Chrissy, and Robin at the bottom; Larry and the Ropers in the middle; and the parents in the back.

The credits end with "THE END," in case there was any doubt.

Think: 
Chrissy:  It's typical of a Man About, they make you think that the RCST is over and Robin doesn't fancy me anymore, and then he gives me a tremendous snog in the end.
Robin:  I seem to remember you kissing me back with enthusiasm.
Larry:  Eh?  Her end?  Your back?
Robin:  (ignoring him) It's quite clear that you were only marrying my brother because I didn't speak up in time.
Chrissy:  I'll have you know I was very happy with Norman.
Robin:  Yeah, for a few months.  Then you turned up as a single mum with a baby!
Chrissy:  That wasn't me.  That was Paula.  And anyway, you're the one who rebounded into that fling with Vicky the next January.
Robin:  (indignantly) Fling!  I bloody well ended up married with twins!
Chrissy:  All while pining for me, very sad.
Jo:  Listen, you two, you're ignoring the important thing.
Robin & Chrissy:  What's that?
Jo:  That I get to wear the unisexiest bridesmaid outfit on television before lesbians started marrying each other in the '90s.  And I get to bond with Robin's father.
Robin:  That's two things.
Chrissy:  And anyway, I'd put my teasing my mum ahead of that.
Robin:  What about my brother and my father belittling me again?  Great character development.
Larry:  What about all the bits about tradition and how those blow up in our faces?
Jo:  Like the pop-up toaster.  Are there toasters that don't pop up?
Robin:  And like Chrissy's damn virginity.
Larry:  (muttering) Yeah, well.
Chrissy:  I think that was rather liberated of me to not cop to one or the other.  The viewer doesn't know what sort of "relationship" Norman and I have before the wedding night.
Mildred:  At least you had one after the wedding, Love.
Helen:  At least you were invited to the wedding.  Stanley and I were long forgotten by the time Janet married whatshisname.
Stanley:  Thurston Howell IV.  (She looks at him.)  What?  The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island was on after Name That Tune one night.  Anyway, George is right, we didn't have to fork out for a wedding present.
Helen:  But what about poor little Chrissy?  I mean Amer-Chrissy.  She didn't get invited to Janet's wedding either.  (Cut to Amer-Chrissy crying on the telephone.  Cut back to everyone else sitting/standing around the flat.)
Jack:  (shrugging) Hey, neither did Janet's family.  (Janet hits him.)
Brit-Chrissy:  (guiltily) I forgot to invite my sister and her husband.
Norman:  How do you think I feel?  I apparently have no friends of my own.
George:  It was getting too crowded anyway.  I'd have been happy to have sat it out meself.
Mildred:  George!
Amer-Larry:  I still say that you would've been better off streaking than doing the "just married" stuff.  (Everyone looks at him.)  What?  Weren't we talking about tradition just now?
Brit-Larry:  Streaking?  You know that's not a bad idea.
David Bell:  That was a beautiful wedding cake, Robin.
Robin:  Thank you.
David:  Of course, since I wasn't clumsy, I wouldn't have smashed it like that.
Sam:  Yeah, but you took off long before I got married.
Jenny:  Hey, Everyone, no fighting.  Remember, we're back in April '76.  Chrissy and Norman are going off on their fabulous Scottish honeymoon.  David's still living with us on our unsold pilot.  Janet and Amer-Chrissy are living with that Eleanor, who hasn't yet conceived, and, what was I saying?
Oscar:  Tweet!
Janet:  Jack, I'm sorry things didn't work out with Vicky.  (to Robin) His Vicky.
Jack:  (shrugging) Well, a year is longer than any of my other relationships, except for Linda.  (to Robin) My Linda.
Robin:  I got six series out of my Vicky.  Well, and the twins.
Chrissy:  That's typical of a man, always thinking of what he gets out of a girl.
Larry:  (leering) More like what he gets in her.
Mildred:  Except for George.
Helen:  And Stanley.
Stanley:  (not understanding) Well, our spin-off ran for over a year.
George:  No stamina, Son.  I lasted three years.  And a movie.
Mildred:  That's true.  We would've gone on longer, but poor Yootha.  (Shakes her head.)  A litre of brandy a day!  Can you imagine?
George:  (getting choked up and trying to hide it) Damn woman!
Chrissy:  That's typical of a man, always blaming--
Robin:  Say, Chrissy, do you fancy a bit of the you-know-what?
Chrissy:  What?
Robin:  You know.
Chrissy:  Oh.  Well, what year is this?
Robin:  Let's say 1990.
Chrissy:  Yeah, why not?  I'm between television programmes at the moment.  I mean Paula is.  (Robin is stunned at her consent, but not so stunned that he doesn't follow her to the kitchen on the way towards her old bedroom.)
Jo:  I wonder whatever became of me.  I hope I got a last name eventually.

THE END

"Fire Down Below"

The penultimate episode of MatH does not take its title from the Bob Seger song, because the album that was on wasn't released till Oct. 22nd, 1976, and this aired on 31 March of that year.  I suspect there are other songs with that title though, and in any case it's an old term, often applied to lust.  As we'll see here, it is both figurative and literal.

Art:  The episode opens in the bathroom, as Robin paints the ceiling and Chrissy does her mascara.  She complains of the terrible pong (smell) of the paint. 
Robin:  Oh, charming.  What would happen to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel if Toulouse-Lautrec's missus had said that?
Chrissy:  Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  Toulouse-Lautrec did the skirting board.
Robin says they probably wouldn't have given him the big jobs after he cut his ear off (like Van Gogh).

She tells him that he knows nothing about art, and Norman does.  He says he figured that name would crop up.  She says Norman took her round the National.  Robin is surprised the fences didn't get in the way.  (I know she's talking about the National Gallery in London, but I'm not sure if he's referring to a racecourse or what.)

He says that for the last couple months it's been Norman, Norman, Norman.  It's 1066 all over again.

Since he's sick of hearing Norman's name, she says that Mr. X is picking her up at one o'clock.

She goes into the kitchen, where Jo is reading sentimental love letters that turn out to be Chrissy's.  Jo says Norman writes every single day.  At 8 1/2p, it's got to be love.  Chrissy says she'll have to hide the letters.  Jo suggests Chrissy put them under her pillow with the rest of them.  "I'd never think of looking there."

Robin comes in.  After Chrissy refers to Mr. X a few times, he exclaims, "Stop talking about Mr. X!" 

Chrissy tells Robin she's cooking Norman a meal. 
Robin:  I thought you liked him.
Chrissy:  Anybody can cook.  It's just a matter of thawing things out.
Robin is disgusted.

Chestnuts:  Meanwhile, Mr. Roper is trying to figure out how to unblock his fireplace.  He says it's not an occasion for brute force.  His wife says that's good because that's not his strong point.

He says that when he was a kid, they'd have a big blazing open fire.  "Me dad used to stand in front of it, roasting his chestnuts."  Ahem.  George's old granny said she could see pictures in the dancing flames.  "They took her away in the end."

Mildred says he's not fooling her.  He's nostalgic because of the forty-pound gas bill.  He says he never did like central heating.  It makes funny gurgling noises in the night. 
Mildred:  I thought that was you.
George:  It switches off just when you need it.
Mildred:  Now that is you.

He says that North Sea Gas smells of seaweed.  She says sometimes she can see his granny in him.

Speckled:  When Jo opens the door to Norman, she calls to Chrissy, "It's Mr. X."

Chrissy greets Norman with a peck on the cheek.  He's holding a box and he says, "I brought you these."  She says she'll put them in water, but he says they're chocolates.

Jo goes in the kitchen and tells Robin that Chrissy goes to pieces when Norman comes in.  Robin enters the lounge and he and Norman say hello.  Then Robin asks when Norman is going back to Southampton.  (So he does live there!  Not with the parents I assume.) 
Chrissy:  Robin!
Robin:  The settee is still warm from the last time he was here.

Putting his arm on Robin's shoulder, Norman says, "If you've got something to say to me, say it now."  Robin just says, "Hmph," because that's all he's got to say at the moment.

Chrissy goes to get her coat, telling them to try to be friends, for her sake.

Norman tells Robin that Chrissy's going to show him a few places he hasn't seen.  "In London that is." 

Robin tells Norman that if anybody messed Chrissy about, he'd kick him up his speckled grey trousers.  Norman is of course wearing speckled grey trousers.  Norman says, "I'd join you."

Norman:  Now, look, Robin, is there anything between you and Chrissy?
Robin:  Yeah.  You.
Norman says may the best man win.  Robin complains that that isn't fair.

Norman:  You lack confidence.  You've got to have confidence in yourself, however misplaced.  You take after Dad in that respect.
Robin:  Dad?
Norman:  Yeah, he hasn't any confidence in you either.

Chrissy returns.  Robin says they tried to be friends.  "Well, I have.  He hasn't."
Chrissy:  How do you think a girl feels having two grown men fighting over her?
Robin:  I don't know.
Chrissy:  Absolutely marvelous.  But stop it!  I like both of you.
Norman:  You're absolutely right.  It was very silly, childish, and petty.  And my own attitude hasn't been much better.  (He laughs.)
Robin:  He's at it again!

Fire down below:  Downstairs, George is now putting little bits of wood in the fireplace.  Mildred enters with a bucket of coal, saying she's not going to do this every day.

She thinks they need a new central heating system.  She shows him some pamphlets.  He puts them in the fireplace.

He says they used to have to cart in great big lumps of coal.  There were eight of them.  (Back on "Cuckoo in the Nest," George said his mum brought up eight kids on 30 bob a week.  I don't know if this means she became a widow, or if she's the one who managed the money.)
George:  And every now and then, Dad used to reach out and throw one on the fire.
Mildred:  Lumps of coal or kids?
George says it was coal, except when he'd had a few (drinks).  They had logs as well, after the Council planted trees in their street.

He lights the fire.  It immediately starts smoking.  The audience laughs a lot.  Mildred coughs from the smoke.

Tour:  Against a very popular instrumental whose title escapes me (but you might know it when you hear it, especially if you're over 40), we get a montage of Chrissy and Norman having romantic moments in London.  They walk hand in hand and/or with arms around each other through a park, past pigeons and near ducks.  He kisses her by a fountain. 

Then they begin a voiceover, as she gives a tongue-in-cheek tour of London.  They look down on the city and she points to a building that's the British Museum, the Bank of England, or possibly Harrod's.  He says, "You've been swotting up on this, haven't you?", meaning studying up.  She says it's important to get things straight.  Then she points to the Post Office Tower, originally built by Henry VIII for one of his wives.  "I think it was Annette Crosbie."  (She won a BAFTA for her role as Catherine of Aragon in the 1970 television programme The Six Wives of Henry VIII.)  Norman and Chrissy laugh and he pulls her close.

They sit at an outdoor cafe and she points to Cleopatra's Needle.
Norman:  You've got a lovely little nose, did you know that?
Chrissy:  It was towed all the way from Egypt on a barge.
He kisses her nose.

She tells him that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, England will sink into the sea.
Norman:  What ravens?
Chrissy:  Oh well, can you swim?

They run against a red light, holding their coats.  They approach a statue of Eros, whom Norman says was the God of Traffic Congestion.

They go to Trafalgar Square, and she says that there's a legend that if you throw a copper in the fountain, you get arrested.  I assume this is a pun on two meanings of "copper":  copper penny and cop.

Patchy:  We cut to a radio playing the instrumental.  Robin is painting one of the walls of the bathroom.   Jo comes in with a cup of something.  She tells him he's painting over the mirror.  He says he's taken the mirror down.  He turns off the radio.

He thinks he should've sized this before he started painting.  She looks at the bathroom and estimates 9 foot by 7.  She says the paint is all patchy.  He says he should've used a roll-on.  She says, "No, suspenders would've scratched the wall."  (A pantyhose joke?  I'm not sure.)

He suggests she paint the bathroom, but when she says OK, he says no, painting isn't one of her strong points.  They go in the kitchen and he says she's put eyeshadow on her nose more than once before.
Jo:  Don't have a go at me just because Chrissy prefers your brother.
Robin:  When did she say that?
Jo:  She didn't.
Robin:  Somebody must've said it.
Jo:  I did.

Jo says it's only a feeling.  She could be wrong.  She usually is.  Robin says, "But you could be wrong about being wrong."  Jo is confused.

She invites him to a party.
Robin:  Don't change the subject!
Jo:  Why not?  I'm embarrassed by the last one.

The party is being thrown by Eleanor and Tom, and I can't help pretending that this is their former flatmate Eleanor and her husband.  They didn't invite Robin because they don't like him.  Robin says, "I don't think so."  Jo says, "Please yourself," and goes to her bedroom.

Chrissy and Norman return.  He enjoyed the tour, especially Picadilly Square and Trafalgar Circus (reversing the two sites).  She tells him, "Now, watch it, or I won't show you the changing of the Guard at Fortnum & Mason. ( http://www.fortnumandmason.com/the-store.aspx )

Robin enters and asks if Chrissy showed Norman London.  They think it was London.  She tells Norman to pour some Sherry while she starts dinner.

Robin follows her back into the kitchen.  When he sees her take out a frozen dinner, he says, "You call that cooking?  Where's the skill in that?"  She says some of these packets can be quite tricky to open.

She asks when he's going out.  He says he's still painting the bathroom.  She says, "Take it with you."

Jo comes back and invites Robin to the party again.  She says Herbert is bringing his mouth organ (harmonica).  Robin says, "Definitely not," so Jo leaves alone.

Robin doesn't feel like going out.  He says he could stand in the corner with his head under a lampshade.

They return to the lounge and Norman gives her a glass of Sherry.  He didn't pour one for Robin.  Robin says it's all right because he's going out, although he doesn't know where.  Then he puts the lampshade over his head.  Chrissy and Norman laugh.

Robin takes the lampshade off and says he's not wanted here or at the party.  It's a very sad thing not to be wanted.  He opens the door and Larry is standing there.  Larry says, "Hello, Mate, coming down the pub?"  Robin kisses him on the cheek.  "He wants me!  Oh, joy, I'm wanted!"  He grabs Larry, who looks weirded out.  They exit.

Norman and Chrissy laugh and then toast.  It's not exactly a cliffhanger, but we're going to a break.

Foursome:  Robin and Larry are at the bar, both with drinks, while Robin smokes.  Larry is wearing a T-shirt that's partially obscured by his denim jacket, but I think it says, "PINK PUSSY."

Robin says he doesn't understand women. 
Robin:  What's he got that I haven't?
Larry:  Don't think about that.  It'll only depress you.
Robin insists on knowing, so Larry says Norman is better-dressed and better-looking, has a car, and is taller.  Robin says, "All right," but Larry adds that Norman has more charm, and something I can't catch with the audience laughing.

Larry tells Robin that there's no point in going all broody.  "You've still got your mates, your muckers.  You've still got me.  I"ll stick by you."  Robin agrees, but then Larry says, "See you then."

Larry is meeting a little raver.  He goes over to a girl with curly hair, a lot of mascara, and a fuzzy yellow coat that will later to turn out to be covering a shiny gold top.  He greets her as Doris.  She's named Deirdre and she works in a tripe shop.  She's played by Frankie Jordan, who did 54 episodes of Marked Personal in 1974.

She introduces him to her friend Mu, short for Muriel.  Mu is tall with a big nose and straight red hair.  She and Deirdre go everywhere together.  Muriel is Cecily Hobbs's first credit on IMDB, and she eventually moved on to writing.

He offers to get them drinks.  Deirdre wants a gin & tonic.  Mu orders something that ends in "Bianco."  But Larry order two shandies.

He tells Robin he can't leave him alone in his moment of emotional turmoil, suffering the bittersweet pains as old as life itself.  "What you need is crumpet."

He tells Robin that Deirdre brought her girlfriend, who's "ideal for you."  He doesn't want Robin to look round and even physically restrains him.  He thinks they should form a foursome (in a mostly nonsexual sense).  He reluctantly lets Robin look.  The girls are laughing loudly together.  Robin says, "Forget it!"  Larry says this is just what Robin needs to take his mind off women.

Sideline:  Meanwhile, George brings in a very large vacuum cleaner to get rid of the soot.  Mildred says she's not going up the chimney with it.  He says it's the modern way of doing it.  The vacuum sucks down the soot.  She says it won't work.  He tells her they'll have to just suck it and see.  He laughs.

He hired the vacuum cleaner off Jerry.  It's a sideline of his.  Mildred says, "He's got nothing but sidelines."  Jerry gave him an instruction leaflet, but it's for a clothes dryer.

Siegfried:  Back at the White Swan, the "foursome" sit at a table.  The girls are talking about a film they saw.  A lady doctor cured a man of an incurable disease.

Larry suggests going back to his place for "coffee and that."  The girls agree, but first they'll powder their noses.  Robin tries to leave, saying he's not coming back to Larry's flat with "Roobarb & Custard."  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roobarb )

Larry tells him to think of it as therapy.  "As the great Siegfried Freud said, the anguish of the human condition is greatly moderated by a bit of the other."

Robin says he's not in the mood.  Larry says, "I'm in the mood.  They're in the mood.  You're outvoted."

Next:  Norman and Chrissy are now at the kitchen table, with wine glasses.  She offers him more wine, or coffee, or an indigestion tablet.  He says it was a very pleasant meal, thawed to perfection.

She says, "You know what comes next."  They've both been thinking about it.  He guesses the washing up, and she says, "Absolutely."

True Romances:  The foursome arrive at Larry's, Robin reluctantly.  The girls take their coats off.  In the background, we can see one of Larry's posters of a topless blonde.

Holding up a bottle, Larry asks, "Fancy a little Mother's Ruin?"  Muriel says, "I'd rather have a drink first."  The audience laughs a lot.

The girls sit on the bed.  Robin tries to leave but Larry has him sit down.  He tells the girls that Robin isn't himself.  Muriel asks, "Who are you then?"  Annoyed, Deirdre says that Larry means Robin isn't as cheerful as he usually is.

Deirdre:  Is it unrequited love, Love?
Robin:  Huh?
Deirdre compares it to the young architect in "Fly My Heart Away."  Muriel says that that's this week's story in True Romances.  Robin says he missed that one.
Robin:  Did he fancy the girl who fancied his brother?
Deirdre:  No, you're thinking of last week's story.
Muriel says that one was called "Love Knows No Springtime."
Meanwhile Larry has handed out drinks.

Mu says that in LKNS, the younger, more attractive brother lost his true love to his brother, who was rotten.  Robin nods and says, "You have a very understanding nature, Mu.  I mean Muriel."

Suck and blow:  George is setting up the vacuum cleaner.  Mildred covers the furniture with sheets.  He doesn't know the difference between suck and blow, which would get more emphasis nowadays.  There are lots of switches, but he says it has to be one way or the other.  He flips a switch.  She thought it would be noisier.  Then she looks and says she's no expert, but it might possibly help if he plugged it in.

The Moment:  Chrissy and Norman are sitting on the settee.  The shot is from a different angle than usual, so we see the fireplace behind them.  It's clear what's being set up, but that's OK.  Soft music plays.  They sip wine.

He stutters as he tries to describe what he's feeling.  She says it's the frozen chicken dinner.  He says he's trying to be serious.  He has another drink.  He's never done this before and he has to find the right words.  She says, "I think I'd better have another drink, too."

He hesitates, and then a blast of soot comes out of the fireplace and all over them.  The audience laughs a lot.

Norman and Chrissy stand.  She coughs.  He brushes himself off.  Smiling, she says, "Go on.  You were saying."
Norman:  Will you marry me?
Chrissy:  Yes!
They kiss.

Cocoa:  Upstairs, poor Robin is trying to explain the situation.  Deirdre says it's ever so sad.  Larry suggests the two of them get another bed for a chat.
Deirdre:  Oh, Mr. Impatient!  (to Robin) Go on.
Robin: That's all there is really, not much more to say.
Larry:  Thank God for that!
Robin:  Except that, you know, er, well, all the way way along the line, I just seem to sort of have missed the boat, you know.  And, er, I suppose you don't realise how you feel about somebody until--
Larry:  I thought there wasn't much more to say.
Robin:  Until it's too late I suppose.
Muriel:  Have you told her that your heart beats for her, and her alone?  (Pause.)
Robin:  Well, not in those words, exactly.
Muriel:  Then it's not too late, is it?
Robin:  Huh?
Larry:  I think I'll put the cocoa on.

(I think he means because they'll be here all night, discussing this.)

The Other Moment:  Norman brushes himself off in the kitchen, just outside the bathroom.  Chrissy emerges in a bathrobe, a towel wrapped around her hair.  She ran a bath for him. 

She laughs at the sight of him and says, "It's a good job my mum can't see you.  She was always afraid I'd marry a black man."  (We learned on "And Mother Makes Four" that her mum visits twice a year in order to make sure this doesn't happen.)  Norman threatens her with a sooty kiss.  She ducks out of the way. 

She tells him to use Robin's bathrobe.  Then she gets a dustpan out of the cupboard and goes to the lounge.  She says, "Oh, what a mess," kneels, and starts cleaning.

Robin comes home and wonders why she's undressed and where Norman is.  She says Norman got all filthy and he's having a bath.  Robin asks what happened and she tells him about the soot.

Chrissy:  Robin, I've got something to tell you.
Robin:  Yeah, and, er, I've got something to tell you, Chrissy.
He kneels next to where she's sitting, then he makes her stop cleaning.

Robin:  Chrissy, I've been thinking, we've known each other a long time.  Maybe it's taken my brother to come along to make me realise--
Chrissy:  Robin.
He wants to finish.  He says he's tried it on a few times.  She bites her lip, as if she suspects where this is going. 
Robin:  You never went along with it, and I'm glad.  What I'm gonna ask you is--
Chrissy:  Robin, I'm gonna marry Norman.
Robin:  Hm?
Chrissy:  He asked me, so I accepted.

He says that's great and pretends to be happy for them.  He stands up.  She asks what he was going to say.  He replies, "Nothing really.  I was just gonna try it on again.  You know me, always trying it on."  He goes to congratulate Norman.  She looks stunned and sad.

George knocks and lets himself in.  He's covered in soot and asks if she has anything to remove it.  She suggests a bath, but he says he wouldn't go that far.

No hard feelings:  Norman is in the tub, and he's so tall that his feet stick out the end.  As usual, there are bubbles.  Robin knocks and identifies himself.  Norman tells him to come in. 

Robin says he just heard the news.  He congratulates Norman, who thanks him.  Norman asks, "No hard feelings?"  Robin says the best man won.  But then he dumps white paint all over Norman.  He grins.  The audience laughs very much.

Commentary:  Robin wonders where he went wrong.  I think the problem is he always made it seem like he just wanted sex with Chrissy, not a relationship.  Also, he sometimes used dishonest means, like with the mouse.  Perhaps that works with other women (although not very well, if his dates that we see are typical), but it's not going to work with Chrissy.  She wants a relationship, and she likes that Norman takes the time to go for walks and hold hands.  They laugh together, in a different way than she and Robin do.  Yes, Norman's height and money and education and all that matter, but it's mostly that he enjoys her company, whether or not they go to bed together.  (My guess?  They don't, but they've probably made out after a couple months.)

Robin is right that it has taken his brother coming along to show him what he's missing out on with Chrissy.  Her past relationships were mismatches.  Norman is a good match for her.  Is he better than Robin?  Difficult to say.  We're invested in Robin after 2 1/2 years, and we want him to be happy.  Also, there's all that RCST, making us think he and Chrissy should end up together.  Now that he's realised his feelings for her are much more than lust, it feels like he should have a chance to at least try.  But it's too late.  As for Chrissy, I can't quite tell what she's feeling.  She clearly feels bad for Robin, but is it because she can't return his feelings or because she doesn't want to hurt her best friend?  (She and Jo are close, but Robin is at her intellectual level, more so than Norman actually.)  Although I watched the last minute or so of the last episode months ago, I'll be curious to see how this is resolved, if at all. 

I like that we get a bit of Jo's opinion, with the poor girl as always caught in the middle.  Even the "easy girls" give their opinion, and I like that they end up being romantics who want to help Robin out.  In Larry's eyes, crumpet is very different than the sort of girl you could love, but the lines between love and lust aren't as clear as he, or Robin, thought.

Besides what Norman does to the RCST, his arrival throws into light a lot about Robin's character, including the insecurity under his occasional conceit.  The line about their father having no confidence feels dead on, based on his appearance on the episode where Robin wanted to move back to Southampton after failing his exams.  (We don't hear much about Robin in cooking school these days, but I assume he's still going.)

The subplot for once truly impacts the main plot.  Norman probably would've proposed anyway, but he wouldn't have had to leave the lounge to take a bath, allowing Robin to almost tell Chrissy his feelings.  And Norman wouldn't have got paint dumped on him of course.  It's an awful thing to do-- Robin is much more rotten than Norman, who seems generally nice-- but it is understandable, and at least Norman is already in the bathroom, so it'll be easier to wash out.  Again, I'm curious to see how the last episode handles the rivalry, if it's addressed and how.

"The Sunshine Boys"

This plot, which centres around tanning, absolutely could not have been transferred over to the Santa Monica trio.  It aired on 17 March 1976 and is set during the rainy months of England, which admittedly doesn't narrow it down much.  The title comes from the previous year's Oscar-winning movie with Walter Matthau and George Burns.

It's just a jump to the left:  The episode opens with a close-up of the Ropers' wireless.  A band called Pelvic Thrust plays until the d.j. goes into his patter.  He says you're tuned in, turned on, and being tantalised by Ricky Bird, your OK d.j.  When he says, "Right on," George says, "Right off," and turns the wireless off.

Mildred enters from the bedroom and turns the wireless back on because she wants to know the time.  He turns the wireless off again and says he prefers some World War Two announcer, whom he imitates.  He tells Mildred it's ten o'clock.

She asks for his wages.  He says he didn't do his full three days at the betting shop.  And when she takes the envelope, she knows there's a pound missing because there's always a pound missing.

He says he's saving up, but he won't tell her for what.
George:  Isn't a man entitled to a bit of privacy?
Mildred:  Not when he's married.

Torremolinos:  Meanwhile, Robin and Chrissy are looking at travel brochures on their settee.  He wants to go skiing, but she wants to go to the beach.  She thinks he'll hurt himself skiing, but he says, "I've learned to fall without hurting myself.  It comes from years of drinking."

Jo enters from the kitchen and suggests they compromise by going to a very steep beach.

Larry knocks and enters.  Robin has invited him along, to the girls' displeasure.  He admits that Larry is the last person you'd want to share a holiday with.  Larry says it's nice to feel wanted.  Robin says it'll be cheaper with a fourth person.

Chrissy says they're going to Torremolinos.  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torremolinos )  Larry agrees to that, so Jo tells Robin it's three to one and he's outvoted. 

After the girls exit for the kitchen, Robin calls Larry a berk.  He tells Larry there's plenty of talent in San Moritz.  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Moritz )  Larry says to think of all those zips (on the ski clothes).  He prefers all that crumpet on the beach.  Robin says there will also be local bronzed studs, and Robin will look like a whitewashed milk bottle in comparison.  He says that the last time he went to the beach, three people went down with snow blindness.

After Larry leaves, Robin lifts his shirt and looks at his stomach in the mirror.  Then he shrieks in horror.

Sunray:  We see Larry going downstairs, whistling.  Mr. Roper comes out of his flat and invites him in. 
George:  I'll come straight to the point, Robin.
Larry:  Larry.
(Well, at least he's trying.)

He tells Larry he needs some money because he's saving  up.
George:  I decided to sell something and thought of you.
Larry:  You can't sell me.

George says there must be something Larry is short of.  Yeah, there is:  money. 

George offers him the wireless, but Larry already has one.  The sewing machine?  Larry doesn't do a lot of sewing.  George says he could take it up, while listening to the wireless.

George offers him a "reading lamp," but Larry recognises it as a sunray lamp.  George says it'll make Larry brown, with ultraviolent [sic] rays. 
Larry:  How much?
George:  Oh, very brown.
When he realises Larry means the cost, he says 5 quid.

1830:  This segues to Larry telling Robin the lamp would cost him 10 quid.  Larry's flat contains Robin's disturbing poster with a headless woman's body hanging on a hanger, like a coat, from the first series. 

Robin asks where Larry got the lamp.  He says it's a family heirloom, from 1830.  Robin points out that they didn't have electricity then.  Larry says that's why it's in such good "nick," meaning condition in this instance, although "nick" will have a different meaning later. 

Larry says that after a couple weeks of using the lamp, Robin will be golden brown all over, like a crisp with legs.  Robin asks if Larry could just lend it, but Larry says no.

Robin is tempted, since he'll be all brown and sexy.
Larry:  Oh, stop it.  I'm beginning to fancy you.
Robin:  So will all the girls.

Larry asks for his 12 quid, and someone in the audience reacts.  Robin also catches the price being jacked up, so Larry apologises and goes back to 10 quid.  He's still making a 100% profit of course, off his best friend.

Nice:  On the middle floor, the girls are looking at the brochures.  Jo says they don't have to go to Spain.  They could go to France or Italy.
Chrissy:  Pisa's nice but Nice is nicer.
Jo:  Say that again.
Chrissy:  I don't think I could.
They laugh.

Robin comes back with the lamp.  He gives them fair warning that he's going to strip off. 
Chrissy:  Where did you get that?
Robin:  No, you're supposed to say that after I've taken them [clothes] off.
Chrissy of course means the lamp.

After Robin says he got it from Larry, Chrissy says it's stolen property.
Robin:  You're very hard on Larry.  He's got this framed certificate on his wall, commending him for all the good work he's done for charity.
Jo:  He has?
Robin:  Yeah, he nicked it from a junk shop. 
Robin laughs.

Chrissy wants to use the lamp on her house plants.  Robin sarcastically says she should get the frozen joint out of the fridge and thaw it out on his stomach.  She says that's a good idea.  He says, "Bloody hell!"

Clock:  Downstairs, George counts his 5 quid.  He starts to head out as Mildred comes home.  She asks, "George, why is it when I come in, you always go out?  We're like that little man and woman in the weather clock."

She stops him from leaving and tells him to go back in their flat.  She says she's been thinking and she was a bit harsh, not letting him have the money.  She asks if he's saving up for something in the area of jewelry, or something chocolaty, or flower-like.  He says no to all of this.  She snaps, "Then you're not having it, you selfish little devil!"

Tarzan:  The girls bring some plants through the kitchen and into the lounge.
Jo:  Do you think they need to know it's not the real sun?
Chrissy:  Well, I won't tell them if you won't.

Robin enters from his bedroom.  With a colourful towel wrapped around him, he prances while singing the inevitable stripper tune.  ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-9F_HWel5g )  Chrissy reads a brochure, and Jo looks equally unimpressed.  The audience is very amused.

Robin drops his towel and strikes a muscleman pose.  Chrissy says it makes you want to kick sand in his face.  Robin's suit is a bit lowcut, but maybe that was the style in the '70s, despite the modest things I'd see Archie and Reggie wear in the comic books.

Robin says, "I'm amazed at how you two girls can control that animal  passion that must be seething inside you."  Chrissy laughs.

He lies down on the floor.  He says there are plenty of girls who'd melt at the sight of these rippling muscles.  Chrissy asks who, which of course invokes the Lenny & Squiggy rule.  Mrs. Roper comes in, returning sugar, but she gets very distracted by Robin.  She tells him that he looks a little bit like Tarzan in the midst of all the plants.

He has Jo turn on the lamp.  She asks if he wants to be rare, medium, or well done.  Chrissy says that too much of it is bad for you, and asks Mrs. Roper to confirm this.  Not thinking of sunlight, Mildred says, "I wouldn't know, Love."

Jo says if they had two lamps, Robin could do his back and front at the same time.  With a slight American accent, Chrissy says, "That's the way they do Kentucky Fried Chicken."  Laughing, Jo says he'd be finger lickin' good.  Chrissy and Mildred laugh, too.

Mildred goes to get her lamp.  Uh oh.

Dusty:  She looks for the lamp downstairs.  George returns from wherever he's been.  She says her sister gave her the lamp because it was getting dusty.  He asks if this is the one with the scratches off the back.  When she says yes, he says he hasn't seen it.

He gets very defensive about her not trusting him.  She tries to apologise, but he says he'll swear on the Bible.  He mumbles though, so she says, "You don't fool God by mumbling, George."

She thinks the lamp has been stolen.  Then she realises that Robin has a sunray lamp upstairs.  She's shocked as it sinks in.

And we go to adverts.

There's not all that much more of the scene when we return.  Mildred says she doesn't want to believe Mr. Tripp is a thief.  And we go back up to the middle flat.

Rabbits:  Robin wonders how his tan is coming along.  Chrissy says if he were a sausage, she could stick a fork in him.  (No, this doesn't count as RCST, sorry.) 

He says it's boring laying here and he'd like her to make rabbits (shadow puppet rabbits) on his chest.  When Jo comes in, Chrissy says, "He wants me to make rabbits on his chest!"  Jo calls him a dirty devil, which is usually what people call George.

Jo says Robin has only been under the lamp for a few minutes.  Chrissy says, "What do you expect, instant Harry Belafonte?"

Mildred returns and says she couldn't find her lamp.  Chrissy says they'll make do with one and turn Robin round on a spit.

Mildred sees that this lamp has the same scratches as her lamp. 

Robin asks Jo for something to protect his nose from peeling.  She goes to get an empty corn flakes packet.  (Do I have to add a "Corn Flakes" tag for these posts now?)
Robin:  It's not that big!
Mildred:  How long have you had it?
Robin:  Ever since I was born.
Then he realises she means the lamp rather than his nose.  He says he got it off Larry half an hour ago.  She says, "Larry?  Of course, I might've known."

Footprints:  George is feeding the budgie, who doesn't get enough onscreen time to merit the "Roper's bird" tag.  Mildred returns and says it's her lamp and now she knows who took it.  George defensively says it's a lie.  She says it was Mr. Simmonds upstairs.

George says she'll need proof, like footprints.  She says she's accusing Larry of stealing the lamp, not dancing on it.

When they look out the window and see Larry coming back, George insists that it's a man's job confronting Larry.  He greets Larry at the front door and yells at him so Mildred will think he's getting tough.  He escorts Larry upstairs, yelling some more.  She comes out of her flat and waits at the foot of the stairs.

When they get to Larry's flat, George tells him they're having nice weather for this time of year.  There's a poster of a blonde girl behind them, naked to the waist.  George yells that Larry can't let it happen again.  Then he quietly says it was nice talking to Larry.

He goes back downstairs to his own flat.  He tells Mildred that Larry broke down and confessed, in tears.  She says Larry has got to go.  George says they can't be too harsh.  Larry is an orphan from a broken home.  (It strikes me now that we don't know anything about Larry's family, unlike the rest of the people in the building.  We even know more about Percy the barman.) 
George:  He hasn't had a lot of love.
Mildred:  Neither have I, but I don't go around stealing lamps.

George says it's better to give than to receive.  She points out that she didn't give the lamp, Larry nicked it.

George asks, "How do you think his poor old grey-haired mum and dad are gonna feel?"  She says he just said they're dead.  He says that doesn't mean they haven't got any feelings.

Mildred says she'll think it over, but right now she's going to get her lamp.  He tells her that he'll get it and she can make a nice cuppa.  He exits and she shakes her head.

Villa:  Robin wears part of the corn flakes packet, saying "ORN," over his nose, held in place by his sunglasses.  He checks on the time and then takes a break.  He tells Chrissy that tomorrow he'll tan himself in a place he hasn't before.  He points to a few feet over.  She laughs.

She tells him the villa sleeps four and is overlooking the sea and sand.  He says that's overlooking the price.  She says they're splitting it so they each pay half.  He says that's 200%.

Mr. Roper knocks and lets himself in.  He says it's nice weather for this time of year.  Chrissy says it's pouring down.  He says it's nice inside.

He tells Robin, "I want to borrow your whatshisname for a bit, mainly to keep Mildred happy."  The audience reacts to this innuendo.  Chrissy says he'll never get it downstairs without taking the wheels off.  Robin says he might bend the aerial a bit.  Chrissy says then they'll never get any icecubes.  George says he means the lamp.

Robin says he'll need it back later.  George says that's all right because it'll have all blown over by then.  He exits with the lamp.

He goes downstairs and calls to Mildred.

Sap:  The lamp has been doing Chrissy's plants some good.  Robin, now wearing a turtleneck but still his shorts, says, "And me."  By spring he'll have blossoms under there, meaning his armpits.

As Jo enters in a black bikini, Robin says, "I can feel my sap-- rising."  Chrissy, looking at the buds on the plant says, "Oh, I think one of them's starting to come out."  Robin says yes.

Jo wants to sunbathe.  Chrissy says Jo's suit doesn't leave much to the imagination.  Jo says, "If you've got it, let the air get to it.  Anyway, the one you bought shows even more."  So Robin suggests that Chrissy sunbathe, too.  Chrissy says she'd quite like to, if they had the lamp.  Robin says he'll get the lamp. 

Jo says if she keeps the top half on, she'll get white marks.  Chrissy says she needs someone to rub her suntain oil in.  Robin is getting nervously excited.  He runs down to get the lamp.  Chrissy says there was steam coming out of his ears.

"Why, Mr. Tripp?":  Robin knocks but no one answers.  He lets himself in and sees the lamp.

The Ropers go down the hallway, she with the tea tray.  He suggests they forget the whole thing.  She says young people these days seem to have no respect for other people's property.

Robin exits their flat, taking the lamp.  She sadly asks, "Why, Mr. Tripp?"  He says he wants it.  She says it doesn't belong to Mr. Simmonds.  He says it's his and goes upstairs with it.

Mildred:  George!
George:  Perhaps he's an orphan as well.

Wooly's:  Robin plugs the lamp in again, but he's all thumbs.  He strips off his turtleneck, and squeezes in between the two girls, who are sitting on the floor.  Chrissy's blue bikini is actually less revealing than Jo's.  He offers suntan lotion, but Chrissy says they already put it on.

Larry comes in and remarks on the "lovely pairs."  Putting her sunglasses on, Chrissy says you can get 'em at Wooly's (I assume Woolworth's), for only one pound fifty.

Robin gets to his feet and says, "You've got a nose for this sort of thing," meaning finding girls in bikinis.  He asks what Larry wants, but Larry has forgotten. 
Larry:  Can I stay and watch?
Robin:  Be my guest.
Larry:  You're a mate.
They shake hands and of course Robin gets suntan oil on Larry.

Mildred comes in and takes the lamp.  She says, "I'm very sorry about your parents, Mr. Simmonds."  Everyone is baffled.  She says she can understand Larry stealing, but Robin?  Larry says, "Hang on a bit," and he bought it off Mr. Roper for 5 quid.  Robin says, "How much?"

Beeton and Beaten:  In the last scene, George is sitting on the settee when Mildred comes home with the lamp.  She says he swore on the Bible.  He says it was actually Mrs. Beeton's World Cookery Book.  The audience laughs a lot.  (I suspect this is a made-up title, since the Victorian author is mainly known for her massively successful Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management.) 

She thinks he needed the money for more of his mucky little magazines.  He says it was the deposit for a holiday, a second honeymoon, and it was meant to be a surprise.  He thought it would bring them together closer than they've been for some time.  She's touched.

But the travel agency wasn't open and the betting shop was.  He bet on a horse.  The episode ends on her about to bean him with Mrs. Beaton.

Commentary:  Lecherous as Jack and Amer-Larry are, they do live in a world where girls frequently wear bikinis, so I don't think that they'd be as stunned as Robin and Brit-Larry are.  The Englishmen can hang porn on their walls, but presented with the sight of their two female friends more undressed than they've ever seen them, steam comes out of their ears.  And it's not as if Chrissy and Jo have extraordinary figures.  The girls are cute but I suspect you could find more amazing bodies in London.

Mildred shouldn't hit George with a heavy book, but it's understandable, more so than the fuss over the dance last episode.  And I do have to wonder why George works in a betting shop (first mentioned many episodes ago), if he likes to bet.  But then I never understood why Sam Malone was running Cheers if he was an alcoholic.

Other than that, not much to say.  This is another of the episodes with nice writing (like the "selling Larry" bit) but not much plot.  It's mainly notable for being the episode right before Robin's brother shows up and changes everything....

"The Party's Over"

As I predicted, the sixth series of Man About the House gets modified credits from the fifth.  The trio are out on the boat, but Robin is steering with Chrissy next to him, as Jo suns herself.  Robin pours two glasses of champagne and hands one to Jo behind him.  Jo sips from her glass.  Robin drinks from the bottle.

Jo puts on suntan lotion.  Chrissy steers and the ride is bumpy, so the lotion bottle falls over and pours into Chrissy's glass.  Chrissy takes a long sip, smiling, until she tastes the lotion.

Jo drinks the rest of her champagne, then tosses the glass.  It hits the diver on the head.  She puts her hands to her cheeks as she laughs.

There's a random swan.

The fisherman throws his cigarette, which falls down Robin's shirt.  Chrissy tries to steer as Robin tries to get the cigarette.  He takes it out of his navel, looks at it, and then throws it away in disgust.

Except for the credits in the first two series, it's kind of weird that we see the trio with a car and a boat, when on the show they're always scrambling for money.  I will say I like these final series credits better than the ones for the penultimate series, since they feel more in character.

Ah, yes, the final series.  We're coming towards the end.  And how does the beginning of the end begin?  Like Chrissy's steering, a bit bumpy.  Not that MatH33 is bad.  It's actually much better written than the American counterpart.  It's just got some oddities, one of which is obvious right from the start, and the other is in the final moments.

But first up, some broadcasting information.  "The Party's Over" aired 25 February 1976.  NRW adapted it, as they so often did, and this time kept the title.  3'sC43 hit number one on Dec. 5, 1978.  The third season of Three's Company began the drift away from verbal humor and towards more slapstick, so perhaps it's not surprising that there are only two MatH-based episodes.  "The Best Laid Plans" is the other one.  Even the episode where the kids think Helen is having an affair with Stanley's buddy Jerry is not based on a British plot.  As for how this episode was Americanized, well, let us proceed.

Fracas:  MatH opens at the White Swan.  A young man with shoulder-length, shaggy brown hair takes a drink to a girl with similiar hair.  An older couple come in, and the man goes to the bar, where Robin has several boxes in front of him.  Robin has a new haircut that's very flattering, and I realize how he's gradually become less scruffy over time, with shorter sideboards, too.  But then we are moving further away from the '60s.

Robin, smoking, does an inventory of the food and alcohol he's getting.  He says, "We don't want a lot of booze 'cause Jo's not with us this with weekend."  First of all, does Jo drink much?  And secondly, where the heck is Jo?  I'll say right now, she never shows up in the episode, and days pass.  There's no explanation of where she's gone.  We know she's still in the series, because she's in the opening credits, and she's mentioned in the synopsis for the next episode.  Was Sally T. out sick?  In contract dispute?  (Joyce DeWitt missed one episode of 3'sC for that reason, so Linda got an extra episode.)  In any case, you'll notice that some of the lines, the Larry ones especially, sound like they were originally for Jo.

Percy the barman:  Why don't I just inform the shareholders that you're gonna make a takeover bid for the brewery?
Robin:  We're just having a couple people round tonight.
Percy:  Oh, really?  W.C. Fields and Dean Martin?
Robin laughs and says it's just a party.

Robin:  Oh, listen, what are those bacon-flavoured things called?
Percy:  Pigs!
Robin means some kind of snack, and he wants a half dozen packets.

The old man taps a coin impatiently on a bottle.

Percy:  Your last party, didn't you have an awful little fracas?
Robin:  Yes, but we're not inviting him this time.
Mr. Roper kept coming up about something, but Robin couldn't hear him through all the noise.

The old man taps again.

Percy says, "Mr. Roper's not my favourite man.  He's mean," in the sense of stingy.  Robin says Mr. Roper never stands a round, in the sense of buying a round of drinks.  Percy says Mr. Roper stands around till someone buys him a drink, and then he goes.

The old man taps yet again.  Percy exclaims, "All right, I shall be with you in a moment!  Customers, they think they're here to be waited on."  Robin laughs.

Rings a bell:  3'sC skips acquiring the booze and snacks, instead opening with Jack just outside the apartment, carying a sixpack in each hand and a box in his arms.  He knocks and calls to Chrissy and Janet.  He rings the doorbell with his nose, and his nose gets caught.

Chrissy answers the door and is amused.  She calls Janet over, and Janet laughs, too. Janet pushes Jack's nose out.  The three roommates go inside.

Olé:  In the Brit-trio's kitchen, Chrissy is working on the hors d'oeuvres, while Larry, smoking, makes sandwiches.  She tells him to butter the bread more quietly, because they don't want the Ropers to hear.  He says, "They're bound to hear as soon as they start dancing.  Not the sandwiches, the people."

She says it'll be a very quiet party, with no dancing, singing, or loud conversation.  With a leer, he says, "That leaves one thing, and that can be pretty noisy."  She doesn't get it and says, "Drinking?"

He comes over and looks at her snacks.  He asks about the two sticks in one sausage.  She says it's a Spanish fighting sausage, and adds an "Olé."

Robin comes home with one of the boxes and calls to Chrissy and Larry for help.  They come in from the kitchen.  She says some people can't carry their liquor.

Jack asks his roommates for help.  Chrissy says, "I always said you couldn't hold your liquor, Jack."  The Amer-girls take the box, as he drops the sixpacks on top.

Jack says his arms have grown six inches.  Chrissy says, "Better than if they grew a foot."  The girls laugh.

Robin says there are more boxes in the hallway, and Jack says there are more downstairs.  Brit-Chrissy/Janet hopes Mr. Roper didn't see him.  Jack says he learned camouflage and stalking when he was a Boy Scout.  Amer-Chrissy asks if he got any merit badges.  "No, but I got a couple of Camp Fire Girls."  He laughs big and stagily.  He trips on his way to the door but says it's an old Boy Scout trick.

Brit-Larry says that there are 38 1/2 people coming, since he sort of half invited one of them.  He also says that Mr. Roper is bound to know they're having a party.  Robin says it'll be too late then.

The Amer-girls carry the box into the kitchen.  Chrissy says Mr. Roper is bound to find out.  Janet says he won't till tonight and then it'll be too late.

Chrissy feels guilty.  (She tends to have a guiltier conscience than the other two, probably due to growing up as a minister's daughter.)  Janet says this is their first party in over a year.   Their friends have been asking them to parties, and if they don't invite them back, they won't have any friends left.  Their social life will dwindle down to nothing, and they'll be living like nuns.  Chrissy cracks, "Would that make Jack a monk?"

Bulk:  In the entryway, George goes through the bottles, mispronouncing the French names, like "Chah-bliss."  Robin sees him and says that the bottles are for the three of them.  It's bulk-buying.  Although Robin tries to discourage him, George offers to help him, by carrying up one bottle.

Jack sneaks down the stairs and grabs a box.  Stanley emerges from his apartment and startles Jack.  Stanley says there's enough wine for a whole party.  Jack says it's cooking wine.  "What are you cooking, an elephant?"  Jack laughs exaggeratedly.  Stanley is more helpful than George, taking up two bottles.

Riot and hooliganism:  Brit-Chrissy looks at the sandwiches, cheese & lettuce and ham.  Larry asks where to put the one with pilchards (sardines), bananas, and peanut butter.  She says out the window.  He takes a bite.

Amer-Chrissy asks if they have any of those bacon-flavored things.  Janet says, "Pigs?

Robin tries to discourage George from coming into the flat, but George gets the door.

Offscreen, Jack loudly says, "Don't come into the kitchen, Mr. Roper."  The girls hide some of the food.

George says it looks like they've been bulk-buying sausages and sandwiches as well.  Robin says it's on the off chance that someone might drop in, "like you."  Larry offers George a sandwich.  George takes a bite.  "You don't fool me, you three are having a--"  He chokes on the sandwich.  Chrissy tells him the contents.  He puts the rest of the sandwich back.

Stanley asks what the food is for.  Jack says it's for eating.  Stanley says the food can't just be for the three of them.  Jack stuffs his face with potato chips.  Stanley asks if Jack is trying to be funny.  With his mouth full, Jack says, "Perish the thought."

Brit-Chrissy/Janet admits that they're throwing a party.  She says there were going to invite the Ropers.  Robin says, "Were we?  Yes, we were." 

Janet asks Amer-Chrissy, "Did you forget to call?"  With big eyes, Chrissy says Jack was supposed to.  Trying to escort Stanley out, Jack says he was just about to call.  "Go downstairs and you'll be just in time to answer your phone."

George:  I told you after the last one, no more parties.
Stanley:  Remember what I told you after the last party, no more parties.

Robin asks if this is because of what that chap did in Mr. Roper's windowbox.  George says it was partly that and partly what the couples did on the stairs.  "It marked the carpet you know.  It won't come out."

Larry says it was only high spirits.  George says, "High spirits?  It used to be called hooliganism before the middle classes took it up."

Jack admits it got a little noisy.  Stanley says it was a riot, and it woke him up.  "You know what it takes to wake me up?  Just ask Mrs. Roper."  Then he thinks better of it.

George/Stanley insists on no parties, Stanley adding, "That's an order from your landlord," and exits.

Brit-Chrissy asks why Robin brought Mr. Roper up.  "I didn't, he just followed me."

Robin/Jack says they'll appeal to a higher court.  Brit-Chrissy/Janet guesses he means Mrs. Roper.

Robin asks who's going to do it.  Brit-Chrissy gives him a look.  Jack asks, "Which one of us is gonna do it, you or Chrissy?"  Amer-Chrissy definitely doesn't want to.  However.

Feathers:  Stanley comes home, but George is already there, talking to Oscar.  Stanley says, "Dumb kids," and the parakeet imitates him.  Stanley smiles and goes over to the bird.  He calls it a good bird, a smart bird.  George/Stanley says he and the bird don't like noisy parties, which make their feathers fall out.  Stanley tells the parakeet to play with its little toy-toy.  And he tries to get it to say Stanley, once again.

Someone knocks and Mr. Roper goes to answer it, Stanley telling the bird, "Excuse me."  It's the Chrissys, who want to talk to Mrs. Roper.

George says Brit-Chrissy is trying to go over his head behind his back.  He discussed the party with her and she's in full agreement with the stand he's taking.  Chrissy still wants to speak to her.  He says Mildred is lying down.  Chrissy says, "When she wakes up."

Stanley invites Amer-Chrissy in before he realizes and says he's on to her. 

George says, "You're wasting your time.  Mildred agrees with me."  The front door opens and Mildred is back from the shops.  He says she would've agreed with him if she'd been here.  She denies that.  The three of them go into the Ropers' flat.

As the door opens on Helen with her purse and a bag of groceries, Stanley says, "I said it's not gonna do you any good.  There's only one boss around here."  Helen comes in and says, "It's not nice to talk about me behind my back."  Amer-Chrissy smiles.

The Chrissys tell Mrs. Roper that there's a party tonight and she's invited.  Mrs. Roper is delighted.  When Mr. Roper objects, his wife asks if that's his final word.  He says yes, so she says, "Good.  Then we won't hear any more from you."  The American audience applauds.

Brit-Chrissy says it'll be about 8.  George tries to protest.  Mildred growls, "Down, George!"  When Chrissy leaves, Mildred says, "See you later, Love."  Chrissy says, "Bye and thanks."

Helen says she'd love to come and thanks for the invitation.  Amer-Chrissy leaves.

Mildred says she'll allow George a five-minute sulk.  Helen says it's just a little party.

George:  Mildred, may I remind you that the wedding service said, "Love, honour, and obey"?  Obey.  It did not say, "Love, honour, and make me look like a berk." 
Mildred:  (holding a zucchini and four bananas) It also said, "With my body, I thee worship."  There has been precious little worship going on round here!

Stanley:  Our wedding service said, "Love, honor, and obey."  It didn't say, "Love, honor, and make Stanley look like a jerk."
Helen:  That's because God had already taken care of that part.

Holding his thumb and forefinger an inch apart, George says, "I feel about that big."  The audience laughs a lot.  Mildred says, "I'm not giving you an argument, George."  He says he lost face in front of the tenants. 
George:  They've been laughing at me up there.
Mildred:  (laughing) And at 8 o'clock, I'll be joining them.

Stanley:  You're making me look foolish in front of the kids.  They're gonna be upstairs laughing at me.
Helen:  And at 8 o'clock, I'll join them.
Stanley:  No, you won't.  You'll be downstairs, in the bedroom with me.
Helen:  What's the difference where I laugh?

Rollers:  In the lounge upstairs, Larry is polishing a glass as Chrissy looks through the albums.  She sees Frank Sinatra (obviously not hers), Elton John, the Stones, and a talk-along with Telly Savalas.  Larry asks about his Bay City Rollers LP.  She says it's broken.  He asks who did it.  She says she doesn't know, but the world is full of music lovers.

She asks if she should play something sexy or something lively.  He says, "It all means the same thing as far as I'm concerned."  Amused, she says, "Oh, I see."

Robin enters from his bedroom.  He says, "Here I am, as irresistible as ever."  He wonders if he should raffle himself off now or later.  (To Larry and Chrissy?  Shouldn't he wait for the guests?)  Chrissy says he should make sure there's enough to eat.  He feels his own arm and says there's plenty there.

Larry:  (to Robin) You been messing around with my Bay City Rollers?
Robin:  I never use them.  I'm naturally wavy.

Chrissy asks, "Robbie, is there enough to eat?", one of the few times she calls him that.  He looks at the sandwiches-- cheese & lettuce, ham & pickle, and--
Robin:  Oh.
Larry:  Yeah, they're mine.
Robin:  I know they are.  Listen, why's that sausage got two sticks in it?
Larry:  Er, that's to please the crowd and weaken it for the kill.

After Larry goes in the kitchen, Chrissy says they won't have to be quiet with Mr. Roper coming to the party.  They have to get him tanked up quickly and stand him in the corner.  Robin says they can hang coats on him.

Frisky:  Downstairs, Mildred wants George to zip up the back of her green dress.  He insists that there won't be a party.  "My mind's made up.  It may be a small thing, but my mind's made up."

Mildred says, "George, I've lived with you all these years for one reason only.  I need someone to zip me up.  Now do it!"  Muttering, he gets up and does it.  She yelps at his roughness.

She says he should go and enjoy himself.  He says he doesn't like enjoying himself.  She tells him to let his hair down for once, "metaphorically speaking of course," one of the occasional references to his balding.

She's taking his whiskey upstairs, and she says since there won't be a party, no one will drink it.  She'll be home about midnight, probably in a frisky mood.

As soon as she exits, he grabs a pen and paper.  He mutters, "I'll give her a frisky mood."  He writes a message that starts out, "PARTY CANCELLED."

Margo and Tom:  3'sC skips over those two scenes and so the next parallel scenes have the Mrs. Ropers at the party.  Except, there are no other guests.

In the flat, Robin, Chrissy, Larry, and Mildred sit around glumly as a psychedelic instrumental plays.  At the apartment, disco music is on.  Janet is pacing, as the others sit.  The British tune ends.  Amer-Chrissy gets up and turns off the record player.

Brit-Larry says, "Have a sandwich, Mrs. R?", yes, with that abbreviation.  She says one was quite enough.  She asks, "Is anyone else coming or is it just me?"  Chrissy says there will be lots of people.  They just haven't turned up yet.

There's silence and then Robin says it's 10 past 10.  Over in America, Helen says it's after 10.

Mildred laughs and says, "Isn't this fun?"  But she's forcing it.

Amer-Chrissy says it's an omen.  If you give a party and no one shows up, it means bad luck is coming your way.  Janet says that's an old wives' tale.  Chrissy says she heard it from Joan Frazier, who's only 24.

Brit-Larry, who's been eating one of his sandwiches, says, "Perhaps we should start without them."  Robin says, "Off you go, good luck."  But when Janet suggests starting the party without them, her friends agree.

Brit-Chrissy/Janet says that she's sure any minute now, all their friends will come pouring/barging through that front door.  Everyone looks at the door, but no one arrives.  Janet says, "Or maybe not."

The last party they had, there were 75 people and the bed collapsed.  Mildred says, "Pardon?" It was all those coats.

Robin says it's now 10 1/2 minutes past 10.  Then, getting to his feet, he says this is ridiculous, and somebody should've arrived by now.  He goes to the window.  He sees Tom and Margo.  Chrissy says they're always the last to arrive.  He says this time they're the first.

Jack goes to the front door and sees a car pulling up.  It's Margo and Tom.  Janet says they're always the last ones to come to a party.  He says this time they're the first, and maybe it's a surprise party.

Robin puts on another psychedelic tune, but a funkier one.  He invites Mrs. Roper to dance.  She twists low.

Jack plays the record and says, "Come on, Mrs. Roper.  We're gonna have a swingin' time.  Get down!"  He tries to be funky, but she dances close.  (So Robin's T-shirt was right.)  She says, "What do we need with other people?"  He plays along and dances cheek to cheek.

Brit-Chrissy says Tom and Margo are going away again.  Robin goes to the window to look.  Then he excuses himself to Mrs. Roper, who keeps dancing, and he exits. 

Then she stops and saunters over to Larry, who's drinking alcohol and eating a sandwich.  She beckons with her finger and dances at him, smiling.  He reluctantly sways a little.

Janet and Amer-Chrissy have gone out the door and they now return, saying that Margo and Tom are getting back in their car.  Jack lets go of Mrs. Roper and calls after Margo and Tom.  Then he heads downstairs.

We see Robin run downstairs to the front door.  He calls out to Tom and Margo.  Then he sees a sign on the outer door:  "PARTY CANCELLED.  ORDER OF LANDLORD."  He takes it down.

Emerging into the darkness in a rather sinister way, George says, "When I say a thing is cancelled, Son, it's cancelled.  I've also disconnected your doorbell, so there."

Mildred and Brit-Chrissy come downstairs.  Robin shows them the sign.  Now George is nervous.  Mildred growls, "This time you've gone too far!  Get in there!"

Over in America, Janet wonders why Margo and Tom left.  Chrissy says maybe they thought they weren't late enough.  Then there's the exchange about 75 people breaking the bed, with Helen intrigued, and then disappointed when she hears about the coats.

Jack returns with a note that was stuck to the staircase downstairs.  Helen recognizes Stanley's handwriting.  She gasps and then says, "Oh no!  This time he's gone too far!"  She gives the note back to Jack and storms out. 

Jack hands the note to Janet, who reads, "Sorry, Folks, party cancelled.  Had to leave town." 

Amer-Chrissy:  Well, that--
Jack:  Go ahead, Chrissy, say it for all of us.
Janet:  Yeah.
Chrissy:  That-- Roper!
They just look at her.

Toad:  Later at the Ropers', Mildred/Helen is packing, Mildred in the lounge, Helen in the bedroom.  George/Stanley claims she's bluffing, like the last time she said she was going to leave him.  Then he says that something's upset her, Stanley adding that that's the only time she stops talking.  George wants to discuss this like rational people.  Mildred/Helen calls her husband a toad.  Stanley says, "Well, that's better.  At least we're communicating."

Mildred is going to her sister.  George says that the sister never did like him.  Mildred says, "No one likes you.  If you had a grain of common sense, you wouldn't like yourself." 

Helen says the party was the straw that broke the camel's back, and she's going to stay with her sister.

Mildred says that this isn't just because of the party.  She's been meaning to leave him since the day he walked down the aisle with two of his fly buttons undone.  The audience laughs a lot.  She says she had to do the buttons up while the vicar wasn't looking.  (During the ceremony?  When would the vicar not be looking at the bridal couple?)  George says, "Is that what you were doing?"

When Mildred closes the lid of her suitcase, she hits his hand, and doesn't apologise.

Out in the entryway, Robin is coming down with a box of booze.  He tells Chrissy that he won't get his money back, since he didn't pay yet, but it'll get the booze off the slate. 

The Ropers exit their apartment, still arguing.  Mildred tells Robin and Chrissy, "Bye-bye, Loves.  I'll drop you a line."  George still acts like she's bluffing, even when she leaves the building.  Then he turns to the kids and says, "Now see what you've done!"

And we break for adverts.

Helen doesn't say goodbye to anyone.  She slams both the bedroom door and the front door.  From the bedroom, Stanley asks, "How far are you gonna carry this bluff?"

And we go to commercial.

Betty:  Upstairs, Jack hangs up and tries another number.  Janet says he's not going to get anybody to come back for a party now.  Amer-Chrissy says, "Yeah, I'm already here, and I don't wanna come."

Jack is calling Betty, whom he says is crazy about him.  He thinks she'll call a couple girlfriends, who'll call a couple fellas.  Jack tells Betty (offscreen) that a practical joker put up the sign.  When he hears she's undressed and in bed, he says, "Well, how about me coming over there right now?"  She hangs up.

Someone knocks and they get their hopes up.  Mr. Roper announces himself.  Janet calls him a fink and doesn't want Jack to let him in.  Jack says, "I'm gonna let him in and then let him have it."  He opens the door.

Jack and Stanley say in sync, "I hope you're happy!  Do you know what you did?"  Then Jack says, "You spoiled our party," as Stanley simultaneously says, "My wife left me."

Stanley says it's their fault, for filling Helen's head with "all those ideas."  He asks, "Why would she leave a man like me if she wasn't crazy?"  Then he says, "Let her stay away."  It'll be a vacation for him.  He can do what he likes.

He's about to leave but then he says he feels hungry.  Helen didn't make him dinner before she left.  He helps himself to the party food.  The trio look on in disbelief.

Foofoo:  Time passes.  Everyone's in a different outfit, and we're in the kitchens.  Robin is cooking in his naughty apron, as Chrissy and Larry sit at the table.  Jack is sampling the dish he's making, as Amer-Chrissy sits at the table.

Janet enters the kitchen, having finished answering Mrs. Roper's letter.  Brit-Chrissy is writing to Mrs. Roper, telling her that "we're well and Mr. Roper's well."  Robin says, "You could mention that we're thinking of leaving him, too."

Robin also says Brit-Chrissy has been encouraging Mr. Roper by saying hello.

Brit-Chrissy/Janet says Mrs. Roper says she's coming back when pigs grow wings.  Annoyed, Robin says, "That could be weeks."  This ends up as a spacy Amer-Chrissy line and gets applause.

Robin says Mr. Roper was whining, sighing, and groaning last night.  Brit-Chrissy says, "Perhaps we should've let him in."  Robin says they let him in Wednesday and he left Thursday.  He does a good imitation of Mr. Roper telling a war story.

Robin calls Mr. Roper such a bore.  Larry points out that Mr. Roper hasn't shaved in a week.  Robin says he's a hairy bore.

Brit-Chrissy wonders where the envelopes are.  Robin says they're in Foofoo the Frog, Jo's pyjama case.  Jo doesn't wear pyjamas, which is why she keeps her envelopes in there.  Chrissy says, "Of course."  Clearly, this was meant to be a quirky Jo explanation that they ended up giving to Robin.

Robin says that the last time Mr. Roper came round, he had a knife and fork sticking out of his breast pocket. 

After Amer-Chrissy goes into the living room, Jack says Mr. Roper is up here all the time.  Janet is going to mail the letter, so he follows her into the living room.  He says he doesn't want Roper mooching off more meals from them.  Janet says that Jack was the one who invited him up here last time.  Jack says he had to, since Mr. Roper was standing there with a knife and fork sticking out of his shirt pocket.

In an unusually sensitive moment, Larry says that Mr. Roper comes up here because he's sort of lost.  Robin says, "He thinks this is his flat?"

Mr. Roper knocks and calls to them.  Robin nicknames him the lonely vagabond.  Without knocking, Stanley calls, "Anybody home?"

Robin and Brit-Larry hide behind the settee.  Jack and Amer-Chrissy hide behind the sofa. 

Brit-Chrissy answers the door.  George is unshaven with messy hair.  His shirt is untucked, with the bottom button undone. 

Stanley lets himself in.  He says, "Did somebody say, 'Come in'?"  His hair is rumpled and he's wearing a bathrobe over his clothes, but he doesn't look as bad as George.

Brit-Chrissy says she's on her way out to the post.  Janet says she's going to mail a letter.  They exit.

George comes in and sees Robin and Brit-Larry.  Stanley steps in and sees Jack and Amer-Chrissy.
Amer-Chrissy:  (whispering) Is he gone yet?
Stanley:  (whispering) No.

Robin/Jack claims that they were looking for his sock, which rolled away.  It was in a ball.

George/Stanley says he thought they might like some company.  Robin says they've got plenty of company.  "Somebody has been up here every night of the week.  You."  Jack says that's nice but they're very busy.

George/Stanley follows Robin/Jack into the kitchen and says that the dish Robin/Jack is cooking smells good.  Robin/Jack says there's only enough for three. 

George says he's not looking for charity.  Robin says, "You've come to the right place.  We haven't got any." 

George says he has bread & scrape, eggs, and a bit of cocoa.  Robin says George can make a cocoa omelet.  Stanley has peanut butter, bread, and a knife.

George burns his tongue sampling Robin's dish.

Brit-Larry comes in and says he couldn't find Robin's sock. 
Larry:  I brought you a glass of vino instead.
Robin:  I won't be able to put my foot in it, but thanks anyway.
George:  I haven't had a glass of wine in a long time.
Robin:  Well, keep up the the good work.

George takes awhile to leave.  Robin tells him to enjoy the cocoa omelet.

Stanley again tells Jack that the food smells good.  Leaning close, Jack says, "So do you.  What are you wearing?"  The audience applauds.  Stanley backs away and says he has to go.  Jack says, "So soon?"

As Amer-Chrissy comes in, Jack seasons the dish, and Mr. Roper sneaks a chicken leg into his robe.  After he leaves, Chrissy says, amused, "Mr. Roper's starting a new takeout business....I've heard of chicken in a bucket, but I've never seen chicken in a pocket."  Jack is confused.

Missing her:  Brit-Chrissy returns as George comes downstairs.  Stanley comes downstairs, eating chicken, which he hides in his robe pocket again when he sees Janet.  Stanley asks Janet if she mailed her letter OK, and she tells him how easy it was.

George invites Brit-Chrissy in for a chat.  Stanley wants to talk to Janet privately.  Both girls are reluctant, but they give in because they feel sorry for Mr. Roper.

The flat and apartment are very messy, with newspapers everywhere.  George says the flat needs a woman's touch, and Mildred did keep the place tidy.  Stanley says Helen really used to keep the apartment neat.

Brit-Chrissy/Janet says that George/Stanley misses his wife.  He denies it but says the bird does.  (On 3'sC, there's a close-up of the parakeet, which chirps.)  George/Stanley hears the bird at night, laying awake, missing Mrs. Roper.  Stanley adds the detail that the bird tosses and turns.

Brit-Chrissy:  I expect he's quite fond of her, really.
George:  He didn't realise till she was gone how fond of her he was.

Janet:  He likes her, huh?
Stanley:  Now that she's gone, he realizes how much he likes her.

Brit-Chrissy:  He could telephone her, ask her to come back.
George:  No, I don't let him use the phone.
Chrissy:  But you could phone, if only for his sake.
George:  No, if I did that, she'd think it was me, and she hates me.
Chrissy:  Oh, she doesn't hate you.  She may be a bit bored with you, a bit fed up.  She may even dislike you a bit, or even a lot.
George:  You keep going, you'll work your way back to hate.

Janet:  How about a telephone call, asking her to come back?
Stanley:  I don't let him use the phone.
Janet:  Well, uh, you could call her.  You know, for his sake.

George:  I mean, be honest.  If you were Mildred, would you come back to me?
Brit-Chrissy:  Well, not the way you look at the moment.  But if you smartened yourself up, had a shave.  Have you got a clean shirt?
George:  You'd come back then?
Chrissy:  I wouldn't, but she might.
He asks if he's let himself go a bit.  She nods.

Stanley:  Janet, tell me something.  If you were Helen, would you come back to me? 
Janet:  No.  Well, uh, I mean, not the way you're looking now.  (stroking his hair) But, um, if you combed your hair, you know.  (stroking his back) And, uh, you got all dressed up.
Stanley:  Then you'd come back?
Janet:  I wouldn't.  Uh, but she might.  Sure, she might.
He smooths his hair and looks hopeful.

Einstein:  Upstairs in the kids' flat later, Larry sits at the kitchen table.  Robin, annoyed, says the meal is piping hot, but where is she?  "Gallivanting to the post box."  Larry tells him not to get his pinny (apron) in a twist.  Robin exclaims, "My father was right!  They don't deserve good food!"

Brit-Chrissy comes in and says she's just been speaking to Mr. Roper.  Robin says, "What?  Alone, unaided?  Sit down, I'll get you a brandy."

As Robin dishes up the food, Chrissy says that Mr. Roper is a proud man.  She doesn't know what he's proud of, but he is.  He told her he'll ask his wife to come back after she's come back, and not before.
Larry:  That don't make sense.
Robin:  If it doesn't make sense to Einstein here, what chance have the rest of us got?
Larry:  (sarcastically) Oh, nice.
I'm guessing that this exchange, perhaps in a slightly different form, was originally for Jo and Robin.

Chrissy says they'll have to do something.  Robin suggests "arsenic in his bread & scrape, or the merciful bullet."  She goes to phone Mrs. Roper.

Overall:  At least a week has passed, but the long-brown-haired young couple are still at (or back at) the White Swan, now playing darts.  The older couple are sitting at the back of the bar.  You go, British extras!  (My all-time favorite sitcom-extras moment is in a Brady Bunch episode, where the same students repeatedly walk by Marcia and her boyfriend.)

George comes in with a bouquet of yellow flowers.  He's shaven and nicely dressed.  He goes to the bar, where a mousy middle-aged woman is sitting.  Percy says, "Mr. Roper, you look quite presentable.  What happened?"  George orders a drink and tells Percy to have one himself.  Percy says, "It is Mr. Roper, isn't it?"

George says he's off to see his wife, give her a bit of a surprise.  Then he says they'd better make the drink a huge one, for him.  Mildred is staying with her sister for a few days, till she learns her lesson.  The flowers are for her.  Percy says, "Oh my.  And I'd thought I clicked."

George will have a quick couple of these drinks and then he's off to Purley.   (That Mildred's sister lives in Purley was established on "We Shall Not Be Moved.") He won't crawl.  Percy says the bus is much the best way.  They both drink.

George:  You're coming with me, Woman.  No argument, you'll do as you're told.
Mousy woman:  I beg your pardon?
He apologises.

She's the woman from the pet shop.  He didn't recognise her with her clothes on, meaning she usually wears an overall.  She says she's Mrs. Hollins and asks after his "little Whatshisname."  George is embarrassed, till she remembers the name, Oscar.  George says Oscar is all right, a bit lonely this time of year.  She says, "Aren't we all?"

He says, "Another Scotch, Percy."  Then he offers to buy her a drink.  She asks for a large Snowball, which is a cocktail.  She's played by Hilda Braid, who would go on to do 210 episodes of Eastenders in her 70s.

Smock:  Things go differently on 3'sC, in part because they're not using the Regal Beagle set this week.  After Janet's pep talk, the scene fades and then reopens on the Ropers' living room.  Stanley enters from his bedroom.  His hair is combed and he's wearing plaid pants, a pink leisure-suity jacket, a wide-lapeled brown shirt, and a white undershirt.  The audience laughs, whistles, and oohs.

The bird whistles, too.  Stanley smiles and goes over to it.  He says, "I look good, huh?"  He says he's going to bring Helen back from her sister's.  She'll come out and say, "Oh, Stanley!"  He continues, "And I'm gonna say, 'Helen, I love you.' "  He surprises himself, then says, "Yeah, what the hell.  'Helen, I love you.'  I'm gonna go to the door," he opens his actual door, "and I'm gonna say, 'You're coming with me, Woman.' "

On the other side of the door is a middle-aged woman with blonde curly hair.  She's holding a little paper bag.  He recognizes her from the pet shop, Mrs. Hollins.  He says he didn't recognize her at first with her clothes on.  "I mean, I usually see you in that smock."

Diana Herbert debuted at 17 in Margie (1946) and is still working to this day, although now it tends to be as aunts and grandmothers.  Her Mrs. Hollins is more attractive than Hilda Braid's, but I think this is deliberate.

Mrs. Hollins says, "You left this behind at the shop.  It's the vitamins for your parakeet."  She asks after the parakeet and Stanley says, "I'm lonely.  I mean, he's lonely."  She wants to look at the poor little thing, so they go over to the cage.

Gurgling:  Upstairs in the flat, Mildred is in the armchair, while Chrissy serves  her tea.  Robin and Larry are on the settee.  At the Amer-trio's apartment, the women are sitting on the couch, while Jack leans over them.  Helen says she was so happy when they called.

On the subject of Mr. Roper missing his wife, Robin says that at night they hear gurgling sounds from downstairs.  Larry says, "Nah, that's the lavatory."  On 3'sC, these lines surprisingly go to Janet (with "gurgling sobs") and Helen (with "the toilet").  Robin/Janet says that the gurgling was from Mr. Roper, who's not the man he used to be.  Mildred/Helen says, "He never was."

Brit-Chrissy:  Mrs. Roper, he said to me, the only one I've ever loved has left me.
Mildred:  Oho, has his budgie escaped then?
She's skeptical and wants to know his exact words.
Chrissy:  "I miss the old bag."
Mildred:  That sounds like him.

Larry says, "He did say he missed you."  Robin says she must've missed Mr. Roper a bit.  She says she's used to him, like a toothache. 
Robin:  Imagine life without him.  I mean, never to see him.  I grant you, it sounds attractive.
Larry:  It certainly does.
Chrissy:  Only to us, not necessarily to Mrs. Roper.

In America, this is all shortened to Chrissy saying, "The important thing is that he misses you."

Mildred/Helen says maybe she a was a bit hasty.  Brit-Chrissy says, "Don't upset yourself.  He's not worth it.  Well, yes, he is worth it."  The men agree.  On 3'sC, Helen wonders if Stanley is worth it.  Jack says, "Of course he is." 
Mildred:  No, he's not, but he's all I've got.
Helen:  No, he's not, but he's mine.

Mildred says they've talked her into it.  She stands up, looking determined.

Love means...:  Downstairs, Stanley is pacing.  George is talking to Oscar.  He says, "They'd never let me see her.  The sister, the husband, the goldfish.  They do not like me."  Although, based on previous mentions, he's probably right about his in-laws, he's clearly drunk at the moment.  He pours himself another drink.  He again says, "They'd never let me see her."

Mildred/Helen enters.  Not seeing her, George says he's come home to Oscar, "me only friend."  Moved, Mildred says, "He's not your only friend, George."  They call each other's names a few times.  She goes to him.

Mildred/Helen doesn't want her husband to say anything, just listen.  Mildred says, "You can't help being the way you are."  Perhaps she could've tried harder to understand.

Mildred:  When two people love each other, George, does it really matter whether they like each other?  You know, I mean all the time?  I mean, isn't that what love is all about?
Helen:  If two people love each other, does it matter whether they like each other?  I mean, I mean, all the time.  Isn't that what love is all about?

And then, Brit-Mrs.-Hollins enters from the bedroom, with a cigarette.  She's not wearing a blouse, so we see her bra!  She says, "Make mine a large one, Dear."  Then she sees Mildred and is startled.  Mildred is understandably outraged.

Brit-Larry and Robin are listening outside the door, as Chrissy sits on the stairs.  Larry is smoking.  We hear Mildred demand, "How dare you bring another woman into my house?"  Mrs. Hollins says something about his little budgie.  Then plates break. Not for the first time, Mildred calls George a dirty little devil.  Robin thinks things are back to normal.  Chrissy says, "Definitely back to normal."

And the episode ends there!

On 3'sC, Mrs. Hollins comes in from the kitchen, fully dressed, saying, "Here we are, nothing like some vitamins to pep a fellow up." 
Helen:  (confused rather than jealous) Oh, I didn't know you had company.
Stanley:  Helen, I can explain.
Mrs. Hollins:  I'm Mrs. Hollins.  I just came over to see his little friend.

Helen blinks, speechless.  As Stanley pushes Mrs. Hollins out, he says, "It's not what you think." 
Mrs. Hollins:  (exiting) Nice meeting you.
Helen:  Likewise.

Stanley:  Helen, before you lose your temper, you gotta believe me, nothing happened!
Helen:  I know.
Stanley: You don't know!  I'm a man!  I'm capable!
Helen:  Given time.
Stanley:  You caught me with another woman.  You should be shocked!  And upset!
Helen:  OK, so I'm shocked and upset.
Stanley:  That's better.

Helen says she didn't come back home to fight with him.  She came back to forgive and forget.  He smiles and thanks her.  He says, "I'm glad you came back."  He hesitantly kisses her.  The audience applauds.

She smiles and says, "Thank you, Stanley."  She says the best part of a fight is the making up.  She tells him, "Come on, Lover."  He says, "I knew there was a catch to it."  She takes his hand and leads him to the bedroom.  We see his hand grab the doorframe, but she keeps pulling until his hand lets go.

Bride and bribery:  In the American tag, everyone is sitting on or by the couch, the trio grinning, as Mrs. Roper talks about her husband.  She says, "These last few days have been fantastic!  Stanley's been so attentive and so loving and so romantic!  I feel like a bride on her honeymoon!"  No one points out that she spent her honeymoon playing Monopoly.

Janet says this is wonderful, and Chrissy says, "I'm happy for you." 

Helen says she got Stanley to let them have their party.  Jack asks how.  It was bribery:  a night off.  The trio are amused.

And the episode ends.

Commentary:  We don't know exactly what happens with the British versions of Mr. Roper and Mrs. Hollins, but it at least involves her taking off her blouse.  I think they deliberately made her mousy in order to add to the shock factor.  It's unclear if she's married, widowed, or divorced, but he of course is married.  True, his wife has left him, but he was supposed to be going to collect her from her sister's, whether or not the in-laws dislike him. 

We can be pretty sure that the American Mr. Roper did nothing but look at his bird with Mrs. Hollins, and, no, "bird" is not a euphemism here.  Stanley is capable, but he seems genuinely less interested in sex and romance than George is.  While Helen glows with his attentions, he is clearly reluctant to go in the bedroom with her, and he's later happy to have a night off.  George, if you get him liquored up enough, can be rather amorous.

The borderline adultery aside, the British episode is better, mostly because of the humour, like the absurdism of the dancing sandwiches and the Spanish fighting sausage.  Even Robin's line about putting his foot in a glass of wine is whimsical.  I also like the turn of phrase "the merciful bullet."  The Robin-as-annoyed-housewife bit is cute.  And I like how many funny lines Percy gets.  Jim the bartender never gets to be funny.

When Janet says that this is the first party they've had in over a year, she's apparently not counting the party on "Three's Christmas," perhaps because no one showed up at that one.  It was slightly less than a year ago.  The party previous to that was the one on "Strange Bedfellows," but Janet and Amer-Chrissy weren't there, as it was a party Jack threw while they were out of town.  The party with the 75 coats must've been in between episodes.

As for the Brits, the last party we saw them throw was on "While the Cat's Away," back in January 1974.  It did seem like a wild enough party for Mr. Roper to forbid them having another, although I don't think there were 75 people.  It's likely that they, too, had a party in between episodes.

George makes another of his comments about the middle class, this time about how they took up hooliganism, presumably in the 1960s.

A "berk" is not exactly equivalent to a "jerk," since it's Cockney rhyming slang for "cunt," from "Berkeley hunt."  But there's no comparable American term, and the change of one letter works.

There's another suggestion that Mildred masturbates, since she's holding five phallic symbols when she complains that George doesn't worship her body enough.  This episode continues Mildred's half-joking suspicion that her husband loves the budgie more than he loves her.

Jack is more cooperative with Mrs. Roper's advances than Robin is, but then Helen is less aggressive than Mildred sometimes is towards Robin.

The British episode has another example of Chrissy being too innocent to get something, like Mr. Roper's curly hair on the "wig" episode, this time her not realising the noisy activity Larry's thinking of.  I like that Larry and Chrissy get some moments together on their own, and seem to be getting along, an unexpected benefit to the Jo-less-ness.

The scenes between Brit-Chrissy & George and Janet & Stanley are sweet, particularly the way Chrissy keeps putting her foot in her mouth, as she later does with Mrs. Roper.

It's cool that all the celebrities mentioned on MatH are ones that Americans (at least in the '70s) would be familiar with, no need for me to resort to Wikipedia this time.  The Bay City Rollers feel too teenybopper for Larry's taste, but who knows.

A quick note on the new closing credits for MatH.  They've added pictures of keychains for the trio.  Robin's says, "MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR," suggesting that his view of free love is a carryover from the '60s.  Chrissy's is the letter C and a red heart.  Jo has the letter J and a picture of a blond man holding an animal.  The keychains are all together at the end, and Robin and Chrissy get theirs individually, but Sally Thomsett's name is omitted here.  We'll see what happens next week....