Season 2 Episode 42

Episode 106

 

Sky One Transmission Date:

Thursday 21st January 1999

 

Written By

Paul Hodson

 

Directed By

Neil Adams

 

Trudi, Luis

 

 

John, Frank, Ian

 

 

Alex, Leon

 

 

Lynda, Kelly, Fletch

GS: Trudi Peyton (Shelley Minto)  Adi Coleman (Roger Davies)  Councillor Harry Roberts (Roy North)  Barry Hearn (as himself)

 

Jerry invites Luis to a dinner party he is having tonight for an important contact, and suggests he bring Trudi along. The youth team lads want to try Leon in one of Alex's Kangaroo Court trials following their FA Cup exit. Jerry informs Denise his guest is the deputy chair of the planning committee, and although she has another function this evening to cater for, Jerry suggests she bring Julie and Kelly to serve. Frank and Ian are driving to London on a scouting mission for Coates's old team mate John Black, and Ian makes Frank pull up outside a corner shop. Alex chooses Adi and Billy for the "prosecution" against Leon, and Adi accuses Leon of causing two goals and missing a penalty, holding him responsible for their loss.

 

Frank is shocked when Coates returns to the car swigging from a bottle, and warns him he will be meeting John on his own if Ian wants to drink. Ian and Frank arrive at Leyton Orient and John is excited about the prospect of his old friend buying him. Distracted by Fletch’s flirting, Kelly burns the meal for Block's dinner party, and Fletch offers to pay to feed them with an Indian takeaway. Leon gives his reasons that he can't explain what happened on the pitch, but it wasn't him and it distracted him from the game. Alex does not accept his explanation, and decides himself that Leon is guilty.

 

Frank greets Barry Hearn, but Coates is well on his way to being drunk when he doesn't remember last seeing Barry at Bethnal Green. Alex takes the decision on Leon's punishment - he must apologise to each of the team in a way that they wish. Ian spends the match trying to contact Helen on his phone. Jerry talks to Councillor Roberts on how even if The Dragon Party doesn’t win tomorrow he'll be using the support they've built on to push the new stadium. Lynda learns that Trudi is the club physio, and tries to play it cool in front of Luis. Barry has had enough of Ian's digs about Orient and orders an embarrassed Frank to get him out of here.

 

Fletch arrives at the Blocks' with the food, and is noticed by a starstruck Harry which leads Jerry to invite Karl to sit down. When Alex instructs Leon to lick his trainers, Leon won't take it any further, and a fight breaks out, with Alex sitting back and watching his work. Helen enters and yells at the lads to get to dinner, making sure Alex knows she is on to him again. With Fletch having been late with the food, there is surprise when the table is not served pheasant as Jerry requested, but curry. Kelly thinks fast to say it is pheasant curry, and Harry is delighted with the result.

 

In his room, Leon is upset and tells Helen he just wants to go home. Frank and a passed out Ian arrive back at the hostel, and when chatting to Des who is finishing a day canvassing, they see Coates has disappeared from the car. Inside, Ian goes looking for Helen and finds her comforting Leon, drunkenly accusing her of carrying on with him. Leon jumps to Helen's defence and Coates gets rough with him before punching Leon in the face, as a shocked Frank and Des walk in on the scene.

 

Notes:

 

First appearance of John Black (Gary McDonald)

 

Best Known For: Gary McDonald left a lasting impression as Ethnic in the 1986 pilot of "London's Burning", followed by the regular role of Darren Roberts in "EastEnders" (1987-88) and DC Alan Oxford in "Thief Takers" (1996-97)

 

Roy North came to prominence as Mr Roy, second sidekick to legendary red fox Basil Brush in his show from 1973-76, followed by hosting children's music show "Get It Together" from 1977-81.

 

The Best: The visit and location filming at Brisbane Road, and guest appearance by Barry Hearn, Leyton Orient’s chairman between 1995-2014.

 

Quotes: Alex accuses Leon of doing what Frank is well known for saying - playing the occasion and not the game.

 

Foreshadowing: Julie knocks for Warren, but gets no answer, set to be resolved in the following episode.

 

Continuity: As Trudi tends to a pull Luis picked up in training, he is surprised to realise she is the same Trudi that has graffiti written in the shower, while Trudi herself is surprised to learn it is still there.

 

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