Season 3 Episode 25Episode 165 Sky One Transmission Date: Tuesday 14th December 1999 Written ByPhil O’Shea Directed By Bob Tomson |
Michael, Alan Curbishley Ann, Didier Ray, Marilyn Michael, Gordon |
GS: Doctor Bradley (James Richardson) Alan Curbishley (as himself) An irate Jerry calls Marilyn into his office and yells someone must be sticking pins into a doll of him. In the dressing room, Eddie talks of how Ceefax are reporting that Charlton have not coughed up the money for Michael. With Didier not registered to play for UEFA, Ray informs Dion Osbourne that he and Luis would like him to be the backbone of the defence against West Ham. Ann is disappointed at having to resell the new house in Harchester. Meanwhile at Charlton Michael is parting ways with Alan Curbishley, and Alan says he's sorry it hasn't worked out but to go back and show Harchester what a good footballer he is. Jerry informs Marilyn that Michael has been found to have osteoarthritis in his hip through X-Ray's. Marilyn puts it clear that they rushed into buying Didier and now owe that two million on top of the twenty already in debt. Ann is about to face Didier who is back from his sponsored trip to Paris, and for the first time since the Hankin interview, knowing she has to convince him to do the press engagements originally scheduled for Michael. Didier talks of how he and his lover in Monaco were together for a time but he has no idea whether her baby is his. Gordon tells Jerry he accepts the role of Director of Football, but Jerry re-titles him to the Director of Cock-Ups and blames him for the decision to sell Dillon and buy Baptiste. Michael arrives at the Dragon's Lair and blanks Kelly on his way in. Kelly tells Michael he should see Ann as she thinks he's still in London. Gordon convinces Jerry that Doctor Bradley is responsible for not picking up Michael's arthritis when they bought him six months ago, and Jerry yells he is going to have Bradley struck off. Marilyn and Ray sit in the stands, where Ray talks of how he feels for Michael now being an outsider looking in back at Harchester. Marilyn knows how Michael feels, and alludes to making a fool of herself over Luis, which Ray correctly guesses is him. Jerry marches Michael through the dressing room and into the treatment room to berate Doctor Bradley. Bradley states that there was no trace when they bought Michael and says it's perfectly possible for the condition to only show up on the X-Ray now. Jerry turns on Luis and says they're stuck with a player he said was "past it", which Luis angrily denies having said. Jerry threatens Bradley that he and his chief exec will be strongly considering his future over this. Ray suggests as Didier can't play in the West Ham game, why not use Michael. Luis is in agreement, but fears Michael will now not want to play for them. As if Michael's day could not get any worse, he finally sees Ann as she comes along arm-in-arm with Didier. All Michael can say is he failed the medical and Charlton do not want him. Ann is shocked, but then reality hits her that, at his request, she has now sold the house they wanted in Harchester, and at a knock-down price. Michael fears Ann is going to leave him, but she assures him she isn't going to and he will play again. Notes: The Best: In contrast to Harchester's training session at the Lair (Den), we are shown West Ham's training session at Chadwell Heath. Michael sitting in his car outside The Valley and fighting back the tears. · The Worst: As a humiliated Michael walks past the team through the dressing room, Eddie makes a cruel taunt by holding the door and repeating “Wheelchair for Michael!” which Ray gives him a deserved bollocking for. Quotes: Jerry has some very unflattering words about Michael which he overhears from outside the door: "I mean any decent doctor would have had Dillon put down. If he was a racehorse I'd shoot him myself! You'd have to pay the knacker's yard to come and take him away". · What Was The Score?: Ray mentions they won against Yeovil and Eddie later reminds Scott he put two away against them, so presumably a 2-0 win. Soundtrack: Fun Lovin’ Criminals: "Korean Bodega" |
