Season 3 Episode 26Episode 166 Sky One Transmission Date: Thursday 16th December 1999 @8PM Written ByIan Ridley Directed By Dominic Keavey |
Jerry Gordon Lynda, MacKinley Marilyn, Lynda, Luis MacKinley, Jerry |
GS: Mr MacKinley (Simon Melia) Doctor Bradley (James Richardson) Doctor Weiss (James McCarthy) PC Fleet (Rojer Weightman) Richard Keys (as himself) Andy Gray (as himself) Luis has a fitness test to determine his strength for today’s game. Outside the team hotel and in view of Tower Bridge, Jerry gets into his chauffer driven car, believing it to be his driver Thomas behind the wheel... but it just may be someone else. Jerry notices he is being driven down back roads, and goes to question "Thomas", to his shock discovering his driver is in fact Wembley gunman Mr MacKinley! Gordon demands Doctor Bradley "put the interests of the club" first and let Luis play if he wants to, otherwise he may find himself losing all the extra benefits he receives as club doctor. MacKinley marches Jerry onto a deserted construction site and pointing a gun at him orders him to kneel. MacKinley blindfolds Jerry with his tie, while Jerry protests that MacKinley killed the wrong man, plus nearly killed his wife, so why should he pay him the further half million? MacKinley concedes, and says he'll go and finish the job now then! MacKinley arrives outside Upton Park with a stewards uniform, and places his gun inside. Lynda arrives in the hospitality suite where Marilyn tells her Luis is playing, but looks vulnerable. Jerry makes it to the ground and spots said Thomas amongst the crowds, warning him if he hadn't already given him his Christmas bonus, he'd sack him. The game kicks off, and MacKinley phones Jerry in the executive box, letting him know he can see Lynda looking beautiful in black. Luis goes down on the pitch, and Jerry is terrified MacKinley has shot him, but relieved when Gordon tells him he just went down after a tackle. As Luis is stretchered away, Jerry spots MacKinley posing as a paramedic accompanying Luis off the pitch. Bradley says they will take Luis to the Royal London Hospital where they will take a look at his knee. Bradley makes it clear to Gordon Luis should never have been on the pitch, and Gordon lets him know it was ultimately he, the doctor's final say. As Luis is loaded into an ambulance, only Marilyn can travel with him, and Jerry comes face to face with MacKinley as he closes the ambulance doors in front of him. Getting to the hospital as fast as he can, Jerry puts Gordon in charge, and he bursts into the dressing room making a put-out Ray step aside. Gordon goes against Ray and Luis with his own Doctor Weiss believes it is Luis's medial ligament that has been damaged, which means only six to seven weeks recovery. Doctor Weiss recommends a surgeon in After four minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle goes, and Harchester are through to the final sixteen of the UEFA Cup. Gordon is interviewed on Sky Sports, where first Andy Gray wants to know what he's doing there? Gordon confirms his freshening up of Luis's team with his own tactics worked, and dedicates the win to him. Michael comes on and proposes to Ann live on TV, which she makes out to Kelly and Didier she will accept. Marilyn returns to Luis's room to tell him the good news about the win, only to see he and Lynda through the window in each other's arms. Jerry thinks he has escaped MacKinley, only to look up into the gents mirror to see him standing behind him! MacKinley taunts Jerry that he could have killed him, Luis or anyone he wanted today - including Lynda. He gives Jerry a fortnight to come up with half-a-million pounds - otherwise he knows what will happen, and wishes him Merry Christmas. Notes: Martin Crewes is absent from the series while Luis leaves to San Diego for his knee surgery. He returns in 3.43 / #183. · The Best: Jerry in the Upton Park control room, just missing a close-up camera shot of MacKinley standing inches from the West Ham dug-out! Lynda searching for Luis's hospital room, and stopping to ask a paramedic directions - coming face to face with MacKinley, the man who shot her! · Quotes: As he lies injured in the West Ham treatment room, Luis turning to Marilyn and solumnly remarking "Oh Marilyn, it is you!" clearly wanting Lynda by his side. Continuity: As Bradley examines his knee, Jerry remarks how Luis won't be dancing the Tango with his wife this year, referring to last year's Christmas party [2.32 / #96]. Doctor Weiss previously operated on Warren Masters's knee [2.23 / #87]. · Additional Info: As with 2.75 and 76, this was a one hour episode, and marking the start of a Christmas/New Year schedule break for the show, which would be continued until Season 10’s Christmas episodes in 2006. Unlike the early January return following seasons would take, Season 3 did not return with Episode 27 until January 18th 2000. What Was The Score?: Harchester have a slender one goal lead from the First Leg as they go into this Second Leg decider. West Ham have an early advantage when Lampard nearly scores. Paolo Di Canio gets a goal in for West Ham. At half time, Gordon now in charge takes off Coulson and Grant and puts Lucas, Dillon and Moliano on. A pass from Scott leads to Wes scoring, while a pass from Lampard to Wanchope scores. Harchester win 2-2 on aggregate. · Soundtrack: Leftfield: "Black Flute", Massive Attack: "Tear Drops”, The Verve: "Space and Time", Robbie Williams: "Let Me Entertain You" |
