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Season 7 Episode 13
Episode 305 Sky One Transmission Date: Directed by David Bartlett
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Pilar, Stuart
Karen, Donna
Dean, Karen, Tony
Tony |
GS: Dr. Solley (Nicholas Gecks) Security Guard [Ray] (Malcolm Taylor) Baby Louis (Max & Harrison Wooley) It’s Christmas day, and having been thrown out by Clyde following Tony’s revelation that she slept with Curtis, Donna plots the ultimate revenge on her brother-in-law. After organising her own behind-the-scenes tour of the club, she heads to the Boyles under the premise that she wants her family back and no longer cares about the ownership. Karen persuades Tony to let her in, but he still refuses to give Donna an easy time, even in front of guests Jeff and Lee. Donna later gives Tony a present – seat #61 all wrapped up and encourages he, Karen and Dean to join her at their club. With only twenty-four hours until their next game, and both Luke and Stuart mysteriously absent, Marcel goes to question Pilar. Nikki and Sandra are overloaded with calls, and Marcel answers one from a wary Dr. Solley. Marcel learns that the call was from the Wilkins Foundation Clinic, so he and Abi go there and discover Luke recovering from his eye surgery. Abi is furious that Pilar and Stuart kept this from her, and the fact that Fletch hasn’t called her on Christmas day hasn’t helped. When they get home, Abi’s complaining of how hard her life has become leads Marcel to vent his emotions on how he really feels about her. Abi kisses Marcel and soon they are making love on she and Fletch’s bed. Stuart travels to Spain to bring Pilar back to Harchester. While she’s at first reluctant, Stuart promises to stand by her. They arrive home and Stuart organises lunch for them both at the Grange. After a long talk, the two end up almost kissing when Dr. Solley calls Pilar and tells her of Marcel and Abi’s visit that morning. At her house, Abi confronts them over their dishonesty and after a heated row throws both they and Marcel out, clearly feeling guilty at having cheated on her husband. At the Grange, Pilar tells Stuart that business must return to normal following their near-kiss earlier. Marcel returns home to check on Abi and Fletch finally calls. She breaks down in tears, telling Karl she needs him while a dejected Marcel listens on. At the club, Donna gets Tony alone under the pretence of writing Dean a Christmas message on the scoreboard. Donna puts her plan for revenge in motion by coming onto Tony. Donna coaxes Tony to admit that he wants her, and had her before, as she activates the tanoy button causing him to be heard across the entire stadium. Dean and Karen hear everything, and rush into the control room to see Tony all over Donna. Karen is distraught and runs away crying. Tony chases after her out of the club, but as she drives away he suffers a heart attack behind her and collapses, dead. Notes: Last appearance of Tony Boyle (Alan Stocks) Best Known For: In an impressive and long career, Malcolm Taylor worked as an actor, producer and as a director, working on many dramas and soaps home and abroad. The Best: Tony and Dean, wearing Luke and Marcel’s ‘Davenport’ and ‘Sabatier’ kits. Donna giving Karen the photo of them both on her tenth birthday, and Karen’s memories of the day. The entire final few minutes, with Karen running away and the long distance shots of Tony (in Luke’s kit) lying dead on the car park. Jo Goldie plays out Donna’s revenge deliciously in this episode. Quotes: Abi (to Dr. Solley): “Don’t tell me to calm down. That woman replaced my husband with a man who can’t see!” Abi also confronting Pilar and Stuart; (to Pilar): “…I want to hear her say it. Admit she’s a total failure!” (then to Stuart:) “You’ve had no authority at this club since she arrived and everybody knows it. It’s ‘yes Pilar, no Pilar… whatever you say Pilar!’” Donna’s last dialogue of the episode: “Sorry Dean. He deserved it” Continuity: Luke tells Marcel his dad has the same condition as him, and is blind now [7.10 (#302) Achilles Heel] Additional Info: Harchester are playing Charlton at their Boxing day fixture. Ray the security guard gives a HUFC history lesson to a bored Donna on how Jimmy Fellows was Harchester’s best goal-scorer during the 1965-66 season, scoring 38 goals. Tony and Karen watch the 1982 Christmas classic “The Snowman” on TV. Stuart spent a season in Turkey when Ryan was little, playing for Galatasaray as a wing-back. The message Tony and Donna write for Dean reads ‘DEAR CHAIRMAN DEANO MERRY XMAS LOVE DON & TONE’ Soundtrack: Aim: “Linctus”, Air: “Talisman”, Blur: “Good Song” and “Jets”, David Holmes: “Opening Credits”, Dido: “Who Makes You Feel”, Fat Boy Slim: “Right Here, Right Now”, Eels: "Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas" |
