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Season 7 Episode 23
Episode 315 Sky One Transmission Date: Directed by Rob MacGillivray
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Abi, Marcel
Viv, Luke
Donna
Dean, team
Pilar |
GS: Paul Hankin (Leigh Cranston) Mr. Bartram (James Howard) Donal O'Leary (Gareth O’Connor) Owners’ Barrister (Keiran Flynn) Bank’s Barrister (Peter Hamilton Dyer) Judge (Edward Lyon) As they celebrate their win at Charlton, the team are served writs stating that Coopers are forbidding them to play under the Harchester United name, and are being taken to court to prevent them from doing so in future. Dean vows that they will fight on and the next move is to get the gates of the Dragon’s Lair unlocked. Seeing Dean on TV being held as the club saviour, Pilar hatches a plan and goes to see Mr. Bartram at the club, offering evidence that would take the fans hatred away from Coopers and show how the owners are the real villains. The team are all present at the court case where the barrister for Coopers uses Pilar’s ammunition: the rejection of the Sheik's £2M offer. Because of this, the Judge finds in favour of Coopers and tells the team they will play no further fixtures under the name Harchester United. The crowd outside are hostile and Dean pleads if anyone can save the club he'll give them his shares for nothing. Pilar now steps in and tells the team she's found who can save the club – they themselves. If the team agree to play for free, she will ask the banks to annul the bankruptcy. Pilar tells Dean the minimum cost for his shares will be £1. Donna refuses the offer, until Clyde has a word with her. Marcel arrives in Ireland where he meets Abi's teenaged brother Donal who takes him to their home. Abi’s disgusted at Stuart acting the hero and says she hasn't heard from Fletch. Marcel tells Abi he is going to Roma and he wants her to come with him. Meanwhile Hankin arrives in town, and lets Abi know that Marcel knew of the Sheik’s deal with Pilar and was paid off by being offered the Roma deal. Abi is furious and says she's going to expose Stuart like Marcel should have done. Bartram tells Pilar the only players they’d sell for what they’re worth are Clyde, Lee, Ryan and Marcel - the club's most valuable player, but without Marcel he refuses Pilar's scheme. Marcel and Abi arrive back in Harchester just as the team are again about to accept the club is lost. The team are so elated to see them that Abi is unable to say why they have returned. On the day the contracts are ready to sign, the team doubt whether they can now stay in the top four. Pilar realises they need to be convinced, and goes to see Luke, reminding him they paid nearly thirty million pounds when he never told them about his hereditary eye condition, She feels that Luke owes them by returning to the team. Viv makes Luke prove he's still got the LD inside him, so Luke kicks a ball from a distant angle which lands straight through Clyde's open window. The team sign the contracts and to cut Pilar out, Marcel requests that they appoint their own Chief Exec, to which the team chooses Dean. Clyde hands Donna a cheque for £200,000 for her agreeing to sell her shares. Dean addresses the TV cameras outside the club with the players and staff gathered behind him. He says the team have agreed to play for free until the end of the season and the bankruptcy order has been overturned. Dean unlocks the gates and they all walk through as Stuart turns and sees Pilar in the distance watching from her car. Notes: Last appearance of Donna Gibb/Connelly (Jo Goldie) The Best: The team tearing up Coopers’ writs. The Ireland scenes – Marcel’s game with Donal and the other boys, and faking an injury in order to see Abi again. Hankin threatening an ‘Irish Lovenest’ exclusive on Marcel and Abi, and receiving a punch instead. Abi rediscovering her love for the team. The return of Luke and his passing of Viv’s test. Quotes: Curtis, when the judge finds in favour of Coopers: [yells] “That's bull!!". Hankin (as Abi and Marcel walk in together): "How sweet. You lovebirds going to Italy together?". Viv (to Luke): "Just kick the ball prettyboy!". Dean: "Harchester United is back” Continuity: Curtis praises Stuart as a manager: "Where do you think we'd be if Matt Webster had won the club?" Additional Info: The team have four more home fixtures this season. The scenes with Abi and Marcel in Ireland are believed to have been shot at around the time an assorted Harchester side played their annual charity match against Keith Duffy’s All Stars at Tolka Park, Dublin on 1st February 2004. Coopers are on the verge of making £20M from the club's grounds and assets. They value Clyde at four million, Sully at half-a-million, Viv at 1.5 million, Ryan at four million (so soon after his break) and twelve million for Lee. Foreshadowing: Lee turns eighteen in two weeks time and will then sign his contract [7.25 (#317) Coming Of Age] What’s The Deal?: Bartram says the contracts state that they (Coopers) will run the club on minimal staff with no cars, no hotels and no perks with all profits going directly to them. Coopers will retain their wages, and if they reach the Champions League they will be paid in full including a £200,000 bonus. If they fail they will reissue the bankruptcy and the club will close with the players receiving nothing and will be sold. Soundtrack: Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: “(Come Up And See Me) Make Me Smile”, Stevie Wonder: “Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours” |
