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Season 7 Episode 4
Episode 296 Sky One Transmission Date: Sunday 19th October 2003 Directed by Riita Leena-Lynn
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Bruce, Mei, Pilar
Luke, Bruce, Ryan
Boyles, Matt,
Pilar, Mr Lau
Curtis, |
GS: Mei Lee (Crystal Yu) Mr Lau (Stuart Ong) Pilar meets Mr Lau, a representative of Dream Inc in China, and he offers her a proposition in the form of left-midfielder Zhao Qiang coming to Harchester for free. This would boost Dream Inc.’s publicity in China and in return help Harchester’s financial worries following Pilar’s purchasing of Luke. Pilar brings Zhao and his interpreter Mei back to England, and then informs Stuart of the deal, who is understandably uncomfortable with her bringing in players without his or the team’s prior knowledge. When he is taken to meet the team, Stuart has trouble pronouncing Zhao’s name, and following Clyde’s quick wit Zhao asks to be referred to as “Bruce”. Ryan is not happy about another left-midfielder joining the team, and during training Bruce’s ability is shown to be very weak against the Premiership players. Because of this, Stuart tells Bruce that he will let him train with the reserves until he catches up. Sussing that there is more to Bruce’s coming to Harchester than he has been told, Stuart asks Pilar what she isn’t telling him. She admits that Bruce has it written into his contract that he must play 45 minutes of each game so that the Chinese fans will actually watch Harchester and not another Premiership team. Stuart then questions Pilar about whether Bruce even knows about this, to which she admits that she doesn’t know. After modelling the season’s new Harchester strip with a Chinese inspired design for the press, Stuart tells Bruce and Mei of the deal in his contract. After Bruce has a disastrous first game, and Mei, annoyed at how Zhao has been treated, lets the truth out about his contract at the post-match press conference, the team threaten Pilar that they will go on strike as long as Bruce continues to be contracted to the club. And when the potential owners, Clyde, Matt and the Boyles threaten to band together and freeze the club’s assets, Pilar works to get them all on her side. Mei tells Bruce she has to leave after the whole press conference outburst, but first he has her translate for him as he explains to the team that without the money that came with him, Harchester would be bankrupt. The team come to understand, but Bruce is still hesitant about playing again, until Marcel comes up with the idea that if Bruce faked an injury at the following match, it would allow him time to improve his game. Notes: First appearance of Zhao “Bruce” Qiang (Jon Yang) Best Known For: Alongside acting, Jon Yang has also worked as a camera operator, notably on the series “M.I.High” Crystal Yu played the regular role of Dr. Lily Chao in "Casualty" in 150 episodes from 2013-17. In an impressive career stretching from his native The Best: The large amount of air-time dedicated to the Chinese language Cantonese in this episode. Stuart’s smugness at Pilar being told by the players that they will strike. Pilar making a plea to Mr Lau with her hair down, seems to be a part of her vulnerable side as we see again in 7.6 (#298) The Usual Suspects. Mei (Crystal Yu), who is only around for this episode. Quotes: Nikki to Stuart (on Pilar): “My Lord and master wants to see you” Clyde to Ryan (on Mei): “She can interpret me anytime she likes mate” And then Mei turning to Bruce and saying (in Chinese): “All they know about is Kung Fu, Bruce Lee and Super Noodles” Continuity: Clyde’s asking of Stuart about whether he has a bet on the club going down is a nice reference to last seasons’ story arc involving Patrick and Jamie. Additional Info: This is writer Rachel Flowerday’s first episode, of 20 she co/writes between now and 9.9 (#365) He Was Robbed in Season 9. Bruce has twelve caps for What Was The Score?: What started so well with both goals from Luke: Harchester United 2 – 2 Spurs. Result from St. James’ Park and Newcastle unknown but we hear Harchester score at the episode’s end. Soundtrack: Barenaked Ladies: “One Week”, Blur: “We’ve got a file on you”, BRMC: “I’m Not Inlove”, Daft Punk: “Aerodynamic”, Fat Boy Slim: “Right Here, Right Now”, Kings of Leon: “Genius”, Mighty: “Seven Days & One Week”, Stereophonics: “Rainbows & Pots of Gold”, The Adicts: “Chinese Takeaway” |
