Season 8 Episode 19

Episode 343

 

Sky One Transmission Date:

Sunday 27th February 2005

 

Directed by

Riita-Leena Lynn

  

HUFC do Kick It Out

 

 

Sofia

 

 

Marquess, Edwards

 

 

Fletch & Fletch

 

 

Barker

GS: Nathan Woods (Ike Hamilton)  William Marquess (Carl McCrystal)  Keith Edwards (Robert Harrison)  Italian Policeman (Federico Zanni)  Lawyer (Ernesto Tomasini)  Rosemary Swift (Lucia Brodie)  UEFA Official (David Sant)  UEFA Spokesperson (Tom Magdich)

 

After being told the match will not continue with the crowd trouble the way it is, Don tells Andy to go out to the pitch and collect as many of the items thrown as he can. When the press surround Don and Nathan, Don shows the sharpened coin Nathan used and states that if UEFA do not award Harchester the game they are basically condoning racism. Keith drags Marquess and the other rioters to a bar where he starts a brawl with a group of (real) Lazio fans, resulting in he and Marquess being arrested. The team fly back home and Fletch wants to celebrate his homecoming with Gina, but Don vetoes it by asking Gina to make sure Nathan gets everything he needs.

 

Marquess calls Dean from jail in Rome to tell him they need his help, so Dean gets on to finding them legal representation. The team do a press photo op, wearing Kick It Out t-shirts. Don once again voices that awarding the win to Harchester is the only honourable decision UEFA can make. The interrogating policeman asks Edwards and Marquess why they were carrying Harchester tickets but wearing Lazio colours. Marquess explains that the tickets were for the home crowd so they had to buy the Lazio kits to hide their true identities. The policeman then states that their seats were situated where all the trouble with the Lazio fans started.

 

As Nathan prepares to be interviewed by Trevor McDonald, UEFA's statement comes in. They say they have new information from Lazio that Harchester fans were involved in the abuse, and they intend to hold a full investigation into the matter. Nathan panics, but Don offers him a professional contract, whilst the team are furious that their fans could be blamed for this. In Rome, the lawyer he appointed for Marquess and Edwards contacts Dean, advising he cut ties with the two, as a lot of damage could be done if the club is seen to be helping them. The press conference is held and Marquess and Edwards see Dean on the TV, asking the policeman to translate what he's saying. To goad them, the policeman says that Dean is saying the fans involved will receive a lifetime ban and be stopped from travelling abroad to any England games. Keith flips and tells the policeman he wants to make a statement.

 

Marquess talks Keith out of telling all as it could get them both banned and the club thrown out of the Champions League. After Keith's statement of "We didn't do it", the disgusted policeman tells them they are on the next flight out of Italy. Nathan learns he will fly out to Geneva to meet with UEFA’s board and tells the team he will say they do not want the game awarded to them, but to play it fair and square otherwise the racists have won. Don is furious and yells at Nathan that he can rip his contract up. On his way to Geneva, Nathan crosses paths with Marquess and Edwards who are just returning home. The players gather to hear UEFA's decision over the radio. It’s decided that the Lazio result will not stand and the game will now be played over one leg with the result of this game deciding who will proceed to the next stage. Dean tells a disgruntled Don that it was the right result, adding he's been quiet for too long - and that he's going to Eli and giving him both he and Don's resignations! Don desperately tries to stop him but gets chest pains, and misses Dean as his taxi pulls away - with Marquess and Keith inside! Outside, Don collapses to the ground as Gina comes to his aid and yells for an ambulance.

 

Notes:

 

Last appearance of Sofia Moxham (Lisa McAllister). Disappointingly, the will/won’t-they relationship built up with Dean over the season isn’t taken further and it is not stated where she disappears to, but I think we are meant to believe she went back to Chelsea having come to Harchester with Tommy who is now gone.

 

Best Known For: David Sant's varied career has seen him voice the titular character "Pingu" (2003-06), the silent Cartoon Head in comedy "Ideal" for its seven series duration (2005-11), and the film "Paddington 2" (2017). His directing career has seen him work amongst others on "Benidorm" (2014-18), "The Reluctant Landlord" (2018-19) and "Home" (2019-20)

 

The Best: The bundle of newspapers Curtis and Ryan bring to Nathan all covering the story of his abuse on their front pages.

 

Quotes: Fletch (to Gina): "I don't see too many life-size marketing displays of ‘Gina Moliano team co-ordinator’ in the club shop, do you?!"

 

Foreshadowing: Fletch tells Gina that Nathan has done them a favour with his ordeal, as there was no other way the team would have gotten a result – unknowing how right he is.

 

Continuity: Curtis tells Nathan he knows what it feels like being the centre of media attention, and says when the club went bust last year it took him 48 hours to crash out (7.22 11 Angry Men). Marquess also refers to the club’s relegation (7.32 A Matter of Life and Death).

 

Additional Info: The list of players wishing to contact Nathan, and given his mobile number to by Don includes Ashley Cole (whom Nathan speaks to directly) Thierry Henry, van Nistelrooy and Ledley King.

 

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