Season 9 Episode 16 Episode 372 Sky One Transmission Date: Sunday 5th February 2006 Directed By Vesna Cudic

Mrs Hannigan, Lynda Alex, Tim Clancy Cass Hector, Isabelle Lynda, Alex

GS: Isabel (Victoria Willing) John The Groundsman (Mark Roper) Lynda tells Ashleigh and Alex that Vincent Burns and his team have walked out following Hannigan's disappearance. Lynda explains she'd like them both to continue in their roles, but Ashleigh insists that will only happen if she is made First Team Coach and Alex Manager. Alex is not sure, but Lynda says the jobs are theirs providing they win the next three of four games, which includes the Cup Final against Chelsea. Lynda holds a press conference with the police and Hannigan's wife, appealing for any information on Lawrie's whereabouts. Afterwards she cries to Amy that she knows Lawrie is dead, as she nicked Hector and the Russians had their revenge by killing Hannigan. They realise they can help the police by finding the account number the money was paid into. Hector trails behind on the team run, and Ryan sends him the wrong way. The lads arrive at Studs, and are amazed to find Alex waiting inside with a buffet to reward them for their hard work. Hector finds himself alone on waste ground with a storm opening above his head. Amy is chilled to learn the sort code is the same as what Dragons Corp used to pay her off following the Felix fallout. Realising the account details the Russian man gave Lynda were the same as the owner's account, Lynda questions what if the whole thing was a fake, set up by Dragons Corp, and as they paid Amy asks whether she is just the same. Amy admits that in fact, is true, and reveals the owners wanted an actress with secretarial skills, and tells Lynda she wants to help her find them. Cass decides to wind Alex up as “caretaker”, mixing up his very own 4-5-1 in the form of strong liquor, and Alex downs it in one to the cheering of the lads. The next morning, Alex wakes up to find he has been stripped naked and tied to a chair in the middle of the Dragon’s Lair pitch! Luckily John The Groundsman comes along and sets him free. Lynda learns that £1M was deposited into her account from Dragons Corp, with the reference number 'Hector', making it look as if Lynda did the deal to line her own pockets. Lynda is shocked to discover that the owner forged her signature on the transaction, promptly e-mailing him to resign. Hector is semi-conscious when a chambermaid, Isabel, arrives to clean the room. Hector learns she speaks the same language as him and is from Portugal. During training, the lads wind Alex up over last night's prank until he orders them all to do one hundred press-ups. When Hector arrives late, Alex slaps him when he is unable to complete his press-ups. Roses (hint, hint!) arrive for Lynda with a message waiting in the glove compartment of her new car, where Lynda finds a letter from the owner. She is told that, as always, her resignation is not accepted, and that he put the million pounds in her account in order to stop her going to the police. The owner paid the £10M for Hector, and did so to stop the Russians killing he and Lynda, although says he was too late for Laurie*. The club was simply refunding the owner for the money spent, and warns Lynda that Hector had better be worth it otherwise she'll have he himself to answer to. Cass notices Alex has left his guidebook behind and he, Eugene and Gavin have a laugh at some of the things Alex has written. A slip of paper with the owner's handwriting on falls out, and Lynda recognises it, believing the owner is in the building! Isabel visits Hector with a menu for a Brazilian restaurant, and she agrees to stay and have dinner with him. Hector tells Isabel his father saw him play for the national team in Brazil twice, but died last year. During Alex's formation for tomorrow, he begins reciting a speech he prepared in his log book, and Cass can't help joining in and knocking Alex down once more. As Lynda reads the note she found earlier, she admires the strong advice given, wishing she'd had it when she first started the job. Amy ponders maybe the owner wanted her to see it now. Lynda arrives at the Grange to wish Alex luck for tomorrow. Whilst talking with Lynda, Alex repeats the advice she had read on the note she found, adding it was the best advice he was ever given. Lynda now suspects that Alex himself is the mystery owner! Notes: Best Known For: In a sideline to acting, Victoria Willing has been a puppeteer/Muppet performer in films "The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992) and its follow-on "Muppet Treasure Island" (1996), and in children's TV "Mopatop's Shop" (1999) and "Little Princess" (2006-10). She also appeared as Sue Miller in "EastEnders" (2002), Mrs Cartwright in "The Inbetweeners" (2008-10) and its 2011 movie, and "Him & Her" (2013) The Best: Alex in the manager’s job, and taking whatever the team, mostly Casper, throw at him. Also not realising he has Kiss Me written on his forehead until after he’s already seen Lynda. Hector’s friendship with Isabel. Quotes: Cass: "Oh come on boys, this is little Dempsey-Wempsey we're talking about here. He's hardly Darth Vader!". Alex, setting things straight with his team: “And from now on, nobody calls me Al, Alex, Demps or Dempsey. Hop-Along’s all right though” Additional Info: Hector is from Sao Paulo in Brazil. Cass Clues #6: Aside from the owner’s card being delivered with roses, the new car the owner presents Lynda with could be described as a classic, which Casper is known to drive. Also see 9.24 The Blame Game. Soundtrack: Gorillaz: "Dirty Harry", Mylo Vs Miami Sound Machine: "Doctor Pressure” Behind The Scenes: *The owner makes out to Lynda that the Russians did in fact kill Lawrie. Yet when the final outcome of the owner’s identity comes out, viewers were left confused about Hannigan’s fate. Jane explained the owner paid Hannigan five million to go to a tropical island for a bit. It was needed for it to be believed that Lawrie was dead, in order for Alex to move into the manager’s position without the possibility of them finding Hannigan or appointing another replacement. <<SE09 EP15 |  Season 9 Main Page | SE09 EP17>>