Time On Our Hands
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| Only Fools and Horses episode | |
| "Time On Our Hands" | |
| Series | Christmas Special |
|---|---|
| Writer | John Sullivan |
| Director | Gareth Gwenlan |
| Producer | Tony Dow |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Airdate | 29 December 1996 |
| Audience | 24.3 million |
Time On Our Hands is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the final episode of the 1996 Christmas trilogy, and was first screened on 29 December 1996. It attracted a television audience of 24.3 million, a record for a British sit-com.
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[edit] Synopsis
The episode opens with a nervous Raquel planning the visit of her parents, James and Audrey, for dinner at the flat, and worrying about them meeting Del for the first time, particularly his dubious French phrases. Del and Albert reassure her that they will help out.
Del is still worried about Rodney after he and Cassandra had suffered a miscarriage two weeks previously, and Albert suggests that they come up with a "counter-worry" to take his mind off it, which leads to Del pretending to be ill, though Rodney barely notices.
Later in the day, Del and Rodney are in the lift when it breaks down. After being trapped in there for some time, the two brothers have a poignant discussion about Rodney and Cassandra's miscarriage. Rodney says that last night, he read his diaries from when he was a schoolboy, looking for pages of things Rodney hoped for, such as hairs, doing well in his exams, and a good job when he left school. Del agrees that Rodney did indeed gets hairs. Rodney also explains that he and Cassandra were so happy and cruising down a big wide highway, until it came to a shattering halt. To Rodney, Happy Families became Dungeons & Dragons, and Rodney has never so much pain like that in his life. Del asks if Cassandra is hurting, and Rodney answers that she is hurting, even though he never spoke to her about it, because if Rodney doesn't say it, it might not true. Del says it is true. Rodney then says that if he doesn't say it. Del asks him "If you don't say what?" Now knowing that it's no use ignoring it, a crying Rodney says "We lost our baby!" Del understands it by saying that his younger brother did, and he's finally released all his anger by saying it. Rodney admits that he's been lying, as well as mention that Cassandra can't lie. Del admits that Raquel can lie. Rodney also mentions that on the night of the miscarriage, Cassandra seemed so fragile, and Rodney wanted to cuddle her and talk to her about it, but was afraid he might break her. Del tells Rodney that it's just a dropped stitch in life's tapestry, which their mother used to say when things went wrong. Rodney agrees that it's the strength of it and is finally at peace with the whole thing, and Del tells his younger brother that he'll pick up the bits and pieces and be cruising down that big highway again. Del also suggests to Rodney to go home and have a heart-to-heart with Cassandra, and tell her all the things he told Del (except the bit about the hairs). Once the conversation is over, Del attempts to fix the lift himself, and gets it working. Only then does Rodney realize that Del had in fact tampered with the controls, in order to force Rodney to talk.
James and Audrey arrive for the meal, and all appears to be going well. However, whilst moving the coffee that Albert has prepared in the kitchen, Del realises that it is actually gravy, and thus Albert's "gravy" that they are pouring on their dinners is in fact coffee. The dinner ruined, all around the table politely mention that they are full up. When picking up his car from the Trotters' garage the following day, James – an antiques dealer – spots an old watch engraved "Harrison" on a gas stove. After closer examination, he suggests that it may be the work of John Harrison, the man who designed and built the world's first successful maritime clock in the 18th century.
The watch is examined by experts, and all accept it to be the Harrison "lesser watch", a semi-mythical piece whose designs exist but it is unclear whether the watch was ever made. It goes to auction at Sotheby's and after hearing the opening bid of £150,000, Del promptly faints. When Del recovers, he and Rodney rush back into the auction room, with the bidding still going on. The latest bid is revealed to be £4,000,000 and Rodney, too, faints. It emerges that the final bid was at £6,200,000.
Del and Rodney visit Boycie's car showroom and, unaware of their new fortune, he teases them about having their photograph taken next to one of his Rolls Royces. Rodney then buys the car for Del in return for helping him deal with his problems, much to Boycie's horror. The Trotters then visit the Nag's Head and receive a round of applause from the regulars.
The final scenes, against a backdrop of 'Our House' by Crosby, Stills and Nash, show the Trotters enjoying their new wealth. Del and Raquel move into a mansion, and they buy Albert a boat, which he promptly crashes into a bridge on the Thames.
Del returns to their now empty flat in Nelson Mandela, and recalls the memories from the flat over the years, including quotes from their parents, and Grandad. Rodney also returns, and Del reveals that he is already beginning to miss the old life as a market trader. Albert returns to the flat as well to have one last look, and the three leave, though not before Del has answered a call from Lenny offering them 250 carpet steamers. Del is initially keen, but a serious Rodney tells his older brother that they aren't in the business anymore. Del reluctantly tells Lenny that "Trotters Independent Traders has ceased trading."
In the last scene, Del, Rodney and Albert walk off into the sunset, with Del arguing that they should invest their new money in the futures market (making one last claim that this was one of the many things his mother Joan said on her death bed), with the closing refrain: "This time next year we'll be billionaires".
[edit] Episode cast
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[edit] Errors
- In the scene where he is looking through the garage before going with Del to the lifts, Rodney lifts up two of the Russian Army camcorders at the same time - whereas in Fatal Extraction, Rodney could barely carry one camcorder because they were so heavy.
- The Trotter garage is a lot smaller than the one seen in It's Only Rock and Roll.
[edit] Quotes
- Del: (talking about why Rodney won't talk to Cassandra after the miscarriage) Yes I know, he's got a lot on his mind, Raquel.
- Raquel: He's got a lot on his mind?! And how do you think Cassandra feels? She's the one who's had the miscarriage! She needs her husband by her side, not out drinking in some pub or club.
- Del: Yes I know, but she's a woman, ain't she? She's stronger than Rodney.
- Albert: During the...
- Del: If you say "During the war..." once more, I'm gonna pour this cup of tea right over your head!
- Albert: I wasn't going to say "During the war..."!
- Del: Well that's alright then.
- Albert: Bloody little know-it-all.
- Del: Alright, sorry.
- Albert: Thank you. During the 1939-1945 conflict with Germany...
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Modern Men |
Only Fools and Horses 29 December 1996 |
Succeeded by: Comic Relief special |
