Class of '62
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| Only Fools and Horses episode | |
| "The Class of '62" | |
| Series | 7 |
|---|---|
| Writer | John Sullivan |
| Director | Tony Dow |
| Producer | Gareth Gwenlan |
| Duration | 50 minutes |
| Airdate | 20 January 1991 |
| Audience | 16.2 million |
The Class of '62 is an episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the fourth episode of series 7, and was first broadcast on 20 January 1991.
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[edit] Synopsis
While Raquel receives a letter from her solicitors about how they've traced her ex-husband, who's considering the filing for a divorce, Del Boy and Rodney receive a fax on their new Futafax machine from Mike that there's a reunion for the 1962 class of the Dockside Secondary Modern school at the Nag's Head.
At the reunion at the Nag's Head, Del, Rodney, Boycie, Trigger, and Denzil all wonder who arranged it all. Their questions are answered when they find out that the person who arranged it is ex-police officer Roy Slater, who tells them about how the five years he served in prison for the diamond smuggling incident and his father dying changed him. The rest of the gang become friends with Slater once again and head back to Nelson Mandela House for some drinks and looking back on their old schooldays.
Back at the flat, Del and friends enjoy themselves, getting drunk, and looking at old school photographs. After Denzil, Trigger, and Boycie all go home, Raquel enters the flat and is horrified that Slater is here. She tells Del that Slater is her husband! Del also tells it to Rodney, and they and Albert realize that Slater never changed. Slater completely blows up at Raquel for allowing herself to get pregnant by Del. But the Trotters reluctantly let Slater stay for the night.
Two hours later that night, Del, Rodney, and Albert all talk about the horror of what would happen if anyone found out that Raquel was married to Slater, which would result in Del's image being completely ruined. Then, Slater enters the lounge to get a glass of water, and Del tells him that he'll prepare him a very special breakfast in bed. Suddenly, Del has taken Slater's wallet, which includes a document that states "I, Rachel Slater (née Turner), hereby waive all my legal rights and entitlements to my husband's present and future estates." The Trotters finally come to a conclusion on why Slater returned to Peckham; just to get Raquel to waive all her rights to his money. They also discover another document from a Bond Street diamond merchant asking what Slater was doing with ten diamonds, left over from the smuggling incident Slater went to jail in 1985. Slater emerges from the bedrooms and takes back his wallet, which he's been looking for, and the evidence with it.
The next day at the Nag's Head, Slater is getting himself all drunk. Raquel enters, and is reluctantly forced to sit with Slater. The Trotter brothers enter, and Raquel waits in the van outside (upset because the brothers aren't going to beat Slater up).
Slater feels confident that he has the only piece of evidence tucked up nicely in his pocket, but Del and Rodney show him one of their Futafax machines, which Del used to make a copy of Slater's document. Although Slater mentions that he's already served his trial and can't be tried for the same crime twice, Del says that he and Rodney went down to the local newspaper offices and read all the reports of Slater's trial, with all the details, and even that old school photo with Slater in the football team. According to Del, "It was a Spot the Git competition." Also as mentioned by Rodney, Slater was tried for illegally importing 78 diamonds into Britain, but the report didn't mention anything about 10 missing diamonds. Del threatens Slater by tempting to send a copy of the report to any of Slater's "old mates" at the police station, which would mean a new trial, and that all of the other prisoners would be glad to see Slater back. Obviously, the Trotter brothers are angling for a deal; they just want Slater to promise to give Raquel her divorce and leave her alone forever. Slater will also get out of the area now and keep his big mouth shut, because if one person finds out that Slater was married to Raquel, there'll be a letter with a first-class stamp winging its way to the commissioner of police.
Slater agrees to the deal and leaves. Rodney asks Del why they didn't take Slater's money. Del's answer: "Because it's illegal." He also explains that when Slater sells his diamonds, Raquel can divorce him and legally be entitled to 50% of everything. Mike shows up and tells the Trotter brothers that the photocopier on the Futafax they sold him doesn't work. Del answers that his doesn't either, meaning that he was bluffing to Slater.
[edit] Episode cast
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[edit] Trivia
- The idea for the script was based on a reunion that John Sullivan had with his football team.
[edit] Story Arc
- This episode marks the final appearance of Roy Slater. His previous appearances are referenced in the episode - Del and Rodney were arrested in "May the Force Be With You" and the diamond racket for which he was jailed was central to the plot of "To Hull and Back".
- Raquel's ex-husband has been referred to numerous times in since the introduction of the character, but this is the first episode in which he is named and seen.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Stage Fright |
Only Fools and Horses 20 January 1991 |
Succeeded by He Ain't Heavy, He's My Uncle |
