The King Was in His Counting House
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047 - The King was in his Counting House |
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| Script | Jimmy Perry and David Croft |
|---|---|
| Director | David Croft |
| Producer | David Croft |
| Recorded | 23/6/72 |
| Original transmission | 17/11/1972 |
| Series | Five |
| Length | 30 minutes |
| Original Viewing Figures | 16 million |
| Preceded by | If the Cap Fits... |
| Followed by | All is Safely Gathered In |
"The King was in his Counting House" is the seventh episode of the fifth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on the 17 November 1972.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Mainwaring, sensing the "last twitchings of the wounded Nazi beast," has invited the platoon into his home to socialise in a 'happy, carefree, relaxed atmosphere.'Then disaster strikes: a bomb lands on the strong room of Swallow Bank. There is £96,478 1s to be counted, guarded and then taken by Mainwaring, on horse and cart, to the Eastgate branch.
[edit] Plot
Mainwaring is organising a drinks party at his house, in spite of his wife's fears that he his men will "get drunk and smash the house up". He informs Wilson he may call him George at the party, something Wilson takes great delight in. However he sternly tells him he cannot call him it during work hours, and denies Pike similar first name terms.
The party starts off with Jones' section in attendance and clearly very uncomfortable. The stilted conversation remains until the arrival of Walker, with his girlfriend Shirley, which immediately throws Mainwaring off kilter. He serves them a small amount of beer and sandwiches, which they quickly wolf down, after which Mainwaring gives them a guided tour of the room, while Walker gets down to business with Shirley on the sofa.
Much excitement is generated by the imminent arrival of Mrs Mainwaring, but an air raid warning sees her scurrying to the shelter before being introduced or even being seen by any of the platoon members. Hodges arrives, and a few moments later bombs land on the taxi station and the bank. Alarmed, Mainwaring and his men hurry round to the bank to salvage the money. They secure it and carry it back to the church hall where they begin counting it.
After a very long night, they eventually total it up. They then attempt to carry it to Eastgate using a horse and cart supplied by Walker and their own bicycles. A short way into the journey, the money starts blowing out of the hamper used to carry it. Trying to alert Mainwaring's attention to this, Pike fires his rifle, only to frighten the horse and send it charging off into a field with the platoon following close behind on their bikes.
[edit] Notes
This episode maintains and builds on the running joke of the non-appearing Mrs Mainwaring. She at last seems about to appear, only to run off when the siren sounds. As Fraser puts it "we'll never see her now".
[edit] Quotes
- Warden: Where's Captain Mainwaring, then?
- Wilson: He's upstairs with his wife in the bedroom.
- Warden: Oh I see, its one of those sorts of parties, is it?
[edit] Cast
[edit] Radio episode
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036 - The King was in his Counting House |
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| Script | Harold Snoad and Michael Knowles |
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| Producer | John Dyas |
| Recorded | 15/05/1974 |
| Original transmission | 20/5/75 |
| Series | Two |
| Length | 30 minutes |
| Original Viewing Figures | ? |
| Preceded by | Don't Fence Me In |
| Followed by | When Did You Last See Your Money? |
The King was in his Counting House is the sixteenth episode of the two series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on the 24 November 1972.
[edit] Synopsis
To boost morale, Mainwaring holds a party in his home.
[edit] Plot
[edit] Notes
[edit] Cast
| Cast | Characters |
|---|---|
| Arthur Lowe | Captain Mainwaring |
| John Le Mesurier | Sergeant Wilson |
| Clive Dunn | Lance Corporal Jones |
| John Laurie | Private Frazer |
| Arnold Ridley | Private Godfrey |
| Larry Martyn | Private Walker |
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Croft, David; Perry, Jimmy; Webber, Richard (2000). The Complete A-Z of Dad’s Army. Orion. ISBN 0-75284-637-X.
- The King Was in His Counting House at the Internet Movie Database
- "The King Was in His Counting House" at TV.com
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