The Longest Night

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Only Fools and Horses episode
"The Longest Night"
Series	5
Writer	John Sullivan
Director	Mandie Fletcher
Producer	Ray Butt
Duration	30 minutes
Airdate	14 September 1986
Audience	16.7 million

The Longest Night is an episode of the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses. It was the third episode of series 5, and was first screened on 14 September 1986.

1 Synopsis
2 Episode cast
3 Trivia
4 Episode concept
5 External links

[edit] Synopsis

During their weekly shopping trip at their local supermarket, Del Boy, Rodney, and Albert are called up to the manager Mr. Peterson's office after being accused of shoplifting. But then, a young 20-year old man enters the supermarket and tries to steal some food, but Tom Clark, the head security officer, catches him in the act and takes up to the manager's office. But the young man, who reveals himself as "The Shadow", turns the tables by pointing a handgun at everyone in the room, including the Trotters. It seems that the young man's goal is to steal a vast sum of money from the supermarket's safe, but unfortunately, he comes up short when the safe has a time lock that won't open again until tomorrow morning, and that he has a faulty watch.

Throughout the night, the Trotters try to keep themselves from boredom, such as Albert doing exercise. Then, Del recognizes the thief as Lennox Gilbey, whose mother Del Boy knew. The two get reacquainted, as well as bring up the fact that Lennox's faulty watch was bought by his mother from Del at the market.

The next morning, with only half an hour to go until the safe's time lock reopens, Del and Albert, along with Mr. Peterson and Mr. Clark, wake up to see Rodney running the risk of tip-toeing over to reach and grab a sleeping Lennox's gun. But unfortunately, Rodney just picks up a packet of cigarettes. Lennox wakes up, and he, Mr. Peterson, and Mr. Clark all confess to the Trotters that they were planning to break into the safe and share all the money, and do to that, they needed some "hostages". Instead of going to the police, Del strikes a deal with them; let Lennox become head security officer when Mr. Clark retires, and allow the Trotters to become the one millionth customer in order for them to get the prize money. Mr. Peterson agrees with the proposal, and Del shakes hands with him to seal the deal.

[edit] Episode cast

Actor	Role
David Jason	Del Boy
Nicholas Lyndhurst	Rodney
Buster Merryfield	Uncle Albert
John Bardon	Tom Clark (head security officer)
Max Harvey	Mr. Peterson (store manager)
Vas Blackwood	Lennox Gilbey
Jeanne Mockford	Woman in kiosk
Catherine Clarke	Girl at checkout

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

This episode is the third of only three episodes of Only Fools and Horses in which the interior of the Trotters' flat is not seen. The other two are "Cash and Curry" from Series 1 and "Who's a Pretty Boy?" from series 3.

[edit] Episode concept

The idea for the script was based on a true story about a small-time criminal who went into a supermarket and pulled off a scam with the security manager and the store manager.[1]