The Baddies

"The Baddies" is an episode of the award-winning British comedy television series The Goodies.

This episode is also known as "The Nicest Person in the World" and "Double Trouble" and as "Bad Copies".

Written by The Goodies, with songs and music by Bill Oddie.

Prologue

During the episode:

• Tim Brooke-Taylor also appears as 'Robot Tim'
• Graeme Garden also appears as 'Robot Graeme'
• Bill Oddie also appears as 'Robot Bill'

Plot

The Goodies are surprised because everyone is against them. When they go to the local police station, they are informed that they are 'Baddies'. Indeed, while they are in the police station, talking to the Police Sergeant, the Goodies are simultaneously committing offences all over England. When the Police Sergeant accuses the Goodies of the crimes and disruptions, they point out to him that it could not have been them because they were there with him when the offences happened. The Police Sergeant eventually agrees with them.

The Goodies are not the only 'nice' people involved in offences. Many other nice people are also simultaneously committing similar offences, and all of the people involved are contestants in the "Nicest Person in the World" competition.

The Goodies investigate and find that a mysterious Dr. Petal is behind the occurrences. Graeme recognises him as Doctor Wolfgang Adolphus Ratfink Von Petal ("I was there when you got your Nobel Prize".). Bill is surprised ("He's got a Nobel Prize?????"), to which Graeme explains ("Yes, for being the most irresponsible and irate scientist ever.").

Dr. Petal complains about his treatment from other people, saying: "Just because I'm a mad scientist, doesn't mean I'm not nice. You're like everyone else. All my life, I've been hated and ridiculed, but all I've ever wanted is to be liked. I had a hard life. Everyone was against me from the start. Even my parents didn't want me, that's why they christened me Ratfink. When I was three weeks old, they put me in kennels and emigrated, they couldn't stand the sight of me. I was The Ugly Duckling that grew up to be the ugly duck! That's why I've spent my life helping people. I helped the Americans with their H-Bomb, I helped the Russians with their missiles, I helped the British with their biological warfare. Why I even help the Nazis! Now how generous can you get?"

Dr. Petal commenting about his only friend, his pet vulture Lucretia: "She only stays with me because she knows I've left her something in me will." Curious, Bill asks him, "What have you left her?", to which Dr. Petal replies: "Me!"

Dr Petal then imprisons them in an alligator-sulphuric-acid-based death trap. The Goodies, however, escape. Dr Petal then imprisons them again in a bomb-poison-gas-based death trap. The bomb, explodes, sending the Goodies flying towards the "Nicest Person in the World Competition"

Despite Dr. Petal's attempt to pass them off as his androids, he exposes himself when Bill suggests they "screw their heads off" ("You'll do no such thing. I spent hours putting them together."). After a prolonged chase, where the android Goodies are tied to a tree, the Goodies win the award. But when Dr. Petal steals the award, it is revealed that Bill and Graeme are the impostors, who knock Tim out.

Competitors

Note

The part of Dr. Wolfgang Adolphus Ratfink von Petal is played by Patrick Troughton, who is famous as the Second Doctor.

References

• "The Complete Goodies" — Robert Ross, B T Batsford, London, 2000
• "The Goodies Rule OK" — Robert Ross, Carlton Books Ltd, Sydney, 2006
• "From Fringe to Flying Circus — 'Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960-1980'" — Roger Wilmut, Eyre Methuen Ltd, 1980
• "The Goodies Episode Summaries" — Brett Allender
• "The Goodies — Fact File" — Matthew K. Sharp

External links

• The Baddies on IMDb