The Archers #93: The Flower and Produce show - who's going to get their just desserts. Freddie? Ellis? Russ? Pass judgement here.

[DadDadDad]

No, that's not a jokey exaggeration, this is really the 93rd thread in a series started by PseudoBadger five years ago! In fact, post number 90,000 in the "official" count will be made on this thread.

Lovers of The Archers welcome (along with the rest of us who have a more complicated relationship with the "TA" ).

One rule we try to stick to: No mentioning of future episode plotlines published in the Radio Times etc. However, once an episode has aired, say what you like!

What is going to happen to Freddie? And are we ever going to hear from Lily again?
I also am wondering what it will take for Kenton to apologise to Fallon...

Well, at least Elizabeth can see her proposal to plead for Freddie to put in the nonce's wing is ill-thought out. Or will she merely be stuck at the level of sadness because Freddie doesn't want to see her rather than really seeing what a bad idea it is?

Tiger isn’t the big Chomsky theory called Universal Grammar?

Sounds vaguely familiar, Jessie!

Oh how we will miss joe when he's gone. Big BOOP for his hapless interrogation of Justin yesterday.

That scene was such a gem, and we've not had a transcription for a while, so I've just had a very entertaining half hour getting it all down. It’s really hard to capture all the little murmurs and half-laughs that the actors do so naturally and brilliantly. There was a lot of talking over each other. I've tried to show where two lines were spoken simultaneously.

Eddie: Sorry about your carpet.

Joe: Err-ah, cats and dogs out there it is.

Justin: Ah, well I’m sure it’ll dry, mm, eventually. So-

Eddie: yes, what it is, Justin, we’ve got a proposition for you – or Damara huh– or Borchester Land, huh, whatever –

Joe: A-a-a unique opportunity for you and your cronies –

E: -business associates- / Joe: - to support local cultural activities.

Ju: Wait – is this about Apple Day? –

Joe: no, no, no, no / Justin: because I have already-

Joe: although it is connected.

(pause)

E: You may not be aware of the vital social service performed for the community by the Grange Farm Cider Club.

Ju: Social service?

Joe: Your missus knows

E: Yeah! Lillian could tell you. The counselling which the group offers to them what are experiencing temporary difficulties in their lives -

Joe: Ooh, many’s the bloke who’s arrived down in the dumps and left HIGH as a kite!

Ed: From an emotional and spiritual perspective, like.

Ju: Mmm, And there was I thinking it was just a dive where ne’er-do-wells got plastered at bargain prices –

Joe: No, no, no, no, it’s an important local ane-neminity.

Ju: Hmm, is it, Joe?

E: It’s just that the bathroom facilities are a bit primitive. Well… non-existent really. So we was thinking you might like to sponsor some building works-

Joe: W-we can handle the practicalities.

E: Yeah. We’d just need you to put up say… a grand for materials

Ju: H-yeh, you want me to pay for a lavatory for a bunch of boozers?

Joe: Got it in one. Oh, I said he was quick, didn’t I?

Ju: Ohh, surely you should be talking to Oliver Sterling about this. He’s your landlord.

E: Ah, well, Oliver’s been very good to us already. So we didn’t think it were appropriate.

Joe: Any road, he said no.

E: But he’s happy for us to do the work. As long as we can raise the money. We could… probably get it done for nine hundred at a pinch.

Ju: Yeah, I’m sorry.

E: Seven. And we’d make sure you got full credit.

Ju: I- I do need to get on.

Joe: It would have a plaque and everything –

Ju: I have a luncheon appointment.

Ed: Free membership for life?

Ju: N-no!... Thank you. B-but if it will get you out of my hair –

Ed: Yeah?

Ju: We do have a job finishing in Borchester – North Road – there’s a portable site toilet that might be looking for a home…

Joe: One of them tardis things? That en’t exactly an enn-sweet, is it - / E: shut up, Dad.

E: And we could have it?

Ju: Yes.

E: Brilliant!

Ju: But I need an absolute assurance from you-

E: anything

Ju: no plaques, no publicity, and DEFINITELY no membership! This donation is strictly anonymous.

Brilliant Dad! That was time beautifully spent.

Brilliant DDD. Although I must say that the idea of Justin having the level of operational knowledge to know when a Portaloo was going spare is a bit nonsensical. He’s meant to be the Big Boardrooms Boss, not facilities manager.

I agree, Jessie, that’s a bit silly and a little too neat. I assume they would hire those portaloos, not own one then cast it aside. But it got us to the punchline.

Thank you, DDD, I enjoyed that.

Jessie, apparently it was Government and Binding, which has rather a BDSM air to it.

Gosh, that was beautifully written. Nice to see it written down. Made me laugh all over again.

Keri Davies this week. He writes scenes like that very well.

Yes jessie But IIRC Justin wants to be "part of the community" Not a remote, head in the clouds , boss type, that's why he lives locally, notices toilets and sleeps with Lil!

That scene deserved writing down DDD I warmed to it as soon s I heard it Shame all TA isn't written like that.

echt Lizzie actually said that she has made things worse.

The scene between Elizabeth and Freddie really brought it home to me how it might just be better for Freddie to have no phone calls or visitors while he serves his sentence. He is desperately trying to fly under the radar and is learning to fit in as best he can - every phone call and visit just pulls him up sharp and he has to start again. Elizabeth wants to help him, but the fact is she can’t - he’s on his own now and he just needs to get through it. In fact I thought it was good to hear him say there was no point in appealing because he was guilty - he’s accepted he deserves to be punished and is now just trying to get on with it. At the same time I truly feel for Elizabeth, I think she might it harder to bear than Freddie does.

Love the transcript btw DDD - true dedication to your role.

Although I must say that the idea of Justin having the level of operational knowledge to know when a Portaloo was going spare is a bit nonsensical.

The whole of Justin's character development has been nonsensical. He was first portrayed as a super-important multi-millionnaire with multiple business interests all over the UK and abroad which necessitate him travelling to exotic locations for board meetings and the like. Then it was later downplayed so that he came across as basically a slightly higher level than Brian, i.e. wealthy local businessman with probably a few investments here and there, including the horses with Latif, but no significant business involvement outside of BL and Damara (which appeared much smaller than the FTSE 100-esque corp it first appeared). Now it appears the SWs take their pick depending on circumstances, they seem to have genuinely no idea where he is on the wealth and influence scale between wealthy local guy and head honcho at the WEF/Davos!

I assume they would hire those portaloos, not own one then cast it aside. Yes. If you hire one, the company comes round and empties it for you regularly. Why would you own one, and have to take on the emptying and cleaning yourself?

I'm glad you liked the transcript. I recommend trying it yourself sometimes as you get a real appreciation of how each actor brings words on a page to life, so that it sounds like something their character would say.

I think Damara was originally portrayed as a niche City investment firm, with agri-business up and down the country that they were developing with cutting edge methods. (Remember Charlie?). A bit of building work on the North Road in Borchester doesn't quite chime with that.

I'm feeling slightly queasy at the thought of the cider club using the portaloo and noone emptying it

I'm feeling slightly queasy at the thought of the cider club using the portaloo and noone emptying it

I predict a scene with Clarrie having to get very assertive about who's job it is to do it.

Back to the Freddie so, I'm hoping that Helen having coincidentally been around when Lizzie came to cry on Shula's shoulder that she will be able to give some sensible perspective- though I guess some aspects of a mother and baby unit are very different to male YOI.

though I guess some aspects of a mother and baby unit are very different to male YOI.

I thought at the time that Helen's experience in the mother and baby unit was unrealistically positive. Not that she didn't have a hard time, but the environment was nowhere near as harsh as I would have expected (admittedly my only experience of mother and baby units is outside the UK). I'm glad they're making it more close to life for Freddie.

Late to the party but I'm so annoyed by the sentencing for Freddy. I've been to youth court many times and nobody gets a long custodial for a first offence. Even dealing.

Nice work on the dialogue, although you missed the earlier bit where Joe kept coming out with conjugal instead of congenial which made me laugh

Yes, even Joe knew that conjugal wasn't the right word, but couldn't recall the right one. I was thinking "convivial", but "congenial" could be right.

nobody gets a long custodial for a first offence

It wasn't a first offence though was it? It was a pattern of repeat offending over a prolonged period. He had even had previous warnings from Harrison (although I don't know if that had been turned into a formal caution).

Compared to the sentencing guidelines for repeat dealing with Class As it seemed on the lighter end of what was possible.