Minder: The Cruel Canal (1991)
Season 8, Episode 13
The Cruel Canal (Dec 25, 1991)
11 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Series 8 Episode 13

Arthur buys a consignment of video recorders from an associate, Derek. While delivering some videos to Limehouse Ray's van breaks down, making him late for the delivery. The buyer, Tony Anthony (Two-Tone), phones Arthur, enquiring about Ray and gives him 20 minutes to make delivery or the deal is off. Ray's van is towed back to the lock-up. Two-Tone cancels the deal and Arthur blames Ray, tells him to bring all the videos into the lock-up and he will have to spend the night there watching them. Gloria visits Ray at the lock-up. She worries Ray will end up like Arthur.

In the morning Arthur stores the videos at the Winchester, much to Dave's annoyance. A policeman spots his van outside the Winchester and notes the tax disc is out of date. Ray goes to buy a new tax disc.

Arthur tells Dave they need to get the videos to Limehouse as Two-Tone had agreed to buy them, for half price. While Arthur waits, Big Dai, a small Welshman, arrives. Big Dai tells Arthur he has been robbed of some videos, asks Arthur to listen out for any information and promises revenge. Arthur frantically tells Dave the video recorders he bought from Derek were stolen from Big Dai. When Ray returns Arthur is panicking. He tells Ray and Dave that to get the video's to Limehouse and avoid Big Dai they will hire a barge from a man he knows, load it with the videos and use the canals to move across London to make the delivery. Ray and Dave are sceptical.

Arthur hires a barge for £150 per day. Ray and Arthur bicker over the condition of the barge. Big Dai interrogates Derek over who has his video recorders. Derek mentions both Arthur and Two-Tone to Big Dai. Arthur, Ray and Dave cram the barge with 200 video recorders. Arthur and Ray start their journey along the canal. Soon, Arthur is feeling sea sick and complains about the slow pace they are moving. Big Dai goes to see Two-Tone, who is initially dismissive of Big Dai, telling him he is "a long way from home" and asks one of his men to throw Big Dai out, but Big Dai knocks the man unconscious.

Two-Tone is now only too happy to help Big Dai, if he hears anything. He tells an employee that Big Dai is "a gentleman. Welsh. Paranoid. Possibly psychotic. But a gentleman." Ray and Arthur stop the barge in the darkness as they can't see anything. So Arthur and Ray can sleep downstairs, Ray moves the video recorders to the top of the barge and ties them down. Then Ray sets out to try to find somewhere to buy food and drink.

Arthur is left alone in the dark on the barge. He is spooked by any noise, but Ray finally returns with supplies. Arthur complains about what he bought. Arthur and Ray play monopoly and Ray notes Arthur has been cheating. They argue. Later they have trouble sleeping, with Arthur complaining of the cold and a passing boat. They hear rats and Arthur reacts, sending an annoyed Ray to scare them off. Ray drops a shoe in the canal then returns to finds Arthur asleep.

In the morning Arthur calls Two-Tone and tells him they will be there just after lunch. Ray buys supplies for breakfast. While Dave is on the phone with Arthur's wife, who is wondering where he is, Big Dai arrives at the Winchester, looking for Arthur. Arthur nearly falls into the water stepping onto the barge. Dave looks for Arthur and is blackmailed into hiring a speedboat to catch up with him quicker.

Arthur and Ray continue to argue. They don't notice an upcoming bridge, with the video recorders piled up on the back of the barge, they crash into the underneath of the bridge and trap the barge. Passers by on the bridge above watch Arthur and Ray blame each other and argue. Dave speeds along the canal, spotted by a policeman. Arthur and Ray try to dislodge the barge from the bridge. Big Dai goes to see Two-Tone, who says he has something that may be his. Arthur and Ray have finally freed their barge and move along the canal, then Arthur spots Two-Tone and Big Dai walking to a van in a car park nearby.

Arthur, who is steering the barge, tries to shield his face from them. Two-Tone passes Big Dai a box.

Big Dai looks inside and identifies the items as his that were stolen. Before Big Dai pays he wants the name of the thief. Two-Tone tells him Frenchie Flynn. Big Dai's items turn out to be video tapes, not video recorders, featuring 20 Great Welsh Boxers. Ray tells Arthur to turn off the barge engine.

Arthur loses control of the barge and it crashes onto land, sending the video recorders into the water.

Two-Tone and Big Dai hear the noise and run over. Ray tells Big Dai it wasn't Arthur who stole his videos. Big Dai agrees, telling them Two-Tone got his video tapes back, that include Big Dai from his boxing days. Big Dai leaves to go see Frenchie Flynn. Two-Tone cancels his deal with Arthur for the video recorders.

Arthur and Ray slowly make their way home on the barge. Arthur wonders if the things Ray said to him during their argument were actually complaints from Arthur's wife.
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