An excellent Garden & Oddie penned episode which harks back to the style of 'Doctor In The House'.
Duncan, Dick, Paul, and the Binghams argue amongst themselves over what to put in the Common Room. Duncan and Paul favour a colour T.V. set ( something of a luxury item in those days ) while Lawrence prefers a table-tennis table. Mary sides with her husband, meaning that an impasse is reached. Dick refuses to vote as he does not want to fall out with anybody.
By way of compromise, Duncan and Paul challenge Bingham and Dick to a game of table-tennis ( with Mary as umpire ). Should Duncan and Paul win, they get their colour T.V. If they lose, they are stuck with the table. There's one snag - Paul confesses he does not know how to play...
Poor Bingham. He really gets plenty of grief here, from having his ideas being ridiculed by Duncan ( equipped with a little plastic gavel ), to his inability to make love to his wife, to being stuck with Dick as a table-tennis partner ( he also cannot play ), to Mary's hopelessness as umpire. Top marks to O'Sullivan for turning in yet another wonderful performance.
The game itself is a scream, and I would not be so crass as to spoil it for you by describing it in detail. Along with the level crossing sequence in 'Honeymoon Special', its the single funniest scene in any episode of 'In Charge'.
Funniest moment - elderly patient Mr.Wimberly is given a choice - either have an operation or wear a truss for the rest of his life. As the treatment is quick and painless, he opts for that. A moment later, he overhears Duncan in the ward coaching Paul on table-tennis, and wrongly assumes them to be discussing his operation. He rushes out, panicking: "I've changed my mind! I'll have the truss!".
Duncan, Dick, Paul, and the Binghams argue amongst themselves over what to put in the Common Room. Duncan and Paul favour a colour T.V. set ( something of a luxury item in those days ) while Lawrence prefers a table-tennis table. Mary sides with her husband, meaning that an impasse is reached. Dick refuses to vote as he does not want to fall out with anybody.
By way of compromise, Duncan and Paul challenge Bingham and Dick to a game of table-tennis ( with Mary as umpire ). Should Duncan and Paul win, they get their colour T.V. If they lose, they are stuck with the table. There's one snag - Paul confesses he does not know how to play...
Poor Bingham. He really gets plenty of grief here, from having his ideas being ridiculed by Duncan ( equipped with a little plastic gavel ), to his inability to make love to his wife, to being stuck with Dick as a table-tennis partner ( he also cannot play ), to Mary's hopelessness as umpire. Top marks to O'Sullivan for turning in yet another wonderful performance.
The game itself is a scream, and I would not be so crass as to spoil it for you by describing it in detail. Along with the level crossing sequence in 'Honeymoon Special', its the single funniest scene in any episode of 'In Charge'.
Funniest moment - elderly patient Mr.Wimberly is given a choice - either have an operation or wear a truss for the rest of his life. As the treatment is quick and painless, he opts for that. A moment later, he overhears Duncan in the ward coaching Paul on table-tennis, and wrongly assumes them to be discussing his operation. He rushes out, panicking: "I've changed my mind! I'll have the truss!".