Written by: Tony Hoare
Duration: 60 minutes
It's Bonfire Night and children on two different estates are preparing bonfires. At role call, Tate reminds that Watch what night it is, stating that for one day in the year, half of the population turn into raving pyromaniacs!
The Pump Ladder crew are called to a shout where a parrot called Clive had flown up to a roof and refuses to come down, while it continues to squark 'BUGGER OFF!'. Sicknote is given the task to try to coax the bird down and ends up talking to the animal as if it is a jumper!
George continues to mope around about Julia and Charisma had had it with Sicknote staying at his house and he approaches Tate about it, telling him that Sicknote has peculiar ways!
The Pump crew are called to a shout where a bonfire has been set alight. The kids suspect it is a rival gang from another estate and plan to get revenge.
The Watch discuss the Gunpower Plot in the mess and as Malcolm goes into the history, Charisma keeps on butting in behind him, pretending he knows it all! Sicknote then comes up with the idea that it would make a great scenario for a musical!
The Watch watch Hallam's TV interview, regarding the parrot and is given stick about it all day!
Hallam reveals to Tate that he is planning to plead guilty at his Disciplinary Hearing. He feels that he doesn't have a choice and that he was technically negligent.
The kids on the rival estate all go in for dinner and a young boy - Micky, is left to guard the bonfire. Micky later feels tired and gets inside the bonfire and falls asleep.
George calls Julia at the library, but she doesn't want to speak to him. George jumps to the conclusion that she is still seeing Malcolm.
Sicknote moans in the yard about Charisma using his toothbrush and telling him that he used it, after Sicknote had used it. Sicknote continues to go on about how Charisma has contaminated his mouth!
After finishing the call with Julia, George goes mad at Malcolm in the poll room, accusing him of seeing Julia. Malcolm tries to protest his innocence, but George is having none of it and he goes for Malcolm. The Watch quickly run in and restrain George as Hallam and Tate run down the stairs.
The rival gang set the bonfire alight, unaware that Micky is asleep inside. One of the other kids alerts Danny that the bonfire is alight and he suggests that there is nothing they can do now, so they might as well go and get the fireworks. The boy's assume that Micky has gone home for his dinner, as an old man complains about the fire being too close to the flats, so he phone the Brigade.
Tate has a go at George and Malcolm in his office. Being the Leading Hand, Malcolm takes full responsibility and reveals that he was being provocative. Tate asks if he was wearing a frock and chatting George up! Tate then tells them that their private matter is not private at work and the only matter that is private at work are toilet requirements! As Tate threatens to put them on a charge, the bells go down...
Micky's mum approaches Danny's mum, asking if she's seen Micky. She then approachs the boys, to be told that they though Micky had gone in for his dinner.
The Watch arrive and Tate sends to crew to look for any signs of fire in the flats. The rival gang then start to cause havoc by cutting hoses and throwing bricks. Vaseline and Tony catch one of the lads and the police are called.
As Bayleaf and Josie work on the flames of the bonfire, they smell a body and the Watch quickly dismantle the fire as Micky's mum approaches Tate, asking him if he's seen a small boy. Tate instantly knows who the boy is.
A fireworks explodes in Clare's son, Peter's face, as he approached a firework, which didn't take off. He is immediately taken to a hospital and Clare is frantic as Peter waits ages to be seen by a doctor.
Tony reveals to Josie that he doesn't like the idea of Dee working . Josie reminds him that Dee is only doing it so the two of them can afford a place of their own. Tony also thinks that Dee is playing around, but Josie tries to put the thought out of his head.
Bayleaf finds Vaseline rummaging around in the food cupboard in the mess. They talk about Vaseline being weird, living with his wife and ex-ex-wife! Vaseline doesn't like the fact that the Marion's are very friendly.
Clare phone's the station and tells Bayleaf about Peter. She is frantic and wants Bayleaf to be at the hospital with her. Bayleaf/ goes to see Tate, who reluctantly lets him go off duty, because rules only apply to family members.
Two families plan a firework display in Desmond's garden. Derek continues to boast about the size of his garden and nails a plank of wood to a tree, which he plans to put a catherine wheel on. Desmond is not happy, knowing that the tree could be set alight. Later, Derek goes to light Desmond's fireworks, which he has saved for the end and during an argument, Derek causes the firework to fall over and it shoots into the house, blowing up the kitchen!
The Watch attend the shout, but it takes a while to get the appliances down to the house, because the street is blocked with cars. The Watch bump the cars out of the way, in order to access the house and the appliance scratches Derek's car in the process!
Bayleaf asks Josie about the previous shout...
Vaseline is moaning to Bayleaf about Marion 1 and Marion 3:
Charisma - Gerard Horan
Julia - Ingrid Lacey
Director: Gerry Poulson
Producer: Paul Knight
Executive Producer: Linda Agran and Nick Elliot
Airdate: 3RD December 1989
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Memorable Quotes:
Bayleaf: "How did it go?"
Josie: "How did what go?"
Bayleaf: "The shout."
Josie: "Oh, we helped rescue some bird."
Bayleaf: "Oh, let me guess, broken love affair, right?"
Josie: "What?"
Bayleaf: "Well, nine times out of ten that's what it is, with birds."
Josie: "What are you talking about?!"
Bayleaf: "Women jumpers."
Josie: "This wasn't a woman, it was a bird, called Clive!"
Bayleaf: "What? You mean like a transvestite?!"
Josie: "No, I mean like a parrot!"
Bayleaf: "Can we start this conversation again?!"
Vaseline: "Marion three thinks I'm giving Marion one, one too!"
Starring:
Sicknote - Richard Walsh
Hallam - Sean Blowers
Tate - James Marcus
Kevin - Ross Boatman
Bayleaf - James Hazeldine
Josie - Katharine Rogers
Tony - Treva Etienne
Vaseline - Mark Arden
Malcolm - Rupert Baker
George - Glen Murphy
Clare - Valerie Holliman
Frances - G.B (Zoot) Money
Woman at 1ST Bonfire - Elaine Grant
Caretaker - Roy Heather
TV Reporter - Gabrielle Glaister
Woman at flats - Lyn Langridge
Mrs Trueman - Jane Lee
Nurse - Angela Sims
Derek - Simon Slater
Desmond Farson - John Strickland
Joanne Farson - Sarah Whitlock
Elderly Man - William Lawford
Steven - Ben Robb
Peter - Rory McNicholl
Danny - Danny-Joe MacDonald
Danny's Mum - Ruth Sheen
Micky - P.J. Nicholas
Colin - Tony Sands
Peter - Mark Irving
Gang Member - Brenda Dixon
1ST Youth - Jack McNicholl
2ND Youth - Peter Ferdinando
3RD Youth - Paul Alfred
4TH Youth - Shaun Vitalis
5TH Youth - Ben Griffith
6TH Youth - John Johnson