History Recap / OnlyFoolsAndHorsesS5E03TheLongestNight

-->'''Lennox''': They seek him here, they seek him there, those policemen seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in hell, that dammed elusive ... sha-a-a-dow.

* OddballInTheSeries: This is the only episode to feature the Trotters with none of the other recurring cast or usual locations, guest stars never seen before or since, at a place only used on this single occasion.

* OddballInTheSeries: The only episode to feature the Trotters with none of the other recurring cast or usual locations, guest stars never seen before or since, at a place only used on this single occasion.

* UmpteenthCustomer: The Trotters are shopping when they're asked to go to the manager's office. They see a sign saying the millionth customer will get a thousand pounds, and assume that's them. Instead, they're accused of shoplifting. And then held hostage along with the manager and store detective by an armed robber. It eventually transpires that this was all a plot by the manager and detective to take the money, with Del, Rodney and Albert as independent witnesses, but went wrong because the robber's watch was slow, so he missed the safe's time lock. After everything's been resolved with no harm done as long as the Trotters don't spill the beans, Del suggests to the manager that maybe they ''will'' turn out to be the millionth customers after all...

-->'''Lennox''': They seek him here, they seek him there, those policemen seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in hell, that dammed elusive ... sh-a-a-dow.

Throughout the night, the Trotters try to keep themselves from boredom. The robber brags that the police have nicknamed him "The Shadow" because he is a fast and quiet mover in a manner very similar to that of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

-->'''Lennox''': They seek him here, they seek him there, those policemen seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in hell, that dammed elusive ... sh-a-dow.

* OneEpisodeWonder: Lennox is only featured in this episode, yet he's quite possibly '''the''' funniest one-off character in the series, with his complete incompetence and constant screw-ups even in his grammar, it's honestly baffling why he was never bought back for another episode.

While shopping at their local supermarket, Del, Rodney, and Albert are summoned by security guard Mr. Clark to the manager Mr. Peterson's office. They initially assume they have won an advertised £1,000 cash prize for being the store's millionth customer, but instead are accused of shoplifting. At the same time, a 20-year-old man enters the supermarket and shoplifts several items. Mr. Clark catches him in the act and takes him up to the manager's office.

* MoneyDearBoy: The reason for the robbery; Clark states outright that he was in on it "purely for the money", as his pension is going to leave him with "less than [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Goodhew Duncan Goodhew]]'s barber" to live on.

* BriarPatching: Lennox blatantly steals from the supermarket and tries to walk out. When the security guard stops him to take him to the management office he tells him he's innocent and pleads not to be taken there. It turned out that he wanted to be taken there to commit a robbery. Subverted, though, as this was unnecessary given that the security guard was in on it.
* GenreBlind: Lennox has absolutely no clue whatsoever how to be an armed robber. Also, Rodney takes his cigarettes when he could have had the gun, which would have saved the situation (sure, it's a toy gun, but he didn't know that at the time).

* MoneyDearBoy: In-universe -- Clark states outright that he was in on the robbery "purely for the money", as his pension is going to leave him with "less than [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Goodhew Duncan Goodhew]]'s barber" to live on.

-->'''Lennox''': They seek him here, they seek him there, those policemen seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven or is he in hell, that dammed elusive ... sh-a-a-a-a-dow.

The robbery episode. First broadcast 14 September 1986

During their weekly shopping trip at their local supermarket, Del, Rodney, and Albert are summoned by security guard Mr. Clark to the manager Mr. Peterson's office. They initially assume they have won an advertised £1,000 cash prize for being the store's millionth customer, but instead are accused of shoplifting. At the same time, a 20-year-old man enters the supermarket and shoplifts several items. Mr. Clark catches him in the act and takes him up to the manager's office.

Throughout the night, the Trotters try to keep themselves from boredom, such as Albert doing exercise. The robber brags that the police have nicknamed him "The Shadow" because he is a fast and quiet mover in a manner very similar to that of the Scarlet Pimpernel.

The next morning, with only half an hour to go until the safe's time lock reopens, Del, Albert, Peterson and Clark awake to find Rodney tip-toeing over to reach and grab the sleeping Shadow's gun -- although instead of the gun, Rodney grabs his cigarettes. The Shadow wakes up, recognises Del and introduces himself as Lennox Gilbey. Lennox isn't really a wanted criminal, it's just that he's been driven to desperation by unemployment. When Del tries to persuade him to give the robbery up, Lennox admits that Peterson and Clark are in on it as well -- Peterson has a spendaholic wife, and Clark's pension from his impending retirement is too small to live on. In order to solve their respective problems, the three planned to break into the safe (which contained approximately £60,000) and share the money. However, they needed some independent witnesses, so they brought the Trotters into the office after falsely accusing them of shoplifting.

* GenreBlind: Lennox has absolutely no clue whatsoever how to be an armed robber. Also, Rodney takes his cigarettes when he could have had the gun, which would have saved the situation (sure, it's a toy gun, but he didn't know that).

* MoneyDearBoy: In-universe -- Clark states outright that he was in on the robbery "purely for the money", as his pension is going to leave him with "less than [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_Goodhew Duncan Goodhew]]'s barber".

* UmpteenthCustomer: The Trotters are shopping when they're asked to go to the manager's office. They see a sign saying the millionth customer will get a thousand pounds, and assume that's them. Instead, they're accused of shoplifting. And then held hostage along with the manager and store detective by an armed robber. It eventually transpires that this was all a plot by the manager and detective to take the money, with Del, Rodney and Albert as independent witnesses, but went wrong because the robber's watch (bought from Del) was slow, so he missed the safe's time lock. After everything's been resolved with no harm done as long as the Trotters don't spill the beans, Del suggests to the manager that maybe they ''will'' turn out to be the millionth customers after all...

Throughout the night, the Trotters try to keep themselves from boredom, such as Albert doing exercise. The thief brags to the Trotters that the police have nicknamed him "The Shadow" because he is a fast and quiet mover in a manner very similar to that of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

The next morning, with only half an hour to go until the safe's time lock reopens, Del, Albert, Mr. Peterson and Mr. Clark awake to find Rodney tip-toeing over to reach and grab the sleeping Shadow's gun -- although instead of the gun, Rodney grabs his cigarettes. The Shadow wakes up, recognises Del and introduces himself as Lennox Gilbey. Lennox isn't really a wanted criminal, it's just that he's been driven to desperation by unemployment. When Del tries to persuade him to give the robbery up, Lennox admits that Peterson and Clark are in on it as well -- Peterson has a spendaholic wife, and Clark's pension from his impending retirement is too small to live on. In order to solve their respective problems, the three planned to break into the safe (which contained approximately £60,000) and share the money. However, they needed some independent witnesses, so they brought the Trotters into the office after falsely accusing them of shoplifting.

Instead of going to the police, Del strikes a deal with them. Peterson will hire Lennox as a trainee security guard with a view to him becoming the main guard when Clark retires, and when the Trotters return to the supermarket later that day (as most of the food from their original trip has gone stale), they will be named the supermarket's millionth customers and awarded the £1,000 prize. Peterson agrees with the proposal, and Del shakes hands with him to seal the deal.

* GenreBlind: Lennox has absolutely no clue whatsoever how to be an armed robber. Also, Rodney takes his cigarettes when he could have had the gun, which would have saved the situation.