We'll put it down to vandals. Let's get out of here before we get our collars felt.
The painting-the-gravestone episode. First broadcast on 18 November 1982.
When Del arranges a job involving Rodney redecorating a Chinese restaurant, he unwisely decides to buy the paint from Trigger.
It's also nearing the anniversary of their mother's death, and in an attempt to save a bit of cash, Del swipes a bit of spare paint to spruce up her gravestone. It's only when they've finished painting and get a call from the irate owner of the Chinese restaurant that they realise the paint was actually luminous yellow. Which really makes the gravestone stand out on a dark night.
Tropes:
- Crooked Contractor: When business is slack, Del's always happy to turn his hand to some decorating.
- Every Man Has His Price:Rodney: You'd better get this straight - I am not painting that kitchen tomorrow, I'm not painting that kitchen in a thousand years! No way, my son!
Del: I'll give you a lend of me dirty books.
Rodney: Yeah, alright then. - Foreshadowing: Rodney describes his mother's tombstone as "Mustard"...
- Global Ignorance: Sometimes, Del and his mates own this trope.Del: I get it from a contact in... er...
Trigger: Stockholm.
Del: Yeah, Stockholm - Stockholm? Cos you see, the Norwegians, they lead the world in paint technology. - Insane Troll Logic: Del offers up a long, rambling explanation of how his (or more precisely, Trigger's) stealing paint will rescue the British economy in the longer run. Rodney is so dumbstruck by Del's arguments that he switches the subject of the conversation to how the watch Del gave him doesn't actually work.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Del says this word-for-word after realizing that he painted his mother's gravestone with luminous paint.
- Spotting the Thread: Grandad, of all people, is the one who gets Trigger to reveal that the paint is luminous, by wondering aloud what use a painted sign would be in a railway tunnel (Trigger having stated that this was what the paint was originally intended for) as the interiors of tunnels are usually pitch-black.
- Weird Aside: Del uses one of these to tell Rodders about his latest job...Del: I like it here though, don't you Rodney? Nice and quiet, away from the crowds and the noise and the traffic. It really is. It's so quiet...
Rodney: Yeah.
Del: Tranquil.
Rodney: Mmm.
Del: You're decorating the kitchen of a Chinese take-away tomorrow.
Rodney: Yeah.
Del: The sun is shining, the birds are singing...
