- Date First Aired: 15/09/1992
Feeling bad about pulling the rose bush off their wall, Bill has agreed to look after her neighbor's pet dog, Rufus (or Farty as David calls him). However, her attempts are complicated when Ben falls ill. She asks Jenny to get aspirin for her, but she only comes back with pill versions of them, so Bill decides to use the aspirin for dogs. When Ben is seemingly made sicker, she goes for advice, but she is relieved to find out that humans can take aspirin meant for dogs without any side effects. However, Bill also soon finds that an ailing digestive system is causing Rufus' flatulence, and that, considering his age, it would be wiser to put him down. She complies, believing that it would spare the dog much pain, although this does mean her neighbors will return to a dead dog. On the bright side, at least Ben's better.
Tropes in this episode:
- Alliterative Title: The name of the episode is called "Bedtime for Bonzo".
- Ask a Stupid Question...: Bill to Jenny when she asks about why she needs to go buy aspirin.Bill: Jenny, I need you to go to the agents for some aspirin.Jenny: Why?Bill: I'm gonna make them into exciting jewelry. (Beat) Your father's got the flu.
- Badge Gag: Mr. Parrot's name tag reads "Mr. Poirot".Parrot: Oh yes, I'm afraid they make these at Head Office. Everyone in the shop thinks it's very amusing.
- Babysitting Episode: A pet-related variant - Bill has to watch over her neighbor's dog whilst they're away.
- Brief Accent Imitation:
- Bill puts on the accent of her female neighbor as she mocks them in front of Rona.
- Jenny puts on her mother's accent when complaining that she always lectures her.
- Cuckoo Clock Gag: Bill manages to get a whole wall of cuckoo clocks active, leading to Rufus the dog waking up and farting.
- Dog Got Sent to a Farm: Jenny initially tells David that Rufus is being sent to a farm, although he's really being put down.David: Dad, what's gonna happen to Farty?Jenny: Well, I expect he's going away to the country to be looked after. Right, Dad?Ben: Thanks Jen, but I think your brother's old enough now to be told the truth. The fact of the matter is, he's going to have to be put down.
- Dramatic Thunder: Whilst Ben is asleep, Bill wakes up to thunder and lightning, punctuating her stressful situation. Strangely, Rona claims not to have heard anything during that time even though she was up, leaving it ambiguous as to whether it actually happened or if it was all just a strange dream of Bill's. That said, it returns in the final scene, when she and Ben are discussing whether she should quit her job or not.
- Gasshole: At first Played for Laughs with Rufus, as his farting causes car alarms to go off and even causes a child's balloon to detach from their tricycle. It's eventually Played for Drama when it's revealed that it's a sign that he has a failing digestive system, leading to eventual kidney failure and necessitating him having to be put down.
- Inner Monologue: Ben gets one at the supermarket, mainly commenting on the shopping choices made by the woman in front of him.
- Mercy Kill: Rufus being put down, as to do otherwise would have meant that he would have likely spent the rest of his days in pain.
- No Biochemical Barriers: Ben manages to take aspirin aimed at dogs with no side effects, although Bill is initially worried that she had made things worse.
- Shoot the Dog: Bill is forced to put down Rufus as keeping him alive would do nothing but cause him pain.
- Shout-Out: Christine is listening to songs from Call Me Madam when Ben gets in the van. He personally finds it disgusting.
- Sick Episode: Ben falls sick with the flu, and Bill has to go get medicine for him. Hilarity ensues when she accidentally gives him the medicine meant for the dog.
- Vomit Discretion Shot: Ben vomits in the bathroom, although we only see Bill's reaction and the noise of his retching.
- "Yes"/"No" Answer Interpretation: Jenny wants to go out and asks Ben is she can go out. However, Ben is ill, and only replies with a groan. She takes it as a yes.
