- Date First Aired: 07/11/1993
There is an issue with Darryl's pension plan - an abnormally large contribution put in to it in 1988. Dorien suggests looking into the tax returns by Darryl's business when he was convicted of Bank Robbery, and the sisters find that the contribution was inherited as a bequest from a man named Henry Michael Stapleton. Darryl explains that a man wanted a conservatory built for cheaper and that Darryl could do it cheaper if it was in cash, as there would be less tax for it. The man was a tax inspector, but he let it slide and even suggested putting the resultant money into the pension scheme, as it would mean less tax. Sharon finds from Chris that not only did he make £5000 from the scheme but that he had invested it with a woman named Annalies Morovia, and that he didn't learn too much about the woman.
The search is thus on to find the missing money. They track her down and decide to disguise themselves as having come from the District Surveyor office to inspect the conservatory. After getting the exact door number, everyone claims in claiming to represent Stubbs Conservatories. However, this turns out to be pointless when it turns out that not only has Annalies moved, but that they could have just looked in the phonebook for her address. At Annalies' place, Sharon finds that Chris had ended up investing his money in places such as the BCCI, Polly Peck and Robert Maxwell's offshore holdings, meaning that all that Sharon gets is a bill for £210 in brokerage charges. Plus interest.
Tropes In This Episode:
- Bank Robbery: Dorien theorizes that the large sum of money may have come from a prior bank robbery, although this turns out to be not the case.
- Clipboard of Authority: Garth suggests that Tracey get him a clipboard to make his alibi of coming from the District Surveyor office look more convincing.
- Deadpan Snarker:
- Occurs when Tracey is worried about the large amount of money that went into her account in 1988:Sharon: Oh, yeah. (Beat) It must be 'eartbreakin', that. Knowing you're gonna be rich. You must be half-distracted with it.Tracey: What I mean, Miss Sark Attack 1993, is where did the money come from?
- Dorien has no time for Garth's ideas:Dorien: Well done Garth, a masterstroke, I am quite weak with admiration.
- Occurs when Tracey is worried about the large amount of money that went into her account in 1988:
- Fee Fi Faux Pas: Darryl makes a comment abut Chris never being able to get off with an attractive woman... in front of Sharon, Chris' wife.
- Halfway Plot Switch: What starts off as an investigation into Darryl's pension plan turns into a search for Chris' investment money.
- House Fire: As part of the "District Surveyors" lie, Garth has to claim that he lost the number to Annalies' house through losing it in a small office fire.
- Jerkass Has a Point: While Dorien does say it in an incredibly insulting way, most people in 1993 would be expecting a District Surveyor to be male.
- Lazy Husband: Sharon comments that she had to do the entire housework and laundry for Chris when he wasn't in jail.
- Nosy Neighbour: Dorien accuses Tracey and Sharon of seeing her as one, so they both (rightfully) tell her she is.
- One-Shot Character: Jancis and Annalies Morovia.
- Posthumous Character: Henry Michael Stapleton, who has died by the time the sisters have gotten word of Darryl's whole financial scheme.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Sharon spends the episode trying to find Chris' missing investment money. At the end, she finds that not only did he spend the money in the worst amount of way, but she has been left with a bill to pay.
- Shout-Out: The episode title comes from the 1976 film of the same name.
- Speak in Unison:
- After Dorien accuses Tracey and Sharon of only seeing her as a Nosy Neighbour, they both tell her she is at the same time.
- Sharon, Dorien and Garth all tell Tracey to shut up when she won't stop suggesting they peep around the back of the houses, which they apparently had already tried.
- Stating the Simple Solution: The girls try to track down Annalies using a ton of ruses, such as claiming to be from the District Surveyors office. At the end, they find that it probably would have been easier to look her through the phone book first.
- Surprise Inspection Ruse: The girls have tracked down Annalies Morovia, but need to put on a ruse. Garth thus pretends to have come from the District Surveyors office, out to inspect the conservatory. It works enough that they make it to the house where Annalies used to live.
- Take That!:
- Sharon exclaims that even Oliver Reed wouldn't call £5,000 a "bit of a drink", poking fun at his alcoholism.
- Dorien and Sharon have differing views on the British Political System:Dorien: No, local councils always have a terrible backlog. I mean, they're hopelessly incompetent, especially this one - it's Labour - bound to be a disaster.Sharon: You what?Dorien: I said Labour-Sharon: Excuse me. Excuse me, Labour? A disaster? Ha-he. Excuse me while I die laughing. Who were the clowns that gave this country the worst recession in 'istory, eh?Dorien: The recession is a worldwide phenomenon, Labour councils are famously useless. Paying people to stay home on the sick, running up huge debts, erecting day centres for disabled black lesbians!Sharon: Now, look-Tracey: Oh, shut it, you two. This ain't Question Time!
- Tracey gets some clothes from an OXFAM shop, much to Dorien's embarrassment:Dorien: Give me strength.
- Dorien complains about how much effort is going into the lie that Garth is from the District Surveyor office, comparing it to being on location with Steven Spielberg.
- Chris spends his investment money in the BCCI, Polly Peck and Robert Maxwell's offshore account, all of which are presented as poor financial decisions. Annalies remarks it's lucky that he didn't also put money down to be a name at Lloyd's.
