And what have we got in this country to combat the might of the Soviet Union? Three Jump Jets and a strongly-worded letter to the Russian ambassador!
The nuclear shelter episode. First broadcast 13 October 1981
A successful dodgy deal means Del has over a grand's worth of lead from a disused factory to get rid of. When Rodney points out the lead is in fact a do-it-yourself nuclear fall-out shelter, Del refuses to believe him until he reads the accompanying brochure. With the threat of nuclear holocaust preying on Rodney's nerves, he asks Del what he'd do if he heard the four minute warning. Del considers putting a survival plan into action that involves trying to reach Grandad's allotment in time to take shelter.
Tropes:
- Actor Allusion: When David Jason was 14, he appeared in juvenile court for stealing lead. Here, Del Boy steals three tons of lead for use as a fallout shelter.
- Artistic License – Law: Del says he could become King of England, and thus head of state, by marrying a minor member of the Royal Family if a nuclear holocaust left her as heir to the throne. In fact, it is her who would be the head of state, and being her husband would not give Del the title of King - he would have only a lesser title at his wife's discretion, probably Prince and/or Duke. note
- Dirty Cop: A mild case with PC Eric, who pulls Del over for speeding, then after giving him a quick chewing-out, asks whether he knows of any illicit swimwear that any of his fellow traders might be selling. Del assumes he's on the trail of some stolen goods, but Eric replies that he and his wife are going to Corfu the following month, and that it's too expensive to buy it on the high street.
- Fallout Shelter Fail: Del and Rodney completely miss the point and assemble the shelter on the roof of their apartment building. In fairness, though, their original plan had been to build it on Grandad's allotment, which would have been a more suitable location, until they realised they wouldn't be able to reach it in time.
- Foreshadowing: Grandad's allotment is mentioned but not seen. We don't get to see it until "Mother Nature's Son", eleven years later.
- Gallows Humour: Most of the episode highlights just how unprepared the average person in 1981 was to cope with the possibility of nuclear war and life afterwards, particularly with only a "four minute warning" to seek shelter.Del: Here, how are we doing for time?Rodney checks his watch.Rodney: We died 45 seconds go.
- War Is Hell: Granddad gets serious as he gives a heartfelt speech to Del Boy after the latter seems to not take the threat of war seriously.Grandad: I remember when I was a little nipper, and I saw all the soldiers marching off to battle. Ohh, yes! It was a glorious sight, alright.Del: Yeah, I bet all them spears and chariots must've stirred the blood, mustn't they?Grandad: My brother George was at Passchendaele
. Half a million allied troops died there, all for five miles of mud! I was at Kings Cross Station when his regiment come home after the Armistice. Most of them was carried off the train. I saw men with limbs missing, blind men, men who couldn't breathe properly because their lungs had been shot to bits by mustard gas. While the nation celebrated, they was hidden away in big, grey buildings — far from the public gaze! [chokes back tears] I mean, courage like that could put you right off your victory tea, couldn't it? [Beat] They promised us homes fit for heroes. They gave us heroes fit for homes!
