- Date First Aired: 20/02/1992
We begin the episode with Carole using some of Colin's herbs (specifically figwort, or Rotocularis Scollopearum, meant for heavily pregnant women) to make a sandwich for herself. However, she is caught in the act by Brittas, who is still not aware that she is pregnant, despite her very visibly showing by now. As Brittas is discussing these herbs, he finds out that there is a cow in the car park. As he tries to figure out the problem, Helen comes in with something that she needs to discuss, although Brittas is too busy to listen to her (something which she prepared for).
Brittas goes out into the car park and is able to get Colin to bring the cow outback. He also gets Carole to get the herbs outback. He also finally figures out that Carole is pregnant. As Gavin (who Carole was able to convince to do the deed instead) puts the herbs outback, he's led away by Tim having gotten photos for a couple's anniversary, leading to the cow eating the herbs...
Brittas interrogates Carole and finds that she not only hasn't seen a doctor about it but that she doesn't know who the father is. As such, Brittas decides to interview all of the men in the leisure centre, using a lie detector, hypnosis, and blood tests. He also wants to see the women, since they get an award for providing information.
Discussing what to do with Carole, Brittas finds that the cow has made it into the squash court and that not only can they get it out, but she's giving birth. Brittas proceeds to call the vet but finds out that the figwort which Colin provided induces labour in overdue women, which means that Carole has gone into labour as well.
As Brittas calls an ambulance, the vet he called comes in, looking for the cow. Brittas decides that that would be the best next option and has him deliver Carole's child. Meanwhile, Daisy the cow's owner overhears a gynaecologist who refers to himself as such and ropes him into delivering the cow.
Luckily, both births are successful. More than successful in Carole's case - she's had twins! Also, Helen's pregnant as well. With twins. As had happened in Brittas' family for several generations now. With this in mind, it's pretty clear at this point just who the father of Carole's new twins could be. However, Helen and Laura decide not to tell Brittas about this and leave it be.
Tropes featured in this episode:
- Artistic License – Biology: Figwort is not known to induce labour in heavily pregnant women. In fact, it is not recommended for use in pregnant women as it may lead to adverse effects. Additionally, the name used for it is also not a given name for any form of figwort.
- Artistic License – Religion: The quote which Brittas discovers is relevant to his situation in the Bible was made up for the purposes of this episode.
- As the Good Book Says...: Colin is revealed to have been inspired by the story of Balaam's Donkey to go into the leisure centre. Brittas, trying what he did, ends up with the quote "And Herat begat Ahaz who begat Jehu who begat Naaman.", which ends up being prophetic to his case (since he's about to become the father to four children).
- Awful Truth: Helen tells Laura that despite knowing that Brittas is the father of Carole's twins, she has chosen not to tell Brittas, justifying herself by claiming that if she were Carole, she would rather not know.
- Clean, Pretty Childbirth: Carole manages to give birth to twins in the sauna with no mess to be seen.
- Continuity Nod: Brittas mentions that Helen had gone through two husbands before meeting him. One of these husbands had been previously mentioned in "Underwater Wedding", which revealed that Helen had just been through a messy divorce when she had first met Brittas.
- Conveniently Interrupted Document: Colin's copy of the book which discusses figwort has the page describing its effects on women who are overdue for a pregnancy (basically, it's meant to induce birth in them) missing.
- Dramatic Irony: Brittas talks about the importance of having the baby's father be at Carole's side, not aware that he himself is the father (and also not actually with her).
- Foreshadowing: Carole is sent into labour by herbs which causes overdue mothers to give birth. However, she also states that she's 36 weeks along with her pregnancy, something which isn't overdue for a single birth, but is for the birth of twins...
- The Ghost: Mention is made by Tim of an apparent couple named Bill and Jack, but they never appear on-screen.
- Handsome Lech: The gynaecologist in this episode, who ropes Linda into helping him deliver a calf before smoothly asking her out to dinner. "You'll be safe...I'm a doctor..."
- Healing Herb: Colin's figwort, which ends up inducing labour in a cow and Carole.
- Hereditary Twinhood: This is the episode that reveals that twins run in Brittas' family, with the fact that Carole had given birth to twins being used as an indicator that Brittas really is their father.Laura: Babies?Helen: Oh yes, it might mention that as well. It's twins.Laura: Gosh!Helen: Yes, I knew it would be. They've always been in Gordon's family. Well, last four generations anyway. So much for natural selection, eh?
- I'm a Doctor, Not a Placeholder: How the gynaecologist got roped into delivering a calf, since his recounting to a friend that he is "a gynaecologist, not a blacksmith" is overheard by Daisy the cow's owner.
- Insane Troll Logic: Why does a cow pat outside the centre have to be removed immediately? Because what if some small child mistook it for a pudding and ate it?
- Internal Reveal:
- Brittas finally figures out that Carole's pregnant.
- Laura also finds out that Brittas is the father of Carole's twins.
- Lie Detector: Brittas intends to use a lie detector to see if one of his staff members is the father of Carole's new twins. Tim argues that it doesn't even work, referencing a Noodle Incident where Brittas used it to see who let down his tyres and came to the conclusion that everyone was lying (although Gavin does point out that everyone was lying then anyway).
- Maternity Crisis: Some of Colin's herbs cause Carole to spontaneously give birth in the centre. She ends up getting her twins delivered by a vet in the sauna.
- New Baby Episode: The episode features Carole and a pregnant cow ingesting herbs (meant to induce pregnancy in overdue mothers) and going into labour as a result. Hilarity ensues when a mix-up leads to Carole being tended to by the vet and the cow by a doctor. For bonus points, the episode ends with the reveal that Helen's pregnant with twins as well.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Brittas manages to get Carole's twins delivered by a vet.
- Not Now, Kiddo: Helen spends the episode trying to inform Brittas that she's pregnant but Brittas is too distracted to listen, since he's trying to deal with the pregnant cow and Carole. She's aware of this eventuality happening, and has brought a book to pass the time.
- One-Shot Character: Mr. Franklin, Buttercup the cow, Mr. Garrick, and Dr. Newcombe.
- Open Heart Dentistry: By the end of the episode, a vet is delivering a baby in the sauna and a doctor is delivering a calf in a squash court.
- Overly Prepared Gag: How Colin decided to go to the centre. Basically, he was wondering whether he should come work there. So he shut his eyes, opened the Bible, and ended up opening it at the story of Balaam's donkey. This thus convinced him to get on his ass over to the leisure centre.
- Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: Brittas when describing the words on many a tombstone:Mr. Brittas: I. Hadn't. Thought. Of. That.
- Road Apples: The pregnant cow takes a crap outside the centre.
- Season Finale: Of Series 2.
- Shout-Out: Helen spends the episode reading A Ruling Passion by Judith Michael whilst she waits for Brittas to have free time.
- The Exit Is That Way: After being told by Tim that Carole is having a swim in the pool, Brittas, Tim, and Laura head off in that direction, only to one second later go the other way.
- What If the Baby Is Like Me: Helen worries that her new pregnancy will produce twins that take after their annoying father.Helen: I just keep worrying that maybe it's genetic.Laura: What?Helen: You know, Gordon. I mean, what if the babies turn out like him?
