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| Page One Its five days before the first edition of the student-run Junior Gazette is supposed to be on the shelves. Having set up a spin-off junior newspaper from his own recently accquired paper, Matt Kerr enlists the help of the teachers of the nearby school Norbridge High to help make the Gazette a success. However he and some of the volunteers on the paper, including the no-nonsense editor Lynda Day, are slightly dubious about some of the teachers intentions when they appear to be offloading all their troublesome kids onto the newspaper. Included in this group of �knuckle draggers� is the quick-witted and troublesome American Spike Thomson, who is sent to work on the Junior Gazette as punishment for an incident at a recent school dance. Despite being determined not to do any work, Spike soon finds his interest in the paper roused when he immediately becomes infatuated with Lynda. Joining forces with photographer Danny, Spike sets out to find the Gazette their first big lead story by investigating rumours about the potential selling of the local disco. However Lynda is resolute that they won�t run with any story found by Spike and instead pursues her own feature, trying to steal a potentially major story out from underneath the Senior Gazette. A furious Spike is all set to leave the paper behind until he runs into Matt Kerr who has a few home truths for him. Meanwhile, Lynda is left disappointed when the source behind her 'major' story about the distribution of lethal toys turns out to be a nutcase, and is instead forced to run with the disco converting-to-supermarket story - an action that means apologising to Spike as the pair realising that they are both stuck with one another. Notes: End Soundbite: Spike and Lynda arguing/flirting. Quotes: Frazz: "How do you spell Bubonic plague?" Lynda: "What story's that?" Frazz: "It�s for the horoscopes." Kenny: "We were kinda expecting you yesterday." Spike: "Yeah well something more interesting came up." Kenny: "More interesting?� Spike: "Yeah, I had some Paint drying at my house � didn�t want to miss it." Lynda: [to Kenny] "Could you do something about the sign outside? I don't think 'Trespassers Will Be Exterminated' is quite the image we're trying to project here." Sarah: "Spike do you think television has influenced your behaviour in any way?" Spike: "Yeah, these days I never swear until after nine o�clock." Spike: "I have to watch all the American TV cop shows to keep up on my accent. Which is great until halfway through a conversation with somebody when I usually wind up frisking them." Lynda: [to Spike] "Are you completely out of you head?" Spike: "Only at weekends - but I leave the lights on." Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Matt Kerr � Clive Wood Mr. Sullivan � Nick Stringer Chrissie Stuart � Angela Bruce Mr. Vader � Roger Sloman Jack Slade � Jim Dunk Godfrey Hunter � Simon Embleton Director: Colin Nutley Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 16 January 1989 |
| Photo Finish Lynda is still trying to get the first edition of the newspaper ready for its deadline but finds interruption in the form of Colin who infuriates her by putting a new phone into the Junior Gazette via the Senior Gazette switchboard so that they don�t have to pay for it. She also has to contend with a persistent Spike asking her out, who she leaves discouraged when she informs him that she is now going out with college student James Armstrong. Her attempts to get him off her back by giving him remedial tasks to do, causes Spike to recruit Frazz to help him get the real scope on the potential conversion of the local disco into a supermarket and prove to Lynda once and for all that he's not as stupid as she thinks. After discovering that the council originally put the dampeners on the development of a new supermarket, Spike manages to land an elusive interview with one of the council women involved who also denies that a new supermarket is to be established. Despite the denial, Lynda prints an article that implies that the supermarket is still due to go head, causing lots of complaints and headaches for Matt Kerr, as well as putting the survival of the Junior Gazette on the line. However the story (armed with a picture of the potential 'buyers' of the disco) leads the police to uncover the true conspiracy behind the photo when it is revealed that the 'buyers' were in fact arsonists, hired to burn down the disco so that the owner could the insurance money. With the perpetrators being arrested, the Junior Gazette finds itself in favour with the police and back on track, ready to begin its second edition. Notes: Continuity: End Soundbite: Kenny, Spike and Lynda talking about Kenny and dating. Quotes: Lynda: "Kenny - I want your opinion on something." Kenny: "Yes." Lynda: "What do you mean, yes?" Kenny: "That's usually the opinion you want.� Lynda: "I'm thinking of habits I'm wanting to kick." Spike: "So I'm a habit already?" Lynda: "You're something I'm wanting to kick." Sarah: "Lynda, do we have to use the water based tipex? It takes so long to dry." Lynda: "Its better for you - you�ll live longer." Sarah: "Yeah, well I�ll need too." Spike: "Am I not the coolest? I mean you could just run a fridge off of my personality." Spike: �Are you trying to embarrass me?� Lynda: �Trying? Spike, if your face gets any redder traffic will stop at you.� Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thompson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Matt Kerr � Clive Wood Chrissie Stuart � Angela Bruce Czar � Peter Childs Andy � Andy Cochrane Terry � Gary Bridges Amanda Swanson � Sandra Voe Supermarket Manager � Mike Hayward Director: Colin Nutley Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 23 January 1989 |
| One Easy Lesson Simon Knowles, the new English teacher at Norbridge High, is finding it hard to control his unruly classes prompting him to be the subject of the kids mockery � much to Sarah�s annoyance. Sarah�s tetchiness around the subject of the new teacher causes Lynda to carry out a bit of investigation, which leads her to discover that Sarah is actually Simon�s cousin. Determined to help Simon keep his job, Sarah gets Lynda to agree to print a profile on the teacher in order to get the students to better understand him. However the article only serves to further aggravate the situation when Lynda discovers that the Head Master is scheduling a surprise visit to Simon�s class in order to determine his competence. Telling Simon about the impending visit, the gang are soon joining forces in order to discover the timing of the visit so as to ensure that the class is well behaved. However their threats to the students prove futile when it turns out they got the wrong class the Head Master was visiting. Rushing over to warn an unaware Simon, they are more than surprised to find Simon actually controlling the class by himself. Discovering that the class was behaving because of him, and not the others� threats, Simon finally receives the confidence he needed to be a great teacher. Meanwhile Lynda hires youngster Toni �Tiddler� Tildesley when she turns up with the suggestion to include a junior section for under 12�s in the paper, and after spending Junior Gazette money on 100,000 defective half ping-pong balls, Colin sets about trying to sell the balls off as new innovations entitled �Ping!� in order to get the money back and avoid Lynda�s wrath. Notes: Continuity: Colin's Scam: Ping! End Soundbite: Lynda and Mr. Sullivan talking about his article for the paper. Quotes: Julie: "This could give the paper a bit of class." Lynda: "An acne advice column?" Julie: "With all the best creams and stuff. I was gonna call it The Face Space." Kenny: "How about the Zit Bit?" Lynda: "Shut it, Kenny!" Kenny: "Or Blackheads Revisited?" Lynda: "Kenny!" Julie: "Or Pus Fuzz." Lynda: "Oh, spot off!" Matt: [to Lynda] "You're editor. The only ideas you don't get the credit for are the good ones." Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thompson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler - Joanna Dukes Simon Knowles � Adrian Edmondson Matt Kerr � Clive Wood Mr. Sullivan � Nick Stringer Miss. Hessope � Miranda Forbes Mr. Winters � David Collings New Recruit � Michelle Akers Graham � Ian Congdon Roy � Daniel Kipling Boy in Class � Simon Davison Girl � Jenny Simpson Boy � Kemlesh Gupta Director: Bob Spiers Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 30 January 1989 |
| Deadline The printers are going on strike, leaving the Junior Gazette in a fix. If they want to ensure that they have an edition next week, the team will have to have next week�s paper ready to be printed off by that night � which means reporting on next week�s news before it�s even happened. The paper is also facing financial problems and can only afford to do the next edition by including an advertisement of a photo of the opening of a local DIY shop � an opening that isn�t scheduled to happen until the following day. As Colin and Danny set about trying to secure a �fake� picture of the opening with celebrity Tommy Anderson, Spike is trying to get hold of a much-needed Sarah who is away on a date at a party with Gary Morris. Meanwhile Kenny and Lynda try to get an interview with Mr. Sullivan about his sewage problems at home (resorting to following him on a night out to a restaurant with a date) and Frazz and Tiddler set about trying to predict the school�s football match with the aid of tiddlywinks. But following tears and tantrums, including Sarah discovering that Gary Morris is a bit of a woman-user and Lynda blackmailing Mr. Sullivan into giving her an interview, the gang are successfully able to assemble next week�s paper. Continuity: End Soundbite: Sarah setting Gary Morris up. Quotes: Kenny: "Do you really want to hear about a mad old lady who keeps 32 cats?" Lynda: "That's not so mad." Kenny: "Oh yeah? She says she's saving them up for a coat." Lynda: "Sick." Kenny: "She's got names for them too - Sleeve, Pocket, Collar..." Colin: "It was phoning that was the mistake. It's when people see me [that] they melt." Danny: "Yeah, they start to run." Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler - Joanna Dukes Tommy Anderson - Jim Sweeney Matt Kerr � Clive Wood Mr. Sullivan � Nick Stringer Gary Morris � Tristan Maguire Colin's Aunt � Helen A McCarthy Mr. Sullivan's Date � Alison Sterling Director: Bob Spiers Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 6 February 1989 |
| A Night In It�s Saturday night and Lynda has placed Spike, Kenny and (inadvertently) Tiddler on late duty � an action that puts Spike and Lynda even more at odds than usual as she threatens to him report him to Mr. Sullivan if he doesn�t turn up. After discovering that Lynda was dumped by her boyfriend, Spike decides to attend the late shift which turns out to be surprising for Lynda when she learns a few facts about Spike, including the fact that his mother left when he was young and that as a consequence he can cook. Refusing to talk about her break-up with her boyfriend, Lynda and Spike continue to bicker until Lynda eventually admits that she is upset about what happened. Meanwhile the night also has entertainment in the form of Colin who, following his little sister�s birthday party, is left stuck dressed as a giant pink rabbit � right before he is due to have a important career meeting with a big entrepreneur. Convinced he can talk himself out of it, a very pink Colin still goes off to attend the meeting but the night�s events turn even more sour when he ends up managing to alienate all of the rich and powerful after crashing a gathering to pay respect to his mentor who died the previous week. Notes: Continuity: End Soundbite: Julie and Sarah talking about Colin and his rabbit outfit. Quotes: Kenny: "I've just remembered - I'm visiting my aunt in Sherrington. She's ill again and its very serious." Lynda: "Kenny, two weeks ago you were at your aunt in Sherrington's funeral. I sort of assumed she was dead at the time." Spike: "You know if you did have a squint it might actually improve your appearance." Lynda: "If I had a squint it would certainly improve yours." Spike: "Oh, were you being funny there? I mean I�ve heard rumours about you doing this." Lynda: "I�ve got a sense of humour, same as everyone." Spike: "Yeah you told me once, but I thought you were joking." Lynda: "Probably because I always laugh when I�m looking at you!" Spike: "Huh! You, laugh! We�d have to use electrodes." Lynda: "Yeah on you!" Colin: "Let me just give you a tip. Never try thumbing a lift dressed as a giant pink rabbit - I almost caused a major traffic disaster on the Sherrington road." Lynda: "I have no reason whatsoever to wish to kick hell out of that pillow while pretending that it's my boyfriend. Even if it does look a bit like him [and] has about as much backbone..." Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler - Joanna Dukes Director: Lorne Magory Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 6 February 1989 |
| Interface After Colin receives an advert for a writing competition in which first prize is a computer and printer, the Gazette put an entry from Sarah forward. However it is an inadvertent entry from Colin that is the winner of the Roxburgh Award, landing the paper with the much needed computer. When they start receiving anonymous articles through the computer modem, questions are soon arising about its true source, especially when the company behind the competition fails to fully promote the award. The mystery identity of the writer is soon becoming top news, with many people coming forward to claim the title. Suspecting that the writer wants to be found, Lynda enlists Spike�s help in trying to find clues about the mystery writer�s identity from the �fake� advertisement for the competition in the newspaper article sent to them. Accumulating the clues, Lynda is able to establish the mystery man's address and discovers that the writer is Billy Homer � a tetraplegic teenage boy who since his accident has refused to leave the house and reintegrate back into social life. With the help of both his father and Spike, Billy was able to use the computers to submit his work, but despite being impressed with his writing, Lynda refuses to let Billy contribute to the paper unless he turns up to the newsroom like everyone else � an ultimatum that pays off when Billy turns up at the next meeting as the Junior Gazette�s newest member. Notes: End Soundbite: Kenny mocking Lynda about going to Spike's house. Quotes: Spike: "So why talk to me?" Lynda: "I like to know I'm the smartest one in the conversation." Billy: "From the neck up I'm a crazy running, jumping kid. I just can't get the rest of me to agree." Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler - Joanna Dukes Billy Homer - Andy Crowe Douglas Homer - Duncan Preston Matt Kerr � Clive Wood Chrissie Stuart - Angela Bruce Miss Hessope - Miranda Forbes Punk - Jon Raymond Old Lady - Margot Boht Large Boy - Jonathon Chater Director: Bob Spiers Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 20 February 1989 |
| How To Make A Killing - Part One After it comes to his attention that once a month, a girl draws the chalk outline of a body at the bottom of Highpoint flats, Kenny suggests that it be the Gazette�s next story. Some investigatory work reveals that the body of a boy was found at the very same place two years previously (the exact time frame that the drawings started to occur) but provoked very little coverage by the media, especially once the death was deemed an accident. Determined to discover the reason behind the girl�s motives, Kenny soon begins to realise that the boy�s death was far from an accident when a trip to the flats proves he couldn�t have just fallen to his death and a clue left by the girl indicatives that a nearby shop was somehow involved. After identifying the girl as Jenny Eliot, Kenny orchestrates a meeting with her in order to get some more information � but instead ends up falling for Jenny and arranges to meet her later for a date. As Kenny begins to feel uncomfortable about his conflict of interests, the gang discover that not only was the boy who died actually Jenny�s brother, but that a witness to him falling from the building remembered that the lift had smelt of cleaning fluid � clues that lead Kenny to run out on the paper when he finally realises what happened. Notes: End Soundbite: Spike and Frazz talking about Kenny and Jenny. Quotes: Billy: "I was really brave about total paralysis - for the first eight seconds. I was even thinking of a brave little joke while the doctor was giving me my chat. 'Doctor' I was about to say 'not another word on paralysis. I'm up to here with paralysis' then I'd point to my neck. Except of course I couldn't." Spike: "You don't happen to be jealous of a girl I've never even met, do you?" Lynda: "Of course I'm jealous, Spike. I wish I was the girl you've never even met." Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler � Joanna Dukes Jenny Eliot � Sadie Frost Billy Homer � Andy Crowe Chrissie Stuart � Angela Bruce Waitress-Maria � Maria McErlane Director: Lorne Magory Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 27 February 1989 |
| How To Make A Killing - Part Two Having sussed out that Jenny�s brother was high on solvents - prompting him to try and �fly� off of the Highpoint flats - Kenny confronts Jenny with the news that he�s from the Junior Gazette and interested in her story. Annoyed about his deception, she is further frustrated with him for failing to notice the true intentions behind her actions. After talking it over with Billy, Kenny finally understands what Jenny was trying to do when he realises the chalk outline pointed to the shop that illegally sold him the solvent that caused him to jump off the building. Meanwhile as Colin hides out from angry buyers following a failed pram scam, Lynda is left searching for a temporary assistant editor following Kenny running out on the paper - a fruitless search that results in her appointing Spike. When Kenny finally does return, he informs Lynda about the truth behind the Eliots' story and the whole press room unite in order to target the local shopkeepers and their selling of solvents to underage teenagers. Having exposed the problem and reuniting Kenny and Jenny, the story also serves to simultaneously give the Junior Gazette its biggest story to date. Continuity: Colin's Scam: Prams. End Soundbite: Frazz and Colin talking about the results of Colin�s latest scam. Quotes: Spike: "I'm temporary acting assistant editor - is that a come on or not?" Lynda: "Spike, you weren't exactly my first choice. I asked everyone I liked first." Spike: "That's encouraging. Out of everyone you don't like at least I'm your favourite." Lynda: "Spike, do you know what will happen if you keep cracking jokes?" Spike: "What?" Lynda: "You'll say something funny." Lynda: [thowing the files on Spike's desk] �All wrongly filed." Spike: �Huh?� Lynda: �Most people Spike, know how to spell the alphabet." Spike: �Don't tell me it's got two L's?� Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler � Joanna Dukes Jenny Eliot � Sadie Frost Billy Homer � Andy Crowe Peter (shopkeeper) � Frank Ellis Director: Lorne Magory Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 6 March 1989 |
| Both Sides Of The Paper It�s exam time and the Head Master of Norbridge High is concerned that the members of the Junior Gazette won�t have enough time to be able to study and carry out their work on the newspaper, causing him to ask Lynda to shut the paper down for the next month. Refusing to put the Gazette on hold, Lynda organises a rota to ensure that none of the staff feel stressed but fails to notice that Sarah is already having an exam-related breakdown - that is until Sarah walks out. As Colin tries to cash in on the exam fever around school by selling an exam kit, the school�s Head Master Mr. Winters sends out letters to all the parents of the students working on the Gazette, suggesting they stop their children from working on the paper during the exam period. Meanwhile a local radio DJ sets up camp at the Junior Gazette to commentate on their recent troubles, and offers Lynda a position as his editor on the segment of his new show. Faced with the choice of performing her exams or a position on Sherrington radio, Lynda seriously contemplates the latter, especially when half of the Junior Gazette staff drops out. But Lynda soon discovers a way to merge both exams and the paper when she incorporates Colin�s exam kit idea into the Gazette, printing out exam special editions of the paper that allows the newspaper team to study and ensure the survival of the Junior Gazette. Continuity: Colin's Scam: Exam kit. End Soundbite: Colin and Sarah talking about his exam recovery kit. Quotes: Kenny: "Lynda, do you remember asking me to tell you if you were ever being insensitive or too demanding?" Lynda: "No." Kenny: "Well that's because you haven't, but you would have if you were less insensitive and demanding." Sarah: [on Colin's exam kit] "And I'm supposed to pay for this am I?" Colin: "Normally I would charge a fiver. But because it's you, because you're so close to me and becasue I care about you - I'm not going to embarrass you by charging any less." Sarah: [angrily] "And do you know the sort of people who are going to go for that Colin? The ones who are terrified out of their wits of what their parents will say if they fail. The ones who are desperate to pass but don't think they've got the brains to do it on their own, and the ones like me who need all the reassurance you can sell them." Colin: "I never knew the market would be that big." Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler � Joanna Dukes Phone Banger � Patrick Barlow Matt Kerr � Clive Wood Mr. Sullivan � Nick Stringer Mr. Winters � David Collings Miss. Trench � Suzanne Church Mr. Harvey � Sam Howard Director: Bob Spiers Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 13 March 1989 |
| Money, Love And Birdseed It�s a normal day at the newspaper � pigeons have taken over the newsroom and are picking on Colin, Lynda and Spike are still arguing (even in Lynda�s dreams) and the team are asked to investigate a robbery of �30 from a school judo club by the chief suspect Bobby Tweed who was identified by at least three different people as stashing the money and was found with exactly three �10 notes on him when searched. While Billy is convinced that the out-of-towner is innocent, Sarah is equally convinced he is innocent, prompting Lynda to put the two of them onto the case together. Interviewing the witnesses only further serves to persuade Sarah that she is correct, but Billy soon points out to her the fact that if Bobby had stolen all the money he would have had none on him for his train fare home that night. Further investigation reveals that the three witnesses to Bobby stealing the money where the only ones to have over �10 in their possession, leaving Billy to deduct that the trio split the money after one of them stole it, and then worked together to place the blame on Bobby - a story which the trio are unable to dispute. Meanwhile as Colin manages to get rid of the birds with the aid of drugged birdseed, Tiddler attempts to get Lynda to ask Spike out to a local concert by telling her that he�s having trouble at home and that going to the concert with her would be a great treat for his upcoming birthday - a story that she also tells about Lynda to an unsuspecting Spike. Having both bought tickets, the pair are still unable to arrange a date after they start bickering yet again, much to Tiddler�s annoyance. End Soundbite: Julie and Lynda discussing Spike. Quotes: Lynda: "Has anyone ever told you you've got a wonderful vocabulary?" Spike: "I always knew that. I just could never put it into words." Kenny: "People say I'm too reasonable to have opinions, but I don't know about that." Colin: [under an umbrella covered in pigeon muck] "Lynda, we've got to do something about those birds, they're picking on me!" Spike: "I've never heard it called that before." Colin: "Look I've got an idea. I know these guys down at the shooting range, they can just..." Lynda: "Colin! Think preservation of wildlife." Colin: "Wildlife?" Spike: "Animals, Colin." Colin: "Preservation of animals? What you mean like in the freezer?" Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler � Joanna Dukes Mr. Prescott � Ian Brimble Billy Homer � Andy Crowe Bobby Tweed � Warren Bryan Keith Evans � Horace Oliver Ian Brown � Wayne Howard Gerry Hardie � Paul Varney Lynda's Mother � Penelope Nice Director: Lorne Magory Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 20 March 1989 |
| Monday-Tuesday Despite Tuesday being cancelled for the news team, Lynda, Kenny, Spike, Sarah and Colin, all gather at the newsroom on Tuesday morning to allow Lynda to muse over the events that transpired the day before. While Spike assisted Colin in his pursuit of Ethel Stuttgart by asking her out for him (only for the girl to confused and except a date with Spike instead), Lynda was forced to deal with the trouble ensuing from a letter printed in the Senior Gazette from an insider who revealed that the team dealt in dubious activities like forged absent notes and homework copies. The source behind the leak was soon revealed as new recruit David Jefford � the son of an influential businessman who resorted to reporting the team�s antics when Lynda refused to move him from graphics onto the writing team. Hearing the allegations, the Head Master of Norbridge High is on the warpath, but without evidence has nothing to go on. However David is all ready to provide it to the Head Master � unless Lynda moves him to features. Determined not to be blackmailed Lynda refuses to give in to him and along with Kenny, Spike, Sarah and Colin, confronts David about his inexcusable behaviour on his home ground while he is shooting rabbits. When Lynda later discovers that following their conversation David then committed suicide by turning the gun on himself, she is left overcome with guilt and resigns from her post as editor on the Junior Gazette. Notes: Continuity: Quotes: Spike: "Another happy day in these sad times. That don't make sense, but at least it rhymes." Lynda: "Cool it Spike." Spike: "Hey I'm cool. I'm so cool I could spit ice cubes." Spike: [talking about asking out Ethel] "Concentrate on your good points. Think of what a bargain she's getting." Colin: "Yeah I like that. My good points." Spike: "That's right. Go, go, go." Colin: "What are my good points?" Spike: "Oh...well you're good with money. You're great with money. That's it, just think money." Colin: "Yeah, money!" Spike: "Say it. Money, money, money." Colin: "Money, money, money." Spike: "Just keep thinking money, money money. Now go round there and knock her dead, you can do it!" Colin: "Ethel?" Ethel: "Yes?" Colin: "Ethel...do you want some money?" Colin: "He put a loaded shotgun in his mouth! Was it loaded?" Lynda: "Not after he pulled the trigger." Colin: "He's dead?" Spike: "Well he sure didn't miss from that range." Sarah: [on David's suicide] "May be we are all a bit to blame." Spike: "Oh, talk sense. How are you meant to know a guy's thinking of committing suicide...because he's got a pet lemming?" Matt: "If you want to learn something from it Lynda learn this. Be careful what you say to people - it might be the last thing they hear." Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler � Joanna Dukes David Jefford � Alex Crockett Ethel Stuttgart � Susie Lee Hayward Matt Kerr � Clive Wood Mr. Sullivan � Nick Stringer Chrissie Stuart � Angela Bruce Mr. Winters � David Collings Miss. Trench � Suzanne Church Miss. Hessope � Miranda Forbes Director: Bob Spiers Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 3 April 1989 |
| Shouldn't I Be Taller? Following Lynda�s resignation, the Junior Gazette is left without a leader and in chaos. With Colin determined to be the next editor, the others work on trying to convince Kenny to put his name up for nominations. However despite Kenny's best efforts, Colin�s promise of a more compact paper with less working hours win him the election, where he more than sticks to his word by shortening the stories, the word length and even the paper�s name to The Gaz. Meanwhile, Spike's attempts to get Lynda return to the newsroom flounder when he learns that Lynda has transferred schools and towns - prompting him to return back to his old ways of getting into trouble. Realising that both the paper Spike need Lynda, Mr. Sullivan secretly tells Spike Lynda�s new address in Sherrington. Tracking her down, Spike tries to convince Lynda that she�s not the one to blame for death, but when it looks like it�s about to fail, he resorts to showing her the new look Gazette. Seeing what Colin has done to her paper, Lynda returns to the paper back to regain her title as editor much to everyone�s relief. Notes: Continuity: Colin's Scam: Quela. End Soundbite: Lynda thanking Spike. Quotes: Colin: [on elections for editor] "Are you gonna vote for me then?" Sarah: "Not if you paid us." Colin: "Well there goes my next suggestion then." Colin: "I love the dictionary, Kenny. It's the only book with the words in the right order." Sarah: "Colin, I don't like the way the new look paper is shaping up. I don't like the prize winning bingo, I don't like the twelve sentence limit on story length and I especially don't like that stupid article on how Nostradamus believed he'd wander the Earth as a ghost after his death." Colin: "What's wrong with that? A lot of newspaper's ran that story." Sarah: "But we're the only one with the interview." Colin: "Mr. Sullivan - I have a number of people willing to testify that Spike is a dangerous pyschopath and a menance to society." Mr. Sullivan: "And that'll be a professional judgement, will it?" Colin: "Ah yes sir, they'll all be paid." Spike: "Lynda, you've got the dress sense of a washing line." Full Cast: Lynda Day � Julia Sawalha Spike Thomson � Dexter Fletcher Kenny Phillips � Lee Ross Sarah Jackson � Kelda Holmes Colin Matthews � Paul Reynolds Frazz Davis � Mmoloki Chrystie Julie Craig � Lucy Benjamin Danny McColl � Charlie Creed-Miles Tiddler � Joanna Dukes Billy Homer � Andy Crowe Matt Kerr � Clive Wood Mr. Sullivan � Nick Stringer Miss. Trench � Suzanne Church Sophie � Johanna Borman Laura � Claire Hearnden Lynda's Mother � Penelope Nice Director: Bob Spiers Written By: Steven Moffat First Transmitted: 10 April 1989 |
