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| SERIES ONE EPISODE ONE |
| "MEET THE GANG" |
| Recorded xx/xx/1973 Televised xx/xx/1973 |
| "India, the brightest jewel in Great Britain's crown of Empire. For Two Hundred years, many famous heroes have fought to keep the Union Jack flying in this vast continent. Seventeen Fifty-Seven; Clive of India. Eighteen Twenty-Six; Colonel William Sleeman, who suppressed the Thugs. Eighteen Fifty-Seven; General Havelock, Hero of Lucknow. Nineteen Forty-Five; This great tradition of Empire is defended by a new generation of Heroes" Introduction voiceover (Donald Hewlett) |
| Plot: Gunner Parkins arrives at the Royal Artillery Depot 24 hours late and is met by BSM Williams who orders the Bearer to take Parkins to the Quartermasters to get kitted out. Meanwhile the Concert Party and trying to rehearse their show without Gunner Graham, whom the Sergeant Major has white-washing stones around the camp. Bombadier Solomans, know that if he can get a message to the Colonel, then Graham will be relieved of white-washing duties, and can play the piano for the rehersals. Captain Ashwood receives a telephone call from Inspector Singh, who tells him that there is to be a demonstration that evening of about 500 people, who are going to march past the camp. Upon hearing of the demonstration, the Sergeant Major makes his feelings known to the Colonel and Captain: |
| "I've never heard such impertanance in all my life! Here we are defending their country from the Japanese, and how do they repay us? March by the camp every night shouting 'Quit India'!! Base ingratitude, that's what it is! Quit India? I should bloody co-co!" |
| As Parkins is only staying in the camp for a few days before being posted up the Jungle, The Sergeant Major puts him in with the Concert Party, where rehersals are not going to plan as Gunner Mackintosh is suffering with a dose of the "Bombay Trots". This means they are one-short for the big number, and if the Sergeant Major sees that they can perform the number without Mackintosh, they fear he may be taken out of the Concert Party and posted up the Jungle. Solomans decides that they must enlist the services of Parkins, and rope him into the show. |
| "I've been in India for two days now, and it ain't half hot Mum!" Gunner Parkins letter to his Mother |
| Later that evening while the show is underway, Captain Ashwood receives a telephone call from Inspector Singh who warns him to put all the men on duty at the camp as the demonstration now numbers nearly 5000. The show is stopped, and the Concert Party stand guard at the perimeter fence dressend in their stage costumes and steel helmets. The Sergeant Major is unimpressed with the demonstrators and voices his opinions to the crowd, only to have Cow Dung thrown back at him. Gunner Beaumont tells him that he should "think himself lucky", "as to them to Cow is a sacred animal!" |
| CREDITS |
| Michael Bates George Layton Windsor Davies Melvyn Hayes Christopher Mitchell John Clegg Donald Hewlett Michael Knowles Stuart McGugan Don Estelle Mike Kinsey Kenneth MacDonald. |
| Main Cast |
| Also Starring |
| Nik Zaran Inspector Singh Dino Shafeek Char Wallah Muhammed Babar Bhatti Punkah Wallah Rumzan Ashwin Patel Rickshaw Wallah |
| Signature tune by Jimmy Perry and Derek Taverner Script by Jimmy Perry and David Croft |
| Costumes by Dorothea Wallace Make up by Anna Chesterman Lighting by Jimmy Purdie Sound by Michael McCarthy Design by Paul Joel |
| Produced by David Croft BBC COLOUR 1973 |
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| 6 |
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| "Meet the Gang" , "42nd Street" , "Rule Britannia" , and, "Happy days are here again" |
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| The whole Concert Party rehearse and perform "42nd Street" with Solly as Fred Astaire, and Gloria as Ginger Rogers. Lofty rehearses and performs "Pale Hands I Love" |
| This was the Pilot episode which was repeated as the first episode of Series One on 03/01/1974 |