Episode 26


Episode 26

Narrative

Sound of knocking on door

DETECTIVE HUNT
Bridget Evans? Annie Taylor? Detective David Hunt from the Metropolitan Police. Could I have a word with you, please?

ANNIE
So we went to the restaurant and it was a very good vegetarian restaurant and I had the peppers and Hector had the mushrooms, which was very nice because Hector doesn’t like mushrooms, so I said to him that it was good for him to try.

BRIDGET
Annie!

ANNIE
Oh, and then afterwards, we went for a lovely walk and it was such a beautiful evening, and the birds were singing…

BRIDGET
Annie! Will you shut up!

ANNIE
Sorry.

BRIDGET
You have been talking non-stop for twenty minutes.

ANNIE
I know. It’s, it’s because I’m doing a sponsored silence for the charity Pigs With No Parents.

BRIDGET
Sponsored silence. So why are you talking?

ANNIE
Well, it doesn’t start till 10 o’clock so if I talk a lot now, then I won’t have to talk later. Anyway, what’s wrong with your mouth?

BRIDGET
Oh, er, nothing.

ANNIE
Have you got a spot? Oh! I’ll call an ambulance.

BRIDGET
No, but I am going to see my beautician later.

ANNIE
What for?
BRIDGET
Oh, just for a check-up.

ANNIE
A check-up? But you go to the dentist for a check-up, for your teeth.

BRIDGET
Exactly. I’m going to the beautician’s to check…

ANNIE
Check that you’re beautiful?

BRIDGET
Of course not. I don’t have to check I’m beautiful, do I.

NICK
Oooh!

HECTOR
Hey, Nick, do you like my new clothes, huh? Nick!

NICK
Ohhhhhh!

HECTOR
Nick! What is the matter? You can tell me. Oh, you have a toothache. Then if you have a toothache, you must go to the den…..

NICK
Aaaarrrghhh!

HECTOR
Can’t I say the word ‘den….? OK, I won’t say the ‘D’ word. I call him, erm, plumber. OK, so when did you last see the plumber?

NICK
Ah-ah?

HECTOR
That’s not too bad, five months ago.
Five years ago? No?
When you were five years old?

NICK
Ah-ah-ah.

HECTOR
Whoo-hoo-hoo. It’s going to be a big job. He’ll need a big drill. Come on! The girls must know a good plumber. Come on! Do you want a sweetie? Do you want a sweetie? Uh-uh-uh, sweets are bad for your teeth. Come on.

NICK
Ah-ah-ah!

HECTOR
Oh, hi, sugar-plum.

ANNIE
Hello, snuggly-puppykins. Ooh! Nice clothes. New?

HECTOR
Yeah, thanks.

ANNIE
Is Nick rehearsing for the pantomime?

HECTOR
No, he has a toothache so he must see the plumber.

ANNIE
No, no, no, Hector. For a toothache, he must see the dentist.

NICK
Whaaaaahhhh!

HECTOR
Shh, shh, shh! I know that, but Nick doesn’t like the ‘D’ word.

ANNIE
Oh, dentist.

NICK
Ah-ah-ah!

HECTOR
So I’m calling the dentist a plumber. So do you know a good plumber?

BRIDGET
A plumber? What for?

ANNIE
Nick has toothache.

BRIDGET
Well, he doesn’t need a plumber. He needs a dentist.

NICK
Aaah!

Sound of dentist’s drill

ANNIE
Yes, Hector, we have the number of a very good plumber – Julian.

BRIDGET
Oh, Julian! He’s so gentle.

ANNIE
He’s so married! Oh, hi, Julian. Listen, we have an emergency here. What are the symptoms? Oh, shaking, squealing…, yeah, just a toothache.
You can? Oh, thank you! Bye!
Sorted. He’ll see Nick now.

HECTOR
OK, come on, Nick. Come on. Come on, Nick. Come on, Nick.
Assorted groaning noises/sound of door slamming

BRIDGET
Julian looked in my mouth once. He said, “Bridget, you’ve got wonderful teeth.”

ANNIE
With a mouth that big, I’m surprised he didn’t fall in!
Sound of telephone ringing

BRIDGET
Hello? Who’s this? Bernard?

BRIDGET [In flashback]
Oh! Hello, Bernard.

ANNIE
Oh, hello, Bernard. You’ve been what? Robbed? When? When you were in the bath? All your clothes? And your keys? Oh, poor Bernard. Listen, you must call the police, OK? OK. Bye.
Poor Bernard. It’s ten o’clock! My sponsored silence starts now.

NICK [Composing email]
Oh, I’ve got a toothache. I don’t want to go to the – dentist, but Hector says I must go.

HECTOR
He’ll need a big drill.

NICK
Arrrghhh!

HECTOR
Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!!! Ha-ha-ha-ha!

NICK
Owwww!

ANNIE [Composing email]
This morning I started my sponsored silence for the charity Pigs With No Parents.

ANNIE
If I talk a lot now, then I won’t have to talk later.

ANNIE [Composing email]
I won’t have to speak, because Bridget has gone to see a beautician.

ANNIE
Have you got a spot?

ANNIE [Composing email]
Oh!! It was urgent!!

ANNIE
I’ll call an ambulance!

ANNIE [Composing email]
You won’t believe this, but our neighbour Bernard has had all his clothes stolen.

ANNIE
All your clothes? And your keys?

ANNIE [Composing email]
I wonder who could have done such a terrible thing?
Poor Bernard! I told him he must call the police.

Sound of knocking on door

DETECTIVE HUNT
Bridget Evans? Annie Taylor? Detective David Hunt from the Metropolitan Police. Could I have a word with you, please? Why not? You can’t speak, I’m sorry. Oh, you can speak.
Are you trying to be funny with me, young lady? I no speak for, hmm, one word, three syllables. First syllable – sit. Seat? Chair? Second syllable – A, E, I, I, Tea. Chair-I-Tea. Chair-i-tea?
You’re being silent for charity! Ah, but which charity? Cow? Dog? Cat?
Pig? Got it! Pigs Without Parents!

HECTOR
Is this man bothering you, Annie? Because if he is, I am going to show him some Argentinean….

DETECTIVE HUNT
Detective David Hunt of the Metropolitan Police.

HECTOR
…respect.

DETECTIVE HUNT
And you are?

HECTOR
Hector Romero.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Ah, I suspect you’re not English, eh?

HECTOR
He is a very good detective.

NICK
Ha-ha-ha!

DETECTIVE HUNT
And you are?

NICK
[ …Unintelligible …]
HECTOR
He’s just been to see the plumber.

DETECTIVE HUNT
The plumber?

HECTOR
Yes, he had a toothache.

DETECTIVE HUNT
But you don’t go to the plumber when you’ve got a toothache.
You go to the den….

HECTOR
Biscuit?

DETECTIVE HUNT
Den….
Anyway, I’m here to investigate a robbery of Bernard Reynolds.

HECTOR
Huh! Somebody has stolen Bernard!

NICK
Ha-ha-ha-ha!!

DETECTIVE HUNT
It’s not a robbery. Bernard Reynolds’ clothes!

HECTOR
Oh, who would want Bernard’s clothes?

DETECTIVE HUNT
So I’m investigating everybody in the building, because someone has stolen Bernard Reynolds’ clothes. Where were you last night?

HECTOR
I was with Annie. Annie?

DETECTIVE HUNT
Oh, it’s OK. She can’t speak for chair-I-tea! Anyway, what about Nwiff?

NICK
Huh? Well, I [Assorted noises].

HECTOR
Show me, Nick.

NICK
[Assorted noises].

HECTOR
Ah! I went to Leo’s Bar…

NICK
[Assorted noises].

HECTOR
I had a beer…

NICK
[Assorted noises].

HECTOR
There was a beautiful girl…

NICK
[Assorted noises].

HECTOR
And a motorbike?

DETECTIVE HUNT
You were with a young woman on a motorbike? Motorbike. Registration?

NICK
[Assorted noises].

DETECTIVE HUNT
Name of the young woman?

NICK
[Assorted noises].

HECTOR
Oh, he wasn’t with her.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Ah! The young woman was on television on a motorbike!

HECTOR & NICK
[Assorted noises].

DETECTIVE HUNT
I saw that! Very nice! Gee, I’m getting good at this.

ANNIE [Composing email]
Anyway, I was being silent and there was a knock on the door.

Sound of knocking on door

DETECTIVE HUNT
Bridget Evans? Annie Taylor?

ANNIE [Composing email]
It was a policeman, a detective!

DETECTIVE HUNT
Detective David Hunt from the Metropolitan Police. Could I have a word with you, please?
ANNIE [Composing email]
Unfortunately, I could not speak, because of my sponsored silence.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Chair-i-Tea?

ANNIE [Composing email]
And worse still, I had to tell him why.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Got it! ‘Pigs Without Parents!’

NICK
Oh!!

NICK [Composing email]
When Hector and I came back from the dentist – [oww!] – a policeman was waiting for us. He wanted to know where I was last night. [Uh-oh!] … .. .. …. Huh? Oh, well, I … … … .. Ow!
Anyway, Hector managed to translate for me, unfortunately!

DETECTIVE HUNT
Motorbike. Registration?

NICK
[Assorted noises].

DETECTIVE HUNT
Name of the young woman?

NICK
[Assorted noises].
Sound of knocking on door

BERNARD REYNOLDS
Oh, there you are!

DETECTIVE HUNT
Oh, hello, Mr Reynolds.

BERNARD REYNOLDS
Well, have you caught them?

DETECTIVE HUNT
Who?

BERNARD REYNOLDS
The robbers.
The robbers who stole my clothes.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Ah, yes. My investigations are going very well.

BERNARD REYNOLDS
[Makes loud sneezing noise]

HECTOR
Oh, you have a cold, Bernard? Oh, you need some clothes?

BERNARD REYNOLDS
What a week!
First Mum went away to play bingo all weekend!

HECTOR
Bingo?

NICK
[Assorted noises].

BERNARD REYNOLDS
Two fat ladies, 88.

NICK
[Assorted noises].

BERNARD REYNOLDS
Clickety-click, 66. Well, anyway, and then someone stole my clothes.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Bingo!

BERNARD REYNOLDS
Ah, Digestives! My favourite.
Sound of door opening

DETECTIVE HUNT
Aha! You must be Miss Evans.

HECTOR
And this is Sherlock Holmes!

DETECTIVE HUNT
Bridget, I’d like to ask you a few questions.

BRIDGET
Bernard’s wearing my dressing gown! What are you staring at?

HECTOR
Nothing.

NICK
[Assorted noises].

DETECTIVE HUNT
Is there something wrong with your top lip?

BRIDGET
No.

BERNARD REYNOLDS
Yes, there is. It’s bright red.
BRIDGET
It doesn’t show, does it?

HECTOR & BERNARD
No, no, no.

BRIDGET
They told me in the salon no one would notice! [Sound of Bridget blowing her nose]. Thank you.
I wanted perfect lips, but I didn’t have enough money, so a student did them.

HECTOR
What, a butcher student?

DETECTIVE HUNT
There, there. You’re still very pretty.

BRIDGET
Am I? Really?

DETECTIVE HUNT
Really. Where were you last night?

BRIDGET
Looking in the mirror.

DETECTIVE HUNT
All night?

BRIDGET
Yes, all night.

DETECTIVE HUNT
How can anyone spend all night looking at themselves in the mirror?

NICK
[Assorted noises].

HECTOR
Oh, Bridget would.

DETECTIVE HUNT
So let me summarise everybody’s alibis.
Annie is doing a sponsored silence for ‘Pigs With No Parents.’ She would not have had time to take Bernard’s clothes. And what’s more, Bernard’s clothes would be too big for her.
Hmm, Nwiff was watching ‘Babes and Bikes’ on television. I watched that too, so he may be telling the truth.
Bridget was looking at herself in the mirror all night. Huh! An unlikely story.
However, if I accuse her, she’ll start crying again and I can’t stand hysterical women.
Which brings me to Hector.
Hector’s wearing a terrible suit. It looks stolen.
Nobody would buy it, surely.
And his only alibi is Annie, and guess what?
She can’t speak!
But the clues do speak!
Hunt, you’re a genius!
I think that someone here is not telling the truth and I think that someone is you!

HECTOR
But I told you: I was with Annie.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Annie hasn’t said she was with you.

BERNARD REYNOLDS
That’s true.

HECTOR
She can’t speak. She is doing a sponsored silence for chair-I-tea.

DETECTIVE HUNT
It doesn’t matter. Did you go out at all?

HECTOR
Yes.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Where?

HECTOR
Shopping.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Shopping? For what?

HECTOR
Some new clothes.

DETECTIVE HUNT
These new clothes? Now let me get this straight. You need some new clothes and Mr Reynolds’ clothes have been stolen. So what does that tell me?

HECTOR
Yes, but I…

DETECTIVE HUNT
Why buy new clothes when you can steal somebody else’s?

BERNARD REYNOLDS
Yeah!

ANNIE
Oooh!! Do these look like Bernard’s clothes?

HECTOR, BRIDGET, NICK & DETECTIVE HUNT
Ooooh!!

BERNARD REYNOLDS
They could be. My colour.

ANNIE
Oh no! I spoke! You! You made me speak!

BRIDGET, NICK & HECTOR
Oooh!

Sound of telephone ringing

BRIDGET
Hello? Yes, he’s here. I’ll get him. Bernard? It’s your mother.

BERNARD REYNOLDS
Hello, Mum. You’re back. How was bingo?
Mum, someone stole my clothes.
Oh! Oh! Ah.

HECTOR & NICK
Ahhh.

BERNARD REYNOLDS
OK. Right, I’m off. Mum’s back.
She’s cooking my tea.

BRIDGET
Bernard, what about your clothes?

BERNARD REYNOLDS
It’s OK. She’s got them.

DETECTIVE HUNT
What?!

HECTOR
What?

NICK
What?

BERNARD REYNOLDS
She put them in the washing machine before she went to bingo.
HECTOR & NICK
Oh.

BERNARD REYNOLDS
Bye!

HECTOR
So Bernard’s clothes were in the washing machine all the time.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Well, yes, as I suspected. That’s another case solved. I’ll be off then.

ANNIE
Oh no you won’t.
DETECTIVE HUNT
What?!

ANNIE
You owe me £120 for ‘Pigs With No Parents.’ You made me speak.

DETECTIVE HUNT
Well, will dollars do?

NICK
Ow!!

COMMENTARY [v.o.]
Next time in EXTRA, the girls enter a game show and guess what Hector finds on his jumper?
EXTRA, don’t miss it.

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