Licensed to Drill

Licensed to Drill

Infobox Only Fools and Horses
episode_name = Licensed to Drill


Series = Educational Special
writer = John Sullivan, though sometimes credited erroneously to Brian Hague
director = Malcolm Taylor
producer = Malcolm Taylor
Duration = 20 minutes
Airdate = N/A
Audience = -
Cast =

Licensed to Drill is an educational episode of the sit-com, "Only Fools and Horses". Even though it was shown in various schools throughout the UK from 1984 onwards (mainly in science lessons), it was never broadcast commercially and has only recently been rediscovered. There was some confusion as to who wrote this episode, as the writing credit at the end is to Brian Hague, and not John Sullivan. This credit, however, refers to the documentary clip that the Trotters watched on the television during the episode. John Sullivan wrote the script, as well as writing and singing the theme song, "Licensed to Drill". This short episode was the final appearance of Grandad.

ynopsis

As Rodney and Grandad watch a war movie, Del Boy who had earlier returned from the cafe with a magazine about oil and is now reading it while lying on the couch, begins educating his younger brother and grandfather, explaining all the products which would not exist without oil. He then insists that they watch a short film being shown on TV about the Maureen off shore oil rig. When the film is over, Del goes to bed after insisting that Rodney reads the magazine in time for an important business meeting which will occur the next day.

When Rodney wakes up the following morning, he finds a strange man in the flat, and it emerges that Del has just concluded a deal with him. He explains that he has bought an oil rig for £400, intending for them to drill for oil themselves. However, Rodney points out to a seemingly unaware Del that offshore oil rigs are located hundreds of miles offshore (not hundreds of yards as Del appeared to presume), and Del Boy suddenly realises that he has been conned.

Del attempts to give chase to the mysterious man he called "Paddy" who has, in Rodney's words "done you up like a kipper" but is prevented from doing so when Rodney informs him that the van is out of petrol. On this ironic note Del, jaw agape, stares into the camera before attempting to throttle his younger brother as the credits begin to roll. We briefly see the "Paddy" character smoking a cigar and laughing triumphantly in his car outside the flat before he drives off.

This special features a one-off theme song composed and performed by series creator John Sullivan.

Interestingly Grandad points out during this episode that he was a member of the RAF in the war. Rodney tells Del that Grandad was known as the "Grey Baron" in his air force days. Grandad then states "Bits of kids, don't know nothing." This hints at the main characteristic of Uncle Albert who would replace Grandad after this one-off as the older generation character. Uncle Albert was a member of the merchant Navy during the war and constantly regales the family with stories of his war heroics after bemoaning the contemporary generation's ignorance of previous events.

The one-off episode was produced by the Maureen Oilfield Consortium as an educational video to be shown in British schools.

The character who cons Del is played by Scottish actor Iain Blair.

The film does not feature a laugh track unlike most episodes of the show but similarly to several other one-off specials which were made.

The character of Grandad, played by Lennard Pearce, wears a new hazel coloured cardigan and his neck scarf and undershirt are uncharacteristically clean and bright looking in this episode. Ironically, as this was his final outing before his death, he also looks much healthier than in previous episodes though this could be the result of toning down the makeup used as the film is not as dependent on lighting techniques as it uses a much higher quality film stock than the one deployed in the television series episodes. This appearance of health may also be helped by the unusual cleanliness of his garments which are always stained and unkempt in his previous appearances.

One of Grandad's last significant lines is in response to Del telling him to wake up during the oil film as the film is "exciting". He says "I know. I'm getting excited with my eyes shut." Lennard Pearce's last lines of dialogue in the role of Grandad are in response to Del asking if he thinks he had been conned "Of course not.....He had an honest face. In fact, he reminded me of you Del."

Episode cast

External links

* [http://thenagshead.tripod.com/scripts01.htm Licensed to Drill Script]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • drill — drill1 [drıl] n ↑cordless 1.) a tool or machine used for making holes in something ▪ an electric drill ▪ a whine like a dentist s drill →↑pneumatic drill 2.) a method of teaching students, sports players etc something by making them repeat the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Only Fools and Horses — Title screen Genre Sitcom Created by John Sullivan …   Wikipedia

  • List of Only Fools and Horses episodes — The following is an episode list for the BBC television situation comedy Only Fools and Horses . The show was first broadcast in the UK on BBC One on 8 September 1981. [cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/onlyfools/series1/bigbrother.shtml …   Wikipedia

  • Comic Relief special (Only Fools and Horses) — Only Fools and Horses episode Comic Relief special Series Special edition Writer John Sullivan Director Producer Duration 6mins and 30seconds Airdate 14 …   Wikipedia

  • Grandad — Infobox character name = Edward Grandad Trotter other names = caption = Grandad (Pictured left) portrayer = Lennard Pearce first = Big Brother last = Licensed to Drill last cause = age = 72 76 occupation = Retired street lamp lighter, housekeeper …   Wikipedia

  • Dr. No (film) — Dr. No …   Wikipedia

  • Thicker than Water (Only Fools and Horses) — Infobox Only Fools and Horses episode name = Thicker Than Water Series = Christmas Special writer = John Sullivan director = Ray Butt producer = Ray Butt Duration = 30 minutes Airdate = 25 December 1983 Audience = 10.8 million Cast = Thicker than …   Wikipedia

  • Gurren Lagann — Lagann redirects here. It is not to be confused with Lagaan. Gurren Lagann The logo of Gurren Lagann 天元突破グレンラガン (Tengen Toppa Guren Ragan) Genre …   Wikipedia

  • education — /ej oo kay sheuhn/, n. 1. the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. 2. the act or process of… …   Universalium

  • Hughes Christensen — Hughes Christensen, a division of Baker Hughes Inc., is a large oil and gas drill bit company. Howard Hughes, Sr. founded the company early in the 20th century. His two cone, rolling cutter rock bit whose patent was issued by the US Patent Office …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”