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No wonder poor old Ettie gets confused. At the retirement village she was confronted by the exciteable Sadie and some dirty old man, and we learned that the goings-on included gambling, parties and "naughty clubs", what ever that may mean.
Strange scene between Inspector Grace and Dennis, where it looked like someone decided it'd look more artistic to shoot most of the scene through closed patio doors. What a shame when this idea was finally abandoned, giving us a close-up of Dennis' face and an intense pause with atmospheric music, which was abruptly and unceremoniously 'cut' to a scene with Ettie talking about prawns. Dennis' protests of innocence had finally been believed, but he was still a bit miffed, and mentioned suing the Department for wrongful dismissal if they didn't reinstate him. I thought he'd be more interested in suing the police for wrongful arrest, harassment, etc. Or the newspapers.
He burst into Meggipops' door, and announced "You're looking at a free man!". I wondered if "cheap" wasn't a better description. So that evening Dennis popped the fizzy wine corks, Ettie made a speech, and Meg celebrated with what looked suspiciously like a ham salad.
Odd little incidental music moment, when Ettie left Meg's flat, and turned round for one last look, to the orchestral strains of the main-character-leaving-the-series music. I think it was used as we sniffed into our hankies as Vera made her final walk out the front gates. Possibly also as we wiped a tear as Colleen Powell packed her hairgrips off to sunnier climes. And now we hear it again as Ettie moves up the road into an old folks place.
Meanwhile Judy was on her new crusade. Sheila Brady had become "Shelly Brady", and seemed to be taking all the credit for her new song, with no mention of Judy Bryant (or perhaps "Jelly Bryant" if she'd used the same agent as Sheila). So she called in a very indifferent-sounding lawyer who seemed to do little more than mutter about how "complicated" it would be. Maybe he was too busy wondering why he was conducting his interview in the store room for old props. I see Judy phoned the radio station, and I was amazed to hear the call answered "Good afternoon, Fox FM". Wow, she must have been very keen if she was prepared to phone the local commercial radio station that covers Oxfordshire in the UK. (Yes, it's called Fox FM.) I was also surprised to see how she just asked to speak to the Program Manager, and was put through direct to him without even being asked her name or what it was about. Obviously not a very busy radio station. All this talk of suing Sheila - as if the woman hadn't suffered enough. Anyone who's had to pout into a TV camera wearing as much face-glitter and lipgloss as that, surely deserves all the money they can get.
I loved the scene between Lou and Anita, with the two very different characters discussing Anita's celibacy and being a nun. Quite well written, but very well acted I thought. I certainly think Anita's being played by one of the best actresses in the programme at the moment. And this scene was a welcome contrast to the intensely annoying bits with Marlene jogging and jumping around everywhere.
As for the man giving Anita her "impure thoughts" and therefore one of her dilemmas, I hope it was his personality she was being drawn to, and not his clothing. Unless she has a fetish for red PVC jackets, of course.
The purse saga continued, with Joycie seeming not too bothered at all about her missing spangly gold purse stuffed full of dollar bills, which had sentimental value because it had been given to her as an anniversary present or something, much to the envy of many female impersonators no doubt. "It'll turn up," she said in the laundry, and skipped out quicker than you could say "cancel the credit cards". Not sure if she was tap-dancing on this occasion.
Anyone else notice the huge SNEEZE in the background, during the scene between Frank and Geoff? Either that, or one of the extras barked.
Lexie was having subplots of her own in the meantime, with Frank asking for sexual favours in return for him doing some damage to Joan. After all, she'd been a bitch for "doing that to your hair", suggesting something was wrong with Lexie's beautifully cut and styled new image. This led to the final scene, with Joan walking into the dark library after her suspicions were aroused by hearing a noise (rather than being suspicious of the library door being unlocked and wide open, as I might've expected). Strangely, despite sensing something was up, she seemed to forget to switch the light on before wandering into the middle of the room. Frank thumped her on the back of the head, and although it took two attempts, it did render her completely unconscious, as a blow to the head invariably does here. He then pushed an enormously deep and high - and very heavy - bookcase, so that it fell crashing down on top of her, presumably shattering most of her bones, crushing her internal organs, and killing her instantly.
Hmm.. something makes me think that isn't going to happen..
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