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  • 20 minutes ago
First broadcast 13th December 1970.

It's the last day at school for 5C, and Mr Hedges tries to play it cool and not show his emotions.

John Alderton - Bernard Hedges
Deryck Guyler - Norman Potter
Noel Howlett - Mr. Cromwell
Joan Sanderson - Doris Ewell
Richard Davies - Mr. Price
Erik Chitty - Mr. Smith
Liz Gebhardt - Maureen Bullock
Penny Spencer - Sharon Eversleigh
Peter Cleall - Eric Duffy
Malcolm McFee - Peter Craven
Peter Denyer - Dennis Dunstable
David Barry - Frankie Abbott
Jill Kerman - Penny Wheeler
David Howe - Small boy
Linda Cunningham - Pupil with long blonde hair
George Georghiou - Pupil in t-shirt
Kristin Hatfield - Fair-haired pupil in plaid skirt
Aziz Resham - Pupil in striped shirt
Gregory Scott - Mr. Wyatt
Suzanne Togni - Dark-haired pupil in plaid skirt

Category

📺
TV
Transcript
00:00.
00:01.
00:02.
00:02.
00:02.
00:08.
00:21PHONE RINGS
00:52PHONE RINGS
00:54Now, sir, forgive me, correct me, I should say, if I'm wrong, sir, but you were going to say something
00:59about not having my uniform, sir?
01:00Yes, I am, and I think it's fun.
01:02Do you, sir?
01:03Yes, entering into the end of term spirit, dressing up in funny clothes, full marks for a super jake.
01:08These are not funny clothes, sir. These are my serious underwear, sir.
01:11Oh, are they? Never mind. Full marks for a super jake.
01:14Yes, well, of course, I laughed like a drain, sir, when five-seed, he bagged me.
01:19Yes, yes, yes, but isn't it sad? Tomorrow they leave us forever, isn't it sad?
01:23Sad, sir. I'm almost hysterical about it, sir.
01:35Yeah, please, you give a person an headache like that.
01:37Give you a headache? After the end of term barrage you've been giving me all week, I ache all over.
01:42Even my eyelashes ache.
01:48Maureen, Maureen, Maureen, what are you doing?
01:50I'm going to be a nurse, sir. I'm rubbing you better.
01:52All right, well, just take that back to your seat, will you?
01:55Oh, yeah. That was a coat I was missing for Mrs. Pearce's arsation.
01:59Oh, that's right. He nicked it off you just before half-term, yeah.
02:03I didn't nick it, Sharon. I confiscated it.
02:05Yes, sir.
02:06Dennis?
02:06Are you sure your eyelashes ache? Because I don't see how that's possible.
02:10That is, Dennis, believe you me.
02:12Well, I just pinched mine and I didn't feel a thing.
02:16Now then, Aberdeen, have you got all your armoury back?
02:18Nah, where's me Tommy gun?
02:19Oh, yes. Yes, I've been saving that.
02:22I'll put me detective agency onto him if I don't get it.
02:24Well, you'll get it. I've been waiting all year to give it to you.
02:31I'll save the last one for myself.
02:33Ah, Chief, anyone to think that you with us have got you down somewhat.
02:36No, no, no, no, no.
02:38No, no, no, no, no.
02:40I'm still the same run-of-the-mill manic-depressive that I was when I first came here.
02:46Hooray!
02:47How about tomorrow being the last day or two of you?
02:50And look, you'd better not be saving anything special for tomorrow
02:53because I shall have a detachment of the RAF regiment with me.
02:56Now, straight up, we'll be behaving ourselves tomorrow.
02:58We reckon you deserve one day free of scally wagging.
03:01Oh, thanks very much, Farbsy. I appreciate that.
03:03Mind you, everyone else is in for a right scene to me.
03:06Now, it's all goodbyes tomorrow.
03:08We wouldn't be able to commit the fullness of our hearts
03:10and to him if we was mucking about.
03:12Yeah, something like that.
03:13Why, Jew, there's always a little bit of today left, isn't there?
03:16What do you mean?
03:17Yeah.
03:18Yeah.
03:18Now, just a minute.
03:19Hello.
03:42Bernard, you might do better if you put some paint on your brush.
03:44Yeah.
03:46Huh?
03:52Put some paint on your brush.
03:55Here.
03:59Bernard!
04:00Oh, thanks, bit.
04:03Look, I can't drink this, sweetheart.
04:04You spilled some paint in it.
04:06Look, Michelangelo, I've done two chairs and a stool already.
04:10Oh, I'm sorry, sweetheart.
04:11I'm not working to rule.
04:12It's just that I'm, well, I'm just thinking a lot at the moment.
04:16Oh, good heavens, are you?
04:17Yes, yes, yes, yes.
04:19Oh, I know what it is.
04:21Don't worry.
04:21I will be very gentle with you on our wedding night.
04:25Oh, no, no.
04:26I'm not worried about the wedding.
04:28What?
04:28Well, yes, I am.
04:29But it's tomorrow that I'm depressed about.
04:33You see, my kids are leaving me.
04:34Ah.
04:35A mother always has pangs at a time like this.
04:38Quite.
04:39It's all the goodbyes.
04:40You see, my, well, my first class and all that.
04:44I know you think of me as a bit of a hard nut, but I'm quite sentimental, really.
04:50Look, love, you won't have time to go all misty when five see get on their last day rampage.
04:54Ah, but then, no, no, they're not.
04:55They promised me that.
04:57You see, and if I start getting sincere and they start getting sincere, well, we'll be crying our eyes out
05:01before I finish the register.
05:02Well, that's no way at all, is it?
05:04You've got to show them an adult attitude.
05:06Play it down.
05:07Play it cool.
05:09Yes.
05:10Yes.
05:12Even at the risk of seeming callous.
05:14You're quite right, of course.
05:16Bernard, you've put paint on my shirt.
05:18Oh, sorry.
05:19Well, you can put paint on mine if you like.
05:27Right.
05:28Well, that's what I'll do then.
05:29It'll be better for them.
05:30And no more brooding.
05:31No, absolutely not.
05:33Now, stand back, because Bernard Hedges and his amazing magic paintbrush are about to astound you.
05:40It's all gone so quickly, you see.
05:43I wonder if I've done as much as I could for them.
05:46Oh.
05:51Good morning.
05:53Loris is very late, isn't she, Smithy?
05:56Yes.
05:57I'll try.
06:01Quite chilly this morning, isn't it?
06:04Yes, well, do stop making a draft round my ear.
06:09I do so admire your handwriting, Mr. Smith.
06:13Oh, thank you, monsieur.
06:14You speak to one who still rues the passing of the quill?
06:18Yes, it's a wonderful hand.
06:21Oh, really?
06:21Well, what's that word?
06:25Mystical.
06:26Oh.
06:27Morning.
06:28Ah, brother.
06:29Scout's handshake, Doris.
06:30Spatcheting with a jamboree, are we?
06:32Oh, yay, oh, yay.
06:34I am wearing an engagement ring.
06:37Ah, Doris.
06:40Congratulations.
06:41Welcome to the club.
06:43Oh, thank you.
06:44My dear, Miss Yorick.
06:46Many congratulations.
06:48Thank you, Mr. Smith.
06:50I am going to say I hope it will last.
06:52I'm also going to say don't waste the school's time.
06:55How very magnanimous.
06:57Look, while we're on the subject to weddings,
06:59I'd like to give you all your invitations, sir.
07:01Oh, me-go.
07:03I would like to have given you all your invitations
07:06if I'd put them in the brief yes,
07:08but I didn't, so you will get them,
07:10but not now, later.
07:12Or I'll probably post them to you, yes, sir.
07:15Yes, I'll probably...
07:17Oh, dear.
07:19Something wrong, Bernard?
07:20No, no, no.
07:21I promised myself I wouldn't become emotional,
07:23but it's going to be very difficult.
07:25You know, five C's last day.
07:27Oh, I understand.
07:29The equivalent occasion at my first school,
07:31I unmanned myself behind the fives' courts.
07:35Enter your headmaster with sage advice.
07:38Ah, yes, sir. What's that, sir?
07:41Goodbye is just a word.
07:48You know, sir, I don't think I'll be able to forget that
07:51as long as I live.
07:57Come on, it's the last day of school,
07:59not the last day of the bleeding world.
08:01It's just a funny feeling, isn't it?
08:04Yeah.
08:05All the other end of terms,
08:06it was all V signs and raspberries,
08:08but now I just don't feel inclined.
08:11I saw this programme on the telly the other night.
08:13What was that, Andy Pandy,
08:14just before your mum put it in the bed?
08:16No, it was like leaving school.
08:18It was about rats in a cage.
08:20Oh, utterly sweet.
08:21They was there for about 80 years
08:23and then this geezer come along to let them out
08:25and they wouldn't run off.
08:26Of course they wouldn't, you burk.
08:28If they'd been there for 80 years,
08:29they'd all be dead, wouldn't they?
08:31Maybe it was three days.
08:33You should miss old sir, you know.
08:35Oh, don't, Den.
08:36Don't start that.
08:37Oh, all right.
08:39Do you think he'll miss us?
08:40About to.
08:41I mean, look, put yourself in his place.
08:44How would you feel saying goodbye
08:45to a group of lovable urchins
08:47who've given you so much pleasure?
08:49Relieved?
08:50Oh, but Privy's utterly sentimental.
08:52You see, it'll be worse than we are.
08:58Stand.
09:01Sit.
09:03Good morning, Piety.
09:04Good morning, sir.
09:05Yes, sir.
09:06Are you going to miss us?
09:12Yes, well, of course I am, Dennis,
09:14but don't let's get maudlin' about it, shall we?
09:17We're going through it all the time.
09:21Oh, no.
09:22See here, Maureen.
09:24So are hundreds of other classes
09:25in hundreds of other schools.
09:28Oh.
09:30No reason to think this is anything peculiar to us.
09:33Well, I'm peculiar.
09:34Oh, yeah.
09:35Now, look, you can't say that.
09:37I mean, well, us and you,
09:39bloody special, innit?
09:42Um,
09:43you're just looking at this
09:43from one point of view there, Duffy.
09:45For me, as a teacher,
09:47life is a continuum of events.
09:50Another year,
09:52another class.
09:53Who you got next year, then?
09:55Uh, 3B, I think.
09:56Oh, me only.
09:57Not a character amongst them.
09:59Oh, there is.
10:00That kid with the six fingers
10:01on his left hand.
10:02Oh, that's a beautiful character, Sha.
10:05Right, top.
10:06Whereas I'm the mental one.
10:09Do you mean to say
10:10you're not a bit sad?
10:11Because we are.
10:13Well, it's purely temporary.
10:15Dennis,
10:17in a few weeks,
10:18you'll have probably forgotten
10:19all about me,
10:20as I will almost certainly
10:22have forgotten all about you.
10:24Oh, my God.
10:25He's just done himself
10:26out of a present in my book.
10:28Oh, leave.
10:29Oh, don't alter all he's done, do it?
10:31Hey, Chief.
10:32Yes?
10:32Uh, yes.
10:33Before we, uh,
10:34actually break up in the hall,
10:35could you nip in here first?
10:37Little presentation thing,
10:38you know?
10:39Um,
10:40yes, all right,
10:41I think I could probably
10:42manage that,
10:43as long as it doesn't
10:44take up too much time,
10:45right?
10:46Right?
10:47Excuse me a moment.
10:49Oh, bloody joy!
10:53Sorry to come up then,
10:54but you forgot
10:54the wedding invitation.
10:55Oh, it's awful in there.
10:56They're all saying
10:57nice things to me.
10:58But what about you?
10:59No, I haven't said
11:00anything nice yet.
11:01I'll give them a few minutes.
11:02I think they may appreciate it.
11:04Well, it might even strengthen
11:05the warmth and affection
11:07between us.
11:08Yeah.
11:08Hello, 5C.
11:10Here we are, then.
11:10Wedding invitations all round.
11:48Miss Yule and Mr. Smith.
11:51Well, this is really
11:52most kind of you both.
11:53There's nothing imagined
11:54I enjoy more than a wedding.
11:56Well, isn't it about time
11:57you two got married, then?
11:59I shall miss your witch
12:00during the holidays,
12:01price,
12:02rather as one misses
12:03an attack of berry berry.
12:05Well, I hope this guarantees
12:06an invitation to your wedding,
12:07Doris.
12:08Of course.
12:09I do hope you'll be able
12:10to come.
12:10I'm busy on that day.
12:12Well, as it hasn't been named,
12:14I assume you must be
12:14Clare Thuyard.
12:16Doris, if you'd like to make it
12:17fairly soon after hours,
12:19I think we can let you
12:19have about three tonne
12:20of cheap jelly.
12:21Doesn't look as if 5C,
12:22you're going to be there
12:23to eat it.
12:23Oh, come on, Eddie,
12:24so they won't all be in prison.
12:26It's my fault.
12:27I told Bernard to play it cool,
12:28and now they're frozen solid.
12:30Oh, it's not too great.
12:31You can always reveal
12:32your true feelings
12:33when they give you
12:33your present.
12:34Yes, yes, of course I can.
12:36As long as a present
12:37hasn't turned out to be a bomb.
12:39Now, there was something else
12:40I forgot to remember, Dan.
12:41Wasn't my little axiom
12:42about goodbye being
12:43such a word?
12:44No, no, I did say
12:46that I would never forget that.
12:47Bernard, you're the best man.
12:49Oh, yes.
12:50Shh, shh, shh.
12:53Oh, ha.
12:54Good afternoon.
12:55Oh, no.
12:56I was just, um...
12:57Look at you in a keyhole.
12:58Yes, yes, that's right.
12:59I was just, uh,
13:01looking through the lock.
13:01It needs deep-flopping
13:02at this time of the year,
13:03you know.
13:04Yes.
13:05Oh, my word.
13:06Someone's got an eye
13:07for stationary here,
13:08haven't they, eh?
13:09Yes.
13:10Oh, now, isn't that funny?
13:11I see you've all got one.
13:13Yes.
13:14Well, uh,
13:16I went to see.
13:22There we are, no one.
13:23A little reward
13:24for your sheer subtlety.
13:25Oh, thank you, son.
13:27Now, I wonder
13:27what this can be, eh?
13:28Now, whatever...
13:29Whatever kind of invitation
13:31it is, you know,
13:31I wasn't expecting it,
13:33oh, no.
13:33I wasn't half tempted
13:34to put a gas bill in there.
13:37Oh, now, look at that, eh?
13:38An invitation to the wedding.
13:40Now, who would have
13:40thought of that?
13:41You, when you were looking
13:42through the keyhole.
13:44Oh, I see you're sticking
13:45with the sherry.
13:46Very sensible, that, yes.
13:48How do you make that?
13:48When are you, Mr. Potter?
13:49Oh, well, it says you.
13:50See, it's RSVP.
13:54Oh, that, yes,
13:54the old French stuff.
13:56Yes, Chateau Rippon-Daisy
13:57will play 72.
13:58Oh, well, that's the best stuff
13:59on the market, that, you know.
14:01Yeah.
14:02Oh, yes, I'm talking
14:02about best, you know.
14:03Isn't it time you sort of
14:04formalised this best man thing?
14:06Oh, yes.
14:06Yes.
14:07I wonder if you'll do me
14:08the honour, Pricey.
14:09I shall be only too pleasy.
14:10Who?
14:11Me?
14:12Oh, boy, oh.
14:13Oh, go on, Mr. Price.
14:15You've looked after
14:15Bernard this far.
14:16So have I.
14:18Oh, all right, then.
14:19I'll be bloody delighted.
14:20Marvellous, Price.
14:22Mind you, I'm only doing this
14:23because I get first pickings
14:24of the bridesmaid.
14:25So much for the speech
14:27that I've been working on
14:28for the past eight weeks.
14:30Er, Norman, you've got an invitation.
14:33Norman Hesk of Potter
14:35cannot be bought off
14:36with cheap sherry.
14:39Ridiculous man.
14:41Look, I'd better go and talk to him
14:42before he commits Harry Carey
14:43on one of his squeegees.
14:45Is it all we're so emotionally charged in here?
14:48Yes, my dear.
14:49One often gets the impression
14:50that everybody plugs into
14:53your rosis generator at night
14:55like so many milk roos.
14:57What are you worried about?
14:58Your little battery collapsed years ago.
15:00I've bought a half-grand book of jokes
15:02for my best man speech.
15:04Norman, Norman.
15:06I'm not in.
15:07Now, listen to me, Norman.
15:09I don't remember asking you
15:10to sit on my personal property.
15:12Well, look, I don't care
15:12if I have to stand on it,
15:14but you've got to listen to me, Norman.
15:15Oh, yes, that's the report
15:16on this term's ruder is to ruby, isn't it?
15:19I'd better file that, I think.
15:20No, Norman.
15:21Hmm?
15:21Listen, I didn't ask you
15:23to be best man
15:24because I've got something
15:25more important for you.
15:27What, bridegroom?
15:28That's me, you fool.
15:30Don't you come that down here, son?
15:32Monty's the only one
15:33to calls me a fool, you know.
15:36Well...
15:37Listen, Norman,
15:38I would like you to be
15:40Chief Usher.
15:43Chief?
15:44Sit down a minute, Burns.
15:46No, Burns, tell me,
15:48what is Chief Usher?
15:50Well, Norman,
15:51I suppose the army equivalent,
15:54right, would be...
15:57Brigadier?
16:00Either way, Norman,
16:01it requires a genius
16:02at organisation.
16:03Yes, well, have you noticed
16:04how neat my coke is recently?
16:07First thing that made me
16:07think of you, Norman.
16:09Of course, you will be
16:09in charge of M.T.
16:11The old five tunners, eh?
16:13The wedding cars, Norman,
16:14the wedding cars.
16:15You'll be responsible
16:15for deploying the guest
16:17in at least platoon strength.
16:18I'd need NCOs.
16:20You've got them, Norman,
16:21uncles Bert and Charlie.
16:22Now then,
16:23will you do the job, Norman,
16:24or shall I ask
16:25seven other people
16:26to share it between them?
16:27On one condition, son.
16:28What's that, Norman?
16:29That you don't ask me
16:30to be best man as well
16:31because I couldn't really
16:32do justice to both jobs.
16:35All right, Norman,
16:36you've got the job.
16:37Good, Norman.
16:37Now, listen,
16:38I must rush because
16:39my class are going to make
16:40a little presentation
16:41just before I send you.
16:42Great, lovely.
16:43Leave it to me, son.
16:44Yes, I'd probably
16:45been a brigadier, you know,
16:46if the war hadn't ended
16:47so soon.
16:49Norman?
16:50Yeah?
16:50Norman?
16:51Yeah?
16:52Somebody's locked us in.
16:53Ah, brigadier, son.
16:54I'm a brigadier.
16:55Yes, that's why kids
16:56are so stupid, you know.
16:57Ha-ha.
16:57They forget
16:58that I have the keys.
17:03Carl, charming, innit?
17:05Reckon class wit round
17:06he don't even bother
17:07to turn up.
17:08Well, perhaps he's
17:09collapsed or something.
17:10No, you can't protect
17:11him this time, Ma.
17:12Exactly.
17:13We're the sentimental twits,
17:14not him.
17:15Perhaps he's scared
17:16of the final showdown
17:17with F.A.
17:18Oh, Santa.
17:19I mean, I know
17:19he said we'd forget
17:20one another,
17:21but he can't have
17:21forgot us already.
17:23Well, where is he?
17:24Come along, 5C.
17:26Final assembly.
17:27Well, that's all
17:28he reckons
17:28the personal touch
17:29will post
17:30the bloody thing.
17:31Come along.
17:32All right, Doris.
17:42Keep it down.
17:44Assembly's on.
17:50Well, I reckon this bar
17:53will last us right
17:54through the Christmas
17:55holidays, son.
17:57I wonder if my ruby
17:58will remarry.
17:59Yes, I wonder if
18:00Penny...
18:00Oh, do shut up.
18:01Have you got a hammer?
18:02Yeah, in the bag, son,
18:03in the bag.
18:03Right.
18:04Here, wait a minute.
18:05What are you doing?
18:05Yeah.
18:06Hang on a minute.
18:07Hey, those are my
18:08floorboards.
18:08Well, it's either
18:09that, Norman,
18:10or four weeks
18:11on fruit and nut.
18:12Well, good thing
18:14you know that
18:14I'll write you a chip.
18:37You're banging, Price.
18:39Aye, Death Watch
18:40Beatle, I hope.
18:41If I should crack,
18:44you will cover up
18:45for me, won't you?
18:46I've been doing that
18:47ever since I came
18:47to Fen Street.
18:51Oh, now,
18:52can you children
18:53hear me at the back?
18:57Good, good.
18:59Now, this...
19:00this is a very moving
19:02movement.
19:03I remember that
19:04the headmaster,
19:05my own headmaster,
19:07M.P. Statt-Anders,
19:08used to say to me,
19:10it's a poltergeist.
19:14Sir, all right,
19:165C, I have an
19:16announcement to make.
19:18Would 5C please
19:19meet me in the
19:20classroom after
19:22assembly?
19:24Very much, sir.
19:27I've got a little
19:28privy, you know,
19:28if there's a weird
19:29way of doing things,
19:30you'll find it.
19:30Yeah, I thought
19:31I was going to
19:31wee myself when
19:32his head popped up.
19:34Well, I think we
19:34should all be punished
19:35for thinking ill of him
19:36like that.
19:37Oh, don't start,
19:37a lot more.
19:38Now we know why
19:39he was acting all
19:39funny.
19:40Well, it's all right.
19:41Yeah, and we've got
19:42our wedding invitations.
19:44Yeah, all we've got
19:44to do now is give him
19:45the watch and say
19:45a few words, eh?
19:46What you going to say,
19:47then, El?
19:47Well, I ain't doing it.
19:48I ain't.
19:49Oh, no, I couldn't.
19:50Oh, no, it's a man's
19:52job.
19:52Eh, I can't make
19:53speeches.
19:54Ah, come on,
19:55give us it here.
19:56Come on.
19:58What shall I say,
19:59then, El?
20:00Thank you,
20:00you great pillock.
20:01Oh, yeah,
20:02I'll see.
20:03Frank, Frank.
20:05Here, come on.
20:09All right.
20:15Right.
20:18Well, here we are,
20:19then.
20:20Um,
20:22got most of the
20:22dirt off,
20:22I think.
20:27Yes,
20:28Frankie?
20:30Um,
20:31well,
20:35what we,
20:36we,
20:36we,
20:36we,
20:36we,
20:36we,
20:36you,
20:37you're revving up,
20:38Frankie.
20:40Get in,
20:40that's it,
20:41I can't say.
20:43Well,
20:45all right,
20:45Duffy,
20:46I,
20:47I don't think we need
20:48any speeches.
20:49I think we all know
20:50what we mean.
20:53Here are you.
21:03Well,
21:04thanks,
21:05sir.
21:08Well,
21:09thank you,
21:09all.
21:12Did you say sir?
21:14Yeah,
21:14I just thought I'd bang mine in
21:15for a whole time.
21:20Well,
21:23see you at the wedding,
21:24eh,
21:24chief?
21:25All right,
21:25Duffy.
21:26Thanks.
21:28And,
21:30get yourself a decent suit
21:31for it,
21:32won't you,
21:33Right.
21:36Ciao then.
21:37Goodbye,
21:37Sharon.
21:38Goodbye,
21:38sir.
21:40Bye-bye.
21:41And,
21:42if ever you want
21:43anyone followed
21:44on the tech.
21:48Right.
21:51I hope you'll still
21:53be my mate.
21:54Yes,
21:55indeed.
21:56Penny's right.
22:01Got something
22:02for you,
22:02sir.
22:03Good.
22:05What's that,
22:06Maureen?
22:06All the anchors
22:07you've given me
22:08when I've cried.
22:14Thanks very much,
22:15Maureen.
22:17Well,
22:17good luck.
22:18Oh,
22:18sir!
22:24He's got your
22:25initials on it!
22:27No!
22:27No!
22:29No!
22:30No!
22:32No!
22:34No!
23:14I quite like them, you know.
23:17I think they quite liked you, too.
23:31Please, sir.
23:33Yes?
23:34We're in your form next term.
23:36Are you half glad?
23:39Oh.
23:41Why's that?
23:42Because we think you're a soft twit.
23:44I think...
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