Little Problems
Encyclopedia
"Little Problems" is an episode of the BBC
sit-com, Only Fools and Horses
. It was the final episode of series 6, and was first screened on 12 February, 1989. John Sullivan
's idea for the script came from a drink with David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst one evening, and the idea grew into this episode.
coming up, Rodney
is worried that he'll never receive his diploma in computing, having apparently failed his exam again, and also has the problem of needing to find £2,000 for the couple's new flat. However, Del Boy
states that he will take care of these problems, as he announces that he's giving Rodney the £2000 as a wedding present, and then hands over Rodney's diploma, telling him that his teacher had been delayed in marking some of the diplomas. After Rodney leaves, Del confides to Uncle Albert
that Rodney had in fact completely failed his exam, and his teacher required a £150 bribe in order to give a passing grade. In addition, Del will either need to sell his stock of mobile phone
s or get Boycie
to pay up for the dodgy VCRs that Del had sold him a few months previously (in "Danger UXD
") to raise the £2,000.
The following night, Del finds it hard work selling his phones, and Boycie claims to be out of pocket, thanks to the combination of a slump in the used car market and medical bills for his wife Marlene's pregnancy. Things get a lot worse when Mickey Pearce and Jevon enter the Nag's Head with cuts and bruises all over their bodies and tell Del that local gangsters Tony and Danny, the Driscoll Brothers, are coming for him, and that it was in fact the Driscolls that had supplied Del's phones.
Del, Mickey, and Jevon hide upstairs (as does Trigger
, although he doesn't understand what's going on), and the Driscolls enter, but find nothing. Just as it looks like they're safe, Trigger accidentally activates the antenna in Del's cordless phone, causing it to extend right up Del's nose, giving away their hiding place. The Driscolls threaten Del into paying them £2,000, but Del manages to buy some time by reminding them that he had looked after their mother when they got themselves jailed for their early crimes. Having seen the Driscolls enter, a terrified Boycie enquires whether Del had bought the VCRs off them and Del, seeing a chance to get his payment, says he did. The "skint" Boycie then suddenly produces £3,000 from his jacket pocket, giving Del the money that he needs.
At Rodney's stag night
, the Driscoll Brothers show up again looking for Del, who suddenly remembers that he had promised Rodney £2,000 for his flat. He goes off to talk to the Driscoll Brothers and leaves Rodney alone with Denzil who believes that Del will use the money to pay them off. Rodney returns to the flat late that night (with an 'L' plate glued to his boxer shorts), shouting at Del, who is in the bathroom. Del informs Rodney that his money is on the table. Del is then shown nursing his injuries, muffling his pained groans, having taken a beating from the Driscoll Brothers' thugs rather than break his promise to his younger brother.
On the day of Rodney and Cassandra's wedding, Del is able to attend as the best man and Rodney is embarrassed as the minister reveals his middle name to be Charlton (named after Charlton Athletic
according to Del, as their mum was a fan). Cassandra's parents Alan and Pamela also attend, although Pam fears that Alan will get drunk at the reception.
At the reception at the Nag's Head, Rodney thanks Del for everything, and leaves with Cassandra on their honeymoon. Marlene approaches Del and the two talk about past years, and Marlene asks Del why he never got married despite always being engaged when he was younger. Del tells her back then none of the women he went out with were interested in helping to raise Rodney, and he wasn't willing to put his brother into care. As a result, he broke up with them because family came first. The two say a fond farewell (a little too fond for Boycie's liking) and Del Boy is left alone to remember all the good and bad times he's experienced, as well as Rodney's new found happiness, while Simply Red
's "Holding Back the Years
" plays in the background.
A few weeks later, Del returns home to the flat from the market, followed shortly by Rodney, dressed in a three-piece suit. Rodney asks Del what is for dinner, then Del offers Rodney some advice: "You don't live here no more." Realising his mistake, Rodney exits the flat abruptly, leaving Del amused, as he now knows that Rodney will always be around.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sit-com, Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
. It was the final episode of series 6, and was first screened on 12 February, 1989. John Sullivan
John Sullivan (writer)
John Richard Thomas Sullivan OBE was an English television scriptwriter responsible for several popular British sitcoms, including Only Fools and Horses, Citizen Smith and Just Good Friends....
's idea for the script came from a drink with David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst one evening, and the idea grew into this episode.
Synopsis
With his wedding to CassandraCassandra Trotter
Cassandra Louise Trotter is a fictional character from the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses. She was portrayed by Gwyneth Strong.-Biography:...
coming up, Rodney
Rodney Trotter
Rodney Charlton Trotter is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.-Personality:Rodney's personality was based on the experiences of series creator John Sullivan, who also had an older sibling and, like Rodney, claimed to have been a dreamer and...
is worried that he'll never receive his diploma in computing, having apparently failed his exam again, and also has the problem of needing to find £2,000 for the couple's new flat. However, Del Boy
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, better known as "Del Boy", is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and one of the main characters of its prequel, Rock & Chips...
states that he will take care of these problems, as he announces that he's giving Rodney the £2000 as a wedding present, and then hands over Rodney's diploma, telling him that his teacher had been delayed in marking some of the diplomas. After Rodney leaves, Del confides to Uncle Albert
Uncle Albert
Albert Gladstone Trotter is a fictional character from the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He was introduced during the fourth season as a replacement for the character of Grandad due to the death of actor Lennard Pearce...
that Rodney had in fact completely failed his exam, and his teacher required a £150 bribe in order to give a passing grade. In addition, Del will either need to sell his stock of mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s or get Boycie
Boycie
Terrance Aubrey Boyce best known as Boycie is a fictional character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses played by John Challis. His story is continued in the spin off series The Green Green Grass, which began filming in June 2005, in which Boycie and family have fled from a gang of...
to pay up for the dodgy VCRs that Del had sold him a few months previously (in "Danger UXD
Danger UXD
"Danger UXD" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses. It was the second episode of series 6 and first broadcast on 15 January, 1989.-Synopsis:While continuing to follow the yuppy lifestyle, Del Boy encourages Rodney to join in the fun...
") to raise the £2,000.
The following night, Del finds it hard work selling his phones, and Boycie claims to be out of pocket, thanks to the combination of a slump in the used car market and medical bills for his wife Marlene's pregnancy. Things get a lot worse when Mickey Pearce and Jevon enter the Nag's Head with cuts and bruises all over their bodies and tell Del that local gangsters Tony and Danny, the Driscoll Brothers, are coming for him, and that it was in fact the Driscolls that had supplied Del's phones.
Del, Mickey, and Jevon hide upstairs (as does Trigger
Trigger (Only Fools and Horses)
Trigger is a character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He is played by actor Roger Lloyd Pack....
, although he doesn't understand what's going on), and the Driscolls enter, but find nothing. Just as it looks like they're safe, Trigger accidentally activates the antenna in Del's cordless phone, causing it to extend right up Del's nose, giving away their hiding place. The Driscolls threaten Del into paying them £2,000, but Del manages to buy some time by reminding them that he had looked after their mother when they got themselves jailed for their early crimes. Having seen the Driscolls enter, a terrified Boycie enquires whether Del had bought the VCRs off them and Del, seeing a chance to get his payment, says he did. The "skint" Boycie then suddenly produces £3,000 from his jacket pocket, giving Del the money that he needs.
At Rodney's stag night
Stag night
*Stag Night a 2008 horror film*'Stag night' UK, Canadian, Irish, Australian and New Zealand term for a bachelor party...
, the Driscoll Brothers show up again looking for Del, who suddenly remembers that he had promised Rodney £2,000 for his flat. He goes off to talk to the Driscoll Brothers and leaves Rodney alone with Denzil who believes that Del will use the money to pay them off. Rodney returns to the flat late that night (with an 'L' plate glued to his boxer shorts), shouting at Del, who is in the bathroom. Del informs Rodney that his money is on the table. Del is then shown nursing his injuries, muffling his pained groans, having taken a beating from the Driscoll Brothers' thugs rather than break his promise to his younger brother.
On the day of Rodney and Cassandra's wedding, Del is able to attend as the best man and Rodney is embarrassed as the minister reveals his middle name to be Charlton (named after Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
according to Del, as their mum was a fan). Cassandra's parents Alan and Pamela also attend, although Pam fears that Alan will get drunk at the reception.
At the reception at the Nag's Head, Rodney thanks Del for everything, and leaves with Cassandra on their honeymoon. Marlene approaches Del and the two talk about past years, and Marlene asks Del why he never got married despite always being engaged when he was younger. Del tells her back then none of the women he went out with were interested in helping to raise Rodney, and he wasn't willing to put his brother into care. As a result, he broke up with them because family came first. The two say a fond farewell (a little too fond for Boycie's liking) and Del Boy is left alone to remember all the good and bad times he's experienced, as well as Rodney's new found happiness, while Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
's "Holding Back the Years
Holding Back The Years
"Holding Back the Years" is the 7th track of Simply Red's debut studio album Picture Book. The song was a smash success for the group and quickly rose to the top of charts across the world. It remains their most successful single, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending 12...
" plays in the background.
A few weeks later, Del returns home to the flat from the market, followed shortly by Rodney, dressed in a three-piece suit. Rodney asks Del what is for dinner, then Del offers Rodney some advice: "You don't live here no more." Realising his mistake, Rodney exits the flat abruptly, leaving Del amused, as he now knows that Rodney will always be around.
Episode cast
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Music
- Sam FoxSam FoxSam Fox is an American businessman in St. Louis. He was the United States Ambassador to Belgium from April 11, 2007 until January 2, 2009. President George W...
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: Tender Hands - Steven DanteSteven DanteSteven Dante is a British soul singer and songwriter, who had several singles released in the late 1980s on the Cooltempo label. His only solo album, Find Out, was released on Chrysalis in 1988. It peaked at #87 in the UK Albums Chart in September 1988...
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& Gene PitneyGene PitneyEugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the...
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& Will DowningWill DowningWill Downing , is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Downing is known in the contemporary jazz and R&B music genres for his rich baritone vocals, and his interpretations of R&B and pop classics that stretch back to the early 1980s...
: Where Is The Love - Simply RedSimply RedSimply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
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