All About Scoring, Innit?

George Palmer is back, and this time he's only got three months of his sentence left to run. That he bolts anyway tells you what he thinks of the diamond robbery he was put away for: he swears he never did it. He escapes with three months left, which is not the act of a man who plans to stay free forever; it is the act of a man who wants to be heard. Terry, who was at school with him, believes him and calls in a journalist to start clearing his name. But the real robbers get wind of it and snatch George, and Terry has to go and get him back.

Meanwhile there is Danny Varrow, a young footballer with a story to sell and no idea how badly that can go. Arthur, sensing a fee, volunteers Terry as the minder while the deal is arranged. Varrow is in debt to the local bookie, and he's been sleeping with someone's daughter, and the father is coming round to discuss the matter in person. The bookie wants his money back, and the father wants a quiet word about his daughter. Both of them want it today. Keeping the lad alive until the newspapers pay up is a full-time job.

Willis Hall and Leon Griffiths wrote it, Martin Campbell directed. Karl Howman plays Varrow, Adrienne Posta is Jenny, and George Sweeney, Malcolm Hayes, Sean Caffrey, Anthony Douse, Forbes Collins and Martin Neil make up the rest of the guest list around Dennis Waterman and George Cole. It is a busy cast and a busy episode, and the two never quite collide.

The two storylines sit oddly together. One is all boyish enthusiasm and bad decisions; the other is a grim little reminder of what happens to Terry's old friends. The show never seems bothered by the mismatch. It works anyway. And Terry, as ever, is the one left holding the pieces.