Minder · S04E09
Windows
First aired 1984-03-07 · Written by Geoffrey Case, Leon Griffiths · Directed by Robert Young
Arthur sees the fitness craze and decides, naturally, to be part of it. He opens an aerobics studio called the Daley Work-out, staffed by casino employees moonlighting for extra cash. The thought of Arthur in a tracksuit directing lunges is worth something by itself, though the show is wise enough to keep most of it off screen. Aerobics is the newest thing, which for Arthur means it is the next thing to be milked.
The venture runs into trouble when his business partner's wife and daughter disappear. Whatever the circumstances, they are bad enough that the project is forced to close. The partners in the studio are left counting the cost, and Arthur is left explaining, at length, that none of it was his fault. His brush with wellness ends where his schemes usually end, in paperwork and excuses.
Terry, meanwhile, gets the more delicate job: trying to keep the peace between two branches of the Anglo-Italian Mancini family. One daughter has walked out on her husband, and the husband belongs to the other branch of the same extended household, which means everyone is related to the argument and nobody can stay out of it. Two families, joined by marriage and divided by everything else. Terry's counselling style is probably not the textbook kind, but he gets through it.
Geoffrey Case and Leon Griffiths wrote the script, Robert Young directed. Dennis Waterman plays Terry, George Cole plays Arthur, and the cast around them includes Stephen Rea as Roddy Allan, Jenifer Landor as Laura Mancini Allan, Patrick Troughton as Joe Mancini, Tony Anholt as Johnny Petselli, Ruth Goring as Helena Mancini, Janet Fielding as Janice, Valerie Buchanan as Linda and Glynn Edwards as Dave.
It is a neat piece of accounting: one man's dead fitness business, another man's family drama. And the show knows the real action is in the drawing rooms, where the secrets pile up.
Cast
- Dennis Watermanas Terry
- George Coleas Arthur
- Stephen Reaas Roddy Allan
- Jenifer Landoras Laura Mancini Allan
- Patrick Troughtonas Joe Mancini
- Glynn Edwardsas Dave
- Tony Anholtas Johnny Petselli
- Ruth Goringas Helena Mancini
- Janet Fieldingas Janice
- Valerie Buchananas Linda