Sickness and Wealth
Encyclopedia
"Sickness and Wealth" is an episode of the BBC
sit-com, Only Fools and Horses
. It was the fifth episode of series 6, and was first screened on 5 February, 1989.
is suffering from a mysterious illness that is giving him stomach pains, but he refuses to admit to it or go to see a doctor because he is scared of them. He is also under a great deal of stress; his recent line in awful women's summer fashion hasn't been selling well with all the frost and sleet and he so hasn't been able to pay the rent on the flat. In spite of the fact that he, Rodney, and Albert are facing the possibility of eviction, Del is still living the yuppy lifestyle, eating in the curry houses and bistros, and drinking and buying rounds in wine bars and pubs, all on the slate, causing further debts.
Over a Chinese Del learns that Albert
's new girlfriend Elsie Partridge used to be a medium in the 1960s and thinks their toilet is haunted (though it could be because the council have put their extractor fan in the wrong way around), and he instantly sees it as a chance to make money and the answer to his financial worries.
Having convinced Elsie Partridge, Del holds a 'dummy run' séance with all the regular cast (Trigger
, Boycie
, Rodney
, Mike
and Uncle Albert) in the hall above the Nag's Head pub. Mike is concerned about 'messing with the forces of darkness' but Del and Boycie laugh off his and Rodney’s concerns. At the séance Elsie gives Boycie a message from his father that Boycie must look after his child (it was previous established that Boycie and his wife Marlene couldn't have children) and then gives Del a message from his late mother Joan prompting him to go to doctors. Del still refuses to believe in Elsie until Marlene announces she's pregnant, thus confirming his fears that he may be genuinely ill (the message from Joan was actually a plot by Albert to make Del see sense, as he tells Elsie that the only person Del would ever listen to was his mother).
Del goes to see his GP, Dr. Meadows, only to find he's left general practice and gone to work at the local hospital, and a young Indian woman has taken his place. Del's nervous jokes fail to impress her and during the examination he lies to her repeatedly about his life-style, pretending he is a tee-total, celibate health-nut and non-smoker. She sends him to hospital thinking he might have a grumbling appendix but after testing Del the doctors prove this false and can't seem to find what's wrong him. In a discussion in the Nag's Head, Uncle Albert suggests it might be Green Parrot Disease
.
Rodney, Albert, and Cassandra
visit Del in hospital, and Del worries that he might have caught AIDS
(although he never states the illness by name) from his promiscuous past (and a male hairdresser called Jason). He also finds out that the 'pukka seance' went badly wrong after a mix-up because of Del's posters, which led people to think they were seeing an Iron Maiden-esque band instead of Elsie Partridge (though as Rodney quips "Fortunately she remained in a trance throughout the riot!").
Whilst still worrying about his health, Del is finally approached by his former GP, Robbie Meadows. Having heard Del's name crop up in conversations with his colleagues, Meadows has asked to see Del's medical file and has subsequently been put in charge of his case, being as Del is his former patient. Knowing Del as he does, and that he is not in fact the celibate health-freak he has made himself out to be to the other doctors, Meadows is quickly able to diagnose Del with having Irritable Bowel Syndrome
caused by his stressful, unhealthy lifestyle. Meadows mildly scorns Del for lying to his GP, telling him that because he had not been truthful about his lifestyle, Del had confused the doctors handling his case since they believed they were dealing with the "perfect man", and had he been honest from the start his diagnosis would have taken far less time. Warning him to actively lead a healthier lifestyle, Meadows then reveals that he has phoned the Council and got them to give Del some breathing space with regard to his rent arrears. He then discharges Del, who after an initial macho posture of claiming that he knew he was really alright, breaks down in relief.
A few days later, back at Nelson Mandela House, a housebound Del is disgusted at his Muesli diet and taking it easy but is getting better, until Rodney comes home and announces he's getting married.
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 fifth episode of series 6, and was first screened on 5 February, 1989.
Synopsis
Del BoyDel 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...
is suffering from a mysterious illness that is giving him stomach pains, but he refuses to admit to it or go to see a doctor because he is scared of them. He is also under a great deal of stress; his recent line in awful women's summer fashion hasn't been selling well with all the frost and sleet and he so hasn't been able to pay the rent on the flat. In spite of the fact that he, Rodney, and Albert are facing the possibility of eviction, Del is still living the yuppy lifestyle, eating in the curry houses and bistros, and drinking and buying rounds in wine bars and pubs, all on the slate, causing further debts.
Over a Chinese Del learns that 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...
's new girlfriend Elsie Partridge used to be a medium in the 1960s and thinks their toilet is haunted (though it could be because the council have put their extractor fan in the wrong way around), and he instantly sees it as a chance to make money and the answer to his financial worries.
Having convinced Elsie Partridge, Del holds a 'dummy run' séance with all the regular cast (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....
, 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...
, 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...
, Mike
Mike Fisher (Only Fools and Horses)
Michael "Mike" Fisher was a fictional character in the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses. He was publican of the Nag's Head and appeared in the show from 1983 to 1996...
and Uncle Albert) in the hall above the Nag's Head pub. Mike is concerned about 'messing with the forces of darkness' but Del and Boycie laugh off his and Rodney’s concerns. At the séance Elsie gives Boycie a message from his father that Boycie must look after his child (it was previous established that Boycie and his wife Marlene couldn't have children) and then gives Del a message from his late mother Joan prompting him to go to doctors. Del still refuses to believe in Elsie until Marlene announces she's pregnant, thus confirming his fears that he may be genuinely ill (the message from Joan was actually a plot by Albert to make Del see sense, as he tells Elsie that the only person Del would ever listen to was his mother).
Del goes to see his GP, Dr. Meadows, only to find he's left general practice and gone to work at the local hospital, and a young Indian woman has taken his place. Del's nervous jokes fail to impress her and during the examination he lies to her repeatedly about his life-style, pretending he is a tee-total, celibate health-nut and non-smoker. She sends him to hospital thinking he might have a grumbling appendix but after testing Del the doctors prove this false and can't seem to find what's wrong him. In a discussion in the Nag's Head, Uncle Albert suggests it might be Green Parrot Disease
Psittacosis
In medicine , psittacosis — also known as parrot disease, parrot fever, and ornithosis — is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Chlamydophila psittaci and contracted from parrots, such as macaws, cockatiels and budgerigars, and pigeons, sparrows, ducks, hens, gulls and many...
.
Rodney, Albert, and Cassandra
Cassandra Trotter
Cassandra Louise Trotter is a fictional character from the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses. She was portrayed by Gwyneth Strong.-Biography:...
visit Del in hospital, and Del worries that he might have caught AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
(although he never states the illness by name) from his promiscuous past (and a male hairdresser called Jason). He also finds out that the 'pukka seance' went badly wrong after a mix-up because of Del's posters, which led people to think they were seeing an Iron Maiden-esque band instead of Elsie Partridge (though as Rodney quips "Fortunately she remained in a trance throughout the riot!").
Whilst still worrying about his health, Del is finally approached by his former GP, Robbie Meadows. Having heard Del's name crop up in conversations with his colleagues, Meadows has asked to see Del's medical file and has subsequently been put in charge of his case, being as Del is his former patient. Knowing Del as he does, and that he is not in fact the celibate health-freak he has made himself out to be to the other doctors, Meadows is quickly able to diagnose Del with having Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits in the absence of any detectable organic cause. In some cases, the symptoms are relieved by bowel movements...
caused by his stressful, unhealthy lifestyle. Meadows mildly scorns Del for lying to his GP, telling him that because he had not been truthful about his lifestyle, Del had confused the doctors handling his case since they believed they were dealing with the "perfect man", and had he been honest from the start his diagnosis would have taken far less time. Warning him to actively lead a healthier lifestyle, Meadows then reveals that he has phoned the Council and got them to give Del some breathing space with regard to his rent arrears. He then discharges Del, who after an initial macho posture of claiming that he knew he was really alright, breaks down in relief.
A few days later, back at Nelson Mandela House, a housebound Del is disgusted at his Muesli diet and taking it easy but is getting better, until Rodney comes home and announces he's getting married.
Story arc
- The character Elsie Partridge, mentioned in the previous episode "The Unlucky Winner Is...The Unlucky Winner Is..."The Unlucky Winner Is..." is an episode of the BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses. It was the fourth episode of series 6, and was first screened on 29 January, 1989.-Synopsis:...
", makes her only appearance in this episode. She would be continued to be mentioned throughout the series as Albert's "girlfriend", and in "If They Could See Us NowIf They Could See Us Now"If They Could See Us Now" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December, 2001 as the first part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy. It was the most viewed television programme of the decade.-Synopsis:...
", it was revealed the pair had moved to the coast together. - Mickey Pearce and Jevon tell Boyce in this episode that they have started trading together, it is them that sell Del the phones that get him into trouble with the Driscoll Brothers in the following episode "Little ProblemsLittle Problems"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...
". Likewise Rodney announces his marriage which takes place in the same episode. - This episode also began the sub-plot of Marlene's pregnancy, changing it from Boycie and Marlene's desperation for a child. Their son Tyler would later make a number of appearances in the show and later was a character in the spin-off series The Green Green GrassThe Green Green GrassThe Green Green Grass is a British sitcom, created and initially written by John Sullivan, produced by Shazam Productions for the BBC. It is a spin-off of the long running sitcom Only Fools and Horses and stars John Challis, Sue Holderness and Jack Doolan...
.
Music
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: I Don't Want A LoverI Don't Want A LoverI Don't Want a Lover is the debut single from Texas's first album Southside. It was released in January 1989 and peaked at #8 in the UK Singles Chart. It was remixed in 2001 by Stargate and DJ Stonebridge to promote The Greatest Hits compilation album... - YazzYazzYazz is a British pop singer, who remains best known for her successful 1988 dance track, "The Only Way Is Up". Some of her records were credited to Yazz & The Plastic Population...
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