Sleeping Dogs Lie (Only Fools and Horses)
Encyclopedia
"Sleeping Dogs Lie" is an episode of the BBC
sitcom, Only Fools and Horses
. It was the fifth episode of series 4 and first broadcast on 21 March, 1985.
watches an old horror movie and Rodney
bemoans about the lack of jobs in London, Del Boy
has found another opportunity to be a millionaire by babysitting Boycie
and Marlene's new puppy named Duke.
The Trotter Brothers arrive at Boycie's house and learn that Duke is a Great Dane who eats meat and pork, takes vitamin pills, and nearly kills people when playing with them.
The next day, Del and Rodney arrive at the park. Del reminds Rodney that it's his turn to take Duke for a run. As Del walks off to flirt with a beautiful woman walking a Dachshund, Rodney is horrified to see Duke lying in the back of the Trotter Van with no sign of life, and tells Del the bad news. The Trotter Brothers race back to the van to see that Duke is still breathing, and quickly drive him to the vet.
At a local veterinary clinic, as Rodney believes that Duke being ill is all because of Albert, the vet enters and tells the Trotter Brothers that Duke is not injured, yet his illness is a mystery. Del mentions that Duke ate re-heated pork. The vet comes to the conclusion that Duke has been struck down with salmonella poisoning, and so has Albert since he ate the rest of it. Del phones Albert and tells him that he has to go to hospital.
Later that night, back at the flat, Boycie and Marlene phone the Trotters to check on Duke, and Del pretends to be Duke by doing a quick barking noise into the telephone receiver.
The next morning, the Trotter Brothers arrive at the hospital to pick up Albert, who complains about what the doctors were doing to him. The good news Del Boy has for Albert is that there was nothing wrong with him, and he's fine. Also, Duke has made a complete recovery and is back on his feet.
A doctor then shows them a bottle of pills given to him by one of the sisters. Apparently, patients aren't allowed to bring their own medicine into the hospital, so says the doctor. Del points out that those pills are Duke's vitamin tablets. Rodney denies it, says that he's got Duke's vitamin tablets, and pulls out a bottle that looks identical to the other one. After seeing both bottles, Del discovers the truth behind Duke's condition: Rodney had been feeding him Albert's sleeping pills. Del and Rodney decide not to tell Albert that he'd been on the "Bob Martin's".
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...
sitcom, 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 4 and first broadcast on 21 March, 1985.
Synopsis
As AlbertUncle 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...
watches an old horror movie and 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...
bemoans about the lack of jobs in London, 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...
has found another opportunity to be a millionaire by babysitting 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...
and Marlene's new puppy named Duke.
The Trotter Brothers arrive at Boycie's house and learn that Duke is a Great Dane who eats meat and pork, takes vitamin pills, and nearly kills people when playing with them.
The next day, Del and Rodney arrive at the park. Del reminds Rodney that it's his turn to take Duke for a run. As Del walks off to flirt with a beautiful woman walking a Dachshund, Rodney is horrified to see Duke lying in the back of the Trotter Van with no sign of life, and tells Del the bad news. The Trotter Brothers race back to the van to see that Duke is still breathing, and quickly drive him to the vet.
At a local veterinary clinic, as Rodney believes that Duke being ill is all because of Albert, the vet enters and tells the Trotter Brothers that Duke is not injured, yet his illness is a mystery. Del mentions that Duke ate re-heated pork. The vet comes to the conclusion that Duke has been struck down with salmonella poisoning, and so has Albert since he ate the rest of it. Del phones Albert and tells him that he has to go to hospital.
Later that night, back at the flat, Boycie and Marlene phone the Trotters to check on Duke, and Del pretends to be Duke by doing a quick barking noise into the telephone receiver.
The next morning, the Trotter Brothers arrive at the hospital to pick up Albert, who complains about what the doctors were doing to him. The good news Del Boy has for Albert is that there was nothing wrong with him, and he's fine. Also, Duke has made a complete recovery and is back on his feet.
A doctor then shows them a bottle of pills given to him by one of the sisters. Apparently, patients aren't allowed to bring their own medicine into the hospital, so says the doctor. Del points out that those pills are Duke's vitamin tablets. Rodney denies it, says that he's got Duke's vitamin tablets, and pulls out a bottle that looks identical to the other one. After seeing both bottles, Del discovers the truth behind Duke's condition: Rodney had been feeding him Albert's sleeping pills. Del and Rodney decide not to tell Albert that he'd been on the "Bob Martin's".
Episode cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| David Jason David Jason Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack... |
Del Boy |
| Nicholas Lyndhurst Nicholas Lyndhurst Nicholas Simon Lyndhurst is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, Gary Sparrow in Goodnight Sweetheart, and as Adam Parkinson in Carla Lane's series Butterflies... |
Rodney |
| Buster Merryfield Buster Merryfield Harry "Buster" Merryfield was an English actor best known for starring in the BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses.-Early life:... |
Uncle Albert |
| John Challis John Challis John Challis is an English actor.-Career:He is probably best known for his role as Terrance Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce in the long running comedy show Only Fools and Horses, and its 2005 spin-off, The Green Green Grass.... |
Boycie |
| Sue Holderness Sue Holderness Sue Holderness is an English actress. Since 1985 she has played the role of Marlene Boyce in the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses and its spin-off The Green Green Grass .-Career:... |
Marlene |
| Linda Barr | Dog owner |
| Debbie Blyth | Receptionist |
| John D. Collins John D. Collins John D. Collins is an English actor, perhaps best known for appearing in the BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo! in which he played Flt. Lt. Fairfax, a stranded British airman in occupied France during World War II... |
Vet |
| Brian Jameson | Doctor |
First appearances
- Marlene Boyce (Although the character of Marlene, Boycie's wife, has been mentioned numerous times in the series from the very beginning, this is the first occasion on which she is actually seen in person. Immediately the character brings to the present the running joke of her having a reputation for sleeping around (as seen on numerous previous occasions) with her flamboyant display in front of Del.)
- Duke
Trivia
- It is strongly hinted throughout the series that Del BoyDel BoyDerek 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...
and MarleneMarleneMarlene may refer to:* Marlene * Marlene * Marlene , people with the given name Marlene* "Marlene", a song by Todd Rundgren from the album Something/Anything?...
had an affairAffairAffair may refer to professional, personal, or public business matters or to a particular business or private activity of a temporary duration, as in family affair, a private affair, or a romantic affair.-Political affair:...
, as Del often slaps Marlene's bum everytime he sees her, and she usually kisses him hello and goodbye. Everytime they do this in public, Boycie provides a warning look to Del, who smiles smugly.
Episode concept
- The idea for the script was purely based on a gag someone told John SullivanJohn 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....
.
Errors
- Del refers to Salmonella Poisoning as Sam and Ella Poisoning, whereas in the first episode "Big BrotherBig Brother (Only Fools and Horses)"Big Brother" is the pilot episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses. It was the pilot episode of the entire series, and the first episode of series 1, and was first screened on 8 September, 1981.-Synopsis:...
", he knew perfectly well what the illness was, when mentioning the Salmonella and Chips frequently cooked by Granddad.