Strangers on the Shore
Encyclopedia
"Strangers on the Shore" is an episode of the BBC
sitcom, Only Fools and Horses
, first screened on 25 December, 2002 as the second part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy.
has been driving for Boycie
. As he and Marlene prepare to head to a relative's wedding, Boycie boasts to Del (for the millionth time) about how he's going be a multi-millionaire when he goes to France to sign a deal with an Iranian associate (although Boycie thinks he is Lebanese). Del gets back at Boycie for teasing him by putting onion puree in Boycie's hair gel. Meanwhile, at Nelson Mandela House, Rodney
is trying not to look at Damien
. Then, as Del returns home, there's a letter for their late Uncle Albert
, requesting his presence at a small village in France.
Sometime later at the Nag's Head, Raquel
and a pregnant Cassandra
join Del and Rodney in a conversation about how Albert's life journey and love life are similar to the story Captain Corelli's Mandolin
, although Del doesn't have a clue about it. The Trotter brothers suggest that they go to France and represent their late great uncle. But Del has other things in mind: such as asking Denzil and Trigger to head to a wine warehouse when they all get there, in order to procure a large volume of alcohol which they will then sell to Sid for a handsome profit.
A few days later, Del and Rodney scatter Albert's ashes to the sea before arriving in port. They set off in their van to the village of St. Claire a la Chappelle and meet another World War II soldier named George Parker. In a bar, as George tells them about how much of a ladies' man Albert was, the Trotter brothers notice that all the old men in the village have the same beard as Albert. Meanwhile, at the wine warehouse, Denzil and Trigger wait patiently for Del while talking about their love lives.
Later, as the Trotter brothers leave the village and prepare to drive back to the ship, Rodney wonders if Albert was really that popular with the ladies because of the many Albert lookalikes they saw in that village. Del just says "Captain Corelli's Mandolin? More like Captain Birdseye
's Banjo
!" They then arrive at the warehouse and quickly help Denzil and Trigger stock up on Saint-Omer beer to take back to Britain and the Nag's Head with them.
That night, back at Nelson Mandela House, Denzil and Trigger find an illegal immigrant in the back of Denzil's lorry. The Trotter brothers head down to the garage and investigate. The immigrant's name is unknown to them, and he doesn't even speak English. Del Boy and Rodney bring him up to the flat and introduce him to Raquel, Damien, and Cassandra as Gary, a friend who Rodney met at evening school, although Raquel realizes that "Gary" is an illegal immigrant almost immediately. Boycie also shows up because a gas leak from Del's Slovak
log-effect gas fires caused his house to be filled with gas causing an evacuation by order of the fire brigade. Marlene had taken Tyler and gone to stay at her mother's place, but Boycie was unable to sleep there, as he had a massive argument with his mother-in-law at the wedding, partly due to the onion puree Del put in his hair. The Trotters reluctantly agree to let him stay. A great deal of the comedy is derived from the unfortunate man repeating the name "Gary" in a heavily accented voice, as a reply to absolutely everything that is directed at him as long as it has the word "Gary" in it.
A few days later, Boycie is allowed to go back into his mansion, and that he's heading to France right now. But unfortunately, Gary disappeared when he was playing football with Damien and his friends. As Boycie and the Trotters head to France in a white van (Del having hired it in place of an expensive car, intending to buy more alcohol on this trip) there is a news report featuring Gary, in which his real name is revealed as Rashid Mamoon and that he has told the authorities he was being "kidnapped and held hostage by the Gary Gang" (he was helping to load the beer in the back of Denzil's van when Del unknowingly trapped him underneath a huge stack of beer boxes). When Del, Rodney, and Boycie arrive in France, they meet with Boycie's Iranian business partner, Mr. Mamoon, who introduces them to his son, who they see is actually Rashid. Rashid panics and claims Boycie and the Trotter brothers are the kidnappers. Mr. Mamoon calls the police and Del, Rodney and Boycie are arrested on suspicion for kidnapping.
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...
, first screened on 25 December, 2002 as the second part of the early 2000s Christmas trilogy.
Synopsis
Because the Trotters lost their fortune due to investing in an embezzling Central American market, 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...
has been driving for 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...
. As he and Marlene prepare to head to a relative's wedding, Boycie boasts to Del (for the millionth time) about how he's going be a multi-millionaire when he goes to France to sign a deal with an Iranian associate (although Boycie thinks he is Lebanese). Del gets back at Boycie for teasing him by putting onion puree in Boycie's hair gel. Meanwhile, at Nelson Mandela House, 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 trying not to look at Damien
Damien Trotter
Damien Derek Trotter is a fictional character in the BBC series Only Fools and Horses. He is son to Derek Trotter and Raquel Turner.Damien is the only child of Del and Raquel and nephew of Rodney Trotter...
. Then, as Del returns home, there's a letter for their late 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...
, requesting his presence at a small village in France.
Sometime later at the Nag's Head, Raquel
Raquel Turner
Rachel "Raquel" Turner is a fictional character from the BBC television sit-com Only Fools and Horses, in which she was Del Boy's longtime girlfriend...
and a pregnant 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:...
join Del and Rodney in a conversation about how Albert's life journey and love life are similar to the story Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Captain Corelli's Mandolin (film)
Captain Corelli's Mandolin is a 2001 film directed by John Madden and based on the novel of the same name by Louis de Bernières. It stars Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz.-Plot:...
, although Del doesn't have a clue about it. The Trotter brothers suggest that they go to France and represent their late great uncle. But Del has other things in mind: such as asking Denzil and Trigger to head to a wine warehouse when they all get there, in order to procure a large volume of alcohol which they will then sell to Sid for a handsome profit.
A few days later, Del and Rodney scatter Albert's ashes to the sea before arriving in port. They set off in their van to the village of St. Claire a la Chappelle and meet another World War II soldier named George Parker. In a bar, as George tells them about how much of a ladies' man Albert was, the Trotter brothers notice that all the old men in the village have the same beard as Albert. Meanwhile, at the wine warehouse, Denzil and Trigger wait patiently for Del while talking about their love lives.
Later, as the Trotter brothers leave the village and prepare to drive back to the ship, Rodney wonders if Albert was really that popular with the ladies because of the many Albert lookalikes they saw in that village. Del just says "Captain Corelli's Mandolin? More like Captain Birdseye
Captain Birdseye
Captain Birdseye, also known as Captain Iglo, is the advertising mascot for the Birds Eye frozen food brand founded by Clarence Birdseye. Appearing in numerous television and billboard commercials, he has been played or modeled by various actors and is generally depicted as a clean living, older...
's Banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
!" They then arrive at the warehouse and quickly help Denzil and Trigger stock up on Saint-Omer beer to take back to Britain and the Nag's Head with them.
That night, back at Nelson Mandela House, Denzil and Trigger find an illegal immigrant in the back of Denzil's lorry. The Trotter brothers head down to the garage and investigate. The immigrant's name is unknown to them, and he doesn't even speak English. Del Boy and Rodney bring him up to the flat and introduce him to Raquel, Damien, and Cassandra as Gary, a friend who Rodney met at evening school, although Raquel realizes that "Gary" is an illegal immigrant almost immediately. Boycie also shows up because a gas leak from Del's Slovak
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
log-effect gas fires caused his house to be filled with gas causing an evacuation by order of the fire brigade. Marlene had taken Tyler and gone to stay at her mother's place, but Boycie was unable to sleep there, as he had a massive argument with his mother-in-law at the wedding, partly due to the onion puree Del put in his hair. The Trotters reluctantly agree to let him stay. A great deal of the comedy is derived from the unfortunate man repeating the name "Gary" in a heavily accented voice, as a reply to absolutely everything that is directed at him as long as it has the word "Gary" in it.
A few days later, Boycie is allowed to go back into his mansion, and that he's heading to France right now. But unfortunately, Gary disappeared when he was playing football with Damien and his friends. As Boycie and the Trotters head to France in a white van (Del having hired it in place of an expensive car, intending to buy more alcohol on this trip) there is a news report featuring Gary, in which his real name is revealed as Rashid Mamoon and that he has told the authorities he was being "kidnapped and held hostage by the Gary Gang" (he was helping to load the beer in the back of Denzil's van when Del unknowingly trapped him underneath a huge stack of beer boxes). When Del, Rodney, and Boycie arrive in France, they meet with Boycie's Iranian business partner, Mr. Mamoon, who introduces them to his son, who they see is actually Rashid. Rashid panics and claims Boycie and the Trotter brothers are the kidnappers. Mr. Mamoon calls the police and Del, Rodney and Boycie are arrested on suspicion for kidnapping.