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Season 7 Episode 15
Episode 307 Sky One Transmission Date: Directed by Riita-Leena Lynn
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Wright bathroom
Bobby Thompson,
Donna,
Chelsea, Viv
Curtis |
GS: Minister (Gordon Case) In desperate need of a permanent goalkeeper and with no funds to bring in anyone new, Stuart suggests approaching an old team mate, the notorious Vivian “Jaws” Wright. He goes to visit Viv at his home and encounters Chelsea, Viv’s wife, who more than enjoys the fact that Stuart needs her husband’s help. Stuart begins to feel uncomfortable, especially over past events with Viv and is about to leave when Viv arrives home. Viv wants a £250K signing on fee and 15 grand a week. Stuart tells him he cannot afford it and Viv lets him know he isn’t otherwise interested. Wanting to be taken seriously as their boss, Donna informs the players that Viv will be joining the team, to their horror. With her announcement having caused fear and uproar amongst the dressing room, Donna tries to patch things up between herself, Clyde, Curtis and Grace by arranging a meeting in the boardroom. This ends disastrously, with Donna suspending both Curtis and Clyde. Clyde is so furious that he taunts Curtis on his playing ability until Curtis attacks him, leaving Clyde in a bloody mess on the floor. After a long chat with Stuart about his present state, Curtis suggests he take the wages he should be fining him in order to put towards getting Viv, which gives Stuart an idea. He asks the players if they’d be prepared to take a wage cut, but when Marcel queries as to whether Luke will be doing the same, Stuart, having already been turned down by Luke, has to say he isn’t. All but Curtis then refuse. Curtis approaches the Minister from Grace’s church to inquire about being baptised. He tells the Minister he wants his baptism to take place at the football club (on the pitch infact), and invites his team mates to attend, although they are at first hesitant after what happened with Clyde. Curtis goes to see Luke and apologises for the resentment he’s held against him since his arrival at the club, and also to invite him to the baptism. Luke appreciates this but is about to leave the country to continue his recovery from the operation and won’t be able to attend. After learning that Viv wants money they don’t have, Donna goes to see him and offers seduction in an attempt to get Viv to sign, which seems to be working until Chelsea arrives home and angrily throws Donna out. Stuart explodes at Donna for her trouble caused, sending her running in tears. As Grace comforts her, Donna admits she wishes that she was more like her, so Grace offers to help Donna change her image. Donna meets Luke at the Grange just as he is leaving, and following on from his discussion with Curtis earlier, gives Donna a cheque for the wage cut so they will be able to bring in Viv. The other players reluctantly agree to do the same and Stuart toasts to his new signing with Viv and Chelsea in Studs, wondering if Viv’s volatile behaviour will see him regret this. Notes: First appearances of Chelsea Wright (Karen Ferrari) and Vivian “Jaws” Wright (Philip Brodie) Neil Newbon is out of the show as Luke leaves to recover from his eye surgery, until 7.23 (#315) Locked Out, when he returns after seven episodes away.
Philip Brodie's television credits include Ivan, brother of Dracula in "Young Dracula" (2007), Boxer-owner Robert in "Miranda" (2009), Russian gangster Nikolai in "Ideal" (2009-10), George Hendee in "Harley and the Davidsons" (2016), murderous Everit Dred in "The Outpost" (2018-19) and Thomas Howard in "The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family" (2021). His film roles include Zombie fighter Maddox in "World of the Dead", "Dawn of the Dragonslayer" (both 2011), assassin Wilson in Michael Apted's "Unlocked" (2017), "Behind You" (2018) and "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Theives" (2023)
The Best: Justin Lee slamming his drink down after Donna announces Viv will be arriving as the new first team goalie. The various framed newspaper articles hanging on the Wrights guest bathroom wall, with headlines including ‘OUTRAGE AS VIV WRIGHT BITES BACK’, ‘BITE ME’, ‘VIV WRIGHT BIT MY NOSE OFF’ (the man pictured with the bandage covering his nose and face is believed to be Series Producer and writer Ben Harris) and ‘“JAWS!” Dare to go back into the penalty Box’. Logic: Curtis tells the Minister that he doesn’t have any family anymore; “Well not blood anyway” he states. Aside from Linton’s children Zak and Olivia [5.21 (#249) Missing and 5.24 (#252) The Birthday Party], his mother appears in four Season 9 episodes after Curtis is dead. Quotes: Chelsea (upon catching Viv with Donna): “Your tastes are getting more common Viv” Donna: “Excuse me! I’m the owner of Harchester United!” Chelsea: “I knew Stuart was desperate but I didn’t know how much”. Stuart (shouting at Donna over her genuinely-good-hearted-but-disastrous attempts to help the club): “In one day you’ve put one of my players in hospital, sent another into a depression, reduced my team sprit to zero, and single handedly ruined the only chance I had of getting us a decent player this window… I’m assuming it’s just stupidity and you’re not deliberately trying to ruin us?!” Foreshadowing: Chelsea’s first visit to Studs, presently sitting on the customer side of the bar [7.16 (#308) Swimming With Sharks] Continuity: Stuart says it would be hard to ask any of the younger players to fill Jamie Parker’s boots. Curtis reminisces with Stuart over his best form at PSG two seasons ago (23 goals in one season) and how he is seeing in himself the same type of violence that he used to see in Linton, and hate him for. Additional Info: The goalkeeper situation (or lack of it) at the beginning of the episode has Alex Lawlor out injured for two weeks, hence the inexperienced Justin Lee taking over in goal. Viv and Chelsea have pet Dobermans, one of whom is called Suzy (although they are never seen on-screen). Viv has been out of the game for three months, following an incident at Soundtrack: Basement Jaxx: “Hot N’ Cold”, Beyonce Feat. Jay-Z: “Crazy In Love”, Groove Armada: “My Friend”, Idlewild: “A Modern Way Of Letting Go”, Moby: “Natural Blues”, Nickelback: “Too Bad”, Nomad: “(I wanna give you) Devotion” |
