Season 8 Episode 13

Episode 337

 

Sky One Transmission Date:

Sunday 16th January 2005

 

Directed by

Marcus D F White

 

Frank

 

 

Lee, Viv, Curtis

 

 

Andy, Fletch

 

 

Fletch, Viv

 

 

Don

GS: Paramedic [Frank’s Lover] (Craig Russell)

 

As Fletch and the lads celebrate his winning goal, Frank says he wants to be fresh for training for the upcoming Plymouth game and leaves alone. Curtis is taking Gina and a tipsy Fletch home when they spot Frank's car at the roadside and Curtis gets out to see if he is OK. He opens the side door and gets an eyeful of Frank and another man in a sex act. Curtis runs back to his car, whilst Frank throws money at the man and yells at him that this did not happen. At the Barrons, Frank frantically tries to convince Curtis that the man was a hitchhiker who jumped him but Curtis sends Frank home.

 

Gina is determined to keep Fletch fit after his win and announces they are going on a run. Frank comes along and gets teased by Fletch for having someone in the car last night. Frank is shocked but Fletch thinks it was a woman. Don tells Fletch he will be on his team sheet - for the reserves. Frank goes to Dean and tells him he wants a transfer, insistent that he wants out. Gina tries to talk to Don about not selecting Fletch, where he tells her he can't afford to take a wild card with this game, but adds he thinks she’d be superb as the new team co-ordinator. Fletch is shocked to learn Gina is possibly going to work for the club. The two argue and Gina tells Karl that she's going to accept Don's offer, and Fletch knows she’ll miss his birthday on Saturday.

 

Jodie tells Frank that the transfer will be good as they can't live in her dad's shadow forever. On the day of the game(s) Fletch spends his birthday with a bunch of kids in the reserve team. Don takes Curtis aside and informs him of Frank's plans and how there is a rep from Portsmouth here to see him. He then tells Curtis he will have to make Frank an offer to stay – before announcing that Frank will be captaining the game today to Curtis's shock. Fletch meanwhile is struggling against the reserves and Andy takes him off early. Sofia tells Dean that Portsmouth want Frank and are offering £2M. In the tunnel as the players are about to begin their second half, a paramedic comes by and Frank is startled to see it is the man he had the encounter with in his car! Frank is determined to speak to the man but Don will not sub him, so Frank goes out and gets himself sent off with a red card to Don's fury.

 

Frank drags the paramedic into the physio room where he assures Frank he isn't a blackmailer and is just there to do his job. He promises he won't say anything and gives Frank the money back. When a fed-up Fletch arrives back looking for fun, he diverts a hapless taxi driver away from his car and hops in, speeding off with Lee. The police catch up with them and Fletch is arrested for drink driving. When Don is insistent that he tell him what he knows about Frank, Curtis can’t avoid telling him the truth. Viv collects Lee and Fletch from the police station, and takes them to his flat above Studs where he gives Fletch a warning – as he hangs him out of the window! Viv lets go and Fletch falls from a height onto a pile of binbags. Lee rushes down to see if Fletch is OK and Viv grabs hold of him, saying he is moving in with him in order to keep an eye on him. Don goes round to Frank's where he beats him to a bloody mess and tells him he is sold to Portsmouth, adding he will keep his mouth shut because he has Jodie to protect, and tells Frank that if he ever goes near her again he will tell the world and Frank will be finished.

 

Notes:

 

The Best: Morrissey the youth-teamer telling Fletch that, at thirty-three, his dad is not much older than him, as they set off to play on the same team! Viv’s reaction to the binbags breaking Fletch’s fall: “Bloody council I thought they went yesterday!”

 

Quotes: Fletch (on Don): "That bastard!"  Gina: "Oh which one now?".  Jodie to Frank: "You know you need an agent. That Sofia Moxham's a bitch but she is good"

 

Continuity: Gina makes several references to Eddie; telling Don she has been around footballers her whole life. And when Fletch tells her she'll be working weekends, she reminds him her family were footballers and in her world everyone works weekends. On the subject of past team co-ordinators, Fletch’s "They always seem to employ some daft blonde who's shagging one of the players!" refers to Rachel Gately, Sandra and Nikki. Gina also reminds Fletch that his wife (Abi) worked for the club.

 

Additional Info: Fletch asks Gina if she's ten years younger than he is to which she replies that it's twelve and will be thirteen on Saturday when he turns thirty-three, born in January 1972. The team are set to go top of the league if they beat Plymouth, which they do. Don tells Curtis he has known Frank for nine years.

 

What Was The Score?: The final score of the game is 3-2 to Harchester after two goals from Lee and one from Danny Mills.

 

Soundtrack: Deadly Avenger: "Blade", "Deep Red" & "Lopez",  Kings Of Leon: "Pistol Of Fire",  The Chemical Brothers: "Galaxy Bounce",  Zero 7: "Destiny"

 

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