MovieChat Forums > To the Manor Born (1982) Discussion > Shocking episode!

Shocking episode!

posted 15 years ago by Bilwick1
6 replies | jump to latest

Well, not "shocking," exactly, but surprising, at least to me. It was the Christmas episode (not the Christmas special/reunion special, but the actual Christmas episode from the original run). It was recently aired here, and I'd never seen it, although I thought I had seen the entire series. The part that "shocked" me was at the end, when Audrey takes Richard by the hand and leads him off to hide with her in the closet during a hide and seek game. Since she announces to everyone that's where she'll be hiding, it has nothing to with the game, and the implication is clear that she's taking Richard to the closet for some (as we Yanks say) "hanky panky." Maybe not actual intercourse, but probably some necking, and at least kissing.

This surprised me because, until seeing this epiosde this past week, I had always gotten the impression that Richard and Audrey were always at loggerheads, except for some brief moments of detente. Occasionally they grudgingly acknowledge that they kind of like each other, and it's clear to the viewer there's an unspoken attraction; but I always thought nothing physical went on between them, and that the first time they kissed was when Richard proposed to her. Although I'm sure that once they emerged from the closet they found some new reason to argue with each other, it made me wonder what exactly went on in there.

[–] catrionalowe84 15 years ago

Lol, yeah, I've often wondered about that myself! Marjory obviously thinks that's what's going to happen. I must admit, I'd have done exactly the same thing in Audrey's position - well, I don't think I'd QUITE have the nerve to drag a man off like that, but SHE would, lol. V mysterious.

It was rather like when I saw the bee-eater episode (Series 3, Episode 4) & Richard & Audrey are to guard the birds throughout the night, & he says it'll give them an opportunity to... Audrey looks up & goes, "To what?" in a slightly "I'm pretending I don't understand you but really I do" way, & he looks a bit embarrassed & glances away briefly before, "Well, to talk." And I expect they're both imagining that things other than that will happen. But apparently nothing does. SIX HOURS & NOTHING??? You'd think ONE of them would have taken the initiative. If I was Audrey, a few minutes of silence & then, "You wanted to talk, 'about you & me'? or something along those lines"

And yeah, they were usually at loggerheads about something or other, though that was mainly, as Richard said in Series 1, Episode 1, because Audrey wanted an excuse to tell him off about something, & "because you rather enjoy coming over - to see me". Lol, so true!

Catriona x

"I'm coming up through life's soil in spite of the weedkiller"

[–] Bilwick1 15 years ago

Glad to see I'm not the only one who thought Richard and Audrey's little closet adventure was a bit strange, given their normal sparring. Makes you wonder--or at least makes me wonder--what actually went on in the closet. Audrey seems like a strong-willed woman and if she wanted to have her way with Richard in the closet--as it appears she did--she would have. Maybe something interrupted, since the next episode I believe they are back to Business As Usual. It would seem unlikely they made out and not have it change the tenor of their relationship from that point on. In my experience it usually does.

[–] catrionalowe84 15 years ago

Lol, I should think it would! Or maybe that was her plan, but the closet was just a little too small for anything to really happen...Wow, I'm going to keep mulling that over now!

Catriona x

"I'm coming up through life's soil in spite of the weedkiller"

[–] brandy5 15 years ago

Personally I always discard this 'Postman's Knock' scene when watching the Christmas Special because it's so out of context with Audrey's normal behaviour over Richard so early in the series. I think in a Christmas Special a lot of license is taken and this is one occasion - perhaps a difference script writer.
I have numerous sitcom series and in one of them a three piece suite which had been stolen in a burglary two series before suddenly reappears in a Christmas Special two series later!
Nah - Audrey leading Richard into a cupboard for a bit of hanky panky would never have happened IMHO.

[–] catrionalowe84 15 years ago

Hmm, yeah - it's such a cool idea though! Hey, I can really see it happening during the first Christmas after they're married. Audrey said that when that happened with Marton it 'revived their marriage' - until she realised who it was, lol. If someone who was apparently such a cold fish as Marton could manage that, Lord alone knows what Richard might do, ooohh... ;)

Catriona x

"I'm coming up through life's soil in spite of the weedkiller"

[–] brandy5 15 years ago

I suppose to the casual observer, Audrey might come over very callous and uncaring in her attitude to Marton. For instance, letting out a great whoop after his funeral, etc. A lot of stuff isn't clearly defined in the TV series, such as I've mentioned before about Audrey and Marton being first cousins on the fforbes-Hamilton side of the family. It's only through reading the novelization that I discovered this. Also, discovered that Audrey's seeming uncaring attitude towards her husband was because he spent his married life wallowing in wine, women (especially women), and song!!