Goodbye Mrs. Slocombe

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Title: Goodbye Mrs. Slocombe
Season: 10
Eppy: 1
Year: 1985
Show Run: 63

When Mrs. Slocombe returns from hospital she finds out that staff her age are being forced to retire. Not happy with this news she attempts to find work elsewhere in the store while her position is filled by a pinch assed woman named Miss Featherstone. The staff rally behind Mrs. Slocombe to get her job back, no matter what it takes.

We've all seen this eppy now let's discuss !!!
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[One-Legged Tapdancer]

Not such a bad episode for the last series, but I never thought Mrs. Slocombe's disguises were very funny (except her Dolly Parton look), and I can't figure out why she would affect a different accent and personality for each new job...or for that matter, why she would keep changing jobs. The last series has way too many scenes of the cast getting into costumes and pretending to be other people- probably a sign the writers were bored with the characters and the setting.
This episode also kicks off the running gag that Mr. Humphries is always incredibly eager to dress in women's clothes. This episode's drag sequence is actually pretty funny, but I don't really think Humphries' character would have been anything more than mildly annoying. If "she" was enough to make Mrs. Featherstone quit her job, I can't believe she made it as long as she did in retail.
I've always liked the ending of this episode, mainly because Slocombe gets to use Peacock's "Get off the floor" line. This and "The Night Club" rank as my favorite episodes for the final series.

[cpl.er...Capt. Joe]

The fur in the pail alone makes this a classic episode!

And again, Rumbold only covers his arse when his job is on the line.

[UnanimousInThat]

This is actually one of my favorite ones of the later seasons.

"any more rubbish, love, just chuck it in the bucket!" :lol:

I don't really understand the end of the drag scene though when Humphries shows his underwear.

[Red Shadow]

I think this is a cute episode, though it does have a hint of the writers being tired and out of original ideas. I enjoy how Mrs. Slocombe helps to aggravate Miss Featherstone. I showed that even though she was sacked from her job on the floor, she still considered her co-workers there her friends and colleagues. I'm also amazed that she spent 3 days in the hospital for an ingrown toenail! Unless it was causing a spreading infection, one would never be hospitalized for such a thing these days. Back in the '90s, I had 2 ingrown toenails (a few years apart). Each time I had them fixed, I came home, ordered a pizza, and watched this episode.

[Lucas The Tucas]

Red ........ That's more info ...... than I need to know. :lol:

[walleye117]

I think this is a cute episode, though it does have a hint of the writers being tired and out of original ideas. I enjoy how Mrs. Slocombe helps to aggravate Miss Featherstone. I showed that even though she was sacked from her job on the floor, she still considered her co-workers there her friends and colleagues. I'm also amazed that she spent 3 days in the hospital for an ingrown toenail! Unless it was causing a spreading infection, one would never be hospitalized for such a thing these days. Back in the '90s, I had 2 ingrown toenails (a few years apart). Each time I had them fixed, I came home, ordered a pizza, and watched this episode.

i think mrs slocombe aggrivated mr rumbold more than anything he seemed like she kept popping up all over.. he couldn't get rid of her.

[cpl.er...Capt. Joe]

I don't really understand the end of the drag scene though when Humphries shows his underwear.

The only explanation I can come up with is that Humphries didn't want Rumbold to chase after him-as-the-lady-customer to get her business back. The exposed underwear provided just enough shock to make a clean get-away. There's no way Rumbold is chasing after that! :lol:

[Xymers]

I too have wondered why Mrs Slocombe moved from position to position with no explanation given. Mr Harmon says that lady floor cleaner is a good position and it was with his influence that "our Betty" moved to the top of the list. So why would she leave that to clean windows or work in the canteen?

[Aidan Phoenix]

She probably worked it out with Harmon to pop up in as many places as possible to either garner sympathy or be annoying as smeg. Or both. Either way she'd remain fresh on Rumbold's mind and eventually would get her job back.
Joe, I agree with your hypothesis regarding Humphries' knickers. That, and he probably was having trouble running with a skirt on. He has enough trouble running in trousers. Heh.

[offthefloor]

I actually really like the episode, and of the later ones its one of my absolute Fav's. Mrs. Featherstone makes a great antagonist and Mollie was just amazing.

:slochead: Just Bang it into the Crack!!
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[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Not such a bad episode for the last series, but I never thought Mrs. Slocombe's disguises were very funny (except her Dolly Parton look), and I can't figure out why she would affect a different accent and personality for each new job...or for that matter, why she would keep changing jobs. The last series has way too many scenes of the cast getting into costumes and pretending to be other people- probably a sign the writers were bored with the characters and the setting.
This episode also kicks off the running gag that Mr. Humphries is always incredibly eager to dress in women's clothes. This episode's drag sequence is actually pretty funny, but I don't really think Humphries' character would have been anything more than mildly annoying. If "she" was enough to make Mrs. Featherstone quit her job, I can't believe she made it as long as she did in retail.
I've always liked the ending of this episode, mainly because Slocombe gets to use Peacock's "Get off the floor" line. This and "The Night Club" rank as my favorite episodes for the final series.

Well put OLT ! :thumbup:

[larsen525]

I agree that Miss Featherstone made a great antagonist. Pity she was introduced so late in the series: she would have made an interesting semi-recurring character.

- E.

[Red Shadow]

Red ........ That's more info ...... than I need to know. :lol:



Oh, I've got more to tell, Lucas. Just wait.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I too have wondered why Mrs Slocombe moved from position to position with no explanation given. Mr Harmon says that lady floor cleaner is a good position and it was with his influence that "our Betty" moved to the top of the list. So why would she leave that to clean windows or work in the canteen?

Great question !! IMHO it would be because if she was just a cleaner then we wouldn't get to see her as much and then we fall into just what Aidan said.