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Season 3

7 episodes · 9th September 1980

Season details

Details

Episode guide

Episodes

01 An Empty Cage still An Empty Cage Episode 19th September 1980 Adam has a job as a long-distance lorry driver. He has to take a load of timber to London, deliver it and pick up another load to drive to Scotland. Russell goes with him for the ride. Ben comments on how peaceful the house is without the boys, but Ria finds the silence unnerving, like an empty cage. Leonard rings - his wife has gone away again, and he'll meet Ria in the park the next day. In the meantime, Ben takes her to London. A radio newsflash announces long delays on the road to London after a lorry carrying timber shed its load. 02 Ruby's Crisis still Ruby's Crisis Episode 216th September 1980 Ruby, the housekeeper, starts shoplifting. Ria helps her cure the habit. 03 Pregnancy still Pregnancy Episode 323rd September 1980 As Leonard celebrates getting his licence back, Ria struggles to emulate a television cook's recipe. The boys come in, and Russell announces that his girlfriend Jeanie is pregnant, so they are getting married. Ben takes the news well, and a meeting is organised with Jeanie and her parents, though only she turns up, gives Ben a note for Russell and leaves. The family assume she is not pregnant after all. In fact, she wants the baby but not marriage. 04 Problems, Problems still Problems, Problems Episode 430th September 1980 Adam gets the sack. Ria accidentally plays a taped conversation between Russell and Jeannie, which confirms Jeannie's pregnancy. Ria becomes preoccupied with her sons' troubles and makes mistakes whilst out shopping. Leonard crashes his car and rehires Thomas - he smiles to himself as he takes a photo of Ria out of his desk drawer. Ria tries to get the boys to confide in her, but with little success. She then tells her troubles to Ben, but he's taken sleeping pills and is sound asleep. 05 Happy Birthday, Ria still Happy Birthday, Ria Episode 57th October 1980 It's Ria's birthday, and Ben takes her to London, dropping her off and arranging to meet her later. Leonard follows her to London and books a room next to Ria's in the hotel, which flusters her. She agrees to an afternoon of sightseeing with him, but will go no further. He looks wistfully on as she eventually greets Ben. 06 Gimme Shelter still Gimme Shelter Episode 614th November 1980 Whilst the boys build a fallout shelter - which annoys Ben when he falls in the hole - Ria meets up with an old friend, Kathleen, an American on her third marriage, and she is no more faithful to this husband than the others. She is amazed that Ria and Leonard have not had sex and asks Ria to pretend to her husband Tony that they have been together whilst she is with her lover. Tony turns up and catches Ria off guard - she is hesitant, and when Kathleen returns, she argues with her, unaware that Adam is listening. He finds out about Leonard but is happy to keep his mother's secret, and when Leonard rings, he answers and hands the phone to Ria. 07 Parting still Parting Episode 721st November 1980 Ben is off to a conference in the South of France and Leonard is off to New York. They both want Ria to see them off at six in the morning. Fortunately an airport strike comes to her aid. Ben sets out by car and Ria goes to Leonard's flat after his flight is postponed. After several interruptions she finally stays the night. Next day the boys tell her she looks good and happy but she wells up as she sees Leonard's plane fly overhead.
Talent

Cast & Crew

01 Wendy Craig profile Wendy Craigas Ria Parkinson 02 Geoffrey Palmer profile Geoffrey Palmeras Ben Parkinson 03 Nicholas Lyndhurst profile Nicholas Lyndhurstas Adam Parkinson 04 Andrew Hall profile Andrew Hallas Russell Parkinson 05 Bruce Montague profile Bruce Montagueas Leonard Dunn 06 Michael Ripper profile Michael Ripperas Thomas 07 Brian Murphy profile Brian Murphy 08 Carla Lane profile Carla LaneCreator
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