Come in T-64, Your Time is Ticking Away

Episode Overview

Arthur gets Terry a job with his friend Alfie – Terry’s job is to accompany Alfie while he collects the takings from his laundrette chain. When a group of blacks with a shotgun attempt to steal the takings, things turn nasty and a hostage situation ensues. With Terry taken hostage and his date wondering where he is, Arthur sees an opportunity to sell an inside story to the media.

Cast

Cast: Diana Malin as Debbie, Alfred Burke as Kevin, George Layton as Des, Michael Bruce as Barry, Charlie Hawkins as Greg, Darryl Read as Billy, Oscar James as Dave, Morgan Sheppard as John, Daphne Anderson as Katie, Eric Mason as Paddy, Michael Hughes as Mini-cab Driver, Vicki Woolf as Woman in Flat

Facts

This is also the second time that Des appears in the series and it becomes apparent throughout this episode that even Des is from the same breed as Arthur when it comes to telling the truth (particularly when Terry is on the receiving end of the information). Arthur’s partner Kevin, played by Alfred Burke was a familiar face on TV at the time, known for his role as Frank Marker in ‘Public Eye’. Director Francis Megahy also co-wrote #1.5 The Bounty Hunter. Glynn Edwards does not appear in this episode. When the series was broadcast in Germany this was the very first episode to be broadcast – first shown on channel SFB.

Filming Dates

July or August 1979 (likely).

Double Take

This is the first of five episodes to feature Diana Malin as Debbie Mitchell. She would next appear twice in series 2: #2.4 A Lot Of Bull And A Pat On The Back and #2.11 The Old School Tie, and twice in series 3: #3.4 Looking For Micky and #3.11 Poetic Justice, Innit? – with the exception of #2.11 The Old School Tie, all of these stores written by Tony Hoare.

One minor blooper in this episode, watch closely as Terry walks towards Des saying that he recognises the wheels Des is replacing. In the close up shot of Terry you see the infamous orange VW transporter behind him (see our Dodgy Motors section) – as he walks towards and later away from the car it is now a red VW transporter.

Title: “Come in, your time is up” is quite a common phrase in English normally used for boats that have been hired on a river. The “ticking away” probably refers to the fact each taxi might at some point in the future be damaged in some way (probably by a bomb) as it is only a matter of time in this episode before each one is attacked.

German Title: Taxi, bitte! 
Episode 1 of 16 shown in Germany on ARD.