A Storm in a Teacup

"A Storm in a Teacup" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It aired on 18 February 1977.^[1] In this episode, Fletcher is tasked by Grouty to replace a bottle of pills Harris stole. But there is a surprise for Fletcher in his teacup.

Synopsis

The episode opens in Fletcher’s cell where he is reading the book Mandingo. Warren and McLaren interrupt him. Fletcher leaves his cell and goes downstairs in an attempt to get peace to read. Unfortunately, Fletcher is interrupted again by Mr Mackay shouting at Harris on the landing. Harris has his arm in a sling, but Mackay believes he stole pills from the medical officer. As Mackay is frisking Harris, the pills fall out of Harris’ trouser leg and lands in Fletcher’s tea.

Later, Fletcher returns to his cell where he discusses Harris’ predicament with Godber. Fletcher makes it clear to Godber that he does not stand for drugs.

After Mackay fails to find any pills on Harris, he is forced to let Harris go. Harris is smug until dragged into Harry Grout’s cell. Grouty interrogates Harris over the pills incident, but Harris denies taking them. Grouty responds by grabbing Harris’ sore arm causing him to scream in pain.

Grouty and his henchman Crusher confront Fletcher over the missing pills. Harris told Grouty that he dropped the pills off the landing to where Fletcher and Lukewarm were sitting at the time. Grouty knows that Lukewarm wouldn’t have anything to do with drugs, so Fletcher is the prime suspect. Grouty wants the pills returned to the M.O. (Medical Officer, i.e. the prison doctor) as it is interfering with his own pill peddling operation. Fletcher is tasked with returning the bottle of pills to the M.O. within the hour. Godber mentions to Fletcher that Barrowclough’s vitamin pills could make a good substitute.

Just then, Mr Barrowclough visits Fletcher and Godber’s cell. Fletcher gets on the subject of vitamin tablets, and Barrowclough has some for indigestion which he is able to spare. Unfortunately, these are too big compared to the pills in the hospital. To make matters worse, Barrowclough discovers the pills that Harris stole are in Fletcher’s mug, although he doesn’t say anything about it.

Godber falls out with Fletcher over the constant derogatory remarks of his tapioca pudding. Fletcher tells him that they need to worry about that later as the threat of retribution from Grouty is far more important. Harris shows up, much to Fletcher’s displeasure. However, Harris confesses that he already has bottles of pills which he had previously stolen which could be used as a substitute. Although, Harris still wants Fletcher to pay him for the pills. Godber attempts to appeal to Harris’ better nature, which Fletcher points out is fruitless as Harris doesn’t have one. Instead of paying Harris, Fletcher responds by hurting Harris’ bad arm, causing more screaming.

Fletcher hands a different bottle of pills to Grouty, hoping that he won’t be bothered by him anymore. Fletcher is annoyed as the fiasco has cost him his lunch hour. It turns out that Grouty’s job is that he’s in charge of the swimming pool, which is convenient because Slade Prison doesn’t have one. Grouty puts this down to a clerical error.

To add insult to injury, Fletcher returns to his cell that evening to find Godber reading Mandingo. Fletcher berates Godber for losing his place and for not emptying the mugs. Fletcher discovers the pills Harris stole earlier that day were in his mug all the time. Hearing Mackay’s voice, they decide to swallow the pills they were holding. Mackay suspects the men are up to no good and catches Fletcher with the pill box in his left hand. Fletcher says they were for his “nervous indigestion”. Mackay warns Fletcher to be careful, as he nearly caught Harris stealing pills earlier that day. Mackay also notes that the pills belonged to the M.O. but were for his dog’s bad breath. The episode ends with Fletcher telling Godber he feels “rough, ruff, ruff, ruff” in the style of a dog’s barking.

Episode cast

Notes

• First appearance of Harris.
• This episode marks the last appearance of Grouty until the film.

References