- Date First Aired: 18/12/1994
Sharon has had a big spend at Harrods, much to the annoyance of Tracey, who fears that Sharon may be spending too much. However, Sharon has a scheme designed to increase their company's profits - namely removing Chris from it by faking their company going under. However, he sees through it and suggests that they branch out to other businesses - namely double-glazing. Sharon also notes how she saw Dorien rush out empty-handed.
Meanwhile, after the events of the last episode, Marcus is resting at home and Dorien is not appreciating it. Even worse, he's trying to rein in Dorien's spending and has cancelled her credit cards, to her anger. Thus, she is convinced by the sisters to head into the workforce.
The next morning, Sharon's Visa bill comes, and it turns out that she's broke, especially when it's revealed that no one is buying up for their business. The sisters thus get Dorien to canvas for them. Soon, she has a deal with a man named Duncan, namely by pretending to have a pacemaker and six children, and they get money, but the sisters fight over the money. However, they're interrupted by Duncan's sister, who doesn't want the work done. She reveals that the cheque will bounce, Duncan having been mentally broken by his father's death and having pretended to be a pilot. However, the girls suspect it's a con and Dorien ends up scaring her into giving the money anyway. Oh, and Marcus has given her cards back because she had knocked on the doors of his clients.
Tropes in this episode:
- Affectionate Nickname: Sharon calls Duncan "Dunky":Duncan: Please don't call me "Dunky". I'm a Concorde pilot, not a biscuit.
- Bait-and-Switch: Dorien's response to the idea of working is initially framed as her not liking the idea. Then, she remarks that it's a "marvelous idea".
- Better than Sex: Dorien, upon smashing an entire row of stuff off a mantelpiece to scare Duncan's sister, remarks that it feels better than sex.
- Brain Bleach: Sharon's response to the thought of seeing Dorien naked is to start dry retching:Sharon: It's just the thought o' Dorien with her kit off, it... made me stomach turn over.
- Brief Accent Imitation: Sharon briefly adopts a posher accent when talking to Duncan.
- Celebrity Crush: Chris is holding a torch for Claudia Schiffer.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Sharon remarks the business might need to go under, Chris thinks she means she's moving to Australia.
- Continuity Nod:
- Marcus is still recovering from his heart attack.
- Sharon mentions that she used to own a cat.
- Credit Card Plot: Part of Dorien's subplot involves her credit card being taken away at Harrods, making her realise that Marcus is no longer allowing her to spend as much.
- Embarrassing Nickname: Duncan views "Dunky" as one.
- Fanservice with a Smile: Sharon fears that Chris' idea of a new portion to their business would be a 24-hour drive-in kebab shop with topless waitresses.
- First-Name Basis: Captain Carruthers insists that he be referred to as Duncan by the girls, noting that it's what his friends call him.
- The Ghost: Sharon mentions a man named Webster which she had been hoping (and ultimately fails) to get a deal with, although he never shows up on screen.
- Gilligan Cut: Sharon is initially not too bothered with the amount of spending she's doing, telling Tracey that as long as they get a deal with Webster, they'll be fine. Cut to them on the sofa, with Sharon lamenting that they're broke.
- It Runs in the Family: According to Sharon, Chris' lack of good ideas is a genetic thing and he comes from a long line of losers.
- I Warned You: Tracey's response to Sharon becoming broke after she had warned her against spending too much:Tracey: I ain't one to say "I toldja so", but-Sharon: Leave it, Tracey. Leave it.Tracey: I saw this comin'.Sharon: Oh, did you, Russell Grant?
- Last-Second Word Swap: When Sharon says "I ain't so much as got a pot to piss in", she quickly changes halfway so instead of "piss in" she says "pickle me onions in".
- One-Shot Character: Captain Duncan Carruthers and Mrs. Carruthers.
- Paper Destruction of Anger: Chris rips up his investment to show that he does not buy the fact that Sharon is not doing great.
- Pottery Barn Poor: In-Universe, Dorien complains about being poor... even though she has a nice house and a nice car, as Tracey points out.
- Rich Language, Poor Language: Dorien doesn't know what the word "scam" is and has to be told by Tracey that it's another word for "con trick".
- Secretly Wealthy: Sharon fakes being poor, thanks to the company allegedly not doing great, to elbow Chris out of it, even though she's doing great financially. Unfortunately, Chris doesn't buy it.
- Sex for Services: Dorien is surprised that she was able to get the deal with Duncan, especially as it means that she didn't have to sleep with it to get it.
- Shout-Out:
- When Sharon shows Tracey her purchases from Harrods, Tracey remarks "Give us a twirl, Anthea".
- Chris wants Claudia Schiffer for a cellmate.
- Sharon calls Chris "Donald Trumpton".
- Tracey makes a crack about Sharon's "cunning plan".
- Dorien talks about Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy's relationship.
- Dorien is on good terms with Peter Stringfellow.
- Dorien claims that Yasser Arafat will soon be doing the in-store security for Harrods.
- Dorien retorts to Sharon that at least when she takes her clothes off, people don't mistake her for the crowd scene in Ben-Hur (1959).
- Sharon sarcastically calls Tracey "Russell Grant".
- Dorien warns Sharon that if anyone finds out about her selling door-to-door, she'll come after her like Hannibal Lecter only worse, before copying Anthony Hopkins' mouth movements.
- Dorien compares her, Tracey, and Sharon divvying up Duncan's money to an episode of Widows.
- Speak in Unison: Both Sharon and Tracey say "Thank you" when reaching to pick up Duncan's cheque.
- Status Quo Is God: Dorien loses her ability to spend extravagantly and is forced to get a job but gets it back by the end of the episode.
- Take That!:
- Sharon remarks she hasn't seen anyone walk the way Dorien does since Dick Emery died.
- Dorien is disgusted by Sharon's new decorations because they remind her of Argos.
- Dorien hopes to be the new Anita Roddick from The Body Shop... only younger and more attractive.
