Recap / Only Fools And Horses S 2 E 01 The Long Legs Ofthe Law

I've had a lot of sobering thoughts in my time, Del Boy. It were them that started me drinking.

The policewoman episode. First broadcast 21 October 1982.

Del and Grandad are horrified to hear that Rodney is dating a police officer called Sandra. But while Grandad is worried about Sandra knowing about the Trotters' sullied reputation, Del is sweating over the amount of dodgy gear stored in the flat.

At the end of their date at the cinema, Rodders brings Sandra back to the flat for a nightcap. As soon as she arrives, Del spots her wearing a stolen watch that Rodney has given her as a gift. Thinking fast, he gets it off her after "accidentally" spilling some gin over it, but says that they cannot give her another glass of gin, since they have run out, only for Rodney –- impulsively –- to reveal the three cases of it, clearly marked "Export Only", that Del had hidden behind the curtains.

Ever the gent, Rodney offers to walk her home, and everything appears to be forgiven. But as Sandra says goodbye, she tells Rodney he has 24 hours to empty the flat of stolen goods before she notifies CID.

Tropes:

• Armor-Piercing Question: Rodney takes his policewoman girlfriend Sandra home following her visit to the Trotters' flat. They share an affectionate cuddle and she asks the following:
  Sandra: You know your flat?
  Rodney: Yeah, Sandra?
  Sandra: Is there anything in it that's legally yours?
• Fell Off the Back of a Truck: Discussed, after Sandra has figured out that most of the stuff in the flat is stolen.

Rodney: Come on, Sandra, you don't care about the little things that fall off the backs of trucks, do you?
Sandra: No, Rodney. What I'm interested in is who pushed them and who picked them up.

• Gilligan Cut: Sandra gives Rodney time to clear out the flat before reporting to her superiors. Rodney leaves, pondering what Del will say. Cut to Del throttling and threatening to kill him.
• Has a Type: Rodney, for policewomen ... although this is the only time he dates an actual policewoman.
• Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places: Oh, Rodney. Perhaps a policewoman isn't the best person to date when your family makes a living dealing in stolen goods...
• Shout-Out: To The Police, in order to stop Sandra from finding out that her date has some previous with the law...
  Grandad: [to Sandra] Rodney's got a police record!
  Del: That's right, it's "Walking on the Moon"!

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