The episode in which Uncle Albert gets beaten up. First broadcast in 27 January 1991.
Because of Raquel's pregnancy and a spate of recent muggings on the estate, Del decides that it is time to become a two-car family ... and purchases a 1977 Ford Capri Ghia from Boycie. Rodney's unimpressed, secretly referring to it as the "Pratmobile". He's also looking for a job; realising that his prospects are bleak, Del reinstates him back into Trotters Independent Traders — or TIT, as he's now calling it.
Meanwhile, it's over-60s night at the Nag's Head. Albert plays dominoes with his friend and rival, Knock-Knock, with both of them battling for the affections of Dora (Marlene's mum). The Trotters also notice a gang of skinheads in the background.
Two hours later, back at Nelson Mandela House, the Trotters learn that Albert's been mugged, and his money and pocket watch have been stolen. Later, Albert, now sporting a black eye, is laid out on the settee. Del wants to get his hands on the muggers, but Raquel tells him to leave it to the police.
A week passes, and Albert hasn't left the flat since the mugging. When looking through some old photographs, he comes across a picture of Tobacco Road, the street on which he and Grandad grew up which has long since been demolished. After Del and Rodney yells at Albert over his fear of going outside, the old man leaves, seemingly for good. Remorseful, Del and Rodney set out to look for him, but only after Rodney accidentally revealing his nickname for the Capri.
They spend all day driving around London looking for Albert, visiting places like the Imperial War Museum and HMS Belfast. Eventually, they find him at the modern housing development that used to be Tobacco Road. Del and Rodney apologise to Albert for yelling at him the previous night. Albert laments the fact that the old neighbourhood has been torn down for the housing development, while Del thinks of it as a huge improvement and starts to wax lyrical about what he plans to do when he can afford to move there. Rodney takes Albert home in the van, leaving Del alone to stare dreamily across the waters.
Back at the flat, Albert has regained his confidence. Knock-Knock visits and returns Albert's pocket watch, leading Del to find out the truth. Albert wasn't mugged, he and Knock-Knock had a fight over Dora ... after Albert had lost all of his money at dominoes to Knock-Knock. He made up the mugging story to avoid embarrassment.
It then emerges that the skinheads in the pub were actually undercover police officers investigating the muggings, only they've been assaulted by a biker gang. Del reveals that he had got the bikers to do this, as he thought the "skinheads" were the ones who'd mugged Albert. As they discuss the possible repercussions of all this, Albert confidently boasts about how he will beat them all. In a rage, Del attempts to hit Albert, but Rodney restrains him.
Tropes:
- The Alleged Car: The Capri Ghia, a.k.a. the Pratmobile, has definitely seen better days. Boycie got it in a part-exchange deal and was going to have it crushed before Del came along wanting to buy a car.
- Comically Missing the Point: Uncle Albert laments that Tobacco Road, the street on which he grew up, has been utterly cleared away, with luxury flats built on the site. Del thinks that is in fact terrific as the flats happen to be worth a lot of money.
- Continuity Nod: This is the first time since "Cash and Curry" that the Trotters have owned a second vehicle — back then, Del sold it to raise the money needed to buy the statuette.
- Dude, Not Funny!: When Uncle Albert reminisces about Tobacco Road, any attempts from Del to be snarky are shot down with a disapproving "Oi!" from Rodney.
- Fun with Acronyms: Del is now referring to Trotters Independent Traders by its initials, seemingly not having realised that they spell TIT. He's also put Rodney's computer qualification on the letterhead, so it reads "Rodney Trotter, DIC" (which stands for "Diploma In Computers", apparently).
- Heel Realization: Del and Rodney have this when they realise that their shouting at Albert caused him to leave home. When they find him, they apologise.
- Inflationary Dialogue: Uncle Albert arrives at the flat with a black eye and no money. He says he's been mugged by a gang of youths, but the number increases every time he tells the story. It turns out he lost the money playing dominoes, and then got in a punch-up with his opponent Knock-Knock.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Thinking the skinheads attacked Albert, Del gets a biker gang to attack the skinheads as revenge. Rodney rushes in at the end of the episode, talking about how the skinheads and bikers had a huge fight at the pub. It was revealed that the skinheads were in fact undercover police.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Knock-Knock, presumably so-called because when you're playing dominoes, a double-knock is used to indicate that you can't go.
- Status Quo Is God: Having quit his job at Alan's firm in "Chance of a Lunchtime", Rodney is now back working for Trotters Independent Traders.
- Titled After the Song: The title is this to The Hollies song "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother".
