Love Thy Neighbour

- Season 8

(1975)

Eddie campaigns for the Labour Party until he finds out his candidate is black. Bill invites everyone round for the election results and when Eddie sees that the candidate is white, he is stunned--until Charlie walks in. Apparently, Bill sent him to Eddie's house to impersonate the Labour candidate.

Joan joins a shopping club and Barbie tells Bill Joan is "in the club" (pregnant). Joan has ordered a pram and some baby supplies. Bill tells Eddie he is going to be a father, and confusion ensues.

Eddie, Jacko, and Arthur have a meeting to vote for the darts captain for the upcoming Christmas tournament. Bill comes in and puts his name forward, so they decide on a drinking contest. Afterward, at home, Eddie must sleep on the couch, and he dreams they're all on a desert island; he is the dinner and Bill is the king. They win the darts match and Eddie gives the trophy to Bill.

Joan accepts a coach trip to Bournemouth for her and Eddie, not mentioning that is a Tory event. Eddie is Labour so when he finds out, he loads up on crates of beer. He proceeds to get drunk on the coach, and makes the bus stop so many times, they finally abandon him.

Eddie wants to sell his house for £15,000.00 so they can move to Manchester. Mr. and Mrs. Brittain look it over and decide to buy it, until they see the neighbours; after which, being racists, they don't want it. Eddie had given Bill tickets to a game to get him and Barbie out of the house so prospective buyers wouldn't see them. To get even with Eddie, Bill puts an ad in the paper and lists Eddie's house for £1,500.00. He and Joan are swamped with buyers.

The Electricity Board cuts off the power to Bill and Barbie's for non-payment. They know they paid it; they just can't prove it. Joan lets them move in and offers to go down to the office with Bill to sort it out. Unfortunately, the man is Black and Eddie can't hold his tongue. Worse, they find out that Bill gave Barbie the cheque to mail,she gave it to Joan, and Joan gave it to Eddie. It's still in his pocket.

A homeless man, Albert, does odd jobs around the pub. Bill bets Eddie £5 that he won't take him home. Eddie does, and Joan takes a shine to him; she feeds him and gives him Eddie's new suit and he looks a million dollars. Eddie wins the bet, but the man's son comes to get him and gives Eddie £10 for his trouble. Apparently, he leaves home and takes up with strangers regularly.