Rooms

- Season 2

(1977)

Ruth Harris leaves her husband and takes up residence; existing ground floor tenant Mrs Beale is none too happy to undertake landlady's duties.

Landlady Mrs Singer appears, and is told by Mrs Beale that tenant Linda Todd is a prostitute.

Carol and Ian West have set up home together in one of the rooms in Mafeking Terrace with their new baby, but Carol's disapproving mother (Pat Ashton) cannot stop constantly imposing her own opinions on the conditions that the couple find themselves in. Meanwhile Carol and Ian can't stop bickering over every trivial little incident.

Mrs Beale continues repeating her poisonous remarks about Linda Todd's loose morals with neighbour Brian Kettle, but he finds out from more than one source that Linda really is leaving to get married. When new landlord Mr Singer pays Mrs Beale a visit she turns her malicious tongue on separated tenant Mrs Harris, implying that having single female tenants could give the place a bad name.

Young tenant Lesley is feeling lonely and confides to her friend that she might start looking for a boyfriend. She decides to answer an advert in a lonely hearts column, but her intended date not only turns up very late, and drunk, but he isn't exactly what she was hoping for.

When Ian has an evening out with their neighbour, Carol's father thinks he's found a way to break up her marriage.

Ruth and Brian get acquainted over a blown fuse; Brian's daughter comes to tea.

Rose returns to her lodgings after a failed attempt at marriage and on the way in tells Mrs Beale in no uncertain terms she's back for good. Mrs Beale has an uncharacteristically pleasant conversation with artistic tenant Geoff but things turn sour when he berates her for listening to his private conversations on his cassette recorder whilst he is out of the room. An apologetic Mrs Beale tries to explain that she thought she was listening to a play on a radio. Meanwhile Rose's 'intended' Lawrence turns up to try and persuade her to change her mind and come back with ...

With Linda Todd back in her room Mrs Beale wastes no time stirring up trouble with landlady Mrs Singer. There are some harsh words between Geoff and his girlfriend Marcia when she turns up after receiving a letter from him ending their relationship, and she wants some answers. Mrs Singer pays Linda a visit to ask whether she plans to stay or go. She tells her that her 'intended' was already married and no longer has any reason to leave.

Carol seems to be leading a life of domestic drudgery while others are having a good time. Lesley has a date with Ian's workmate Tony, who just happens to be Ian's excuse for his being late home from work, but Carol already knows he wasn't working as Tony is next door with Lesley. However all is well because Ian has a pleasant surprise for Carol's birthday. Brian and Ruth go for a night out at the greyhound races, followed by a cosy meal for two in his flat.

Not for the first time, alcoholic Arthur Hatchett vomits on the stairs and Mrs Beale has to clean it up.

Ruth invites snobby friends the Wisharts to dinner and neighbour Brian to make up the numbers; he drinks too much and upsets Ruth by insulting them. Meanwhile Ian takes Carol and the baby to a pub in his three wheeler.

An inspection of the West's less than ideal living conditions by a child health visitor prompts Carol to suggest that she and Ian separate.

Ian contacts the health visitor Vera Pusey and asks her to return to their room to try and clear up some issues he has with her report, seeing that he wasn't there on her first visit. All is fine to start with before Ian starts to lose his temper with her apparent attitude towards their plight. Things calm down and after she leaves Ian and Carol consider what steps they can take to improve on their current living situation. Someone turns up to view a vacant room but she is not the friendly well travelled potential tenant she portrays herself as.

Mrs Singer is having trouble trying to evict the non-paying sub-let squatters living illegally in the basement, but not without a heated argument about its legality. Brian Kettle steps in to calm things down and give Mrs Singer some moral support. She confides in Brian that she and her husband are thinking of selling off the basement as separate premises to try and alleviate financial problems. Meantime Lesley and friend Meryl consider becoming door to door cosmetics sales girls to make extra money. Brian offers to redecorate the now empty basement to save Mrs Singer ...

Mrs Beale wakes to the sound of the Electric Light Orchestra (on the radio) and the Wests (upstairs) going out. Then a policeman calls to say her cat has been found dead.

Lesley and Meryl raise the money needed to buy into their cosmetics business but soon find out that the products they've been supplied are worthless and won't sell. Ruth pays her estranged husband a visit only to find he's moved a new girlfriend in, prompting Ruth to seek legal advice about getting a divorce. Brian's plans to redecorate the basement flat gets the approval of landlord Mr Singer.

Lesley and Meryl have been taken for a ride, so they trick their supplier Mr Brannigan into delivering more products to their room, then use the opportunity to lock him in and accuse him of being a con artist - and they want their money refunded. Linda intervenes on the girls' behalf because she recognises him as the conman previously known to her as Jimmy Doyle. Brian's runaway teenage daughter Jennifer turns up out of the blue just as he and Ruth are beginning an intimate relationship.

Landlady Kathy Singer's artist brother Eric moves into one of the rooms and Mrs Beale wastes no time in introducing herself to him. As Jennifer Kettle and Brian's girlfriend Ruth Harris get to know each other better Brian is already calling his ex wife Pat to arrange for her to take Jennifer back. Linda Todd gets acquainted with Eric and persuades him to do a portrait of her. Pat turns up and makes an arrangement to return runaway Jennifer back home and back to school.

Lesley gets a visit from Dave Marsden, an admirer from the laundrette, and together with Meryl all three get acquainted. Dave asks Lesley for a date, which she accepts. Ian and Carol invite her parents for a conciliatory lunch that turns out better than expected.

Mrs Beale as ever sticks her nose into the other tenants' business when she reproaches Brian Kettle for having his daughter residing as an extra tenant, threatening to report him. Linda is delighted with artist Eric Prentiss's portrait of her. Over dinner Brian and Ruth persuade Jennifer that it would be in her best interest to return home and complete her education. Landlady Kathy Singer has a long heart to heart with her brother Eric, and Jennifer finally decides to go home with her mother.

Ian is questioned by the police about a minor accident his car was reported for, but his wife Carol discovers he's covering for someone else as the car was actually being driven by New Zealander tenant Geoff. Ian pretended he was driving because Geoff has overstayed his visa and if the police found out about him he feared he'd be deported. Lesley organises a party in her room and invites a few of her neighbours for drinks.

Lesley is getting serious with her boyfriend Dave, even asking if he would like to meet her parents, but Dave initially doesn't seem as keen. Ian and Carol decide to treat themselves to a night out and fellow tenant Geoff babysits. When Lesley wonders why Dave isn't with her for the evening Meryl suspects she may be in for a disappointment.

Mrs Beale complains to landlady Mrs Singer about her brother Eric running a photography business from his room. When Ruth's husband Don comes to discuss their divorce she demands that he sells the marital home so she can get her own place with her share of the proceeds. The visit turns sour when Ruth makes it clear she is not happy with his current girlfriend moving into the house, and Don in return makes disparaging remarks about her own love life. Kathy tries to get her brother Eric his old job back, but he is having none of it and decides to quit the house.

It's bad news for the West family finances as Ian has been made redundant. Lesley is bored with her life now that boyfriend Dave is out of the picture and wants something better for herself, but she doesn't know where to start. Carol West's mother is visiting and trying to run Carol's life for her, as well as Ian's when imposing a potential employer on him without his knowledge.

The newly refurbished basement is going on the market. The estate agent suggests to Mrs Singer that she should think about putting the rest of the house up for sale, for it is the type of place a property developer would be interested in. Mrs Beale is in trouble following a visit from her local DHSS office, for it seems she has been less than truthful regarding her late husband's pension book. She thinks Linda Todd reported her, and out of spite calls Mrs Singer to accuse Linda of keeping a man in her room.

Ian and Carol West are facing difficult times with no money coming in and Ian's attempts to stop smoking are making him edgy. Ruth is advertising in the newspapers offering private tuition but didn't expect her first customer to be an illiterate 22 year old girl. Things take an unexpected turn when the girl's angry boyfriend turns up.

Linda Todd's erstwhile boyfriend, former convict Eddie, returns from Devon and could be in trouble for failing to adhere to his parole terms. Mrs Singer has the estate agent back with an offer which results in an argument between her and her husband, and Mrs Beale still has the man from the Social Security to deal with following her pension fraud.

Landlord Mr Singer catches ex-con Eddie Graham squatting in one of the rooms and wants him out, but Brian Kettle acts as peacemaker to give Eddie more time to find a new place to live. Eddie has been in Devon trying out country life and is trying to persuade Linda to go with him to live on a farm there. Ruth gives Linda some advice, which angers Eddie's friend Brian.

Ian is not very comfortable with wearing a suit and tie for his job interview but Carol insists on it as he needs to look smart to be successful. Poor Meryl has her own problems to deal with, she has left home because her wastrel father has arrived home from sea - his gambling is interfering with her relationship with her mother and they're both making her life a misery.

Ruth and Brian are an item again but Ruth is feeling down-in-the-mouth as she's sure she's not good enough for a job she has an interview for. Her father pays her a surprise visit and she has a tough time with his constantly inquiring into her life and finances. He's not happy with her living in bedsitter land and wants her to do better for herself.

Kiwi Geoff has returned from his holiday in Greece and has brought back a mysterious package for a local Greek au pair, but the girl who turns up isn't quite what he was hoping for. Meanwhile, Brian is planning a holiday break in the North Yorkshire moors for himself and Ruth. He wants them both to do a bit of mountain-climbing, but Ruth is having none of it.

When Mr Singer turns up to collect the rent Mrs Beale takes the opportunity to bend his ear with a barrage of complaints against Lesley Losey. Ian West has lost his job and the rent is due, so Carol decides to pawn the stereo to make up the rent money.

Carol is suffering from morning sickness and that can mean only one thing - however, she hasn't told Ian, and doesn't plan to. Lesley Losey has a surprise visitor: her 14-year-old sister Kim, who is sick of life at home. As usual, busybody Mrs Beale is meddling in other people's affairs.

An argumentative cosy dinner for Brian & Ruth ends in violence and the silencing out of the C word

Carol gets a load of grief from her mother and comes to a decision about her pregnancy.

Smarmy James Passmore and his very reluctant wife arrive - he starts cadging provisions and she complains about the conditions.

Passmore makes toast for his increasingly reluctant wife from a loaf he dupes Lesley into giving him; then buys shopping with a dud cheque.

Chris Wilson moves his alcoholic dad into the top-floor flat. He's on his way to the off-licence when he hears Carol's baby crying. Geoff asks Ruth for a light bulb.

Jim gets an unexpected visit from an Alcoholics Anonymous member Bill, who is also a recovering alcoholic, and they have much in common to discuss. Ian surprises Carol with an unexpected return, but flies off the handle when he finds out about her discussions with Jim. Initially angry with Jim, he later goes up to his room to apologise. Don pays Ruth a visit - he wants to save their marriage and asks her to return to the marital home.

When Mrs Beale's purse goes missing, suspicion falls on James Pasmore. Even his wife believes that he may be the guilty party.

Ruth becomes annoyed when the girlfriend of her estranged husband calls round looking for advice. Ian gets a job working on an oil rig but Carol is concerned that the work is dangerous. She then begins to feel unwell so Jim rings a doctor.

Ian has called the doctor, for Carol has fallen ill and is in danger of losing their baby. The doctor advises her that she needs to get to hospital for some tests. Ruth's estranged husband is back to apologise for his former girlfriend's intrusion, and she takes the opportunity to persuade him to sell their home. Jim is struggling to cope without alcohol, and is close to falling off the wagon just as his son pays him a visit.

When smarmy James Passmore tries to secure a loan,he finds he is dealing with a fellow smooth operator. Lesley Losey goes on a date with her well-heeled boss.

It's curtains when Mrs Beale applies for a dodgy homeworker job; Brian speaks to Ruth for the first time since hitting her; Ruth's oily husband talks her into their reuniting and oily Malcolm persuades Lesley to put a skirt on.

Mrs Beale is doing her best to take the coffee stains out of the curtains she's making. The draper Mr Fairlie is at her door asking for them right away but she will not answer because of her mistake, and she has to make excuses later on when she mistakenly opens the door to him. Brian makes a final call on Ruth to figure out why she is returning to her former life. Lesley and Meryl get ready to go to a formal dance but there's a problem - Malcolm says Meryl can't go without an invitation, but given his snooty family background Lesley suspects there may be another ...

Passmore spends the whole episode in the communal hall and stairways begging for money from everyone he encounters; Ray's wife comes not to dinner but to deliver an ultimatum and Carol bins Ian's Ronnie Lane poster.

Geoff is cornered once again by James Passmore who seems to have some business ideas but Geoff gives him short shrift. Geoff confronts his travel agency colleague Maureen whom he thinks has been fiddling the books with her boyfriend .

Lesley Losey accidentally leaves the shower head over the edge of the bath still running, causing water damage in Brian's room. Mrs. Beale takes a tumble in the cluttered basement area and makes the most of her injury.

Kiwi Geoff's boss has done a runner after embezzling the company funds, he has no choice but to go home, given that his visa has expired. He decides to hold a farewell party and everyone is invited.

Fay is down in the dumps about living in a bedsit .However, James is upbeat about a job interview and reassures that things will be better. Meanwhile Ian thinks he has picked up a bargain when he buys a pair of jeans in a market.

James Passmore is killed in a car crash after borrowing Jim's license to hire the car. Fay realises that the death was not accidental. Carole is distracted and allows the milk to boil over.

Lesley's Aunt Rose and cousin Denise pay her a visit, but Rose's racist overtones upset Lesley's friend Meryl. Brian Kettle and landlady Kathy listen to Meryl's complaints about how she was treated and help cheer her up.

Lesley breaks the ice between her cousin,Aunt and her friend Meryl as they go out together to shop for Denise's wedding.Denise admits to Lesley the wedding may not be the happy affair her family will have her believe, she doesn't want to go through with it but feels she must to keep her family happy.

A new tenant arrives, Mary Owen a nurse. Carol's hairdressing business seems to be starting well, but Ian isn't happy at the prospect of customers passing through their room all day, Jim has a visit from his wife Nina and its bad news.

Jim and his wife Nina prepare for their son-in-law's funeral. His alcoholism has always been kept a secret from daughter Helen and Nina wonders whether she should stop being lied to

Mrs Beale has a her new hair do and is anxiously waiting for her new date. Jim's work colleague Eileen Curtis pays him a visit to check that he is OK, unfortunately for Jim she produces a half bottle of brandy. Will he manage to resist?

Mrs Beale is anxious to get her new date renting the vacant room. Jim is back on the bottle and has a dreadful hangover when colleague Eileen Curtis visits to see why he hasn't turned up for work - and he's rapidly falling to pieces.

Ian and Shirley have a night out because Carol has a late booking to deal with. The following day Carol suspects that Ian has been getting at Shirley trying to get her to dissolve their budding home hairdressing business.

Shirley and Carol's business seems to have hit a red light.

Many of the tenants appear to be leaving and starting a new life elsewhere.