Special Delivery

Harry is thinking of extending the Coaching Inn and entertains a local councillor, James Petherbridge, to lunch in the hope that he will put in good word for Harry at the planning meeting. Unfortunately for Ken, the plans would involve the demolition of the stables used as Texas Rangers’ office.

Petherbridge is being pursued by an over-ambitious TV journalist, Linda West, who is determined to prove that he is corrupt and is accepting gifts in exchange for ensuring that applicants’ plans are passed. Things look bad when it is revealed that he has just returned from a holiday in Sardinia. Then he receives a package of pornographic books, unwittingly delivered by Ken. The police arrive as Ken hands over the package. Because Texas Rangers is implicated by delivering the package, Ken investigates – to clear his own name as well as Petherbridge’s. He discovers that the pornographic magazines have come from a seedy club run by Sillitoe, a florid-faced, fruity-voiced man who reluctantly reveals that he was paid by a certain Roy Farmer.

Ken and Petherbridge decide to stitch up Linda West. Ken tells her he has evidence that Petherbridge has accepted a bribe from Harry and agrees to be interviewed live on TV. Petherbridge also offers to appear on the programme. On camera Ken denies his bribery claims and says Linda must have misunderstood. Petherbridge reads a letter from the owner of a sports centre which proves that one of their employees (Roy Farmer) had sent the pornography as a prank. Petherbridge freely admits that the sports centre owner had indeed tried to use the Sardinian holiday to bribe him into passing plans for a casino – but council records show that Petherbridge voted against the plans. Linda West is made to look very stupid – as her producer gleefully says “She got shafted. I always did believe in you, Fairy Godmother”.

Rocky is fed up of being employed to deliver packages to a predatory seductress, Mrs Sefton, who has designs on his body!

Harry calls in the Environmental Health Officer to measure the noise that Texas Rangers’ bikes make, but the officer reports that it is “not excessive”. Also, much to Ken’s relief, Harry discovers that the stables used by Texas Rangers have a preservation order and cannot be demolished.

Notes and episode list © Martin Underwood, 1999

Page last modified: 17 December 2008, 23:48