The Builders

First broadcast 26 September 1975, The Builders sees Basil and Sybil preparing for a weekend off - their first, as it happens, since Audrey's hysterectomy. Polly is in charge, assisted by Manuel - whether this will be ably or not will be revealed in due course. Things are complicated by the fact that some builders are due. Sybil has arranged for a Mr Stubbs to come and carry out the work, but Basil has in fact arranged for his preferred (i.e. the cheaper, but completely hopeless) contractor, an Irishman by the name of O'Reilly to do the work instead. The scene is set perfectly when after the Fawltys have disappeared, Polly (who has been briefed by Basil with regards to the job that the builders are to do) goes upstairs for a lie down, asking Manuel to wake her when the builders arrive.

Of course Manuel doesn't wake Polly and O'Reilly's men make a total bodge of the job (including blocking up the doorway into the dining room). Basil returns first and upon discovering the state of things proceeds to blame everybody but himself for hiring O'Reilly. He makes a frantic phone call to O'Reilly instructing him to come and put right the wrongs that his men have made. Of course he is unable to such a thing and when Sybil returns, after giving both Bail and O'Reilly the benefit of her tongue, Mr Stubbs is (re)hired to come and do the job properly.

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