"The Strain" is an episode where Arthur Rudge gets his revenge for all of Stan's wisecracks regarding Arthur's balding pate and "Arthur's operation". Michael Robbins is his usual, excellent self.
Stan is in the depot canteen, chatting up gorgeous "clippie" Doreen (played by Pat Ashton who played this kind of role to perfection. She had that look and a saucy voice to match). Doreen says that she's been losing weight and refuses the leftovers from Stan's lunch. When Doreen says that if she loses any further weight, her skirt will fall down, Stan naturally grabs the plate back.
Doreen asks Stan to guess her weight, but Jack advises that it's like guessing the weight of a Christmas turkey, you need to feel the bone structure. Stan reckons that Doreen's top half has plenty of meat on the bone. Jack says he's doing it all wrong, you check the legs first, so Stan starts feeling Doreen's legs and is just starting on her thighs when Blakey enters....the expression on his face is hilarious, maybe Stephen Lewis at his bemused "Put that girl down, you lecherous layabout!" best.
Another busman, Vic says the only way to guess Doreen's weight is to pick her up and he easily hoists her into the air which impresses Doreen. She says it's Stan's turn but he tries to back out, until Doreen says it's because he's not strong enough. As it happens, Doreen is proven correct and Stan damages his back, in the attempt. Blakey sends him home.
Stan is stuck in bed, waiting for the doctor. The doctor tells Stan that he will be off work for at least two weeks. Stan says that he won't get any sick pay. The doctor loans him a corset/back brace. Cue Arthur Rudge at his absolute taunting best. It takes the whole family to get Stan into his corset and he turns up to work, convincing Blakey that he is fit to drive. Then there's an hilarious scene where Jack and another busman try to get Stan into his cab. Reg Varney misses here as the way they're moving him, Stan would've been in agony and howling the depot roof down.
Aside from his wage packet, Stan's other concern is a date with Doreen and he convinces her that he'll be "fit enough". For once, the Butler house is empty, and at last, it's all going to plan for Stan. He tells Doreen to wait in the living room whilst he pops upstairs. Doreen says that there must be something wrong as Stan hasn't let her anywhere near him: "What's wrong, don't you fancy me!?" then she finally gets him in a hug and discovers his corset!!
Naturally, she pokes fun at him and says she's going home as it'll take him hours to unfasten his stays! Stan convinces her to go into the living room where he rushes to get out of his corset, telling Doreen he knows how relieved women feel when they've gotten their girdle off. He joins Doreen on the sofa but in all the excitement, they tip the thing backwards and Stan aggravates his bad back, he's stooped over and barely mobile. The sympathetic Doreen insists upon helping him to his bed and virtually breaking the fourth wall, Stan voices the irony: the first time ever that a girl wants to help him to bed and he's in no physical state to have his wicked way with her!
A solid 8/10 episode. There's little for Blakey, Mum or Olive to do in this episode, but in his main scene, Arthur lets fly an hilarious barrage of mickey taking as he helps Stan into his corset.
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