Happy Release (Porridge)

"Happy Release"
Porridge episode
Episode no.	Season 2 Episode 5
Directed by	Sydney Lotterby
Written by	Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais
Original air date	21 November 1975

"Happy Release" is an episode of the BBC sitcom Porridge. It first aired on 21 November 1975. ^[1] In this episode, Fletcher and Blanco make a plan to get revenge on Norris for stealing Blanco's things.

Synopsis

Fletcher is in the prison infirmary with a broken leg. This is most inconvenient for Mr Mackay, as he had Fletcher down for drainage detail, and Fletcher then fell off the ladder. Fletcher is sharing the ward with the elderly Blanco Webb and the unpleasant Norris. Blanco lost his possessions to Norris through a card game, although it is implied that Norris was cheating. Godber comes in at mealtimes to give them their food.

That night, Blanco tells Fletcher that if he dies before he is released from prison, he has a treasure map which he would bequeath to Fletcher. Overhearing this information, Norris searches Fletcher's bed, and the noise attracts Mr Barrowclough, who is on night duty. Barrowclough scolds Norris, as he is about to be released from prison, and that it would be unwise for him to jeapordise his parole. Barrowclough then attempts to search Fletcher, but realises that it could be a diversion for all the prisoners to escape.

Next morning, Norris makes a proposition with Fletcher and Blanco. If they give him the treasure map, he would look after the treasure until both men are released. Fletcher agrees, if Norris can find the map. Before Norris is released from prison, he speaks to Godber, asking if Fletcher gave him a book with a piece of paper in it. At first, Godber refuses to betray Fletcher, but Norris offers Godber a valuable silver snuffbox, a music box which plays Waltzing Matilda and a Japanese radio. Godber finally accepts.

On Godber's next round to the infirmary, he is called a Judas by Fletcher, but it turns out that Norris' things were actually Blanco's and the treasure map was a fake. They concocted the plan to pay Norris out. The episode ends with Norris digging up a football pitch in Leeds and being arrested by the police. They listen to the news on Blanco's radio.

Episode Cast

Actor	Role
Ronnie Barker	Norman Stanley Fletcher
Brian Wilde	Mr Barrowclough
Fulton Mackay	Mr Mackay
Richard Beckinsale	Godber
David Jason	Blanco
Colin Farrell	Norris
Terence Soall	Medical Officer
Paul McDowell	Mr Collinson
Steve Ismay	Gardener (uncredited)

Porridge

Episodes

Pilot	"Prisoner and Escort"

Series 1	"New Faces, Old Hands" "The Hustler" "A Night In" "A Day Out" "Ways and Means" "Men Without Women"

Series 2	"Just Desserts" "Heartbreak Hotel" "Disturbing the Peace" "No Peace for the Wicked" "Happy Release" "The Harder They Fall"

Specials	"No Way Out" "The Desperate Hours"

Series 3	"A Storm in a Teacup" "Poetic Justice" "Rough Justice" "Pardon Me" "A Test of Character" "Final Stretch"

Spin-offs

Characters

References

↑ "Original Air Date (Happy Release)". IMDB. Retrieved 15 July 2013.

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