"Miami Twice - The American Dream"

24th December 1991

This episode is part of a two part special, the second part of which is "Miami Twice - Oh To Be In England". The second episode was broadcast the day after (on Christmas Day) and was much more lavish, being made all on expensive film and location. "The American Dream" is more of a cheaper, more traditional episode of "Only Fools". Both episodes were hacked together and released on DVD as "Miami Twice".

Treva Etienne (the vicar at Damien's christening) has gone on to do nice things, including "The Last Train", "Charmed" and "Pirates of the Caribbean".

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Rita and Len Fairclough from "Coronation Street" and Daphne from "Neighbours" are mentioned! "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" by Tears for Fears is played.

We open with the Christening of Damien Derek Trotter (DDT!) - Rodney and Cassandra are Godparents. It's "nearly 1992". By Gods, the dating is consistent for once! The "Satan" musical gag from "Three Men, A Woman & A Baby" is resurrected and Tyler Boyce's Christening is referred to (we never saw it on-screen).

Rodney is living with Del and Raquel during the week, and with Cassandra at weekends and is working for Del. It transpires that since the last episode, Rodney "had a few drinks" and suggested Cassandra dress up as a Victorian Maid! [his uniform fetish goes back to the second ever episode "Go West Young Man", and more notably the series 2 opener "The Long Legs Of The Law"]. They've been to see a marriage guidance councillor and Cassandra is on the short list for promotion at the Bank.

Rodney is given £935 money from Alan's firms pension scheme which he has been paying into. He doesn't keep it for long! Rodney's still campaigning to save the rainforest.

Mickey Pearce is the "managing director" of his own firm, but it's not explained what this is.

Del can get hold of Romanian Riesling for £1.34p a bottle - cue "Trotter's Pre-Blessed Wine"! It's like "the holy version of sliced bread". Nothing to do with Del being simply worried that "we must be losing months and months of vicar time!"

Raquel's mumsy hair and purple tights. Wanda Ventham's big hat (she knows). The leopard skin speedos! Denzil's jaunty beret. Oh, and it says something that I almost forgot to mention Del's purple shirt and tie/multicoloured patterned braces affair.

Del appears to call Rodney a "poor little cock" during the scene on the sofa with Raquel.

"Del's got contacts in Warsaw."
"Er... no, Walsall!"

Mike on Del's bar tabs: "I've got so many of his slates under here, I could retile my roof."

There is a lovely throwaway exchange between Rodney and Trigger:
"Have you ever been wrongly accused of something Trig?"
"Yeah. I have."

"Yeah? How did you get out of it?"
"I didn't. I was guilty"!

Trigger again: "Where exactly is the Brazilian rainforest?"

"You've got to look after all that money Rodney, I don't want you sending it all to Sting!"

And, best of all, "Anyone would think he OWNED the plane!" (Richard Branson turns round...). Brilliant!

Del has a Singapore Sling in the flat.

There are two big classic character scenes. In Sid's Cafe, Del is at his most playfully manipulative and scheming, contriving a way for Rodney to spend his pension money on a trip to Miami for them both. "Don't you dare thank me!"

Then later, back at the flat, he persuades Raquel to let him go with Rodney - the scene (where she knows what he's trying to do but won't let on) is brilliantly played.