8th September 1976

Reginald Iolanthe Perrin feels stuck in the daily routine of commuting from Norbiton British Rail station to the offices of Sunshine Desserts, where he has worked as a sales executive for the last 25 years. He works under a tyrannical boss, CJ, and works with "yes men" Tony and David, and his faithful secretary Joan, who he starts to fantasise about. Even the office doctor, Doc Morrissey, is incompetent. His adoring wife Elizabeth notices that something is wrong when Reggie starts calling her mother a hippopotamus...

The first dream fantasy sequence that we see is when, during their meeting, CJ informs Reggie that "You've got a good woman there" referring to Joan. Reggie daydreams about himself and Joan approaching each other in slow motion, seductively licking ice creams, and embracing each other. When he arrives home the same night, and Elizabeth mentions that her mother rang about their visit on Sunday, Reggie sees a hippopotamus running along (he had referred to her as a hippo that morning, but not visualised her as one). The following morning, Elizabeth remarks that Reggie's zip is undone, and remarks that he wouldn't want to upset one of their elderly female neighbours. At this, Reggie visualises himself flashing at the neighbour. At work, when it's time for dictation and Joan says "I'm ready", Reggie fantasises about the two of them passionately kissing on a desk in the middle of a field. The following morning, while planning to do everything differently, he sees himself going to work on roller skates, wearing a balaclava helmet, a kilt and longjohns.

On Tuesday, it is missing the second S on Desserts, while on Wednesday the second N in Sunshine is also missing. On Thursday, the E at the end of Sunshine actually falls down and narrowly misses Reggie as he climbs the outside stairs to the entrance.

On Tuesday morning, Reggie's late arrival at the office is due to "staff difficulties at Hampton Wick."

He arrives home late due to "signal failure at Vauxhall."

On Wednesday morning arriving at the office it's "staff shortages at Nine Elms".

His late arrival at home that evening is due to "derailment of container truck, Raines Park".

On Friday morning, he takes a later train which is also 11 minutes late due to "seasonal man-power shortages, Clapham Junction".

"...without knowing a favourable report when I read one".

"...without knowing a real winner when I see one".

"...selling ice creams tasting of bookends, pumice stone and West Germany!"

CJ also informs Reggie that "We're not one of those dreadful firms that thinks a chap's no good after he's 46." In their meeting in CJ's office, Reggie, Tony and David sit in chairs that make a loud raspberry noise when sat on, and again when they get up. CJ offers Reggie a cigar at the start of their meeting.

Tony Webster says "Great!" after each of the first two of CJ's "without knowings" as mentioned above, and David Harris-Jones says "Super!" immediately afterwards both times. There are two more "Great"s from Tony the following day during a food tasting exercise.

On Tuesday, CJ phones Reggie to tell him he wants to see him. Reggie tells CJ that "any time this morning would suit me best." After a pause, he informs Joan that he is "seeing CJ at 4 o'clock this afternoon". On Wednesday, Reggie phones Doc Morrissey for an appointment, telling him that "this morning would be best for me." Subsequently, "Right - seeing Doc Morrissey at 2.30".

This fellow commuter always sits opposite Reggie on the train into work, and is better at the crossword than Reggie. He suffers from hayfever, but never has a handkerchief. On Tuesday, Reggie offers him his Venezuelan trade supplement to blow his nose with, and on Wednesday offers him one of his own hankies with the initials RIP on it. We don't see Peter on Thursday, as Reggie takes a later train.

Reggie informs Doc Morrisey that he is going to Wales on holiday this year. Doc asks how Reggie's children Mark and Linda are. Every Thursday, at least some of the office staff have a pub lunch, consisting of cottage pie and beans. As part of his day of doing things differently, Reggie goes to an Italian restaurant for lunch, and has ravioli for starters, main course and dessert!