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Grange Hill Season 17 Episodes
Season 17 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 1994 - 1994
Episode 1
Episode #17.1
Both Justine and Mr. Robson are waiting at the airport for a New York flight, unaware of each other's presence. Mrs. Keele is stressed out, evidently facing financial difficulties. Jacko's home life is difficult with his mother in hospital. Justine calls Maria, who's with Richard, to ask her to go to the school council meeting to protest about the badly cleaned toilets. In her office, Mrs. Keele cuts up her credit card, and puts the pieces in her bin. Troubled new girl Anna goes in to see the Head, who tries to persuade her to talk to Mrs. Monroe first. On the way out, while Mrs. Keele talks on the phone, Anna picks up the fragments of credit card. The Upper 6th, Maria and Richard in the library, and Justine at the airport, are working on Wuthering Heights. Mr. Parrott overhears, and to Maria's amusement rambles on enthusiastically about the novel. Anna applies glue to the credit card pieces and reassembles it. Mrs. Monroe is finding the new Year 7's a bit of a handful, and tells Julie Corrigan that they were angels in comparison. In the airport, Justine gets chatting to a foreign worker in the toilets and gets a different perspective on Heathcliffe. Jacko's poor home life is reflected in his poor homework - Mrs. Monroe gets him to do it again. Mrs. Keele gets Richard to take a letter to the electricity board - Anna overhears that it has all Mrs. Keele's personal information in it. The school council meeting makes a start, but Mrs. Keele is in a flustered state. At the airport, Mr. Robson finally notices that Justine's waiting too, and confronts her. As they are arguing, the person they are waiting for - Martha Jordan - arrives. Ms Jordan is a friend of Ms. Janowitz. In the playground, Anna makes a pretence that the Head wanted her envelope back, and uses the opportunity to note down Mrs. Keele's details. Jacko visits his mum in hospital - she is in another world and doesn't register his presence...
Episode 2
Episode #17.2
Jacko's about to be left on his own while his father is away for a day. Anna wastes no time in having fun with Mrs. Keele's credit card - she orders some flowers. While out shopping with Robyn, Becky puts a deposit on shoes she sees in the window, and they see Jacko buying women's clothes, not knowing about him having to buy things for his mother while she is in hospital. Becky's outraged that he finds time to do that but hasn't contributed towards their mutual school project. Justine is about to elaborate on the idea of putting flowers in the toilets - an idea she realised when she was at the airport toilets - when Anna's ordered flowers arrive. They have been addressed to Mrs. Monroe, who is very pleased by the gesture - except Mrs. Keele has no idea where they came from. She reads out the message "Sorry I had the hump, love from Mrs. Keele!". In the girls' loos - Justine places a vase of red flowers on the ledge. A short time later, Justine finds the vase in pieces, the flowers strewn across the floor. Ms Jordan finds Year 9's appreciation of Shakespeare lacking - Jessica asks if they might have a drama club. Jacko puts his mother's new clothes in his locker, and rudely ignores Becky on the way out. After they've gone, Anna creeps in, forces the lock and takes the bag of clothes. In a rather confused state of mind, Mrs. Keele talks to Justine about the flowers - asking her where they came from. Jacko returns to his locker and is distraught to find it empty - he confides in Becky that it was his mum's nightie. As they speak the nightdress is not too far away - Anna has it, and has clothed a ghoulish mannequin with it, complete with red curly-haired wig. Outside, Arnie and Sam sit with some food which Anna thrust into their hands. Becky finds them with it, recognizing it as part of Jacko's shopping, and insists they find the rest of it, or they're in trouble. Arnie asks his big sister for help, but Jess merely tells him to wise up. Jacko's fellow band members are getting fed up with his non-appearances at their practice. In Mrs. Monroe's class, Anna unveils her creation - as she says, from the Chamber of Horrors - the Mrs. Monroe guy - to squeals of hilarity. Mrs. Monroe places it on the floor without comment. During registration, Arnie and Sam notice Anna's bag is rather full, and suspect her of having Jacko's gear. Ms. Jordan invites Justine to a Thanksgiving dinner, with herself, Mr. Robson, and another American friend. Outside, Arnie and Sam see Anna dump Jacko's stuff in the bin, and Sam races off to find Becky. They retrieve the bags, but the nightdress is missing. When Jacko goes to visit his mum, her social worker digs a little into his home life, concerned at the periodic absence of his father. Becky meets with him and learns the truth of his mother's situation. To Jacko's horror, his mother's social worker turns up at the house -then to his relief, the neighbour walks in, and plays along with the pretence of being his aunt. At school, Sam dares Arnie to walk into the girls toilets - they rush out screaming, running past Mrs. Keele who investigates. She pushes open a cubicle, and reels in horror - Anna's effigy of Mrs. Monroe - a painted balloon face, garish wig, pink kitchen gloves, smiling face, sits there, holding her own credit card...
Episode 3
Episode #17.3
Arnie's football accidentally hits Mr. Robson, who light-heartedly kicks the ball himself, followed by the arriving Martha Jordan who seems rather good at soccer. Justine encounters the disinterested cleaner in the toilet, and gets grief for wanting to make the place look better. Jacko brings a photo album in for his mother, who is very pleased to see him. She reminisces about her childhood briefly, mentioning the sea, then insists Jacko goes to school. When Jacko meets up with Becky, he tells her that he'd like to take her mother to the sea - to Southwold, in Suffolk. Justine talks to Mrs. Keele about the state of the toilets and her unhappy meeting with the cleaner. Mrs. Keele makes an arrangement to have the toilets locked. Shortly after, the cleaner gives the caretaker an earful, because she's been given the sack. Year 11 start to get some enthusiasm for the drama workshop version of Romeo and Juliet that Martha is starting, and preparing audition pieces. Marion, the cleaner gives Mrs. Keele a piece of her mind, telling about how little she is paid, and adding more to the Head's already distressed state, all overheard by a troubled Justine. Outside the loos, a bunch of girls have gathered trying to get into the locked door, and it takes the sanity of Julie Corrigan to explain they need the key from the office. While Julie goes off for the key, Anna steps in, and takes control, leading the girls, like the Pied Piper, to the boys toilet. Martha and Jessica hold auditions: Lauren reads with confidence, but Dudley is a little over confident. When Anna gets back to the girls' toilets, Julie gives her the keys, with instructions to take it to the office. Instead, she goes to the other toilet and locks it, delightedly hearing that Mrs. Monroe is inside. Back at the audition, Julie's piece is rather appositely about keys. Later the results are posted - Brian is to play Romeo, and Jessica has chosen Juliet for herself. Jacko visits his mum, and takes her to a café, but she gets scared at being outside, and asks to go home again. Mr. Robson goes round to Martha's place for her Thanksgiving dinner, and finds Justine there. Then to his dismay, another male turns up, Scott, who seems on rather friendlier terms with Martha than he had expected. There's a little friction between the two men, but then in the kitchen Martha explains that Scott is her cousin. Justine and Scott leave, then there's just Mr. Robson and Martha left. Mr. Robson makes his excuses, kisses Martha on the cheek and leaves. Then, there's a knock at the door, and he's back again to make it clear he'd rather not go, but for the early start tomorrow...
Episode 4
Episode #17.4
It's Sunday, and there's a car boot sale at school. Not only that, but there's a Drama meeting, and some football trials. Jacko collects things from home to sell, to raise money for his idea of taking his mother to the seaside. He does so, hiding what he's doing from his dad, and although it breaks his heart, he puts his electronic keyboard in the bag to take to be sold. Mr. Robson goes round to Martha's house, but she's busy with her PhD. Anna's also there, with a last minute attempt to take a part in the play. Jacko and Becky find they can't sell at the car boot without a car, but Becky borrows Mr. Robson's keys to use his vehicle. At the footy trials, Mr. Robson is told that Arnie is more used to rugby than football, so puts him in goal. When it comes to the point in the play where Romeo is due to kiss Juliet, Brian Shaw can't summon the nerve to kiss Jessica Arnold, and Anna gets annoyed and storms off. Joe suggests he take the part of Romeo, but he's stuck as Mercutio. After the trials, Arnie and Sam discuss the game. By the bins, they make an astonishing discovery - a tortoise on the ground. They pick it up, and then Anna appears with one too, with the comment "Anyone want to buy a meat pie with a hard crust?" Then, the owner turns up, a disreputable looking man who explains he's selling them on his car boot stall. He gets stroppy when Arnie tries to tell him it's illegal to sell tortoises. Arnie doesn't buy his flimsy excuse that he's selling them on behalf of owners who want shot of them. From the balcony, they spy on his van, and note he's got a whole load of them. Wanting to follow the van, Arnie and Sam head off to their bikes, but there's a shock in store. Their bags and bicycle pumps are missing - they've just been exchanged for an item on Jacko's pitch by Anna. As the boot fair comes to an end, Dudley makes an offer of £20 for Jacko's keyboard - he was hoping for £70, but there were no takers. Jacko reluctantly hands over the precious possession, but tells Becky he got £35 for it. Sam reclaims his stuff from a despondent Jacko, and he and Arnie head off in pursuit of the tortoise-selling van owner. They manage to keep up with him in traffic, and follow the van down a narrow lane where it is parked inside a tatty garage. Hiding behind a bush, they observe Richard and Maria walking hand in hand, as they walk down to the canal. Becky makes a decision - she offers the money she was saving for a jacket towards Jacko's cause. He refuses, but she is adamant, and he capitulates, with the proviso that she comes too. As Arnie watches, he sees the tortoise seller put a sack in the back of his van - to his mounting horror, he notices that something inside is wriggling around...
Episode 5
Episode #17.5
Arnie watches the animal seller's van leave, then hears Sam pounding at the door of the garage, where he is now locked in. Sam tells him to get onto the roof, where's there's a skylight. Inside are a number of puppies. Sam piles up some boxes, and Arnie helps him out, but as Sam climbs, he kicks over a foul-smelling tin... Arnie and Sam head home to get a rope ladder. They have no trouble in freeing it from the tree, but then there's a problem of Arnie's nosy sister, Jessica, and his father, who won't let his son go off again. Sam heads back on his own, now with a torch. Sam climbs down inside the garage, but the puppies aren't moving... Then, he hears the van returning, and in tears, climbs back out to the roof - in his haste his wristwatch comes off, and falls to the floor. The man comes in, notices the poisonous fumes, and without noticing it, steps on Sam's watch. From the roof, Sam looks on, appalled, as the animal trader lobs a sackful of dead dogs into the canal. Then he hears the man make a call in which he explains the loss as an accident caused by the puppies, and asks for two more dogs to be delivered. At school the next day, Arnie is surprised when Sam turns up with a dirty great clock hanging round his neck - he explains about the loss of his watch. Others in his class look at his clock as though it is a fashion statement! Mr. Robson arranges to have a meal with Martha. Mr. Brisley throws a random suggestion to Martha about the drama group which she takes up - making the Romeo and Juliet play contemporary. Anna tries to poke her nose into Arnie and Sam's business, but they aren't in the mood for her. The drama workshop seems full of tensions and arguments, with Anna demanding participation, Joe's girlfriend Paula looking daggers at Jessica, and Brian sulking because Jessica insulted his acting abilities. Martha suggests an improvisation session. Unfortunately some personal comments are made, Joe takes what's said to heart, and decides to leave, calling upon all his friends to go too. Before she knows it, Martha finds that the drama workshop consists entirely of females! After school, Sam demonstrates fishing to Arnie on the canal bank, and discuss their plans to thwart the animal seller. Nearby, Jacko walks with Becky, discussing their intended seaside trip. Mr. Robson is strolling out with Martha Jordan, but to their annoyance they find Grange Hill students everywhere they go. As Martha kisses Mr. Robson, on the other side of the canal Arnie tugs his fishing line - a master fish, he announces, as he pulls up an old boot!
Episode 6
Episode #17.6
Cerebral Palsy sufferer Rachel goes to school by taxi, but she makes good use of it picking up all her friends on the way. Mr. Robson has stayed the night at Martha's, and is keen to make it seem like they've arrived separately. To his concern he finds a postcard addressed to Martha that would appear to be from a boyfriend, Chris. His subsequent silence annoys her so much, that she gets out of the car on the way to school. Unfortunately, Becky and Jacko are nearby and they concoct a story about a puncture. It's the day when Jacko and Becky are due to take his mother to the seaside to help her overcome her depression. Jacko tells Becky that she is one of the things that makes him happy. His fellow band members, though, are not so happy to find is once again unable to practise with them. Mr. Robson is astonished to find Jodie with a clock round her neck - Sam has unwittingly started a fashion! After school, Mr. Robson calls Martha from a callbox, but she doesn't pick up. Instead, he bumps into Richard, who challenges him to a game of snooker. He admits defeat after three games, and this makes him realize he needs to do the same with Martha. At the Suffolk coast, Jacko's mother delightedly runs to the sea. She is enjoying herself, but turns melancholy upon seeing a beach hut. "We used to come here in the summer," she says, and then Jacko learns that "we" means her and her sister. Jacko's mother explains a bit of family history, and about her elder sister. As they retire to bed, she is delighted to see flowers in the room - and flowers are also Mr. Robson's way to get back into Martha's good books, as he takes a bouquet around to her flat. Jacko kisses Becky goodnight - but chastely on the cheek, and she seems disappointed. Mr. Robson gets an explanation about Chris, short for Christina and Martha's sister in law... and the crisis is over. In the early morning, there's a frantic knocking at Becky's bedroom door - Jacko's mother has gone missing. They finally find her near her old house, on the porch of a beach hut. She cries, and explains that her sister died when she was pregnant with Jacko, and since she has now lost her mother too, there's no-one alive who has known her all her life. There's a release though, from the tears... As the time of departure comes closer, Jacko's mum wants a while alone with her thoughts, leaving Jacko and Becky to get to know each other on the beach. Back at home, Jessica has spent her Saturday shopping with old friends from her public school days. They pass by Grange Hill on the way home, and with the gate open, decide to take a look inside. It's all dark, but they hear voices. Creeping toward the sound, Jessica is astonished to hear Mrs. Keele having an argument with her husband - it becomes apparent that Mr. Keele is out of work, and frustrated that she is the breadwinner. The girls race off: they have a theatre trip lined up - but they aren't the only ones. Jessica and her friends sit right behind Mr. Robson and Martha and observe their romantic inclinations. They enjoy the play, but outside they are accosted by some youths. Jessica coolly stands up to them, astonishing her friends with her bravado. Unfortunately, after they've walked a short way, they come back, and it's time for plan B - Run!
Episode 7
Episode #17.7
Jessica bumps into her friend again, and is nostalgic for her old school. At school, Anna's had a key cut from the girls' toilet one, and finds it fits the boys' toilets too! Mrs. Keele is becoming increasingly stressed with the pressure of work. Mr. Parrot has a new tactic - bribery of mars bars - for handling Year 7. It's partially successful, but the sentence "Mrs. Keele is cracking up" is whispered around. Paula sees Joe with his arm around Jessica, and is decidedly frosty to him. Both Arnie and Sam, and Jessica spread the word that Mr. Robson and Martha are an item, after seeing them together at the theatre. Mr. Robson fails to persuade Martha to go out for the evening, but then Jessica tells them that there's a problem - boys are locked in the toilet! After school, Arnie and Sam wait again for the Animal Man to arrive, and they set out to follow him, to see where his animal supplier lives. They discover that he is going to a flat, and use walkie talkies to get Arnie to follow the Animal Man - unfortunately, the technology fails at a crucial point, leaving Arnie vulnerable. Jacko goes for practice with his band, but once again he is too late - he finds his old keyboard, the other band member tells him he bought it for £40. Arnie follows the Animal Man, but then his prey turns, and Arnie quickly dodges into another flat doorway - to his astonishment, it's Anna who lives there. Anna refuses to let him out until he divulges what he and Sam are involved with... The next day, it's Anna who's showing the initiative in getting evidence of the animal trading. The girls only drama workshop has a successful improvisation session. Everything is fine, but then the boys come back, and want back into the action. Jessica starts an improv session where a ball is thrown, and a word added to a sentence. Joe grabs the ball, and won't let it back, so Jessica takes his hat. There's a mad throng of boys around Jessica, reaching for the hat - and suddenly she screams. Mr. Robson and Martha run to investigate - Jessica shouting "who was it?", and runs into Martha's arms, sobbing.
Episode 8
Episode #17.8
Jessica is still reeling after an unknown boy groped her during a drama session - initial suspicion falls on Joe. Her father regrets moving his children to Grange Hill. Mrs. Keele is in no mood to find someone handing out racist leaflets outside school. She has a meeting with the Arnolds, but the general consensus is to work out who was responsible before making decisions. Jessica's Year 7 brother, Arnie, believes the rumour about Joe, and is determined to have it out with him. He encounters Joe's girlfriend Paula, who heads off in search of Jessica. When she catches up with Jessica, she accuses her of making it all up, calls her a slag, and then latches on to Jessica until Jodie and Lauren pull her off. Mr. Robson's interviews with the boys displeases Martha, who objects to him suggesting that Jessica may have reacted to an accidental touch during the drama session. Also, she's not happy that the whole school knows about them, and is distinctly cool towards him. Mr. Robson and Martha stage a re-enactment of the scene, with Martha taking Jessica's position. Martha is doubtful, but Mr Robson does at least eliminate some of the boys... at least in Mr. Robson's eyes. Maria has a surprise in store for boyfriend, Richard - she goes "goth" - wild black hair, and dark lipstick. He stares at her in disbelief, and she storms off... Thursday dawns, and Mrs. Keele's forgetfulness has caused her a problem - she assumes that Martha will take Mrs. Monroe's Year Seven class, but it's Martha's day off. She has to take the class herself. All is well to begin with, but then Anna sets off her annoying talking watch demonstrating it to Janice on her left. "it's 9:40 am" it repeatedly says, until Mrs. Keele has had enough, and tries to work out whose it is. It is obvious that it is Anna's, and in a rapidly deteriorating voice, demands that Anna gives over the watch and leaves the room. Anna refuses, shouting back that it's not fair. To everyone's shock, Mrs. Keele clutches at her throat, and lives up to her name - keeling over and collapsing onto the floor. "You've killed her," whispers Janice...
Episode 9
Episode #17.9
While the life is breathed back into Mrs. Keele after her collapse, Mr. Robson goes to help, leaving hapless Mr. Parrott in charge of his gym class. Dudley knocks his papers flying with a bench, and Dennis takes the opportunity to photocopy some of his exam questions. While Anna acquires the nickname "Head Killer", Mrs. Monroe and the teacher who gave her the kiss of life take some flowers to the recuperating Mrs. Keele in hospital. The next day, Mrs. Monroe tries to make peace with her troublesome Year Seven, but it seems to fall on deaf ears. Dennis spreads photocopies of Mr. Parrot's notes to his classmates. To the teacher's surprise, everyone seems to find his percentages work easy, instantly knowing all the answers. When he runs out of questions and improvises some, his class isn't so knowledgeable. The new school secretary asks him about the photocopies that someone did on his behalf, and he puts two and two together (or 50% + 50%!) to work out it was Dennis. Without actually telling Dennis it is a punishment, and hinting heavily about overspend on the photocopier, Mr. Parrott gets him to make some copies of his notes. Jacko takes his recovering mother out for fish and chips, but already present is Anna who is being mean to so-called friend, Janice. Josh, from Year Nine makes fun of Anna, and suggests he be her agent, but she tells him to get lost. Jacko's mum asks about her, and is told the story of how she gave the Head a heart attack. She goes to speak with her, to Jacko's consternation, but Anna's response is to push the remains of her chips into Josh's face, and leave. Jacko's mum then spends some time on the swings - she is relaxed, but Becky nags Jacko that he can't continually arrive back late at school. Then his fellow band members arrive on the scene - he's missed band practice one time too many, and they've voted to oust him from the group...
Episode 10
Episode #17.10
The loos have had a bit of redecoration - Mr. Robson explains to caretaker Dave that it's because the school inspectors is coming. Mr Robson leaves Dave screwing in a new mirror, but hears the sound of smashing glass - evidently seven years of bad luck for the accident-prone caretaker. Anna pressures Arnie and Sam to do something about the Animal Man problem instead of living vicariously through fast action movies on television. Mr. Robson tells the staff that a school brochure is to be written, with photos taken of classes. Mr Hankin's camera gives Arnie an idea for getting evidence against the animal smuggling, and with a bit of sweet talk, gets hold of it, nominally for getting school brochure photos. Mr. Robson takes on the role as acting head and finds himself overworked. Mr. Manyeke tells Mr. Robson that he's going to resurrect the Grange Hill Choir and he starts gathering some singers - teaching them a song... in Latin. Justine helps get the brochure into shape - her example template sounds better than anything created so far, so Mr. Robson asks her to get involved with the text. Josh suggests that the school video camera is used as well as still photography. Arnie and Sam, with Anna unshakably with them, go to the place they saw "Animal Man" visit, with the intention of getting inside unseen. They create a diversion, with Anna messing with his car, jumping on the roof, and giving an opportunity for Arnie to step inside with the camera. Arnie lets Sam in, and then they take some photos of the place, which all looks disappointingly normal. Then, to their horror, they hear a toilet flush and realize they are not alone. An old lady walks past them - evidently blind, but sensing their presence. They try to get out, but are too late - the man is coming back, so they duck into the back of the flat. As "Vernon" gets a good telling off from his elderly mother, they quietly slip out through the front door. They aren't too pleased with themselves, especially with just one photograph - but under a magnifying glass, they see an address on a letter - the location of some kind of a farm. Anna tells them that she knows where it is - she saw the address on a receipt inside the car...
Episode 11
Episode #17.11
The school inspectors are in town, sitting in on lessons, and giving Mr. Robson a headache. With the rather limited clue that they are looking for a farm near Hertford, Arnie and Sam borrow an Ordnance Survey map to try to home in on likely places that Animal Man, Vernon, might be visiting. They find a likely candidate - Watchwood farm, and Anna calls the petrol station using the number on the receipt she saw through the car window, and finds that the farm's owner is called Gibson. Directory enquiries then gives them a phone number for the farm, and Anna calls it - they hear dogs barking in the background. Dave the caretaker does his best to make the school look "wellcoming" - as he spells the word on his home-made banners, to the exasperation of Mr. Robson. Arnie and Sam plan out their complicated trip to Hertford. Mr. Robson gives Justine a lift home, via his house, to collect his notes for the brochure. Martha makes an unexpected appearance, and looks surprised to see them laughing together. Arnie presses his sister, Jessica, for some money, and tells him the story about Animal Man - she doesn't believe him, but does part with the cash. The three head off on their long journey - a series of coaches, then a long walk. Finally, they reach a farm, and Anna hears dogs barking. They cautiously approach, and go inside. They find makeshift compartments with many dogs of different breeds with bad living conditions. They take a photo, hear someone coming and scarper. An elderly worker enters and takes a tiny puppy, talking to himself as he does so. Then, Vernon turns up, and in earshot of Anna, Sam and Arnie, takes the puppy, saying that it's no good to anyone, and demands a bucket of water to drown it. Anna screams, "No!" and rushes out, rescuing the dog. Animal Man looks at Anna in astonishment, then recognizes her - she runs, but finds a barbed wire fence in the way...
Episode 12
Episode #17.12
Anna's in big trouble on a farm in Hertford - she bluffs that her parents are nearby, but Vernon's not ready to believe her. At home, Arnie's mum has liaised with Sam's mother and worked out that they've not gone fishing, and Jessica explains about what Arnie said, which she had thought was just a game. Mrs. Arnold calls the police with a rather hazy idea of what the farm's name was. At the farm, Arnie and Sam creep out unseen, while the threats Vernon makes against Anna get serious. Vernon tells Anna that he's going to destroy the evidence - the dogs - and she yells to Sam and Arnie to get the police. Anna's left in charge of Vernon's elderly assistant, while Vernon drives after Arnie and Sam. Anna easily escapes the clutches of Ron, and smashes the van's windscreen before running off. Sam and Arnie put some old ironmongery in the path of the car, and hide. When Vernon goes to remove the wreckage from the road, Sam grabs the car keys. With police sirens in the distance, time's up for Vernon, who makes a run for it. Anna opens the van's rear doors, and several dogs leap out and pursue Vernon, keeping him from getting away, while the police arrive on the scene. Back at home, Mr. Robson is baffled to find Martha's not talking to him when he visits her flat, but they make up. A new week dawns, with the school inspectors wanting to hear the newly reformed choir sing. Mr. Robson gives the animal rescuers a ticking off for putting themselves in danger. Dennis and Josh are determined to listen on the girls' drama production and hide under a piece of gym equipment while they rehearse. They give a demonstration of their performance called "Bits and Pieces" to Mrs. Monroe, to get her approval. Robyn and Julie do a sketch with them dressed as sexist lads. Jessica plays a piece from Taming of the Shrew, showing the Tudor male's view of the sexes. Then a video is played showing what the modern male thinks of the fairer sex, and the girls give an account of their feelings of being second class citizens. The performance comes to an end - but Mrs. Monroe vetoes it. The girls leave in a gloomy frame of mind, and the lights are turned out. But there is an anguished pair of voices coming from the vaulting horse - Dennis and Josh are unable to get out of their hiding place with the weight of equipment stacked on top...
Episode 13
Episode #17.13
Dennis and Dudley escape from their predicament in the Gym, but at the cost of unwittingly vandalizing the stage equipment. Justine bumps into an old school friend with a baby, Jackie, who is stuck with her mundane life. She is persuaded to go to a forthcoming party, and Justine arranges for Robyn and Julie to baby-sit. Mrs. Monroe confides in Mr. Robson that she feels guilty about her decision not to allow the girls' play - but then the two of them find the smashed equipment, and conclude it was the girls expressing their dissatisfaction at her veto. The girls deny knowledge of the damage, and decide to find out with their own investigation. Dennis gets increasingly nervous as the day progresses. Mr. Hankin's science class in forensics gives Lucy the idea for taking fingerprints. In the Gym, Hammy finds Dennis cleaning the equipment he hid under, and is immediately suspicious. When the other girls turn up, Dennis talks his way out of it. Mr. Hankin is persuaded to look at the crime scene, and finds a footprint in one of the vaulting boxes. In the evening, Robyn and Julie start their babysitting for Jackie, while the young mother and Justine go off to their party. Before the party starts, they go to the wine bar, and notice Martha there, sitting alone. While they say hi, Mr. Robson comes in, very late, and immediately is in her bad books for talking to the girls first. Ignoring her grumpiness, he takes her off... to the school swimming pool, and his spontaneity wins her back... Back at Jackie's house, Robyn and Julie are finding their charge a bit of a handful, disappearing and making a mess while their backs are turned. Justine sees Julie and Robyn to their homes, then walks home alone. On the way, she suddenly hears a cry, and sees a man running off. Another bloke steps forward, clutching his chest, and collapses in pain. The first house she tries is no help, the occupant too afraid to help, so Justine heads off to a phone box. As she waits for the 999 call to respond, there's the sound of approaching footsteps, and the phone box door opens...
Episode 14
Episode #17.14
Waiting for the 999 call centre to respond, Justine is shocked when the phone box door opens - it's Mr. Robson. Justine goes with him to the police station to give a statement about the stabbing and to try to describe the attacker. The next day, Mrs. Monroe tells Martha about the attack, but the fact that Justine was with Mr. Robson is ringing alarm bells in Martha's head. News spreads to everyone in the school - it reminds Jessica that her own incident was never resolved. Mrs. Monroe reiterates that the girls' play is banned, but they intend to perform it outdoors - there's already a lot of interest, and they start selling makeshift tickets. Josh shows Dennis his detailed plans for buying up old warships and refitting them as leisure centres. Maria tells Richard of her strict father, and he persuades her to go and listen to the choir practising. To Maria's disgust, the song sung is Greensleeves, but then Mr. Manyeke does something surprising - he tears up the song sheet, and tells the choir to do the same. He explains that his choir is going to be a "choral extravaganza" and practice becomes more dynamic. Mrs. Monroe's talk of Shakespeare in the Park gives Lucy the idea that their own drama could be done in any park, without permission. Dennis and Josh make Dave the caretaker spill his paint tin, and Dennis accidentally steps in the paint - Lucy notices the imprint he leaves behind, and considers it thoughtfully. Richard goes to have tea with Maria and his father - they discuss her "goth" appearance as though she isn't present, and Richard gets to see her chess trophies from an earlier age. Hard-up Sam has the idea of a computer tennis competition, with the intention of entering and winning himself. At the park, Lucy and the others fob off a park keeper with a lie that their teacher has organised their impending drama production. Then the performance starts, but it's immediately heckled by Dudley with cries of "get 'em off" - Julie's reply to this is to grab Dudley and pull him onto "stage" and put him in his place. The girls' piece now re-enacts the destruction of the stage gear, showing it as a typical yobbish act of boys. Lucy looks knowingly in Dennis's direction, and he whispers "but it wasn't like that!"
Episode 15
Episode #17.15
Joe asks Jessica out, but she refuses. Sam's great plan to hold a computer games tournament hits the snag that no-one believes the contest wouldn't be rigged in his favour. The others agree once it has become a proper multi-round tournament with a draw to choose the players. Colin gets carried away helping Sam drum up interest, and gets some old players involved - players who are likely to be serious opposition. Mrs. Monroe finds Sam's library book, and warns him to be more careful about where he leaves them. Maria suggests that Justine do her Journalism contest entry about racism in Europe. Hammy does the draw for the computer tennis - Sam is set against Brian in the first round, to his chagrin. The first match comes to an early halt when Mr. Parrott turfs them out into the playground - they restart the match at Colin's house. Sam accuses Hammy of cheating in the draw - and when he and Arnie leave, she notices library books behind, and grabs them, throwing them into the trailer of a car parked outside school. Meanwhile, Dennis is still getting the cold shoulder from Lucy - he decides to come clean about the accidental vandalizing of the drama props. Mr. Parrott joins the choir, singing Measuring the Marigolds - Lucy notes out loud that's it's become like a maths class! Mr. Manyeke breaks the good news that there's a chance that the choir might get a trip abroad. Dennis finally admits his guilt to Lucy, who's not very forgiving, but he also lets slip that he knows it was Brian who assaulted Jessica in the drama club. Lucy wastes no time in telling Brian what little she thinks of him, but when Jess is told, she wants an end to it. Joe and Gabriel though tell Brian that he's well out of order and must go and speak to Jessica. The first tennis match between Dill and Colin still hasn't had an acceptable game, and it falls upon Arnie to offer up his room for the match: however this time, it's Jessica who insists the computer goes off, and Arnie's mother puts an end to it. Robyn and Julie have another babysitting venue: it seems easy on the face of it, but the baby cries all night, and the parents are late in coming back. When they do make their appearance, they argue amongst themselves, and seem unfit to drive the girls home, so they head out on foot, with Justine's recent experience in the foremost of their minds. They are passed by a car full of boisterous lads, and nervously break into a run - but Robyn twists her ankle. Then there's a car approaching again... they brace themselves, but it's only Robyn's mum, out looking for her...
Episode 16
Episode #17.16
Robyn faces the wrath of her mother's anger after the fiasco of the babysitting. Dill, Sam and Colin get started early at school - determined to play the first round of the computer tennis uninterrupted. They get Dave the caretaker interested, and borrow his wheeled table. In the playground, an engineer is working on the drains - he gives the caretaker some books he found in the back of the truck (put there by Anna). Mr. Manyeke has good news - their choir is going to East Germany. There is a catch though, there's a limit on how many can go. Mr Parrott, though, seems upset by the prospect of a foreign trip. Mrs. Monroe confronts Arnie about his books that were handed in - Anna stands up and says she saw some Second Years put the books on the builder's truck - Mrs. Monroe treats her report with skepticism - it seems unlikely that she would stand up for Arnie. Mrs. Monroe takes Anna to the choir practice, to see if her willingness to join in might extend to other projects. There's another addition to the choir too - Dudley, whose "vocally challenged" singing puts the others in fits of laughter. The choir is ready to laugh at new recruit Anna - but she stuns them with high quality solo of "Who will buy?". To Sam and Colin's delight, Brian doesn't show up for his round of the computer tennis - they declare his absence forfeits his entry. Justine confides in Richard that she'd like to go to Germany - it would help in her journalism competition entry. Robyn and Julie approach Mr. Robson about the idea of learning first aid, to help would-be babysitters look after their charges. Mr. Parrott tells Mr. Brisley why he's looking down - his fiancé has left him for a German man. As he talks, Hammy is listening close by... Mr. Robson tells Martha that their planned Morocco trip will have to be delayed - she says that perhaps she will just go straight home to the U.S after the school year ends. Mr. Robson is about to say something to Martha, but he's interrupted by nearby singing of "You're the one that I want...", and the opportunity is lost. Mrs. Maguire's babysitting lecture is infiltrated by Joe and Gabriel. She makes Joe demonstrated how to change a nappy... In Games, Rachel's not too keen on Tennis - but she has no difficulty in beating Dudley at the computer version...
Episode 17
Episode #17.17
Mr. Robson agrees to go to Germany. Lovelorn Mr. Parrott's voice is suffering from his increased smoking: in an effort to persuade Mr. Parrott not to go with the choir, Anna with her friend tries to make the teacher talk as much as possible in Maths. "There's something strange in the air," says Mr. Hankin - and after he's gone, the squeaky-wheeled trolley is moved to another safe location for the next bout in computer tennis. Things look bad for Sam - one set down to Dave the Caretaker. Meanwhile Mr. Hankin is lecturing Mr. Parrott about smoking, but to his horror Mr. Parrott breaks down in tears. Later, he gets more grief from the Year 9's who get the increasingly suffering teacher to repeat German phrases. Further, Mr. Parrott's dropped engagement ring is found, and passed round, until Josh innocently suggests he take it to Mr. Robson. Mr. Parrott's coughing destroys the morale in choir practice. Deviously, Justine and Maria ask Martha Jordan to sing an American song to them - Justine secretly records her. It seems Martha is determined to go back home - she starts to pack, with a short-term stay at Mrs. Monroe's house before term ends. At the Arnolds' house, Jessica warns Colin that her mother is getting concerned about the computer game playing. Eventually, Arnie breaks the bad news to Sam - computer games are banned at his house. Getting ever more suspicious of the empty playground, and weird noises, Mrs. Monroe bursts in on Dave playing computer tennis - but he is alone. When she leaves, the kids emerge from the adjacent darkened room. As they leave, Anna pickpockets Dave's coat, and takes the tennis cartridge - the girls are convinced there's something underhand going on, and that's why the boys always win the game. The girls intend to get a new version of the game - one that hasn't been tampered with. Year Seven put further pressure on Mr. Parrott, making him feel worse about going to Germany, "sick as a parrot", they chant - he caves in and tells Mr. Manyeke that he won't be going. This leaves a hole in the choir - Justine swaps Mr. Manyeke's tapes so he gets to hear Martha singing, her game plan being to get Martha to go to Germany with Mr. Robson. Martha is furious, when she hears her own voice, but the music teacher is determined to get Martha to go with the choir. Eventually, she says she will think about it...
Episode 18
Episode #17.18
Mr. Parrott tells off Maria for playing her Walkman in the library - she calls him a prat, and she's brought before Mr Robson. Mr Parrott adopts a new, fiercer tone, getting his Year Seven class to stand and put their hands on their heads. Mr. Hankin talks to him about his smoking - and finds out that he's given up. Sam and Joe are playing each other in the computer game finals - if they can ever get enough time with a working tv. Lucy tells Jessica that she can't go to Germany. Sam just manages to win his victory, when Mr. Parrot bursts in. The entrants are taken to Mr. Robson who decides there will be no action, provided the entrance money goes to a worthy cause rather than Sam's pocket. Lucy goes to Josh's house and sees his collection of war memorabilia - she breaks the news that she won't be going to Germany, and is disappointed in his disinterested response. Maria and Justine go to a party in the evening: Maria makes a new black friend, Finch, and talks about her annoyance at being treated as an object by Richard. Justine tries to get her to come home, but it's a lost cause - she sees the light go on in the bedroom, and the curtains close. The next day, Richard is on his way to see Maria who he assumes spent the night at Justine's house. Before he can get to the door, he's accosted by Maria's father, angry at his missing daughter. Justine pulls him off, and Richard protests his innocence, then Maria turns up in Finch's car. There follows a showdown, Maria telling her father that she's had enough of being told what to do. In his turn, Maria's father tells her she is a slag. When he's gone, she turns to Richard, but he merely agrees with Maria's father. Justine and Finch give Maria and Richard some breathing space. They drive off a short way and talk. Maria insists that she and Finch just talked all night - Richard doesn't believe it, and walks away. Maria goes back to Justine's house and Justine shows her autobiographical wall - a place where hundreds of photos of her life are arranged. There's also a map with pins ready to be placed - locations where Justine will one day go. Also, there's her cheque - prize money for her second place in the journalism competition. Richard goes to school to tell Mr. Manyeke that he doubts Maria will be going to Germany - or if she does, then he won't. Martha goes round to speak to Maria, and insists that she must go...
Episode 19
Episode #17.19
The coach sets off for Germany. Maria's forgot her passport - it's at home, but her father turns up to deliver it - she won't speak to him. With talk of vampires and Transylvania, the coach arrives at its destination. A door creaks open: "Grange Hill, welcome," announces a sinister voice. Over the evening meal, Josh disappears quietly, and Jodie decides to follow. She finds him at a shop selling old war items, such as Iron Crosses. She grabs his arm and takes him back to the hostel. The early start is a bit of a shock to the system and another shock is in store when they hear some of the competition singing. Back at home, Mrs. Monroe has arranged a trip for the Year 11's, but they are a little envious of those who have gone to Germany. Jacko agonizes over Becky, but he gets no help from Brian. In Germany, Maria and Richard go to a pub, but it's not long before Richard has stormed off because of Maria's reluctance to talk. A barmaid comes over, but she's more interested in Maria's goth look than in taking her order. Her name is Rosa and Maria takes her back to the hostel and shares her makeup and hair colouring. Rosa tells them there is a youth club a short tram ride away. As they leave they notice Josh has garlic tied around his neck in case of vampires! To begin with the club seems fine - Jessica meets up with Hans, who she saw at the hostel, but there seems a strong right-wing element to the boys too, and Maria's German friend starts to get nervous. Jessica lies to Hans that she is 17, and goes outside with him. Jodie, who is black, gets aggressive looks from some of the youths, but she is determined not to be cowed by them. Maria talks about what happened between Richard and herself, then suddenly, things turn ugly - several skinhead youths approach the English kids. Outside, Jessica is given a turn with a bottle of Schnapps, and another... The music stops - trouble is in the air. Inside, one of the youths speaks in German, translated by Rosa. "This is our youth club, why are you here, who invited you?" he says. They explain that they are here for a music contest, but it's no good. The German youth goes close to Jodie, and unpleasantly asks what her nationality is - she stands her ground and insists she is British, European too, and has every right to be there. He finally capitulates. Despite the "permission", the Grange Hill visitors decide to go, in a very sour mood, but there's the small matter of Jessica - who is drunk. They get her back, and fill her with black coffee. There's a pleasant surprise for Josh - an old border guard jacket is waiting for him, courtesy of Uli, and he promises to find him a matching cap. As everyone turns in for the night, Jodie's eyes fill with tears, still remembering her disgraceful treatment...
Episode 20
Episode #17.20
Still in Germany for the choir competition, Jessica starts the day with an almighty hangover, and Maria and Josh offer to customize Rosa's boring car. Jodie suggests a football match against the locals to help bridge the nationalist mistrust she witnessed. Back at home, Mrs. Monroe Year 11's have a leaving present for her, and she is full of melancholy. Her class are dismayed when she announces that her treat for her class is a trip to an exhibition of photos of Elizabethan costumes. In Germany, Martha's planning to cross the border and travel into Poland to find the castle where her parents met. Josh is also planning a trip into Poland - to a market Uli knows, where he might get war memorabilia, and to where he can sell some of his sought-after western gear. Josh sets up his market stall - but he's almost immediately scammed by a local girl who gives him the old East Germany money - she suggests, in broken English, that she uses her local knowledge to work with him, and split the money 50-50. At home, Mrs. Monroe leads her depressed Year 11 crew down the High Street, like a modern day Pied Piper, but she's conned them - she takes them to a restaurant. Jacko finally realizes that Becky is someone special for him. Mrs. Monroe opens her leaving card, and admires the scarf they bought, and tells her class that she'll miss them. There's a few absences when it comes to the choir setting themselves up for a rehearsal - Anna is convinced Martha has been kidnapped, and there's also Josh missing. Mr. Robson decides to go after Martha: he's told he can't hire a car, but Rosa offers him a lift, in her newly customized vehicle. At the market stall, Josh admires his new military cap in the mirror... and then asks if there's anything else on sale - he makes an explosive gesture with his arms, and in return for all his money, and rucksack, is given a mysterious cardboard box. Mr. Robson scoots off in the dilapidated car, driven by Rosa and it's not long before they come across Josh. Then, they reach Martha's castle - the shell of a formerly grand building is all that remains, and Mr. Robson finally gets to ask the big question - will she stay in England with him, rather than go back to the States. In a jocular mood the four head back to Germany - Mr. Robson admires Josh's cap, and asks him if he has anything else - an AK45 perhaps? He's not expecting a positive reply, but thinking about customs, Josh shows the cardboard box. Inside is a wartime hand grenade. There's a mad dash out of the car, all except for Josh who exits slowly. Mr. Robson tells Josh to leave the hand grenade on the seat, then the four crouch some distance away, while the acting Head decides what to do. "I want everyone to know that if I get killed, then Josh gets expelled," says Mr. Robson as he gingerly creeps back towards the explosive device and throws it into the lake. In the nick of time, Mr. Robson, Martha and Josh return and the choir is complete and can give its performance... Back at school, Mrs. Monroe sadly looks at the empty classroom in silence. Her reverie is broken by Justine's appearance. The performance over, Richard presents some flowers to Maria - a peace offering, and the two are mates again (but no more than that). Martha takes one more look at the Polish castle with Mr. Robson - she tells him that she can't leave her homeland... The coach comes back to Grange Hill, and Martha says goodbye to Justine, who will be making her own trip to the U.S soon. Maria greets Justine, "The years we've spent here, finally over," she says. "We're all grown up, eh?" replies Justine... and the two walk home. Anna's left in the playground, a tear running down her cheek, looking wistfully at the coach...
