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Grange Hill Season 20 Episodes
Season 20 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 1997 - 1997
Episode 1
Episode #20.1
It's Human Rights Day. Lucy happily embraces Dennis after he scores a try.. then notices the mud down her white jacket. Year Nine are wrapped up in a "prisoner of conscience" idea. They have a jail at the bottom of the stairs where one of them is imprisoned constantly, and perform a play to the rest of the school to empathize with those jailed for their beliefs. The new craze for motorbikes amongst the Year 11 boys causes concern for Mr. Robson. He tells them to park on the street, not in the playground, but they move their vehicles round by the kitchens instead. Dudley chains up all three bikes with his massive chain and sturdy padlock. Josh restarts his Year 10 classes after his disastrous exam results. Sarah Jane finds that imprisoned Kevin is being taunted by Alec and Robert, and stands up to them making them look foolish. Miss Carver congratulates her class for their Amnesty performance, but Sarah Jane wants some more immediate action than merely sending a polite letter. A compromise is reached with the idea of faxing China a demand to free a political prisoner, Anne Louie. Dennis finds Lucy is upset: her widowed father is seeing another woman - Francesca, who is younger than her mother. Dennis suggests that she invites her around for Sunday lunch, and he agrees to come too. In the school's rear, Robert and Alec are most interested in the parked motorbikes. Unfortunately, Dennis can't re-lock the chain, and Mr. Robson insists that they leave. Shortly after, Alec applies the sturdy lock, unnoticed, to the Prisoner of Conscience cage containing Kevin. Meanwhile Judi, who ducked out of taking the last stint in the cage, is running towards St. Mary's school to collect her little brother. She finds he is running a temperature, and puts him to bed - but why is she running the house alone? Meanwhile, Kevin is still locked in the cage, the hardened steel padlock proving impossible to saw through. An oxyacetylene torch is lit, and just as it is about to be applied, Kevin's mother turns up wanting to know what they are planning to do with her child! There's bad news for Josh when he goes to get his motorbike - in absence of the padlock, it has been nicked! As they walk off the school premises they find the bike - wrecked!
Episode 2
Episode #20.2
It's Saturday, and Dennis has a job to do at Grange Hill, helping out with the catering for a function in the building. He has a deadline though, he is going to a party with Lucy, but needs to buy some clothes. He finds he's not alone - Gerald is also there. Kevin sticks a photo of Amnesty case Anne Louie around his neck and hands out leaflets, and collects money. He is watched by some youths who eye the collecting tin with interest. Judi is also out on the streets - picking up fruit from the ground near a market stall, but she's interrupted by the appearance of Sarah-Jane. Judi makes her excuses and leaves. Shortly after, Kevin loses the tin to the youths, trying to run down an alleyway. Sarah-Jane tells him how stupid he is for collecting money alone. While they are near a butcher's shop, they notice one of Judi's brothers steal a pack of sausages. Judi denies that he could have done it, but when he gets the boys out of her earshot, she angrily tells them off, warning them that they could get taken into care. Dennis has a pretty poor time of it, with the boss's pager constantly bleeping, while Gerald sits back with a French book in his hand. To his annoyance, Gerald girlfriend, Claire, turns up to help Gerald with his tasks, and then worse, he learns he's expected to stay there till five, which will make it too late to buy some smart gear for Lucy's Sunday dinner. Also, Dudley turns up, and curious about a package in the bins pulls it out, just as the boss comes in the room, spilling the broken china which Dennis secreted there earlier. While Gerald is in the loo, the boss tells Dennis and Dudley that only of them needs to remain till later, as long as they can decide between them. They speak loudly in the toilets in earshot of Gerald, making out that they there's a bonus, and they want to try to get Gerald to leave. The reverse psychology works, and Dennis is free to leave early. He's paid up, mentioning about the "bonus" in passing, and when the boss laughs off Dennis's joke, Gerald looks dagger at Dennis, realizing he's been scammed. Outside, Dennis encounters Josh, who's still aggrieved about his damaged motorbike, and won't consider helping him choose some clothes. Claire, though, is sympathetic, and suggests she goes with him. Over a coffee, Claire talks to Dennis about Gerald - a boy she's known since she was very young. Dennis goes home to get some kip. Dinner at Judi's house is a large plate of stolen sausages for her brothers - never again, she warns. At home, an exhausted Dennis sleeps, while Dudley hammers on the door to waken him for the party - but it's no use. Outside the party, while Lucy waits for Dennis, she's not pleased to be told he's been seen shopping with Claire. Dudley turns up with a bottle of "vodka" - in fact water, but he's summarily ejected, the contents of his bottle poured over his head. Sunday comes round, and Lucy awkwardly meets her father's girlfriend, Francesca. When Dennis arrives, Lucy makes a point of disliking his new shirt, and Francesca does nothing for her own case by telling him that she does like it. As the dinner is served up, Francesca's BMW, and job (working for Arsenal Football club's marketing) impress Dennis far too much for Lucy's liking, but he's oblivious to Lucy's discomfort. Francesca suggests that Dennis and his friends could come to a training session and offers Dennis a lift home. When she's alone with Dennis, Lucy tells him to clear off, thoroughly fed up with his treacherous affiliation with her dad's girlfriend.
Episode 3
Episode #20.3
Lauren is fed up with brother Andy, leaving her to do the washing up. Dennis finds himself in everyone's bad books - Lucy for liking his father's girlfriend, Josh who blames him for the vandalizing of his bike, and Dudley who couldn't get into the party without him. Having to take her little brother to school keeps making Judi late, and Sarah-Jane isn't pleased about being called a liar when she saw Judi's brother stealing from the butchers. Carlene is annoyed to lose points on her history essay because she focused too much on black issues. Dennis has lunch at the new café near school, under the arches - and recognizes the proprietor, Ray Haynes who used to go to Grange Hill. Before he knows it, he finds himself working there, and finds a friendly ear to listen to his woes. The Amnesty meeting has a few problems: first they are chucked out of their classroom by Mrs. Holmes, and then degenerates into a discussion about their loss of rights. They continue their meeting in the corridor until they are told to move by Mr. Robson, but then there is some startling news from Miss Carver - the unjustly imprisoned Anne Louie has been freed. Following Ray's advice, Dennis buys Lucy some flowers to say sorry, and is forgiven. In PE, Judi has forgotten her kit: she rounds up some spare parts, but Sarah-Jane takes back her top when she learns it is for Judi. The new PE teacher Mr. Dai Jones (whose nickname is "Die Hard"!) has a novel way of encouraging basketball accuracy - he'll answer questions on his bodyguard career to those who score. Judi gets a phone call from her mother who tells her she needs to collect her brother from school because he's fallen ill. She tells Mr. Robson that her mother has the flu. Dennis is having a bad day - he's in trouble with Mr. Jones for missing rugby practice, and someone's let the air out of his tyres - he reckons it was Josh. Judi arrives home with her brothers, and helps her bedridden mother get undressed. In the café, Ray tries to interest Lucy in doing some weekend work, but she demurs for the moment. Joanna is also there, with Josh, and overhearing their conversation puts herself forward for the job. Also present in the café is Lauren with her friend Carlene. Lauren is not pleased when her brother Andy turns up, accompanied with his loud music system. Ray gets him to turn his music off. Then Josh notices a badge on Andy's bag - it appears to be the one from his damaged motorbike. Josh interrogates Andy, but Andy says he found it in the street, and stands up, quite ready to turn the confrontation into a fight...
Episode 4
Episode #20.4
Lucy's fuming because Joanna took the part time café job. Josh takes Joanna's side, and of course Dennis has to side with Lucy, so intensifying the dispute between Josh and Dennis. Sarah Jane loses her watch, and jumps to the conclusion that Judi took it. In Art, Sarah Jane looks through Judi's bag, and when Judi tries to prevent her, Sarah Jane tells her she's as bad as the rest of her family - Judi slaps her, and Sarah Jane storms off. There's bad new for the amnesty group - An Lui has died trying to escape across the Himalayas. In History, Evelyn finds Sarah Jane's watch under her desk. Lucy is annoyed at Dennis because rugby practice is taking up all his time. Kevin has the idea of making an indoor garden in memory of An Lui and Sarah Jane helps. Sarah Jane warns Kevin that he's got a little too wrapped up in the business of An Lui, and that he should get involved in other matters. Kevin says he things she is much better looking than Judi. Judi has a worrying visit from the doctor, to attend to her brother with an ear infection. They put on a brave face and make out that they are all coping fine. When Josh leaves the Arches, he notices someone tinkering with his bike. A little concerned he drives away with Joanna, but after a short way, the bike splutters to a halt - out of petrol. After a more lengthy journey than planned, they arrive at Joanna's house, and she kisses him. On Saturday morning, Sarah-Jane is worried to find Kevin gawping at her house from outside - she opens the window, and he tells her he was just passing. Lucy's in the park with Dennis, and he's about to get back into her good books, when Claire passes by, reawakening Lucy's hostility. He tells her that he's worried she's still interested in Josh, but that's the last thing on her mind, and they are reconciled again. Judi is also out in the park with her brothers. As they lark around, one of her brothers mentions that their mother has Multiple Sclerosis. Sarah Jane encounters Kevin in the park: she grabs his arm and tells him gently but firmly - she only wants him as a friend, like a brother. Meanwhile, Dennis overstayed his time at Lucy, and is going to be late for Rugby practice. His bike encounters road works, and he's forced to stop. When Lucy arrives home she finds Josh waiting: he wants to still be friends. Lucy tells him frankly that he doesn't commit himself to anything - his failed 'O' levels being a prime example. Dennis races back to school, but the rugby has started without him. As he reaches a junction, he's almost knocked off by a passing police car - he pulls out the earplugs of the music system that caused him to not hear the siren, and prepares to drive off again. As he rejoins the road, a truck appears from nowhere, overtaking a bus, and strikes Dennis's bike, catapulting him into the windscreen, and then onto the road. He lies there, the truck driver stands over him. "Lucy..." he says, weakly.
Episode 5
Episode #20.5
After his accident, a helicopter takes Dennis to hospital. Lucy and her father arrive: she holds her head in her hands and sobs. At school, Mrs. Maguire is back, with lots of photos of her baby Louise. The school secretary is surprised to see Wayne Sutcliffe on the bully's counsel list - people do change, observes Mr. Robson. Down in the boiler room, Joanna and Josh are intertwined in the darkness. They are about to be found out by the caretaker, but for the intervention of little Gemma Lyons who is adamant that Mr. Brisley's doorknob is repaired instantly. At Lauren's house, she notices her father has a worried look, a letter in his hand - he has been made redundant. Mrs. Maguire finds a notice on the loos - they have been renamed in her baby's honour. She jokes that she bets it was Dennis Morris who did it, and after the silence is told that Dennis has had an accident. Later, Lucy tells her that Dennis can't walk. Robert tells Wayne and Kevin that his mother is holding a naughty underwear party. Alec talks to Wayne about his bully counselling, not really believing it to be true - he suggests he provides some clients - Wayne laughs it off. Dai Jones puts the Year Sevens through their paces. He seems hard to please - and the first double-dare is scheduled! After some words of encouragement from Lauren, Wayne has his first bullying counselling session. It's Gemma Lyons who sits in front of him, but her complaint is against the school dinners. He gets angry, shouts her and walks off. When he sees Lauren outside, he goes back in, and is able to see the funny side. In a secret place, the Double Dare Gang (Cracker, Lisa, Matt and Sam) draw out the lots to decide who will do a dare against the PE teacher. Matt draws the short straw... Lucy goes to see Dennis, but it's an uncomfortable meeting: Dennis has no feeling in his legs. Judi and the others are going round to Kevin's house. Kevin asks where his mother is going - she innocently replies that it's some kind of clothing party at Robert's mother's house. Judi is worried about leaving her mother alone with the two kids, but her mother tells her she should get out for a change. Robert, Judi, Sarah-Jane and Wayne arrive at Kevin's house. They laugh about the underwear party, revulsed by the thoughts of their parents having sex. Judi and Sarah-Jane find they have something in common - their parents are divorced, but there's still unease in their relationship. Robert mentions the rumours about orgies happening in the boiler room. Judi leaves early, and the others try to persuade Wayne to have some highlights in his hair, with no success. Kevin, though, does agree... Afterwards, Kevin's mother returns, and the others leave, giggling about where she's been. She chides her son for wearing his baseball cap indoors, and takes it off, revealing a carrot-coloured mop of hair!
Episode 6
Episode #20.6
It's time for Matt to perform his dare against Mr. Jones, the P.E. teacher. In assembly, he secrets a stink bomb capsule on Mr. Jones's chair while the teacher is giving out the sports news. When the furious victim seeks the culprit out, Matt isn't one of those kept behind for an interrogation. Finally Lisa arrives, and they breathe a sigh of relief - the first dare has been successful: Matt is named "Stinker". Dudley's sporting a new blonde look. Alec has instituted a "toilet tax" at 50p. While the Year Sevens play indoor five-a-side, Sam forgets himself for a moment, and says "Nice One, Stinker" to Matt. Dai Jones immediately picks up on the sobriquet. Lauren's mum tells her that her father wants to go to the West Indies to see his mother - leaving Lauren behind with just Andy in the house. After a game of pool, Joanna turns up, and whisks Josh away, leaving Claire alone and uncomfortable with some young men who come onto her. She escapes and Dudley walks her home. At school, Matt is about to pay Alec the toilet tax, but Tom prevents him, standing up to the bully, but Mr. Brisley disperses them before Alec can take any further action. The next dare for the Double Dare Gang is taken against Alec - Lisa is the unlucky one. At lunchtime, she buys some cheap baseball caps, and also carefully stores away a large plate full of custard. She dishes out the caps to the others in the gang and dons one herself and when he goes for his predictable "toilet shift", she slaps the custard in his face, and runs off. The appearance of many heads wearing identical red hats fools Alec, as custard drips down his face...
Episode 7
Episode #20.7
Dai Jones notices Alec's keenness on boxing, and gives him encouragement. Mr. Robson, though, is against boxing as a valid school sport. Alec is still smarting from his custard attack from someone with a red baseball cap. Lauren's parents head off abroad, leaving her alone with instructions to keep a firm hand on brother Andy. They're no sooner out the door, than Andy tells his sister he's getting his girlfriend round to stay the night. He takes no notice of her protestations, and adds that he's having a party too. Lucy's dad wants his girlfriend to stay the night, but meets resistance from his daughter. She's planned to go with Lauren and Carlene to a party, but she's got too much on her mind. Lauren and Carlene head off on foot, rather inappropriately dressed, and are mistaken as ladies of the night by a passing car. A passerby tries to warn them about walking around dressed as they are, but before they know it the police swoop in, suspecting them of prostitution. At home, Lucy is something of a gooseberry in her husband's romantic evening with Francesca. Carlene and Lauren have a nightmare interview at the police station, and Lauren insists she needs to use the lavatory and is strip searched. Lauren comes home in a state of shock. Her brother sees she's upset, and she puts her arms around him, and sobs. The following day, Francesca takes Lucy to see Dennis at hospital. Lauren gets nagged by Andy about how she was picked on by the police because she was black. At hospital, Lucy sees Dennis having physiotherapy, building up his arm muscles, and using a wheelchair: he's bitterly sarcastic towards her. She asks why he's so angry - he replies that it's because he can't walk and if she can't see that, he doesn't want her to come any more. He wheels himself away ferociously, leaving her there aghast. Francesca comes brightly back, then sees Lucy's distress: Lucy cries on Francesca's shoulder.
Episode 8
Episode #20.8
A rift has developed between Mr. Robson and P.E. teacher Mr. Jones, over the encouragement of boxing. Gerald reminds Donna that they've been going out for four years, but she is distinctly cool towards him. Dai Jones takes Miss Carver to a local amateur boxing match to give encouragement to Alec. Lauren's brother Andy holds a party, but it seems in danger of getting out of hand, very early. Then in amidst all the noise, Lauren's mum phones her. Lucy also goes to the party, but she finds a post-it note telling her the party is tramps and tarts, not realizing it refers to an earlier event that she decided to miss. When she arrives, and is the only one dressed in a provocative way, Carlene gives her a coat, and she fends off advances. Miss Carver goes back to Dai Jones's place, and before they know it, he's kissing her. She pulls away, and he's surprised and hurt, and she leaves. Meanwhile Lucy decides to leave, and she explains to Carlene that she's uncomfortable being white in a party which is mainly occupied by Andy's black friends. Then Lauren appears and takes Lucy's tarty appearance as a deliberate joke against what happened to her recently, and Donna appears coming down the stairs with a half drunk bottle of whiskey in her hands. The police are at the door too, what's more one of the officers is the woman who attended Lauren's strip search. The party comes to an abrupt halt, with Lauren shouting uncontrollably at everyone. Alone in her bedroom, Lauren hugs herself and cries.
Episode 9
Episode #20.9
Lauren and Andy try to get their story straight about the party, ready for their parents to return. Their main concern though is with Andy's poor school performance. Judi completes her homework then gets tea ready for her energetic brothers. Everything is under control until the boys enter the kitchen, and within moments, one of them scalds himself on the pan, and the other tips the setting jelly over her homework. When Gerald insults Ray's café, Claire breaks up with him at the cinema, fed up with being bossed around. Judi washes her mother's hair in the sink: Judi's tiredness doesn't go unnoticed, but they are determined that Social Services aren't to get involved. Lauren's mother notices her daughter seems scared of something, the duvet over her head, when she finds her in her bedroom. Hockey on skates is popular, led by proficient Arnie. Kelly, Sarah-Jane and Poppy step in for a trial, and Laurie pushes Chris into getting involved. In History, Judi's jellified homework doesn't meet with approval, even though its state is camouflaged by a smart folder. To Mrs. Holmes's astonishment, Judi runs off when she is rebuked, and Sarah-Jane sent to fetch her back. Sarah-Jane finds her crying in the loos, but can't persuade her to return. Later, Judi earns a detention. Judi's brothers have a birthday party - everyone is impressed with her home-made cake. Afterwards though, Judi is short on patience when the rumbustious twins won't go to bed - she accidentally bangs Jonathon's eye on the bunk. The next morning, the twins agree to cover up Judi's accident, but just when Judi's about to head home, Mrs. Holmes buttonholes her for her detention. Judi begs Sarah-Jane's help, and as Judi starts her session, Sarah Jane ponders on Judi's evident distress. Meanwhile, Judi's worst fears are realized - at home, Social Services have been alerted when the boys aren't picked up from school, and also the black eye has been noticed. Judi's mother has to deal with the issue alone. At school, Sarah-Jane provides the necessary distraction, getting Mrs. Holmes to go to the staffroom. Judi gratefully leaves, but Sarah-Jane can't persuade the other detainees that they've been liberated! Judi arrives home and Ruth from the Social Services tries to get to the root of their family life. Judi admits to covering up her brother's black eye, and storms off. Her mother tries to stand, but her physical pain is all too evident to Ruth...
Episode 10
Episode #20.10
At the park, Ruth from Social Services reassures Judi that she's not going to take her brothers into care, and that they can offer help to her disabled mother. Dennis makes his first trip to school in a wheelchair - the step at the front is the first of many obstacles. Lucy meets him inside, and she's uneasy in his presence, but he relaxes a little with Mrs. Maguire. Judi explains her situation to Sarah-Jane and their friendship is restored. Mrs. Holmes though is in a foul mood with both Judi and Sarah-Jane after their detention avoidance. After the lesson, Sarah-Jane apologizes and is allowed to go. Judi gets no sympathy when she explains about her mother, just a replacement detention. When Mrs. Holmes waits for Judi's apology, Judi explodes with rage, and calls her a pig. Outside, Dennis gets some fresh air, then he's pleased to see an old friend - Jessica, back from her time abroad to recover from her illness. He's about to launch into an account of what happened, but she is distracted by other friends who see her for the first time. On his own, Lucy approaches him, but his attitude towards her continues to be bitter. Inside, Poppy talks to Miss Carver about a bullying incident - the bullying of Judi by Mrs. Holmes. Dennis has a frustrating meeting with Mr. Robson - the necessary arrangements for him to be schooled aren't something that can be done immediately. Judi's detention is interrupted by the appearance of Miss Carver, her brothers, and Ruth from Social Services, who have been waiting half an hour. Mrs. Holmes stands her ground, but she's just ignored, and Judi and her brothers are herded out of the classroom. Kelly seems to be Arnie's golden girl in the hockey, but can she persuade him that she can be something more - he seems impervious to her not-very subtle suggestion. The next day, Dennis is there early, and to his delight, the caretaker has put down a ramp for him. Mr. Robson is not so pleased though, because anything like that needs to be ratified with Health And Safety. Joanna and Josh's closeness immediately narks Joanna, but then she bumps into Chris, and her focus changes. Arnie praises Kelly, and for a moment she thinks she's getting somewhere with him - then he dumps all the hockey equipment on her, and tells her he'll be late to see his girlfriend if he doesn't get going...
Episode 11
Episode #20.11
The skate hockey team present Arnie with a problem - he must ask Kelly out, or they'll lose her from the team. Matt picks the short straw, and has to do a dare from the biscuit tin - but when he sees he has to do a "moonie", he opts for the forfeit instead - eating some rancid food from last week. Unfortunately, it has a knock on effect, and he has to leave Mrs. Holmes's class in a hurry! In the playground, Arnie swallows his pride and asks Kelly out, claiming he's broken up with his girlfriend. She insists they go to Ray's café, a place he's reluctant to go to. As Matt is about to leave for home, still feeling unwell, Alec notices the red cap in his locker and thinks he's found the culprit who played the practical joke on him. He's rescued by Tom, who pretends the hat is his. When Alec turns his aggression onto Tom, he's saved by the intervention of Mr. Jones. When the P.E. teacher has gone, Alec demands that the younger lad meets him at the boxing ring to settle things in a civilized manner. At Lucy's house, Dennis has been invited around for dinner. It's all going fairly well until he knocks a plate, and then upset asks if he can go home. Arnie nervously begins his date with Kelly - he seems to be looking for someone as he enter's Ray's café. After they've had a meal, Arnie comes clean, explaining that he's not really broken up with his girlfriend, but that he wants her back on the team. Tom heads off for his boxing match against Alec, supported by the other Double Dare members, and determined that he should not back down. Lisa can't persuade "Speedy" to back down, so they go to watch instead. Outside the café, Kelly's not really upset, at least she wins the bet she evidently made with Dill and Sarah-Jane! She makes sure Arnie sees that she was only doing it for a bet, but later she calls him to say she will stay on the hockey team. It's time for the first round between Alec and Tom. They face each other, but Tom comes to a quick decision and walks out of the ring, and out of the building. Arnie gather his troops for their first round match, but Josh hasn't turned up - instead he's filling his face at the café. Jessica turns up, and won't take his no for an answer, grabbing his arm and dragging his reluctant self to the match. Josh's presence changes the fortune of the Grange Hill team, and the "Hogs" get through to the second round. Before the next game has gone very far, Josh twists his ankle, and is out of the game. Colin steps back in, but Chris nags at Arnie that he could do better as a forward. In the audience, Joanna fumes at Josh's indifference when she tells him she was waiting for him, and Dennis has been taken there by Lucy, and becomes fed up being reminded of other people's physical prowess. Lucy bursts into tears when Dennis once again tells her she is insensitive, and he apologizes. Inside, with seconds to go, Chris scores the winning goal. Jessica wonders at Arnie's glumness after their victory - he's sore at Chris getting the credit, but then his mood swings the other way, and he joins in with the celebration...
Episode 12
Episode #20.12
Ray's not pleased to find that Joanna's turned up for work with her breath smelling of booze. When she shows a bad attitude to the customers, he sacks her. Tom (Speedy) is determined to get back Alec through the "dares", although the others wish he'd just leave him alone. He tries to pick his own dare of "Get Alec", but the others notice him marking the paper, and instead he get's Matt's dare - "Get Mrs. Holmes suspended." Joanna continues to try to get close to Chris. Tom gets into the staff room to start his dare - he takes Mrs. Holmes's shoes, but almost gets locked in by the caretaker. On making his escape, Tom knocks over the coffee pot, and the caretaker comes in on hearing the noise. Lauren's father has good news - he's been offered a job in Barbados. The plan was for him and Andy to go now, while Lauren and her mother stay for the duration of her 'A' levels, but to everyone's surprise, Lauren wants to go with her father. Claire is on her way to help Dennis catch up some of his History coursework when she encounters Gerald, who hasn't yet got the message that their long-term relationship is over. In the Staff Room, Mrs. Holmes's missing shoes add to the mystery of the caretaker's apparent poltergeist. When Mrs. Holmes takes the Year 7 Biology class, she is surprised to find the skeleton missing - it's being hauled around in a refuse sack by Tom as part of his dare. He takes the skeleton into the girls' loos, but is almost caught by Mrs. Maguire who goes in a few moments later. Claire's planned evening with Dennis is skuppered when Lucy arrives and she wants to take Dennis to a cinema. Tom is unable to escape the loos with the skeleton and other stuff, as a Year 7 girl comes in - she encounters the skeleton in the cubicle, and lets out an ear piercing scream. She runs to Mrs. Maguire - "Someone's died in the toilets!" she screams. Mrs. Maguire finds no sign of the skeleton - just one of Mrs. Holmes's shoes. In the playground at lunchtime, the Double Dare gang (minus Tom) have been told to look up. On the roof, Tom arranges his surprise - the missing skeleton with Mrs. Holmes's remaining shoe, a curly wig, and a "I am now suspended" sign. He lowers the spectacle slowly over the wall. He's almost too late, the end-of-lunch bell has sounded, but then the Double Dare Gang see Tom's handywork - he's successfully done his dare to have Mrs. Holmes suspended! Tom pulls his version of Mrs. Holmes back up to the roof, but he's being watched - Alec, still thirsting for revenge smiles and nods as he sees what's going on...
Episode 13
Episode #20.13
Alec is caught on the roof hauling up Tom's effigy of Mrs. Holmes, and gets the blame for the abomination - he is excluded. The Double Dare gang, although pleased at the result, decide to lie low for a while. Life's become annoying for Lauren - she's giving up her room for her visiting grandmother, but is insistent that she wants to go to Barbados with her father. The sixth formers are planning a walking and camping trip for the summer. Laurie goes ice skating with Carlene, but she can't get the hang of it. She's rescued from falling by Colin, while Chris goes off with Joanna. At Chris's house they are locked in an embrace on his bed when his mother lets herself in the house. His mother knocks at the door, and he pokes his head round, concealing Joanna. His disheveled appearance doesn't go unnoticed. He leaves Joanna in his room, and she marvels at his Spartan lifestyle: the religious books and lack of TV. There's a surprise downstairs - Laurie is there waiting for him - their different stories about his exit from the rink cause him some problems. Finally a rather puzzled Laurie leaves, and his mother dangerously enters his bedroom while Chris frets about Joanna being in there. He tries to find her, looking in the cupboard, and under the bed - while he kneels his mother re-enters, and misinterprets his position, assuming he's praying. At school Claire is planning a birthday celebration at Ray's café, the Arches. It seems Laurie is keen on Chris - she sees him with Jessica and thinks she has competition from her. She is surprised, then, when she sees Chris waiting at the gate, and Jessica walk coolly by. The reality of Dennis's condition continues to cause friction between him and Lucy - he perceives the walking holiday to be a slight against him. Lauren's mother visits school to try to work out why Lauren is so keen on leaving England: she learns from Mr. Robson about the incident with the police, where she was arrested. In the café, Jessica has arranged for Jamie to chat Lauren up, but she sees through the pretence. Claire rebuffs Gerald at her birthday celebration, also in the café, but he just wants to give her a present.
Episode 14
Episode #20.14
Chris is disillusioned to find Joanna seems to still be seeing Josh. Lucy's father's new girlfriend has her son Liam over to stay. They go indoor-skiing, and Lucy gets on well with him. While they are there, Lucy's dad asks his girlfriend to be his wife - she asks for time to consider it. Lauren's grandmother comes to stay. Judi, Kelly and Sarah-Jane find some codes in one of the boys' notebooks, giving scores - but for who, or what? Judi is determined to find out what they mean. The next day, she's worked it out - it's their personal measurements to show their progress in developing their muscles. The lads are embarrassed to find the whole class knows, and their measurements are illustrated on the blackboard. Lauren takes her grandmother to school (not that she much say in the matter!) and she meets her classmates in the Art Room. Lauren's Gran has a word of advice for everyone, and Lauren hurriedly ushers her out. Joanna surprises Chris by entering the boys' loos, and pushing him into the cubicle. She evades his question about if she is still seeing Josh. She goes home with him, but Chris's dad is at the door, so he makes an excuse about giving her a chemistry book - he gives her the Bible and she leaves - then she dumps it in a trash can outside. At home, Lauren finds Andy looking depressed - he's learned that school in Barbados will be strict, with a uniform and three hours homework. Jessica visits Lauren, and Andy leaves them alone. Shortly after, all her other mates poke their heads round the door to wish her luck...
Episode 15
Episode #20.15
At the last moment, Lauren decides not to go abroad with her dad: Lucy and her other friends are pleased to see her return to school. Mrs. Maguire has difficulties to get a babysitter - she eventually persuades Dill. Chris seems inattentive in class - he's worrying about Joanna and has no time for Laurie. Joanna tries to avoid him, but he eventually catches her in the playground. Mr. Hankin interests his Year Seven class by dangerously waving around a "custard pie" before inflicting it on himself. Gemma's friends are bored at lunchtime - she is determined to find something interesting to do. Gemma entertains her friends by winding up Kevin, asking for his advice about what a boy looks for in a girl. Chris misses Mr. Jones's lesson, spending time with Joanna who's going distinctly cold on him, and he is rude to the P.E. teacher - he's told he is playing a very dangerous game, and is given a detention. Mr. Hankin's custard pie demonstration bewilders Mrs. Holmes who berates him for losing his dignity - he retaliates by squirting cream into her coffee cup. Chris surprises Joanna by turning up at her house - she hurriedly pulls him out of sight of her brother, and tells him to come back at 11pm, and they'll go clubbing. Inside, she jokes to her brother that she's being stalked - he immediately takes off after Chris, who runs. Out in the street, Laurie watches from behind a car. Dill begins her stint at babysitting, and Colin comes round as agreed. In the bathroom, curiosity gets the better of her, and she opens the cabinet - it almost falls off the wall. Colin comes to the rescue, with pollyfilla mixed in the tooth mug, and the pizza is burned while they panic. While Colin holds the cupboard, a piece of burnt pizza in his mouth, the mobile phone rings and he's left to cope alone - it becomes too heavy, and he falls over with the cupboard on top of him. With some effort the cupboard is put back... Chris escapes from his bedroom, and heads off to his rendezvous with Joanna. Mrs. Maguire comes back, and tinkers around in the bathroom, bleary-eyed. She drinks from the beaker Colin used for the pollyfilla mixture, and immediately spits it out, then pulls open the cupboard - it comes straight off the wall. At Joanna's house, she's plagued by the presence of her brother who finally goes to bed, then Chris calls. She goes outside, and laughs at him, and his clothes, and he's totally confused by her callous attitude. She tells him they are totally finished and runs inside, slamming the door on him, and his hopes...
Episode 16
Episode #20.16
Chris is explosive when he returns to school restlessly, picking a fight with Dudley in the Common Room. On the way to school, Rachel encounters someone in a chicken costume, and it gives her an idea. Colin's behaviour seems weird to Arnie in the presence of his girlfriend, Dill - Colin hides the fact that he spent the evening babysitting with her, but Mrs. Holmes's History lesson seems likely to out the truth. Gerald returns Rachel's library book thinking it overdue, and he was doing her a favour - but she tells him she's renewed it by phone. Both Laurie and Chris get into trouble for not having their joint History project complete, but Chris is in no mood to listen to Laurie's protestations, or be restrained by Arnie. Gemma unveils the next step in having fun with Kevin Jenkins: she's brought a lipstick in... She persuades Kevin they need to practice kissing on his cheek, but he must close his eyes. There seems no problem, but while his eyes are shut, Gemma applies red lipstick heavily to her own lips. No-one will ever know, she says, leaving him well marked on both cheeks. Rachel unveils her idea for making masks of all the teachers, for the purposes of parody. Miss Carver isn't too pleased when Sarah-Jane immediately does an accurate impersonation of herself. Rachel goes round the school with Gerald armed with a camera, taking photos of the staff. Chris visits Joanna's house, but finds only her brother there. He's given one chance to leave... and ends up with a bloodied nose. Lucy learns that her father plans to marry Francesca, she takes the news calmly, at least outwardly. She talks to Liam about how it would mean seeing more of each other - he says he always wanted a sister, but her eyes tell a different story. Laurie calls a national radio phone-in, and talks Chris going out with an older girl - Kelly and Sarah Jane also listen, and Kelly tapes it. They are intrigued as to who Laurie is talking about. Dennis is trying to find Lucy at school and once again faces the ordeal of the stairs - he opts for climbing with his crutches. Meanwhile, rumours are homing in on the truth about who the mystery sixth form girl is, but it all becomes obvious when an enraged Chris enters the Common Room, and Joanna begs for him to be kept away. Joanna races downstairs, with Chris and the others in hot pursuit. As Lucy passes him by, Dennis calls out and turns. He loses his footing and falls down several stairs. He lies on the ground in pain and Lucy watches in horror.
Episode 17
Episode #20.17
While Dennis waits for the ambulance, Chris catches up with Joanna who glugs from her secret spirits bottle, not caring in the slightest that she was responsible for the accident. Dennis is wheeled into the ambulance, and Mr Robson expects Lucy to want to go - but she turns on her heels. Laurie finds Chris sitting down in the girls loos, despondent at Joanna's attitude. Laurie leads him back to his art class and sweet talks Mr. Brisley into leaving him alone, and further more that they need to complete Chris's homework, forging his writing. The art teacher, initially annoyed by the disruption, becomes cooperative when he learns it is for Mrs. Holmes. In the ambulance, it all seems routine, until Dennis tells Dudley that he's lost all feeling in his body. It's time for another double dare, but their picking of the straws is interrupted, and Speedy believes Matt just pretended not to have the short straw - then Cracker owns up to having picked it. In the Common Room, Dudley berates Lucy for not going with Dennis, and not being there when he climbed the stairs, but she replies that she's done with all that. Rachel talks to Miss Carver's English class about "Animal Hill" - a drama that illustrates "Animal Farm" by replacing the various classes with teachers, kids, and Sixth Formers. Mr. Robson tasks Jessica with becoming the editor for the school magazine, breathing new life into it. Chris goes to see Arnie, but he's at the doctor's surgery, with some kind of virus. He talks instead to Arnie's father, and asks if he would have loved his wife if he had found that she was heartless. Meanwhile Cracker is at home trying on various outfits - evidently emulating the appearance of Mrs. Holmes for his dare. Dudley is at Dennis's bedside again ignoring the heavy hints that he should go: Dennis is in no worse condition than before, apart from a broken arm, but he's enormously depressed. Joanna is around Lucy's house with Jessica and Carlene. She produces a bottle of vodka, but no-one is interested in drinking with her. Jessica has a go at her for what's happened to Chris, and finding she's got no support, Joanna leaves. Jessica rounds up some help for the magazine - everyone has things to do, except the lads who ask what they are wanted for. They are there as pin-up material - Jess politely asks them to get their kit off! Lisa is enlisted as help for Cracker's dare - she knocks on the staffroom and pretends Mrs. Holmes is back. Mr. Hankin is perfectly happy to relinquish the job of taking the register for Year Seven, and hands over the register. Meanwhile, Cracker gets changed into his Mrs. Holmes look-a-like outfit, complete with wig and tottering around uncomfortably on heels. He enters his own classroom, and to the delight of his classmates, gives a passable imitation of the history teacher. Meanwhile, the real Mrs. Holmes has entered the building and finding the register gone, has headed off to investigate. Lisa spots her coming and just in time provides a diversion for Cracker to leave the room. He almost gets away with it, but Dai Jones intercepts him before he reaches the safety of the boy's toilets, and Mrs. Holmes sees the impersonation of herself as the P.E. teacher removes Cracker's curly wig...
Episode 18
Episode #20.18
The new magazine has gone down well - but who's the anonymous "unloved girl" who wrote in? Cracker is suffering, having to wear his Mrs. Holmes outfit all week as punishment for his dare. Rachel is finding the Year 9's difficult to control, especially Wayne, as she pursues the "Animal Hill" drama. Dudley's out with Dennis who's in a wheelchair - Dennis claims he can't use his arms at all, but the doctors disagree. Gemma and her friends are out at the shopping centre spying on Miss Carver to get a juicy piece of gossip for the school magazine. They are delighted to see her buy nappies - they decide she must have a secret baby (she's buying them for Mrs. Maguire). Later they try to spot other pregnancy symptoms - swollen ankles and food cravings! Meanwhile back at school, Joanna is found slumped in a toilet cubicle, clutching a bottle, and completely out of it. Some the Animal Farm masks are completed - Mr. Brisley isn't too pleased to see his own face but happily dons the clever mask of Mrs. Holmes, imitating the history teacher. Rachel grows unhappy with Gerald's constant suggestions of changes to the way she is handling the drama project. Dennis agrees to give an interview to Claire for the magazine. Laurie goes to see Chris at his home, but he's expecting Joanna and she storms off when she sees his disappointment. Later, Chris goes to church, reaffirming his faith in God. Lucy spends some time with Liam as he reaches the end of his stay. Lucy lays it on the line - she loves him, and not as a would-be-brother, but Liam explains the main reason for going back to Ireland would be to see his girlfriend again. Dennis is very bitter in his interview for the magazine, saying he wished people would stop saying it's all in his mind that he can't use his arms. Claire is reluctant to ask some of the questions, and Dennis grabs the sheet - the remaining questions are very personal, to the final one - "which word describes you best, helpless", hopeless or stupid" - he says, "all three."
Episode 19
Episode #20.19
Lucy and Dennis finally have a civilized chat, and agree to end their relationship but stay friends. Claire asks Dennis to go shopping after school, but the lad is in a world of his own. "Unloved" writes another letter for the school magazine, but who is she? Jessica sweet talks Jamie from the café to be their next centrefold. At half Four, Claire is with Dave and suddenly Dudley appears and reminds her that he's supposed to be seeing Dennis at Four - she'd forgotten. When she collects Dennis, and apologizes, the other boy appears, making it obvious why Claire was so late. In the café, Gemma boils up some water to make a steamy atmosphere, while Jessica takes photos of Jamie. Gemma and Tracy happen to be near the Staff Room when they overhear Miss Carver talking to Mr. Brisley about Rachel's difficult project. "I know it's not my baby, but if there's anything you need..." they hear, confirming their suspicions about Miss Carver's pregnancy. The school magazine is printed, and Gemma takes a copy home. Claire has a heart-to-heart with Jessica over her clash of interests with Dave and Dennis, and Jess advises her to go for it with Dave. Josh wheels Dennis in and confides in his old friend that he's thinking of jacking school in, tired of being treated like a kid. Mr. Robson calls in Jessica into his office - he's had Gemma's dad on the phone complaining about the "naked man" on his daughter's wall which has come from the magazine. The Deputy Head's not the only irate one - Claire is too, when she sees her Dennis interview has been changed to give a fake, amusing set of responses to his questions, rather than the down-beat replies he really gave. Dennis gives his copy of the mag to Cracker, whose eyes light up with dollar signs - he goes and photocopies key parts of it, selling them in the playground for 25p a time. It's the last straw for Mr. Robson, who sacks Jessica. The staff though, have a laugh - Miss Carver joins in, until she reads the article announcing that she's pregnant! Mr. Hankin encounters a bruised girl, Janet, who admits to being bullied - she is the "Unloved" who wrote to the magazine. Mr Hankin takes Jessica to task for the magazine's ill-founded advice to confront the bully. It's not quite the end of the matter for Mr. Robson - the chairman of the governors is eager to speak to him about the magazine...
Episode 20
Episode #20.20
Time for another dare... Matt picks the short straw, but outright refuses to perform the dare. Speedy offers to do it, with Matt's help, but the others decide it's against the rules. Meanwhile, Mr. Robson is getting himself psyched up ready for an important meeting with the governors - Jessica's father is asked to leave, because of her involvement in the scandalous magazine she edited. Rachel waylays Mr. Robson because she's about to put on her Animal Hill play, and he promises to come and watch. Animal Hill gets underway, lampooning staff and sixth formers in an adaption of Animal Farm. After the successful performance, Rachel gets unanimous praise, even from Joanna who herself seems to have been satirized. Carlene offers to support Joanna in her desire to solve her alcohol problem. Miss Carver congratulates the "actors" who were in Rachel's drama, but her discussion about the meaning of Animal Farm degenerates into complaints about the magazine being banned. Alec is back from suspension, and grabs Matt when he catches him alone in the corridor. Matt is forced to reveal the next dare - during the fire drill, someone is going to put laxatives in the staff coffee jar. In Art, Matt begs Gemma to get her camera, she refuses until he offers to buy her a chocolate milkshake on Saturday. Meanwhile, Alec passes on the information about the dare to Mr. Jones. While the fire drill alarm starts, everyone evacuates the building, and Speedy heads to the toilets - getting undressed. While the registers are read in the playground, Speedy heads round school in the altogether, and Matt photographs his bottom on the Headmaster's desk with Gemma's Polaroid camera, thus meeting the requirements of the dare. In the Staff Room, Dai Jones and Alec hide and wait for the someone to start trying to add laxatives to the coffee, but they wait in vain. Matt and Speedy rush round, pinning the Polaroid photos on the noticeboards, while everyone else heads back to their classrooms. "This is the dare to end all dares," announces Speedy, and throws all caution to the wind, running across the playground, covered only by his rucksack strategically placed. In the Staff Room, Dai Jones ambushes the first person to come through the door - Peter Robson, who's not at all happy to find the PE teacher's hands around his throat. In the aftermath, most of the staff apart from Mrs. Holmes can see a funny side - Mr. Robson promises her that they'll get to the bottom of it! As the day comes to an end, Chris spots Joanna lurking down at the bottom of the stairs. He stops briefly, but then continues with Laurie and Colin, completely over her. Joanna sees Carlene, and leaves with her, happy that she has a friend to help her through her alcoholism. The Double Dare Gang see Alec on their way out, and with a unified cry of "run!" - they exit Grange Hill at full pelt...
