The Honourable Man
| "The Honourable Man" | |
|---|---|
| Dad's Army episode | |
| Episode no. |
Series Six Episode 058 |
| Directed by | David Croft |
| Story by | Jimmy Perry and David Croft |
| Produced by | David Croft |
| Original air date | 28/11/73 8.00pm (recorded 8/7/73) |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
"The Honourable Man" is the fifth episode of the sixth series of the British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on 28 November 1973.
When Wilson lets it be known that his family has 'moved up one place' and that he is now entitled to style himself 'The Honourable,' he finds himself being courted by the golf club and is being proposed as the man to welcome a visiting Russian VIP, Mainwaring is furious.
The episode opens in the church hall, where the Town Clerk is opening a meeting. It is to decide on Walmington's welcome to a visiting award winning Russian worker, who has been made Hero of the Soviet Union for building 5,723 tanks. The Town clerk puts Mainwaring in charge of the committee after a pompous speech, but Warden Hodges objects, thus forcing a vote, which overwhelmingly supports Mainwaring, who therefore takes charge. During this both Sergeant Wilson and Lance-Corporal Jones arrive late. Private Frazer suggests that, after a great deal of thought, he would like to offer the Russian a voucher worth £10 towards the cost of a funeral. Private Walker argues that that is no use, he would have to die to redeem it, whereupon Frazer comments "That's a risk I have to take". Private Godfrey again expresses his antipathy to "the reds" and so urges that the welcome should be unextravagant, and the vicar refuses to allow his choir to sing "The Red Flag". The committee decides to present a wooden key, representing the freedom of the town.
In Mainwaring's office, he enquires of Private Pike where Wilson is, and is annoyed to hear he is still at lunch, at 2.20pm. Mainwaring finds a letter in his in-tray addressed to "The Honourable Arthur Wilson" and assumes it is a joke. On Wilson's arrival he surprises Mainwaring and amazes Pike by asserting it is genuine: Wilson's uncle, a peer, has died, thus entitling him to the style "Honourable". On being asked where he had been at lunchtime, Mainwaring is furious to hear Wilson has been invited to join the Golf Club, even though he doesn't play golf. Mainwaring has been "trying to get in for years". Wilson compounds Mainwaring's rage by announcing that they found him some smoked salmon for lunch, whereas Mainwaring had a "snoek fishcake at the British Restaurant". During this discussion Pike has telephoned Mrs Pike, who rushes to the bank. She and Pike burst in, and Mrs Pike flings herself all over Wilson, although she does ask "It won't make any difference, will it?", to which Wilson assures her it won't. Pike, however, is too naive to understand the implication.
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