AYBS Shows Timeline
The staff assemble a variety of fine arts to present to a party of visiting Mongolians, including a duet by Mrs. Slocombe and Captain Peacock, a Shakespearean reading by Miss Brahms, and a pas de deux with Mr. Humphries and Miss Lovelock. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
Millstone Manor agrees to compete against the local pub team in a darts competition, and Captain Peacock plans a nocturnal mission to retrieve sheep scheduled to be slaughtered. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
The Manor and its inhabitants are plagued by restless spirits after they donate a mummified cat found in the attic to a local museum. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
Mrs. Slocombe’s long lost husband comes to Millstone Manor as a prospective purchaser, and an embarrassed Mrs. Slocombe poses as Mrs. Moleterd to avoid him. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
The staff agree to continue a Millstone Manor tradition and field a cricket team against a local group that includes Mavis’ would-be suitor. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
Everyone tries to meet the demands of the paying guests and to show them a good time, even to enacting a Harvest Thanksgiving pageant complete with song and dance. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
Captain Peacock causes a local panic when he finds a pistol in the library writing desk, and tries to turn it into the police. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
With the imminent arrival of paying guests, Mr. Rumbold begins interviewing for new staff, with very poor results. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
The staff try to get used to their new positions in the Manor as they prepare for their first guests, but ghostly happenings disrupt everything. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
The entire staff turns out to support Mrs. Slocombe during her day in court. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
As they pick up the reins of running Millstone Manor, Captain Peacock and Mrs. Slocombe take a pony cart into the village for supplies, where Mrs.Slocombe gets in trouble with the law. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
The last five employees of Grace Brothers Department Store gather following young Mr. Grace’s funeral to learn what has been done with their pension funds. They learn that the entire sum has been invested in a country hotel called Millstone Manor. (Used with permission from John at epguides).
Mr. Spooner gets a chance at pop stardom when his singing at a Grace Brothers talent show gains national attention. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff use the store’s new security monitors to gamble on the horses. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
To save money on transportation, Mr. Grace allows the staff to share three apartments on the top floor. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff tries to film a commercial for their new money-making venture, a night club in the department store. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff face two burglars while staying late one night to complete an inventory. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Captain Peacock appears headed for a marital breakup when a woman forces her attentions on him. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Humphries steps in to fill the void when Mrs. Slocombe loses her cat. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mrs. Slocombe fights an early retirement plan, intending to keep her job at all costs. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff take to the CB radio airwaves to promote sales, competing to write just the right story for everyone to perform. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Lack of pay raises and a threatened Japanese takeover create panic amongst the staff, aggravated by reports of an escaped monkey. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mrs. Slocombe develops an aphrodisiac perfume. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Humphries faces losing his job when a fight with his mother disrupts the whole floor. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
A knock on the head from a golf ball sends Mrs. Slocombe back to her childhood. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
To celebrate young Mr. Grace’s 90th birthday party, the staff tries to come up with a musical tribute to the Grace family tree. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Old Mr. Grace believes that Mr. Humphries might be his son. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff argue over who will speak for the new in-store commercials on the closed-circuit tv system (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mrs. Slocombe is preoccupied with liquor and dreams of a romantic Mr. Humphries. Mrs. Slocombe is preoccupied with liquor and dreams of a romantic Mr.Humphries.
Mr. Humphries is placed in charge of the store magazine, and walks a fine line between gossip and controversy. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The employees go all the way to Number 10 Downing Street when they’re asked to take a pay cut. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Captain Peacock sees red when his wife goes to work for Mr. Rumbold, and it appears they’re having an affair. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Goldberg cause some disruption with his employment agency when he offers to find new jobs for Mrs. Slocombe and Mr. Humphries. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff are asked to do a live Punch and Judy performance for a children’s party. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The department is quarantined when Mr. Humphries contracts a communicable disease. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Captain Peacock challenges a loudmouth from another department to a boxing match, then backs out. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff are challenged to take over the cafeteria after their complaints prompt a walkout by the regular cafeteria workers. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mrs. Slocombe temporarily receives Mr. Rumbold’s job but finds it isn’t to her liking. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mrs. Slocombe’s sets up a temporary apartment on the closed top floor of the store, and has several visitors during her first night in residence. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
An old Army buddy of Captain Peacock’s applies for the position of junior in the Men’s Ready-to-Wear department. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Humphries brings in a ballet teacher to help everyone tone up for an insurance physical. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Grace’s birthday gala features a Nutcracker pantomime by the members of Ladies Separates and Gents Ready-to-Wear. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Grace decides to save money by cutting back on the staff and solicits everyone’s opinion on who should go. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
A heavy fog forces Mr. Humphries to sell perfume as the Bliss Girl and starts a competition with Mrs. Slocombe for sales. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Grace graciously allows the staff to transform part of the store’s basement into a social club. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mrs. Slocombe falls into love and agrees to marry a Greek gentleman. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
A transportation strike strands everyone at the store overnight, where they have to make do with tents, sleeping bags and a campfire. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Everyone prepares for a visit from the Queen. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
A cranky Mr. Grainger quits Grace Brothers when he thinks he’s won a fortune in the pools. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Grace Brothers produces new mannequins with the features of Mrs. Slocombe and Mr. Humphries while everyone takes a role in a theater commercial for the store. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mrs.Slocombe puts the whole floor into an uproar with a family crises. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The entire staff is transferred to the toy department for a week. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Grace reluctantly attends a retrospective of his life in honor of Founder’s Day. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Captain Peacock’s bad mood presages some disagreeable changes following young Mr. Grace’s trip to America. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Harmon, Miss Brahms, and Mrs. Slocombe impersonate Grace Brothers stockholders in an effort to foil a takeover bid. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff struggle to sharpen their ballroom dance skills when Mr. Grace decides the store will enter a team in an inter-store dance competition. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Grainger turns into a bullying tyrant when he’s temporarily promoted to Mr. Rumbold’s job. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff are instructed in what to do in case of a fire. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Everyone makes plans to celebrate Mrs. Slocombe’s fiftieth birthday, unaware that they’re a few years premature. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Captain Peacock gets involved with Mr. Rumbold’s new secretary. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff scheme to keep sales from increasing in order to sabotage the new earlier opening hours plan. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
A freezing store prompts Mr. Lucas to try out the excuse of a cold so he can see his girl friend during work hours, but everyone else has their own health problems too. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Grace announces he’s going to marry one of the staff. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Everyone dons German costumes and learns German folk dances in an effort to shift a load of German merchandise. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The ladies move to the men’s counters when Grace Brothers decides to renovate half the sales floor. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff get into the spirit when Mr. Rumbold and Mr. Grace decide to help sales with music from the Roaring 20s and sales announcements over the PA system. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff rebel when they are asked to rearrange their vacations to suit the store’s redecoration plans. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff competes for a temporary position as Father Christmas and Mr. Humphries and Mr. Lucas help Mr. Grainger work up a black minstrel number for a variety show. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Everyone tries to ensure their own advancement when Mr. Humphries sees a promotion in Captain Peacock’s palm. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The new sign in book for breaks and meals gets Mr.Grainger sacked and prompts the rest to stage a slowdown strike in protest. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The rest of the staff becomes upset when Captain Peacock is given a key to the executive washroom and admittance to the executive dining room. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff uses their imagination to keep warm during a coal strike. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff tries a fashion show as a means of raising their slumping sales figures. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff are unimpressed by the new security monitors, which Mr. Rumbold uses to spy on everyone until the staff turns the tables on him. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mrs. Slocombe fights back when an outside perfume saleswoman moves onto the floor and diverts customers. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
The staff scrambles to find a diamond lost by a wealthy customer who has offered an sizable reward. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Young Mr. Grace decrees that the staff wear fancy dress costumes during the pre-Christmas shopping season. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Grainger fears that Grace Brothers is going to retire him at his grand birthday celebration. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mr. Rumbold asks the staff to stay after closing for a pep talk about ways to increase the sales figures. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Mrs. Slocombe accidentally receives a suggestive note sent by Mr. Lucas to Miss Brahms. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Things must change as Mrs. Betty Slocombe and Miss Shirley Brahms bring their Ladies’ Separates into the previously all-male sanctum of Mr. Grainger, Mr. Humphries and Mr. Lucas at Grace Brothers’ Department Store. (Description originally transcribed in 1997 by Donna R. Lemaster).
Movie version. First aired on BBC Monday December 22, 1980 from 9:55 PM-11:30 PM.