This splendid, claustrophobic, sometimes dark, always enlightening episode, very nearly matches the brilliant Steptoe & Son one (The Desperate Hours), when two escaped prisoners find respite in Oil Drum Lane - but discover Albert and Harold are in a worse state than they are, in their very their own form of prison.
Dick Clement and Ian LaFrenais create an innovative scene full of bathos and pathos, the clanging of doors, coughing of inmates and clinking of keys form a unique backdrop to a dialogue full of warmth, insight and irony. Godber, the novice, spends his first night in jail, missing the love of his life, Denise; Fletcher, the old lag, wants a quiet life, enjoys small victories over the screws and system, but unaccountably shows a smoother side to his rough edges, befriending the younger man, supporting and advising him, even offering him half a squirt of toothpaste, gaining respect and admiration in return - and half a bag of liquorice allsorts.
Richard Beckinsale died prematurely, Ronnie Barker has now joined him. I hope they're not in that great prison in the sky, but if they are, if the dialogue is as good as here, it won't be too bad. You can forget your Pinter's and Orton's, just listen to the words of Galton & Simpson's characters in Steptoe or Clement and LeFrenais' here. They offer unexpected truths, meaningful conversation and amusing asides.
They say sitcoms should contain characters trapped together, unable to escape. We are lucky these two were together in Slade Prison. There may have been a 3 day week and miners strike outside in 1974, when it was made. But for those two in the cell, everything was going to be alright. Fletch was probably right; no need to go up West for a drink, when you could have a cosy night in; followed by another and another and another...