All is Safely Gathered In

Infobox Dad's Army
episode_number episode_name=048 - All is Safely Gathered In
script=Jimmy Perry and David Croft
director=David Croft
producer=David Croft
recorded=03/11/1972
original_transmission=24/11/1972
series=Five
length=30 minutes
viewing_figures=16.5 million
preceding=The King was in his Counting House
following=When Did You Last See Your Money?

"All is Safely Gathered In" is the eighth episode of the fifth series of the British comedy series "Dad's Army". It was originally transmitted on the 24 November 1972.

ynopsis

Godfrey requests leave to help an old flame gather in her harvest, and Mainwaring offers the assistance of the platoon.

Plot

The platoon is energised by the arrival of a Tommy Gun, or 'Chicago piano' as an excited Pike prefers to call it. While the men combatively discuss who is to have first turn of it, Godfrey reveals he has a problem. In the office, assisted by Jones, he reveals the truth. More than forty years before, as a 'dandy young buck' he had become involved with a friend, a young woman working as a servant in a nearby Great Hall. At first Mainwaring is naturally baffled as to the relevance of all this, but it turns out she had later married a farmer, and was now a widow, her fields needed harvesting.

Mainwaring, inspired by a burst of patriot fervour, decides to harness the platoon to help with the harvest. They quickly drive out to the farm to offer their assistance. Meanwhile, Warden Hodges has had a life changing experience, having narrowly survived a bombing raid. He reveals that the German bomb had knocked the pint glass out of his hand, but not exploded. He attributes this to some form of higher destiny, and is now resolved to love his enemies, through "not Hitler of course", and having sought guidance from the Vicar, he decides to assist Captain Mainwaring in his work.

Fortunately Corporal Jones is acquainted with the machinery, and demonstrates it to the rest of them, as best he can. Walker and Wilson appear more interested in three land girls. With an unchareteristic unity the wardens and home guard work together, in the process they manage to overcome a number of problems/incidents, including Jones falling the hopper. After finally completing the job, they are delighted with their work. After consuming large amounts of potato wine in celebration, the platoon head outside for the Vicar to bless the harvest. Unfortunately the drink has turned them belligerent, and it descends into a mass brawl.

Notes

* The harvesting scenes feature the song "Calling All Workers" by Eric Coates.
* The outdoor scenes, like most in the series, were shot in Norfolk.

Cast

References