"Absolutely Fabulous" Menopause (2001)

Director:

Christine Gernon

Writers:

Jennifer Saunders (written by)
Jennifer Saunders (idea) ...

TV Series:

"Absolutely Fabulous" (1992)

Original Air Date:

5 October 2001 (Season 4, Episode 6)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Best Friend | Social Commentary | London England | Cigarette Smoking | Promiscuous Mother

Cast

Jennifer Saunders	...	Edina
Joanna Lumley	...	Patsy
Julia Sawalha	...	Saffron
Jane Horrocks	...	Bubble / Katy Grin
June Whitfield	...	Mrs. June 'Gran' 'Mother' Monsoon
Twiggy	...	Herself (as Twiggy Lawson)
Christopher Ryan	...	Marshall
Mo Gaffney	...	Bo
Harriet Thorpe	...	Fleur
Helen Lederer	...	Catriona
Antony Cotton	...	Damon
Tilly Blackwood	...	Lady Candida De Dennison-Bender
Celia Imrie	...	Claudia Bing
Jeillo Edwards	...	Jeillo
Joanna Bowen	...	Jobo

Benjamin Soames

...

Boy #2

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Goofs:

Continuity: When Patsy and Eddie look at all the menopausal women in disgust and go to leave they are blocked off by Saffy. Then the camera goes back to the other women and Eddie is sitting back down on the sofa.

Quotes:

Jobo: [to the MO group members] Come on sisters. We're getting nowhere.
[stands]
Jobo: My name is Jobo, and I'm happy to be having the menopause.
[group members clap for her]
Jobo: I have hot flashes and cramps, and sometimes when I sneeze, I pee.
Beth De Woodi: [stands up] Beth De Woodi. The sands of time are trickling through my hour glass!
Patsy Stone: [raising her hand] Patsy Stone. I hope you're wearing thick underpants!

A great episode from the fourth series!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

"Menopause" is one of the funniest episodes from series four. Bubble has sent very private emails to everyone in Edina's address book by accident, and now the P.R. company is doing badly. Most of Edina's clients have turned to Claudia Bing's agency. Edina's current top client, Twiggy, and her husband (Leigh Lawson, Twiggy's real husband) have been dealing with repeat visits from Mrs. M., and it only seems like a matter of time until Twiggy also leaves Edina's P.R. company. Edina tries to save her company, and attempts to have a meeting via webcam. The meeting is attended by Katy Grin, Catriona, Fleur, and Damon (Antony Cotton), but Edina can't get her side of the webcam to function properly. Edina moves on with her day, and soon she and Patsy are enjoying themselves until Patsy breaks a bone in her arm. Patsy wants to treat the broken bone with her personal pain killers, but Saffy takes over and demands to take Patsy to the hospital. In the meantime, Edina goes to her office where Candy Bender (Tilly Blackwood) is waiting. Claudia Bing (Celia Imrie) shows up at Edina's office with the intention of taking over her competition's company. Soon Twiggy arrives, and announces she's leaving Eddy's company so she can join with Claudia's. Claudia throws a few verbal jabs Edina's way before she leaves, and in a moment of surreal humor, Edina wildly slaps Bubble repeatedly in the face because of all the problems Bubble has caused. Saffy and Patsy have returned from the hospital and gynecologist. Edina learns Patsy not only has osteoporosis, but also has the "honor" of having the lowest bone density on record. Saffy then mentions she has organized a meeting for Menopausals Anonymous, and she forces her mother and Patsy to attend. Catriona is attending the meeting with a woman named Beth De Woodi (Ruby Wax returning to the show as a different character.) Bo and Marshall are still visiting the area, and staying at Edina's. They've given up on their Jewish scheme, and are planning to leave when Bo gets a whiff of interest over the group's meeting. She attends the meeting, but claims Americans don't believe in menopause. The meeting ends with womb prayers, and a group hug that injures Beth De Woodi. Saffy plays nurse as she tends to Patsy's hormone replacement patches, and hands out alternative remedies. Edina returns to an empty office to find Bubble has quit. Damon is still around, and they begin to discuss the future of the company. Claudia Bing intrudes on the conversation, and becomes interested in Edina's plans to save her company. Katy Grin comes in announcing she needs to sell her half of the T.V. unit. Claudia makes a deal with Katy, and very briefly becomes Edina's partner until Edina offloads her half of the T.V. unit. The T.V. unit was expensive to upkeep and losing money, so Claudia's takeover has turned out to be Edina's gain. Edina then feels she's back in business, and immediately attempts to get Lulu a British Airways ad. Saffy is exhausted over the events of the day, and dreams Patsy has become the epitome of purity due to the menopausal therapies. Patsy displays a flair for culinary talent during Saffy's dream. In the dream, Edina and Patsy enjoy dinner while watching Katy Grin and Dale Winton (as himself) sing a duet on television. Patsy then announces she's won a vial of Mick Jagger's sperm through an auction, and plans to impregnate herself. The ending of this episode brings back Patsy and Edina as elderly characters, and features excellent age transformation make-up. A glimpse into the future finds the still-swinging ladies having fun, but facing the unpleasantness of soiled nappies. They also face the dangers of breaking brittle bones, and flying champagne corks!