"As Time Goes By"
The Wedding (2002)

Director:

Sydney Lotterby

Writers:

Bob Larbey (written by)
Colin Bostock-Smith (original idea)

TV Series:

"As Time Goes By" (1992)

Original Air Date:

21 July 2002 (Season 9, Episode 3)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Father Son Relationship | Retirement Home | Hospital | London England | Memoir

Cast

Judi Dench	...	Jean Pargetter
Geoffrey Palmer	...	Lionel
Moira Brooker	...	Judith
Philip Bretherton	...	Alistair
Jenny Funnell	...	Sandy
Frank Middlemass	...	Rocky
Tim Wylton	...	Lol
Janet Henfrey	...	Mrs Bale
Paul Chapman	...	Stephen
Moyra Fraser	...	Penny
David Michaels	...	Harry
Richard Braine	...	Vicar
Georgina Beer	...	Mrs. Twillet

Certification:

Australia:G

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jean: [the telephone is ringing] Telephone! Telephone!
Lionel: I'm answering it!
Jean: [she runs in, shoving Lionel aside] Oh, get out my way. Hello. Who? Oh yes, how are you? What! Well, you'd better tell Alistair. Oh, oh no, of course you can't; right. Well, no, yeah, c'est la vie all right, yes. Well, good-bye, and good luck.
[hangs up]
Lionel: Who's that?
Jean: The best man. He's broken his leg.
Lionel: That's bad luck.
Jean: Bad luck! The man's a fool.
Lionel: That's a bit harsh. Who is the best man anyway?
[...]

Judy and Alistair's big day finally arrives

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Jean is getting out of sorts the day before Judy and Alistair's wedding. She shoves Lionel at the telephone. When the best man, Gaston, breaks his leg, they decide to get Rocky to be best man.

Jean shouts upstairs to Judy, who is with Sandy packing for the trip to the country for the wedding. The shouting causes Sandy to say, "You know, for a small woman your mother's got a very loud voice." Meanwhile, Alistair and Lionel's secret about Alistair's swooning and crying (hidden behind the deception that his Harley street man is checking his toe) can't be hidden any longer, and Lionel breaks the news to Jean and Judy.

Interesting side note about the parrot joke... Rocky and Lionel both seem to plan to use the same joke when they give their toast, using phrases like, "a funny story about a parrot with no feet", and "I didn't see a thing, I got so excited I fell off my perch".

When Jean suggests they should leave by 6:00 to get there by 8:00 and Lionel reminds everyone that the ceremony is at 3:00, Jean insists that it's necessary because Judy and Sandy will have to change, prompting Sandy to sarcastically utter, "Yes, we shall need seven hours." Jean's seating plan, which is now a standing plan, reveals that she is wishfully representing Sandy and Harry as two interlocking red hearts.

As another side note on appearances, Lionel (Palmer), as always, is dressed smartly with a tie. Jean (Dench) still looks graceful. Sandy (Funnell) is looking as girl-next-door cute as ever in her pink sweater and jeans. Judy (Brooker) has put on a little weight, but still has her pretty dimples and looks very nice in her wedding dress. Lol (Wylton) is popping out of his old Army uniform and even his Sunday suit's waistcoat (vest). Rocky (Middlemass) gets spiffy in his bright red uniform.

Lol greets them to the country house with a single bottle rocket and give Judy her gloves from Mother Ferris.

Mrs. Twillet sits watching the flowers and performs a strange ritual with Mrs. Bale and touches Alistair's forehead, then leaves. When Alistair can't move his legs, Jean explodes, "Oh shut up, do! Side effects from side effects from side effects! I'm sick of hearing about them! It's nothing but the blue funk! And if you think I'm going to let you spoil Judy's day, you've got a another thing coming! Now get out and get to that church and marry my daughter!" Alistair's legs are magically cured.

With a few comical moments, the wedding is finally done and they are married. Then Jean keeps trying to get Harry and Sandy together at the reception.

One funny moment comes when Steven decides to look enigmatic (after turning down the OBE), making sorting of a James Bond face, and Penny says he doesn't look enigmatic, but vacant.