Mon, Sep 14, 1981
Reading that a widow called Veronica Barton is selling her late husband's Meissen collection both Simon and Oliver, pretending to be private collectors, visit, hoping for a knock-down bargain. Discovering that she is an attractive middle-aged woman they compete for her affections as well as the porcelain but when she discovers their true intentions she gets her revenge at a smart restaurant. Lyn and David finally admit that she is not pregnant but try to help their fathers by claiming that the Meissen is to be a wedding present. Veronica consents to selling to both but wants an invitation to the wedding.
Mon, Oct 19, 1981
Simon throws a dinner party for the Smallbridges where inevitably Lyn and David try to keep the peace. After the meal the fathers play cards but Oliver is offended when Simon accuses him of cheating and storms out. Lyn and David get married and, overcome by emotion, Oliver and Simon make up - and decide to play cards again.
Mon, Sep 21, 1981
Veronica tells Simon and Oliver that she has a spare ticket for 'Cosi Fan Tutti' in Edinburgh but neither Simon nor Oliver is initially interested - until Oliver poaches Simon's daily help, Mrs Grieves and Simon decides he will escort her out of revenge. Oliver sabotages the plan by telling Simon that Veronica wants to marry him but Simon exposes the plan to Veronica so that Oliver ends up taking Mrs Grieves. Simon finds his replacement for Mrs Grieves in elderly ex-seaman Banks who is happy to pose as the butler.
Tue, Sep 28, 1982
Whilst visiting Oliver Simon has a fall and badly cuts himself, being rushed to hospital. Having the same blood group a very reluctant Oliver agrees to donate blood for a necessary transfusion. Made to feel grateful by David Simon agrees to stop seeing Veronica and lend Oliver his car so that he can date her. However when Simon learns what really happened at the hospital he plans his revenge.
Tue, Oct 5, 1982
Simon's unpretentious younger sister Susan comes to stay and Simon is perturbed that she likes Oliver and starts going out with him. He offers Oliver a bribe to stop the relationship, unaware that Oliver has learned that Susan only wants to be friends as she has contacted her former boyfriend and has accepted the fact. Oliver uses Simon's ignorance to obtain a coveted figurine at a knock-down price though neither intended that they would end up in a restaurant being romantically serenaded.
Mon, Sep 7, 1981
Antique dealers Simon Peel and Oliver Smallbridge were once partners until Oliver had an affair with Simon's wife. Now they are bitter rivals - and next-door neighbours, constantly trying to sabotage each other. Oliver's daughter, riding instructress Lyn, and Simon's son David, a trainee accountant, are in love and want to marry. The two fathers hold a temporary truce to oppose the plan - until Lyn falsely claims that she is pregnant.
Thu, Nov 15, 1984
Learning that Prince Charles collects Victoriana Oliver sends him a gift, hoping to secure his patronage. When Simon finds out he fakes a letter of thanks though Oliver knows it is a fraud. Sadly the parcel he sent the prince is returned as the contents are broken. To get revenge on Simon Oliver takes advantage of the fact that Simon is tracing his family tree and leads him to believe that he is of royal descent. This gives Simon delusions of grandeur though the genealogist shows him that his ancestors were indeed notorious - but for all the wrong reasons.
Mon, Oct 5, 1981
Lyn and David vow that they will never lie to each other. Their fathers are sceptical - and gleeful when Lyn breaks off the engagement after David has admitted to a drunken kiss with another girl at a party. Now neither of them will need to pretend to be friends for their children's sake. However the young couple are so miserable that eventually Simon and Oliver combine to reunite them.
Tue, Sep 14, 1982
When he complains that she is spending too much time looking after her father who is exploiting her goodwill Lyn agrees to accompany David to a rock concert, rather than help Oliver celebrate his birthday. Under the guise of friendship Simon fixes him up with a birthday blind date but it is with the man-eating Isadora Beecham, from whose clutches Simon is trying to escape. Oliver however turns the tables on him.
Thu, Nov 22, 1984
Oliver's vet Caroline wants him to sing at her upcoming charity event. Not to be outdone Simon plans to give a dramatic recitation, but when each threatens to withdraw if the other goes on last, she decides to drop them both and go with Ringo, who does impressions. This is enough for them both to come back on side, but on the night Simon loses his voice and Oliver's singing sets the dogs off barking in chorus.