When the Boat Comes In

1. A Land Fit for Heroes and Idiots

Air Date: 1976-01-08

1919: Jack Ford returns from the Great War to the mining town of Gallowshields, on "leave pending discharge". He has no prospects, but a gift for making himself likable to all levels the highly stratified British classes and an eye for every opportunity--for Jack.

2. Say Hello.. Say Tirra

Air Date: 1976-01-15

jack continues to work his way into the Seaton family - hard working Bill and his wife Bella, and their adult children Tom, Jessie and Billy. Bill is a miner but wants better for his family. Thanks to his hard work there is money for his daughter to train as a school teacher and son Billy to attend University and become a Doctor. Tom is not academic and so he works in the mines with his father, but he would prefer to work outdoors.

3. Fish in Woolly Jumpers

Air Date: 1976-01-22

The miners have been on strike for a month, over a pay claim. Tom, now supporting a wife and son, borrows some money from Jack, who, despite being out of work for two months, doesn't seem to be short of a few bob. Jessie and Jack discuss having a baby, but Jessie says that her entire family is relying on her income. Jack claims that he's got money put by, and is supplementing this with "odd jobs".

4. Swords and Pick Handles

Air Date: 1976-01-29

With his wife Mary dying of TB, Tom Seaton starts a job as a strikebreaker in the local mine. Jack Ford continues his affair with Dolly Headley whom he visits while she is at work for Sir Horatio Manners, his army captain's father. Discovering that Manners likes swords, Jack goes off and buys a cheap one in order to present it to Manners by way of introduction. Manners sizes him up and offers him a job.

5. Coal Comfort

Air Date: 1976-02-05

With the strike continuing people are forced to steal coal. When Jack Ford brings some coal round for the Seatons which he has bought off someone, Bill Seaton tells him to take it away as it is the same as paying the mine owners and is helping them instead of the strikers.

6. Empire Day on the Slag Heap

Air Date: 1976-02-12

After eight weeks, the miners' strike is over, but the pitmen have settled without gaining anything. ("It was either that or starve", admits Bill). Empire Day ("the day that we remember our Empire. The British Empire. The greatest the World has ever seen") is celebrated at Jessie's school: the headmaster, Mr Ashton, leads the children in a spirited, patriotic rendition of Land of Hope and Glory.

7. A First Time for Everything

Air Date: 1976-02-19

Matt and Dolly nervously wait for Jack at the registrar's office. Jack arrives at the last minute, bearing a bouquet. Later Jack tells Matt and Dolly that he was delayed by a broken-down tram, and that had to hitch a ride with a passing rag and bone man. Jack gives Dolly the five pounds - the first five pound note Dolly has seen, telling her it's a wedding present (although he declines to tell her from whom). Matt and "Mr and Mrs Ford" share a bottle of champagne.

8. Paddy Boyle's Discharge

Air Date: 1976-02-26

Mary has died. Jack is joined at the pub by an old army friend, black and tan soldier Sid Hepburn. Jack is surprised to hear that he's being paid ten bob a day, all found. Tom and Bill arrive, and Jack hears about Mary's death. Bill calls Jack a "fornicating bastard". Jack leaves. Sid is joined by a loutish colleague, Harry Bartram.

9. Angel on Horseback

Air Date: 1976-03-03

Tom tells his mother that he plans to marry Rosie, and move to Edinburgh for a fresh start. Rosie tells Tom that both their mothers are against the marriage, and that their opinion carries a lot of weight. Rosie tells Tom he must wait for a year: "I'll never forget me pitman". Mick's funeral is well-attended. It is partly funded by the union, who also provide the pallbearers.

10. King for a Day

Air Date: 1976-03-11

Manners visits the recently-married Jack and Dolly. Dolly is heavily pregnant, but Jack looks leaner than Manners remembers. Manners offers Jack whisky and smoked salmon sandwiches, and a job: £20 for a week's work. He wants to buy a house from Lord Calderbeck, and wants Jack to act as a front-man.

11. Happy New Year, Some Say

Air Date: 1976-03-18

Jack and visiting Glaswegian socialist lecturer Sandy Lewis visit The George Hotel bar, where Billy is working. Tom is there. The Seatons are going to Jessies that evening, to celebrate the New Year. Tom lurks at a the Conservative Unionist Women's Association annual shindig, where Richard Harley Evans is guest of honour, celebrating the party's recent election win. Tom sneaks into the cloakroom, stealing items of value. He is interrupted, and narrowly escapes capture, by slipping into Sandy Lewis's lecture.

12. Heads You Win, Tails I Lose

Air Date: 1976-03-25

Jack has arranged a safe route to the docks for Tom. Green and Edgar catch up with Tom, but they have a surprise in store: a "tin panning", which means they're hounded home by the womenfolk, bashing pots and pans. Jack returns home to find Dolly apologetic, and a hearty meal on the table. Lizzie arrives with a letter from Mr Gibson: she's been offered a cleaning job paying a very respectable "fifteen bob a week...half a man's wages".

13. Kind-Hearted Rat with a Lifebelt

Air Date: 1976-04-01

After serving his sentence, Jack is released from prison. Matt has arranged for a welcoming procession, including a colliary band! Jack is paraded through the streets as a "The People's Friend", hammer in hand. Jessie tells Jack she doesn't entirely approve of his new-found power, or the way he got it, hoping that he won't forget the people he's going to represent. "Don't you worry, bonnie lass, they'll get their share... eventually".

1. Ask for Tuppence, Take a Penny

Air Date: 1976-10-29

2. Tram Ride to the Bluebell

Air Date: 1976-11-05

3. A Pillowful of Buttercups

Air Date: 1976-11-12

4. Roubles for the Promised Land

Air Date: 1976-11-19

Billy is unable to get medical work due to his socialist principles and moves back to help his parents. Tom, who finds it hard to cope with shop work, moves into a hostel. Here he befriends Kaganovich, a Russian Jew from Archangel, hoping to travel to Palestine and looking for Jack, whom he says can help him. When the two meet Kaganovich accuses Jack of stealing money from his late father during the Russian revolution though Jack claims he was given the money as a bribe in exchange for helping the old man escape. In any case it is 'Kerensky money', old currency which is out of date and worthless, though Kaganovich is still determined to go to Palestine. Jack does however persuade Tom to go home to his mother.

5. Some Bulbs to Keep the Garden Bright

Air Date: 1976-11-26

6. God & Love & Wellesley Street

Air Date: 1976-12-03

7. Whatever Made You Think the War Was Over

Air Date: 1976-12-10

8. Ladies, Women, Sweethearts & Wives

Air Date: 1976-12-17

9. After the Bonfire

Air Date: 1977-01-07

10. A Wreath with Our Names On

Air Date: 1977-01-14

11. The Way It Was in Murmansk

Air Date: 1977-01-21

12. In the Front Line You Get Shot At

Air Date: 1977-01-28

13. The Simple Pleasures of the Rich

Air Date: 1977-01-04

1. A House Divided

Air Date: 1977-09-08

2. A Tiger, A Lamb & A Basket.........of Fruit

Air Date: 1977-09-15

3. My Bonnie Lass, Goodbye

Air Date: 1977-09-22

4. A Ticket To Care For The Wounded

Air Date: 1977-09-29

5. Travel Light, Travel Far

Air Date: 1977-10-06

6. Requiem For A Loser

Air Date: 1977-10-13

7. Debts Owed, Debts Paid

Air Date: 1977-10-20

8. The Empire Builders

Air Date: 1977-10-27

9. Look Up & See The Sky

Air Date: 1977-11-03

10. Letters From Afar

Air Date: 1977-11-10

11. The Father Of Lies

Air Date: 1977-11-17

12. Diamond Cut Diamond

Air Date: 1977-11-24

13. A Marriage & A Massacre

Air Date: 1977-12-01

14. High Life & Hunger

Air Date: 1977-12-08

15. Please Say Goodbye Before You Go

Air Date: 1977-12-15

1. Back To Dear Old Blighty

Air Date: 1981-02-17

2. A Gift From Heaven

Air Date: 1981-02-24

3. A Medal For The Argentine

Air Date: 1977-03-03

4. Flies & Spiders

Air Date: 1981-03-10

5. Oh, My Charming Billy Boy

Air Date: 1981-03-17

6. Friends, Romans, Countrymen

Air Date: 1981-03-24

7. The Bright Young Things

Air Date: 1981-03-31

8. Action!

Air Date: 1981-04-07

9. Comrades In Arms

Air Date: 1981-04-14

10. Roll Of Honour

Air Date: 1981-04-21