Visiting Rocky

"Visiting Rocky" is the third episode in the second season of the show As Time Goes by. It originally aired on 24 January 1993.

## Plot

Lionel and Jean are in a rowboat in the middle of river with Lionel struggling with the oars while Jean is laughing. Jean suggests that they row gently back to the rowboat rental and Lionel says that if he were young, he would have rowed Jean to Polynesia and he agrees to turn around and row back. While turning the boat around with one oar, Lionel finds that he enjoys it and continues to do so until Jean asks him to do so and when he tries to row back he loses one of the oars and has to be towed back.

Lionel and Jean are at the restaurant having a drink and Lionel talks about all the things that he could do when he was young and gets depressed about all the things he can’t do anymore.

Jean arrives home early without Lionel and Judy makes her a cup of a tea. Jean tells Judy that Lionel lost the oars and that they had to be towed in and afterwards during what was supposed to be a stroll turned into a forced march because of Lionel because he was miffed about the rowing. Jean admits that she is still angry with Lionel because Lionel made her feel old as well. Lionel calls to invite Jean to meet his father in Hampshire.

Lionel and Jean are having a cup of tea in a buffet because Jean wishes to collect herself because meeting Rocky, Lionel’s father. Lionel tells Jean that he didn’t tell his family about Jean until after his service because he spent every bit of leave he had with her. When he did tell Rocky about Jean, Rocky called Lionel a fool for losing Jean. They leave to go meet Rocky.

While Lionel and Jean are in a car and Jean asks if Lionel’s mother knew about her and Lionel tells Jean that she said he wouldn’t have a second chance. They arrive at a very grand house and Mrs. Bale comes out to take them in.

Mrs. Bale brings them to the sitting room full of collection of various items including vintage arcade games and leaves to make some pina coladas. Lionel explains that his father has fads where he collects different things and Jean goes to a jukebox and accidentally plays a song. Lionel turns it off and Rocky comes in and compliments Jean’s choice in music and introduces himself to her. They sit down and Mrs. Bale comes in with three pina coladas and tells them lunch will be served in 18 and a half minutes. Jean drinks some of it and finds the drink very strong. Rocky asks them how their relationship is progressing and is disappointed in their lack of progress. Lionel asks Rocky how he is doing and Rocky says that he is about to embark on one of life’s great adventures and he’ll tell them about later, but first takes them to eat lunch before Mrs. Bale is ready to annoy Mrs. Bale. Rocky also gives Jean a cricket ball that Lionel used when he played for Winchester in June 1948.

Lionel and Jean go into the greenhouse after a good lunch made by Mrs. Bale. Lionel and Jean talk about how Rocky likes Jean and how he did not get along with Lionel’s wife. Rocky comes in and Mrs. Bale in the coffee and informs them it is force 8 in the English Channel which is on the choppy side. Rocky tells them that he has decided to get married and Lionel does not react well to the news and leaves. Rocky makes a point to Jean after her initial impression, that while he is old it is the reason why he continues live life because otherwise he may as well contemplate death. He also tells Jean that Madge, the woman he is going to marry, is only 78 and asks Jean to be a bridesmaid.

Lionel is in the sitting room playing with a pinball machine when Jean comes in. They talk about how Lionel is different from his father, whereas Lionel talks about the things he can’t do, Rocky only talks about the things he can do. Jean also mentions that Rocky is marrying Madge and which Lionel reacts loudly, Madge being as eccentric as his father. Lionel admits that he envies his father in his willingness to try anything as the last time he felt he could do anything was when he was with Jean 38 years ago. Jean puts on music and they dance and talk about how the day before when Lionel was rowing, he wasn’t just angry with his inability to row, but by all the years he spent without Jean.

Rocky walks Lionel and Jean out as they leave and Lionel gives his blessing. Jean goes to the car and Rocky tells Lionel that he should marry Jean.

Lionel and Jean enter Jean’s living room talking about Rocky when Judy comes in with a message from Alistair that the book launch has been advanced by a week. Jean tells Judy that Rocky is a lovely 85 year old man, plans to remarry, and has asked Jean to be a bridesmaid. Lionel is not excited about the news because Rocky and Madge have been having an affair for the last six years. Judy tells them that she is going for a drink with Alistair and leaves. Lionel gets up to leave to read the guide that Alistair gave him for the book launch and before he leaves he asks Jean about her view on marriage. He also tells her that his father told him he should marry her and they decide they are too old and set to get married, though Jean expresses some disappointment after Lionel leaves.

## Random by editor

Mrs. Bale stopped calling Lionel ‘Master’ when he was about 25.

Mrs. Bale is a good cook.