Porridge Series 1, Episode 3 (Summary)

A Night In

First Aired: 19-09-1974

Written by: Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais

Many fans of Porridge consider A Night In to be one of the best episodes in the series, and it may very well be so. It is certainly the episode where the real friendship between Fletch and Godber begins.

In the previous episode of the show, Fletcher’s plans to get a single cell saw fruition, but it was not to be for long. He now has a new roommate and, you guessed it, it is young Lennie Godber.

Godber is most apologetic for invading Fletcher’s privacy and keeps telling him over and over again, “It’s not my fault.”

Fletch is well aware of that, but it is obvious that he is not happy about the new arrangement. It is also just as apparent that deep down he is rather fond of the young con.

In a lot of ways being put in with Fletcher is the best thing that could have happened to Godber. Fletch is an old hand at prison life, but Godber has never been inside before and is finding it hard to cope. “Bide your time,” Fletcher advises him.

When Lenny tells him that lockup time is the time that he would normally be getting ready to go out, Fletch say to him, “Of course we could always go out.” And then proceeds to tell him all the things that they could do: women… drinks… but he did all that last night and is a bit worn out so perhaps they should have a quiet night in. That’s the best way to look at it, he tells Godber, just tell yourself that you are having a quiet night in for a change.

Daft as it sounds Fletch’s idea really helps Godber and the seeds of a beautiful friendship have been plated inside the cold and forbidding walls of the prison cell.

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