Budgie

- Season 1

(1971)

Ronald "Budgie" Bird has just been released from prison, and has been given the job of looking Charity, one of Charlie Endell's strippers While looking after Charity, Budgie and his Irish mate Grogan accidentally steal a van load of pornographic magazines from the police and then try to destroy the evidence by burning them on a cricket field.

Budgie seems to have fallen on his feet - a flat right in the centre of Soho all to himself for six weeks. But why is Charlie doing him a favour - and Hazel's mother has plans for him too.

Budgie's on to something big. It means "playing at home" in Watford for a change. It means seeing his wife Jean; but Budgie knows he's sure of a welcome there isn't he?

An evening of "luxury"- Spanish nosh and chateau-bottled "plonk"at the Grandee Hotel on the North Orbital Road - gives Budgie the chance of clinching an important business deal.

Budgie's in the money - it's unheard of. But it's true. But how did he get it, and more importantly how can he hang on to it?

Budgie's got a job working in Charlie Endell's bookshop. He's saving up for a holiday. But Hazel has a problem that starts off a sequence of events which leads Budgie back to his old school and into a tricky situation.

"A man's best mate is his best mate" they said, especially when he is in trouble. But Budgie finds that in the case of Maguire that trouble leads to trouble, and still more trouble - 500 troubles to be exact.

Budgie is in the farming business - but not the kind that includes furry creatures or our feathered friends. The only "birds" are two-legged ones.

Budgie is asked to join a gang of criminals to rob a bank, but the police are one to it. But Charlie Endell's sex shop is hit instead.

It's domestic problems for Budgie - one of them being his dad and, to quote Budgie; "What is a dad? A dad is a bloke who skives from home and tries to tap you for a couple of quid.

Budgie's sister, Vi , wants to marry Tony , and Budgie says he'll fix it. But one problem is how to get Tony to the alter, and another is the "paying guest" - Zip.

Budgie, avoiding the police as usual, meets Janey and Denzil, an odd couple, gets involved in the throbbing world of show business. But he finds that every silver lining there is a cloud.

Budgie gives Charlie Endell a birthday present, but Charlie shows his gratitude in a very peculiar way - and Budgie finds himself back in the company of old friends.