Wondrous Oblivion

Yes, it's May again, and that can mean only one thing.

No, not that.

It's the start of the cricket season.

22 men, good and true, a trusty willow and a leather ball.

Howzat?

For established test heroes like Cowdrey, Bailey and Trueman, it's business as usual.

But here, on one of cricket's less-fashionable venues,

the selectors have their eye on a rising star.

Yes, it's David Wiseman.

Tactical genius, fearless batsman

and, as always, spotlessly turned out.

Can English cricket afford to ignore this young talent a moment longer?

Wiseman!

Wake up!

Oh, not again!

- Oh, no. - Typical!

That's the over.

Wiseman!

Are you enjoying your afternoon, Wiseman?

Yes, sir. Very much, sir.

Wondrous.

Oh, well, back on the job, then, boy!

All the way, boy.

Wondrous oblivion.

So, as potentially the greatest all-rounder in the world

wends his way home to South London,

cricket lovers await the 1960 season with eager anticipation.

The best of British luck, young David.

What happened?

- I dived. - Dived?

For the ball, to stop it.

Hm, clever.

So, you play cricket in a swimming pool now?

- No, Ma. - If you don't play in a field any more,

should I buy you some trunks to play cricket in?

No... Ma.

Will...

- Will the stain come out? - It'll come out.

Wondrous.

Wondrous oblivion.

The coach is making his final selections

and the players are making their way out of the pavilion now.

The captain is placing his fielders.

Now, who's going to bowl?

Compton can start them off. Erm...

OK.

Wait a minute. I need another player.

Trueman, you can open the bowling.

You two come in later.

WG, you can umpire.

You're too old to bat.

OK... Compton.

You can open the batting. Ready?

Trueman to bowl.

Well hit, Denis. It's going for a four.

Wait a minute.

The fielder's diving for it. Has he got his hands on it?

No. Hard cheese.

And the umpire signals a four.

Coming, Vinnie!

Mrs Wilson.

Good evening, Mrs Wiseman.

Do you have any idea who might be moving in next door, Mrs Wiseman, after your friends go?

I've no idea, Mrs Wilson.

Oh, I thought you might know who'd be moving in.

I thought you might prefer one of your own people.

I haven't really thought about it, Mrs Wilson.

I doubt if it's let yet.

Your petunias are coming on nicely.

Such a pretty plant, don't you think?

I'm going to miss your tactical know-how, Vinnie.

You see, nobody appreciates you like I do.

What do you think about Trueman's form? Shall we keep him in the team?

- Got that, John? - Dora, some biscuits to keep you going.

Oh, Ruth, you shouldn't have.

David, say goodbye.

Goodbye, Suzanne.

Goodbye, Anthony.

- We're going to miss you so much. - Oh, Ruth, we'll miss you, too.

You'll come visit, David, won't you?

They have their own house now, David.

Mr Glückstein had a promotion and Vinnie gets promoted, too,

to a better class of neighbourhood.

With bigger trees.

Button up your coat, darling.

Don't miss the train.

- Goodbye, David. - Bye, David.

Goodbye, Vinnie.

Cricket.

The new season is upon us and I have much pleasure in announcing

that the new captain will be James Reece...

..who did so splendidly for us last year both at the crease and as a bowler.

- Well done. - Thank you, sir.

I expect the whole school to give him every possible support,

as we attempt to regain the Junior Challenge Cup.

For the rest of you triallists,

Mr Pugh will post the team sheet on the notice board tomorrow.

All right. Dismissed.

- Well done, Reece. - Nice one, Reece.

Where are you going to bat, Reecy?

Bat at number four, Reece.

How about this one?

Bailey. Essex.

Got him.

Trueman. Yorkshire.

Of course.

You young scamp. You're as hard to please as your father.

All right. Here's one you won't have.

Jones. Glamorgan.

The wicketkeeper.

You want it, don't you?

Yes... please, Mr Woodberry.

What have you got for me, young David?

Swaps?

S-Swaps?

Oh, David.

Very Jewish, that is.

They're yours, son. Of course, they're yours.

On the house.

Thank you, Mr Woodberry.

Surely we would prefer our own people, she said.

So? Good.

Not good.

I don't like it.

You know, it's not her business who is going to live next door.

Nothing to worry. This is England.

You think this is Germany?

They have democracy here. Freedom.

Reece was made captain of the cricket today.

Nice for Mr Reece. How come they didn't choose you?

Didn't they have a democracy in Germany, too?

Who was it voted for Hitler?

- Mrs Wilson? - All the Mrs Wilsons.

Ordinary citizens.

- Gentiles that voted for Hitler. - No comparison. Don't be stupid.

Enough.

Time for bed.

David, hold out your arm.

There. See?

You'll be the smartest boy in the team.

Thanks.

- Do you want me to tidy your cards? - No. Thanks.

I Want To Be Free

Well done, Wiseman.

You've a head for numbers, at least.

We'll make this a regular job, shall we?

No need to wear whites.

If you don't want to.

We've got neighbours again.

How am I going to get any practice done with all this going on?

Don't stare at people.

It's rude.

- I just wanted to see who it was. - Yes, well, you've seen now.

- Not properly. - That's enough, David.

- Are they Africans? - Loretta!

- They speak English. - Loretta!

They're not Indians, not Red Indians.

- I know that. - Boy.

Look at the size of this garden.

I'll pick flowers for the girls' room.

- Yeah, boy! - Mr Johnson.

Oh, look at the roses!

Yeah, look at them. Nice, see?

Where's the toilet?

- Inside, Mr Johnson. - Inside?

You won't catch a cold in the winter, I tell you.

- Them children coming? - My God, me late.

I'll see you outside, I'll wait.

Yes, man, good here.

Think we can do it?

She can plant all round...

Just come straight back, so,

straight back so.

- Yeah? - Yeah!

It could work, yes. Dennis!

Here, man.

All right.

The girls, man. They're here.

How are you doing, Judy?

Dorothy, come see me now.

Oh, them big, man.

- Dorothy, you remember me? - No.

You remember me, Judy?

Big, man.

I bet you I can't pick you up.

Look at all the neighbours.

I bet you I can't pick you up. I bet you I can't.

We've got our children now, Dennis.

Give me a piece of bread while I'm waiting. I could eat a horse.

It's been like this all day. I never thought for one minute that...

- They're unpacking. - Unpacking?

And singing and shouting and laughing.

It's like a musical, Dad. How do they get anything done?

You're not here. You can afford to be generous.

- David! - I'm here now.

Aren't you going to do something?

Do we get any dinner still?

They've taken out the roses.

Mrs Wilson will love that.

There are only three bedrooms. How many are going to live there?