Rooms
Series 2
This daytime series, set in a large house converted into bedsits, had two phases: one of self-contained small dramas, each concerning the lives of a few residents and their friends, family or colleagues; and a later one - with different characters - made up of a continual string of episodes, soap-opera style, depicting the residents as a whole.
Where to Watch Rooms • Series 2
61 Episodes
- Ruth: Part 1
E1Ruth: Part 1New tenant Ruth has left her husband and is hardly over the threshold before hearing what one tenant thinks of the 'unofficial landlady' Mrs Beale, who has just returned from her late husband's funeral. Whilst unpacking, Ruth has a long chat with her friend Judy, who tries to convince her that she has other options and doesn't need to be stuck in a dingy bedsit. - Carol & Ian
E3Carol & IanCarol and Ian West have set up home together in one of the rooms in Mafeking Terrace with their new baby, but Carol's disapproving mother (Pat Ashton) cannot stop constantly imposing her own opinions on the conditions that the couple find themselves in. Meanwhile Carol and Ian can't stop bickering over every trivial little incident. - Mrs. Beale
E4Mrs. BealeMrs Beale continues repeating her poisonous remarks about Linda Todd's loose morals with neighbour Brian Kettle, but he finds out from more than one source that Linda really is leaving to get married. When new landlord Mr Singer pays Mrs Beale a visit she turns her malicious tongue on separated tenant Mrs Harris, implying that having single female tenants could give the place a bad name. - Lonely HeartsE5
Lonely HeartsYoung tenant Lesley is feeling lonely and confides to her friend that she might start looking for a boyfriend. She decides to answer an advert in a lonely hearts column, but her intended date not only turns up very late, and drunk, but he isn't exactly what she was hoping for. - Short Fuse
E7Short FuseBrian Kettle's daughter Jennifer pays her father a visit. They have long family discussions about her future, including his former wife's plan to remarry, move to Birmingham, and place Jennifer in a boarding school. She lets her father know that she is unhappy with home life, especially as she is never asked her opinion about her own future. Meanwhile Carol and Ian are struggling to survive as family of three on one wage. - Nosy Neighbours
E8Nosy NeighboursRose returns to her lodgings after a failed attempt at marriage and on the way in tells Mrs Beale in no uncertain terms she's back for good. Mrs Beale has an uncharacteristically pleasant conversation with artistic tenant Geoff but things turn sour when he berates her for listening to his private conversations on his cassette recorder whilst he is out of the room. An apologetic Mrs Beale tries to explain that she thought she was listening to a play on a radio. Meanwhile Rose's 'intended' Lawrence turns up to try and persuade her to change her mind and come back with him. - Tough Love
E9Tough LoveWith Linda Todd back in her room Mrs Beale wastes no time stirring up trouble with landlady Mrs Singer. There are some harsh words between Geoff and his girlfriend Marcia when she turns up after receiving a letter from him ending their relationship, and she wants some answers. Mrs Singer pays Linda a visit to ask whether she plans to stay or go. She tells her that her 'intended' was already married and no longer has any reason to leave. - Gone To The Dogs
E10Gone To The DogsCarol seems to be leading a life of domestic drudgery while others are having a good time. Lesley has a date with Ian's workmate Tony, who just happens to be Ian's excuse for his being late home from work, but Carol already knows he wasn't working as Tony is next door with Lesley. However all is well because Ian has a pleasant surprise for Carol's birthday. Brian and Ruth go for a night out at the greyhound races, followed by a cosy meal for two in his flat. - What's Best For Alison
E13What's Best For AlisonA new health visitor arrives unannounced to visit baby Alison and seems overly officious over every aspect of the conditions that the Wests are bringing the baby up in. Carol is worried that her baby might be taken away from them if they stay where they are and suggests to Ian that it might be a good idea for them to move back with her parents for the child's wellbeing. Ian isn't happy with the idea. - Uninvited Visitors
E14Uninvited VisitorsIan contacts the health visitor Vera Pusey and asks her to return to their room to try and clear up some issues he has with her report, seeing that he wasn't there on her first visit. All is fine to start with before Ian starts to lose his temper with her apparent attitude towards their plight. Things calm down and after she leaves Ian and Carol consider what steps they can take to improve on their current living situation. Someone turns up to view a vacant room but she is not the friendly well travelled potential tenant she portrays herself as. - Part Time JobsE15
Part Time JobsMrs Singer is having trouble trying to evict the non-paying sub-let squatters living illegally in the basement, but not without a heated argument about its legality. Brian Kettle steps in to calm things down and give Mrs Singer some moral support. She confides in Brian that she and her husband are thinking of selling off the basement as separate premises to try and alleviate financial problems. Meantime Lesley and friend Meryl consider becoming door to door cosmetics sales girls to make extra money. Brian offers to redecorate the now empty basement to save Mrs Singer ... - The Big Con
E17The Big ConLesley and Meryl raise the money needed to buy into their cosmetics business but soon find out that the products they've been supplied are worthless and won't sell. Ruth pays her estranged husband a visit only to find he's moved a new girlfriend in, prompting Ruth to seek legal advice about getting a divorce. Brian's plans to redecorate the basement flat gets the approval of landlord Mr Singer. - Portraits
E21PortraitsMrs Beale as ever sticks her nose into the other tenants' business when she reproaches Brian Kettle for having his daughter residing as an extra tenant, threatening to report him. Linda is delighted with artist Eric Prentiss's portrait of her. Over dinner Brian and Ruth persuade Jennifer that it would be in her best interest to return home and complete her education. Landlady Kathy Singer has a long heart to heart with her brother Eric, and Jennifer finally decides to go home with her mother. - House Party
E22House PartyIan is questioned by the police about a minor accident his car was reported for, but his wife Carol discovers he's covering for someone else as the car was actually being driven by New Zealander tenant Geoff. Ian pretended he was driving because Geoff has overstayed his visa and if the police found out about him he feared he'd be deported. Lesley organises a party in her room and invites a few of her neighbours for drinks. - Broken Hearts
E23Broken HeartsLesley is getting serious with her boyfriend Dave, even asking if he would like to meet her parents, but Dave initially doesn't seem as keen. Ian and Carol decide to treat themselves to a night out and fellow tenant Geoff babysits. When Lesley wonders why Dave isn't with her for the evening Meryl suspects she may be in for a disappointment. - We Are All Pawns
E24We Are All PawnsMrs Beale complains to landlady Mrs Singer about her brother Eric running a photography business from his room. When Ruth's husband Don comes to discuss their divorce she demands that he sells the marital home so she can get her own place with her share of the proceeds. The visit turns sour when Ruth makes it clear she is not happy with his current girlfriend moving into the house, and Don in return makes disparaging remarks about her own love life. Kathy tries to get her brother Eric his old job back, but he is having none of it and decides to quit the house. - On The Dole
E25On The DoleIt's bad news for the West family finances as Ian has been made redundant. Lesley is bored with her life now that boyfriend Dave is out of the picture and wants something better for herself, but she doesn't know where to start. Carol West's mother is visiting and trying to run Carol's life for her, as well as Ian's when imposing a potential employer on him without his knowledge. - Surprise VisitorsE26
Surprise VisitorsThe newly refurbished basement is going on the market. The estate agent suggest to Mrs Singer that she should think about putting the rest of the house up for sale as it is the type of place a property developer would be interested in. Mrs Beale is in trouble following a visit from her local DHSS office as it seems has been less than truthful regarding late husband's pension book. She thinks Linda Todd reported her and out of spite calls Mrs Singer to accuse her of keeping a man in her room. - A Lesson
E27A LessonIan and Carol West are facing difficult times with no money coming in and Ian's attempts to stop smoking are making him edgy. Ruth is advertising in the newspapers offering private tuition but didn't expect her first customer to be an illiterate 22 year old girl. Things take an unexpected turn when the girl's angry boyfriend turns up. - Visitors
E28VisitorsLinda Todd's erstwhile boyfriend, former convict Eddie, returns from Devon and could be in trouble for failing to adhere to his parole terms. Mrs Singer has the estate agent back with an offer which results in an argument between her and her husband, and Mrs Beale still has the man from the Social Security to deal with following her pension fraud. - Off To Devon?
E29Off To Devon?Landlord Mr Singer catches ex-con Eddie Graham squatting in one of the rooms and wants him out, but Brian Kettle acts as peacemaker to give Eddie more time to find a new place to live. Eddie has been in Devon trying out country life and is trying to persuade Linda to go with him to live on a farm there. Ruth gives Linda some advice, which angers Eddie's friend Brian. - The Interview
E30The InterviewIan is not very comfortable with wearing a suit and tie for his job interview but Carol insists on it as he needs to look smart to be successful. Poor Meryl has her own problems to deal with, she has left home because her wastrel father has arrived home from sea - his gambling is interfering with her relationship with her mother and they're both making her life a misery. - The Surprise
E31The SurpriseRuth and Brian are an item again but Ruth is feeling down-in-the-mouth as she's sure she's not good enough for a job she has an interview for. Her father pays her a surprise visit and she has a tough time with his constantly inquiring into her life and finances. He's not happy with her living in bedsitter land and wants her to do better for herself. - Love From Greece
E32Love From GreeceKiwi Geoff has returned from his holiday in Greece and has brought back a mysterious package for a local Greek au pair, but the girl who turns up isn't quite what he was hoping for. Meanwhile, Brian is planning a holiday break in the North Yorkshire moors for himself and Ruth. He wants them both to do a bit of mountain-climbing, but Ruth is having none of it. - Too Young To Love
E34Too Young To LoveCarol is suffering from morning sickness and that can mean only one thing - however, she hasn't told Ian, and doesn't plan to. Lesley Losey has a surprise visitor: her 14-year-old sister Kim, who is sick of life at home. As usual, busybody Mrs Beale is meddling in other people's affairs. - TensionE35
TensionGeoff hasn't seen the last of au pair Sophia, who has walked out on her employer, and since Geoff is the only person she can trust she heads back to his room suitcase in hand. Landlady Kathy thinks she might be able to help her with a new job. Meanwhile Brian invites Ruth to his room for a cosy dinner for two, but the occasion somehow turns into a blazing row between the two of them. Could this be the end of their relationship? - The Stork
E36The StorkCarol's opinionated mother is giving her a hard time on every aspect of her life, from how she looks and dresses, to Ian's prospects on employment. Lesley Losey has some pills for Carol which, she thinks, will solve her pregnancy problem. Ian is hoping to get a job on the oil rigs, giving him and Carol a chance of a new life away from Mafeking Terrace. - Spare Some Milk
E37Spare Some MilkRetired military captain James Passmore and his wife Fay are new tenants recently arrived from Africa and take up Linda Todd's vacated room, but Mrs Passmore is none too happy with their situation. They appear to have money problems due to his previous financial dealings and they appear to be on a downward spiral. It doesn't take Mrs Beale too long to pry into their affairs. - More LiesE38
More LiesIt seems that the Passmore's were forced to leave Rhodesia after some financial irregularities and were close to going to jail. Now that they are back home Mrs Passmore is worried that her husband may be returning to his fraudulent ways in order to survive. Whilst her husband is out doing the shopping (passing a bad cheque as it turns out) Mrs Beale lets Fay Passmore know what she thinks of some of the tenants. - TemptationE40
TemptationJim gets an unexpected visit from an Alcoholics Anonymous member Bill, who is also a recovering alcoholic, and they have much in common to discuss. Ian surprises Carol with an unexpected return, but flies off the handle when he finds out about her discussions with Jim. Initially angry with Jim, he later goes up to his room to apologise. Don pays Ruth a visit - he wants to save their marriage and asks her to return to the marital home. - The AccusedE41
The AccusedJames Passmore is on the scrounge, first trying to persuade Lesley to place a bet for him using her money, then borrowing from Brian Kettle. He looks in on Mrs Beale when he hears a noise and thinks she may have had a fall. Mrs Beale is out but returns in a state of shock - her purse has gone missing from her room. Fay Passmore is suspicious and wonders whether her husband is a thief. - Bad LuckE43
Bad LuckIan has called the doctor, for Carol has fallen ill and is in danger of losing their baby. The doctor advises her that she needs to get to hospital for some tests. Ruth's estranged husband is back to apologise for his former girlfriend's intrusion, and she takes the opportunity to persuade him to sell their home. Jim is struggling to cope without alcohol, and is close to falling off the wagon just as his son pays him a visit. - Bad DecisionsE44
Bad DecisionsMrs Beale is suspicious when a surveyor arrives to measure the rooms and starts a rumour that the house might soon be up for sale. James Passmore hires a financial advisor to negotiate a loan of £2000 but is caught out when asked for a registration fee before proceeding, which, of course, he doesn't have. Things get worse when his wife suddenly arrives home and finds out what he's up to. - The Party
E50The PartyLesley Losey confesses to her colourful friend Meryl that she has amorous feelings for her but Meryl rebuffs her advances saying that her Christian upbringing precludes same-sex relationships. Brian Kettle finds out that the old adage about a watched pot never boils is not always true. - The Accident
E52The AccidentThe police turn up at the Wests' door looking for a James Wilson, with the news that he had died in a car crash, but the description given matches James Passmore. There was a mix up in the identification because Jim had loaned Passmore his driving licence. It turns out that he'd borrowed the licence in order to hire a car and because it had been driven head on into a bridge on the A2 there is a suspicion that it was a suicide. - Horse And Carriage
E54Horse And CarriageLesley breaks the ice between her cousin,Aunt and her friend Meryl as they go out together to shop for Denise's wedding.Denise admits to Lesley the wedding may not be the happy affair her family will have her believe, she doesn't want to go through with it but feels she must to keep her family happy.
