Queen for a Day

"Queen for a Day" is the second episode of the second season of Mind Your Language. It was first broadcast on the 14th of October 1978.

Plot
Mr. Brown is teaching his class about sentence construction when Sid shows up and tells him that someone is looking for Miss Courtney. A man called Fforbes-Ffortescue introduces himself as an assistant town clerk and tells them that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh will be visiting the borough next Tuesday. Philip himself laid the foundation stone for the school, and he and the queen plan on stopping by for a visit. Miss Courtney is so excited to hear the news that she starts decorating the entire school to prepare for it. Mr. Brown tries to convince her it is supposed to be an informal visit, but she ignores him.

On the day of the royal family's visit, the EFL students dress up in their national costumes and show them off in the tearoom, and Mr. Brown teaches them about the history of the royal family. The visit gets called off, but Fforbes-Ffortescue doesn't have time to tell Miss Courtney. A woman who looks like Queen Elizabeth II arrives to look for her husband and asks Zoltan for help, but he doesn't understand anything she says, and there are some misunderstandings when she comes to the EFL classroom. Mr. Brown realises that the visit is cancelled, but chooses not to tell Miss Courtney as she invites the queen's lookalike to tea.

Quotes
Mr. Brown: You're late.

Ali: Eh? (Looks at his watch.) Oh no. Look, please; I am being early. It is only 20 minutes past 7 o'clock.

Mr. Brown: Correction: it is 25 minutes to the 8. (Looks at the wall clock.)

Ali: That clock is not being right at all.

Mr. Brown: Ah. And I suppose my watch is not being right also?

Ali: (Looks at Mr. Brown's watch.) Yes please.

Mr. Brown: Has it occurred to you that it might be your watch that is wrong?

Ali: Oh blimey! This watch is guaranteed never to be wrong. It is 21 jewelies.

Mr. Brown: Jewels.

Ali: Yes please. I am buying it today from the marketplace.

Mr. Brown: You bought that watch from a stall in the market?

Ali: Most definitely. The man is telling me it is jolly good bargain. 21 jewelies and real gold case, 18 turnips.

Mr. Brown: 18 carats.

Ali: Sorry please.

Sid: Mr. Italy.

(Giovanni enters wearing a dark suit and a black hat, smoking a cigar and carrying a case.)

Mr. Brown: Are you representing Italy or the Mafia?

Giovanni: I represent Sicily.

Mr. Brown: (About William of Normandy.) He was succeeded by his third son, William Rufus, The Red King.

Ali: Oh blimey, you are having a communist king?

Mr. Brown: It was 1066.

Juan: Wrong.

Mr. Brown: I beg your pardon?

Juan: 1066. (Waggles his hand.) Maybe, uh...1056.

Mr. Brown: It was 1066!

Juan: No, cannot be 1066. 60 minutes, one hour. 10:66, 6 minutes past 11.