This is where the legend truly begins. Del, trying to demonstrate how stable it is, gives the chandelier a little push. Not a hard push, just a gentle “look, it’s fine” shove. That thing starts swinging like a pendulum from a nightmare. It’s not just swaying; it’s doing a full-on waltz. You can hear the distinct sound of a dozen crystal drops clinking together like champagne glasses at a really anxious party.
Only Fools And Horses Series 2 Episode 7 A Touch Of Glass Full Script
The sheer physics of it is brilliant. The chandelier swings wider and wider, taking out a vase, a framed photo of their mum, and almost Rodney’s head. Del is shouting “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” as if he’s trying to calm a runaway horse. But it’s not a horse – it’s a sparkling, multi-armed missile of kitsch.
Every time you think it’s about to stop, it swings back with renewed vengeance. It’s a beautifully choreographed dance of destruction, and we are howling with laughter. The Trotters are dodging, ducking, and diving like they’re in a slapstick boxing match.
And just when you think the chaos is over, the inevitable happens. The hook rips out of the ceiling with a sickening crunch. The chandelier doesn’t just fall; it plummets. It crashes to the floor in a magnificent, glass-shattering explosion of crystals and metal. For a split second, there’s silence. Then, Del, standing in the middle of the wreckage, looks at Rodney and says in a deadpan voice: “We’re going to need a bigger dustpan.”
