Black Books

Cooking the Books

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired 9/29/00

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Episode Summary

In this first episode we are introduced to Bernard, the alcoholic Irish book shop owner. But, Bernard has a problem. His taxes need doing, he's mathematically illiterate, and there's no avoiding it. His accountant turns out to be a wanted felon, and has gone on the run, and no one seems to be willing to help him. His salvation could be an exemption clause which gives him an out if he's injured. Fran is busy trying to discover what a particular item in her shop actually is whilst Manny, working as an accountant has an 'incident' with 'The Little Book of Calm'. Their coming together could be the start of a beautiful relationship.moreless

8.9

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Cast & Crew

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Dylan Moran

Bernard Ludwig Black
Tamsin Greig

Fran Katzenjammer
Bill Bailey

Manny Bianco

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

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A Pivital episode that sets the rest of the series up in grand style.

10

"Perfect"

By ferdiaob, Jan 17, 2007 Report Abuse

Episode one, as most first episodes do, introduces us to the main characters of the script. Possibly intentionaly, it exagerates all of there main character traits far more then any other episode in the series.

Bernard, the shows main character, is shown to be an impatient, bookshop owning, customer dispising, drunken Irishman. Bernard spends the episode attempting to either finish his tax returns, or attempting to avoid them entirely.

Manny, a hairy, bumbling, job hating accountant, comes to the shop to buy "The Little Book Of Calm", and although we dont see the events (they are shown in a flash back in the next episode) becomes Bernards assistance.

Fran is the owner of the arty, new age junk shop next door. She spends the episode trying to figure out what one particularly unusual trinkit from her shop is, Manny unwittingly infuriates Fran by showing it to be a cigerret lighter.moreless

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In one word: Brilliant. One of those episodes that gives you the hiccups because you've laughed too much (or too little depending upon your perspective) ;)

10

"Perfect"

By parizada, Mar 26, 2006 Report Abuse

Fantastic piece of comedy. From Bernard being willing to saw off his own arm to avoid doing his tax returns, to Manny swallowing and reciting 'the little book of calm', in the process doing an impressive impersonation of 'Jesus', and Fran trying to decipher the purpose of an item in her shop; this is one of those episodes that will have you in tears of laughter from the silliness of it all. A+ and well done!

As a pilot episode, this one has been done spectacularly well. Usually, pilot's don't do so well as they are an introduction to the show and it's characters. As a result the plot line's usually rather thin. Not so for 'Cooking the Books'. the creators made it in such a way, that it could easily have been one of the other episodes. ie, it doesn't come across as being a pilot for the sake of a pilot. It introduces the characters smoothly and remains one of the more hilarious episodes in the show. One of my personal favourites, I give it 5 stars.moreless

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This first show shows us an agigated Bernard dismissing customers who wish to buy books, a ditzy Fran who is neither here nor there, and Manny, an overly worked accountant come prophet. What a season opener.moreless

8.9

"Great"

By screenhack, Jun 16, 2005 Report Abuse

The show opens on Bernard sitting at his desk, being annoyed by a customer. The customer then wants to pay 200 for some books, but Bernard refuses him, insulting him too. This shows us the basic character of Bernard, an annoyed, stressed, pesimistic, easily agitated irish-man full of cyniscism.

We meet Manny next, a very stressed Manny, but it is only a brief encounter.

Fran is the next person we meet. The ditzy owner of Nifty Gifty, the shop next door. She seems to be a happy person, but her alcohol consumption may say otherwise.

We then finally meet Manny, overworked and very stressed, he relies on a little book to keep himself in order. As the episode progresses, he becomes the Manny we will see in future episodes; laidback, relaxed, happy and optimistic.

And that's the gang, and a fine bunch they all are. This opening episode leads us on to what we will see in the next episodes and seasons, hilarity.

A stunning first episode, and a stunning show.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- A stamp on the bookshelf behind the desk says "Property of St. John and Red Cross Hospital Library Dept". Edit
- Tamsin Greig, the actress portraying Fran, was pregnant during the filming of Season 1. Edit
- Goof: When the Doctor is telling Manny his prognosis; you notice that the actor says "Oh my God!" at the wrong time and mumbles "Sorry" after it. Edit
Notes
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- The show writers had originally planned for the character of Manny Bianco to be Jewish. Edit
- The character of Bernard was inspired by an actual owner of a bookshop whom Dylan Moran shared an encounter with. Edit
- Martin Freeman was nominated for Best Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards that year for his appearance as the Doctor in this episode. Unfortunately, he didn't win. Edit
Quotes
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- Bernard: (to aggressive skinheads) Hey, you know when you're doing the usual threesome thing you do on a weekend, and the moonlight's bouncing off your bald heads and your bare arses and everything, does that not get a bit confusing? Edit
- Bernard: (on Fran being birth partner to pregnant friend) Yuck. That's going to be intense, a lot of blood, a lot of shouting, and urm... Fran: Oh, no no no, I'll just get drunk. In fact, she'll be on drugs, I'll be drunk, it'll be just like the old days. Edit
- Bernard: (waking up) What time is it? Manny: Half ten. Bernard: Half ten? Half ten?! I've never been up at half ten! What happens?! Edit
Allusions
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- The Little Book Of Calm Genuine small volume of helpful hints of how to remain relaxed , written by Paul Wilson. Edit
- Cooking the Books A common phrase used to mean creative accounting. Edit
- Jesus
  
  As Manny is walking through the halls of the hospital, he visits Julie, and bestows upon her a calming metaphor. This is a link to how Jesus Christ healed the sick and the poorly.
  
  Manny then walks through the streets, stopping a dog from barking and a car alarm from screaming out. Again, references to 'healing'.
  
  After retrieving a beaten up Bernard, Bernard's missionary friends return to the shop. The night before, Bernard had been teaching THEM about Jesus, sorting out confused facts. Manny answers the door, and the missionaries run away screaming. Manny is dressed in a long flowing hospital gown, similar to the dress of Jesus, and has a beard and long hair, like Jesus is portrayed to have. Edit