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Martin Bryce lives in a quiet suburban close with his wife Anne. He does his best to "organise" the leisure time of all of the other inhabitants of the close, running umpteen societies and doing "good works". He's is quite happy with his lot until Paul Ryman moves in next door.
1984
Martin and Ann meet their new neighbour Paul. Ann believes that he will be a welcome addition to the Close, but Martin is not so sure.
Martin's dislike for Paul intensifies when Paul manages to get Martin relieved of all his duties on the Resident's Committee. Ann mistakenly believes she may now have some quality time upcoming with Martin.
Martin and certain others in the Close are nearly scandalized by Paul's outlandish behavior. Burning perfectly good house signs? Entertaining scantily clad women in his back garden? What is all this?
It's time for members of the Close to go on a holiday outing, and some wish to repeat an earlier trip to the Bavarian Alps. But Paul has something altogether different in mind. Will Ann and the rest like it?
Martin organizes a fund-raising dance. Paul innocently lends a helping hand, and in doing so mercilessly interferes with Martin's arrangements. How will Martin retaliate?
1984
Martin has invited his old friend Mrs. Beardsmore and her friends from the old people's home to tea. Events slide decidedly downhill. Can Martin's improvisations around bingo rescue the day?
Martin and his cricket teammates are happily preparing for their next match, when Paul announces that he had played for Cambridge and would like to join in. Can Martin's psyche permit him to let Paul go to bat?
Ann and Martin are planning a dinner party for Paul and his girlfriend. Ann anticipates the event going smoothly, but why is Martin buying up all sorts of obscure apertifs for his dinner guests?
Ann must go into the hospital for minor surgery and is concerned about the house's upkeep in her absence. Martin insists that he is up to managing on his own, but when things turn for the worse, help comes from an unexpected quarter.
Martin has great hopes for winning the upcoming snooker tournament, but his heart sinks when he finds out that Paul is also pointing towards the event. Is there nothing at which Paul cannot be beat?
Ann has become quite tired of her stay-at-home existence, but she is not interested in the crafts projects Martin suggests. However, her interest is peaked when Paul offers her a job in his salon. What will Martin have to say to this?
At Paul's party, Ann meets at psychiatrist and believes he may be just the person to help Martin over his hyper-activity. Little known to her, Martin believes that the one needing professional help is Ann.
Christmas is a bit different this year in the Close. Paul has a few extra house guests and Ann volunteers to look after the overflow.
1986
Martin offers to take delivery of Paul's garden manure, but things go predictably and disastrously wrong. And Paul compounds Martin's worries when he effortlessly clears up the chaos Martin has created.
Martin is abroad at a conference representing his company, Mole Valley Valves. A practical jokester arranges for Martin to awaken to the presence of a strange woman in his bedroom. What if word of this should get back to Ann?
Martin believes that Paul is seeking to ""take over"" the Close and is very concerned about what sort of people Martin would invite in. When Martin meets the candidates, however, he is pleasantly surprised.
Martin saves a local girl from drowning and promptly let's his newly-found fame goes to his head. When even his best friends start avoiding him at the pub, surely Martin will catch on. Or will he?
Ann is fund-raising for Open University, which leads Martin to declare that she is ""a pawn of the Kremlin."" Her activities are making things unpleasant for Martin at his snooty new club.
Paul has had an unexpected run of bad luck, raising Martin's expectations of actually beating his neighbor for once when they compete at a local Roundheads and Cavaliers contest.
1987
The stress of seeking total perfection in every aspect of Martin's day-to-day life, and organizing others around him with military precision has finally taken its toll on his nerves. Something has got to be done to make him relax, and soon!
Martin finds himself in a difficult position. Paul is going to move out of the area if he can't find suitable premises for his new venture. Martin knows of one which would be beneficial to the elderly owner, but should he tell Paul?
Two Guys and a Girl
1998
Hilda and Howard, Martin and Ann rent a country cottage for the weekend. Paul and Sarah come along, and Martin takes the chance to demonstrate his practical knowledge—but he finds his style somewhat cramped.
Martin ""co-ordinates"" the neighborhood watch with predictable results.
Martin is incensed when Howard and Hilda are denied their right to use a public footpath by a local farmer. Martin decides to champion their cause and wonders whether he should sort out the whole country's footpath situation in general.
The results of Ann's Open University interim test are not very impressive. She is understandably worried and decides that in future it might help to bounce her ideas off someone. Her choice of a study partner causes quite a stir.
Martin suddenly finds out that the Personnel Department's plans to extend their office will threaten his own office space. He decides to say nothing, but events take a strange course.
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Penelope Wilton
Richard Briers
Peter Egan
Geraldine Newman
Stanley Lebor
