Chute! Episode 9 (TV story)

Ross Lee has just recorded a distress message for his mum to find, when he hears a crash and sees that Clyde Langer and Luke Smith have fallen into the tip. As Luke analyses where they are, Clyde tries to call Maria Jackson and Sarah Jane Smith for help, only for Ross to point out that he won't get any reception where he and Luke are. Ross then introduces himself and the viewer to the two, and puts on a tape.

Clyde asks Ross what it is that he does, to which Ross replies that he sits in the tip all day and watches video tapes. Rummaging through the 83,000 cassettes to see which one the two would like (one of which being Strictly Come Dancing: Slitheen Special), he eventually comes across an alien-themed tape.

Ross thinks to himself what he would do if an alien invaded, unaware that there is an actual alien behind him. When he finally notices, he runs for cover as the alien is hit with a beam that Luke has fired from Ross's remote control, which he has modified. Ross isn't impressed, though, and tries to fix the remote while Luke puts on another tape.

Some time later, Ross is cooking alien toasties for tea, made from the alien that had invaded earlier. He first offers the viewer a toasty, but the viewer expresses discomfort when they eat it. The toasties also put Luke and Clyde off, but that doesn't deter Ross, however, who offers to make another one without cheese whilst he, Luke, Clyde and the viewer watch another tape.

But after the tape has been played, the tip's TV suddenly goes off. In the viewer's attempt to fix it, they inadvertently switch off the power. As the emergency lighting comes back on, Ross checks that everything is alright, and comes to the conclusion that everything is as it should be. Unaware that the back of his trousers is missing, he puts another tape on.

As Clyde tries to think of a way to let Maria and Sarah Jane know that he and Luke are trapped in the tip, Luke comes up with the idea to write a message on a tape and attach a rocket to it, then send it up the chute for somebody to find. On the rocket-tape's test run, however, it hits Ross, who immediately starts crying. Trying to prevent himself from crying, he plays a song on his keyboard. The viewer isn't impressed, and puts a bucket over Ross's head as they watch another tape.

After that tape has been played, Ross comes to the end of his song, and is no longer upset — however, the rocket hits him again, and causes his head to morph into those of different animals. Asking what the four of them should do now, Clyde remarks that they sit and wait for Sarah Jane and Maria to rescue them. As the viewer comforts Luke, Ross finds a tape with a clip from Warriors of Kudlak.

As the clip finishes, Sarah Jane's Sonic lipstick falls into the tip, which Luke and Clyde decide they can use to escape — which they do, leaving Ross and the viewer behind for the rest of the show.

Cast

Uncredited cast

Crew

Writers - Ross Lee and Dermot Canterbury
Set designer - David Bevin
Music - David Blythe and Marten Joustra
Graphics - Shadow Industries
Archive
- ITN Source
- AP Archive
- Granada TV
- Institut national de l'audiovisuel
- Neil Cicierega
- Maxime Luere
Lighting director - Mike Le Fevre, Andy Stagles
Camera - Pat McKeeman
Sound - Guy Rowland, Tudor Davies
Editors - Bob Greenwood, Chris Toft
Stage Manager - Zoe Belton
Make-up design - Lesley Altringham
Costume design - Carol Lawrence
Art director - Sophie Irish, Chloe Cross
Production coordinator - Jacmel Dent
Production assistant - Charlie MacCormack
Production manager - Cill Kivi
Researcher - Helen Sallnow
Assistant producers - Lucy Cutherbertson, Isabel Buxton
Production executive - Karen Woodward
Executive producer - Joe Codwin
Director - Dermot Canterbury
Producer - Steve Ryde

Worldbuilding

Objects

Ross finds a video camera.
Ross consults the book, Cameras for Grannies, on how to use the video camera.
Ross plays a violin.
Luke and Clyde use the sonic lipstick to escape the tip.
Ross's mother pretends to play an inflatable guitar at a playground.

Individuals

Ross records a video message for his mum.
Ross's grandmother is in Benidorm.
Clyde calls out for Maria and Sarah Jane.
Ross mentions Lorraine Kelly, and alludes to Simon Cowell and Louie Walsh.
The "1234" montage includes pictures of Kevin the Teenager and Geraldine Granger.

Foods and beverages

Ross told his mum that he was going out for a pint of milk.
Ross thought he'd be back in time to explain the frozen spider ice cubes.

Videotapes and clips

The first clip involves a little green alien being trapped under a plant pot.
The second clip involves different sports matches being overlaid with random noises by a soundman that had apparently gone "bonkers".
- A table tennis match with farting, burping and wretching.
- A football game with various traffic sounds.
The third clip is a wildlife documentary about jockeys.
The fourth clip is from an episode of Beadle's About, in which Jeremy Beadle tricks Janet Elford into thinking she has encountered an alien.
The fifth clip is from The Goodies episode, Scoutrageous.
The sixth clip is of Dick and Dom playing a game of "Bogies" in the Barnfield Theatre.
The seventh clip is an image montage set to the song "1234".
The eighth clip is a scene from The Sarah Jane Adventures episode, Warriors of Kudlak.
The ninth clip is a montage of wildlife footage set to the song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".
The tenth clip is a series of silly BBC News headlines.
The eleventh and final clip is The Mysterious Ticking Noise, starring the Potter Puppet Pals.
Two tapes the group decide not to watch are Strictly Come Dancing: Slitheen Special, and The Very Best of Party Political Broadcasts by the Alien Supremacy Party.
Tapes that Ross found while looking for The Sarah Jane Adventures include; The David John Adventures, The Hector Brian Adventures, The Elephant Badger Adventures (which Ross claimed to have been in).

Numbers and measurements

The chute leading to the tip has a total volume of 3456 metres.
The walls of the tip appear to be 3 metres thick.

Songs

Ross and Luke sing "Ging Gang Goolie".
One videotape contains an image montage set to "1234".

Miscellaneous

Ross tells Clyde and Luke that he made a video explaining "everything" to his mum, except for hurricanes, metaphysics, Morris dancing, beans on toast, or Lorraine Kelly.

Story notes

The episode was broadcast just over a month after the conclusion of The Sarah Jane Adventures' first series.
A clip is featured from TV: Warriors of Kudlak.

Continuity

to be added