Minder (TV Series) No Way to Treat a Daley (1993) User Reviews

A subtley brilliant episode

[ArtVandelayImporterExporter · 8/10 · 31 December 2023]

Another throwback episode to the grittier early days of Minder. Arthur trods on the forbidden lawn of a nasty local villain. He needs every bit of his silver-tongued cunning to escape being taken out on crutches. His Minder and nephew, Ray Daley, needs to use his resourcefulness and his brawn to help out.

But this episode is a LOT more than just Arthur getting into a scrape and his Minder helping to punch his way out of it.

In fact, I would say this episode represents (at least thus far) a high point in the arc of the Arthur Daley character.

In the pilot, Gunfight at the OK Launderette, Daley is clearly a third-tier con and unscrupulous user, and only occasionally throughout the Terence McCann era does Arthur let sentimentality get in the way of a good result. I can count on one hand the number of episodes I sensed any level of affection between Daley and McCann. It was like New American Cinema from the early 70s, where characters began and ended in a bad space. At best, McCann and Daley could enjoy a sort of detente, and raise a glass together at the Winchester.

Ray Daley, on the other hand, is family. Arthur is still cunning, but he has a genuine affection for his nephew. And in this episode, both Arthur and Ray - the former convinced by his own words he used on another hired goon, and the latter by his own mitts he was ready to use on the rival gangster - realize how much they mean to each other.

There are a couple of chuckles here, but it's actually a deadly serious episode. The way they constructed parallel scenes - Arthur in the marshes, Ray in the van - really raised the drama.

It's as though everything the writers and producers had learned in the previous 8 series of Minder had come together for this episode. Not the best, not the funniest, not even the grittiest. But among the most satisfying.

No Way to Treat a Daley (Jan 14, 1993)

[dovestones · 15 July 2021]

Series 9 Episode 2

Arthur and Ray are at Eric's Garden Centre, offering their sympathies after it suffered fire damage. Whilst there, Arthur buys some lawn mowers. He quickly sells them to Mr Ali, owner of the Hanging Garden Centre. At the lock-up Ray is unlaoding Arthur's purchases from Eric's from the back of a van. Arthur notices some posters stuck up on the door. He tells Ray to remove them before he goes home. At the Winchester Arthur tells Dave about an air balloon he purchased from Eric's but has no use for it. Dave tells him people use them for advertising. On the street at night a group of kids run around sticking up more posters. In the morning Arthur has an irritated Ray in a skip looking for the balloon.

Arthur is on the phone in his office when Ray walks in with the folded up balloon. Arthur tells him he is going to use the balloon for clients to hire for advertising. Arthur wants some pictures taken of the balloon and he suggests Gloria. Ray doesn't want her involved as he knows she will say no. Gloria refuses to help Arthur and says some negative things about him and how he treats Ray. Ray doesn't want to hear it. She agrees to help Ray if she tells herself she is helping him and not Arthur and he owes her a meal.

At the car lot Arthur and Ray argue over how to inflate the balloon. Ray follows Arthur into the office complaining about the jobs Arthur has him doing but Arthur tells him to do as he is told.

Arthur goes to Joey's Boxing Club to offer him some advertising on his balloon for his fight nights. Ray pumps air into the balloon at a petrol station. While there a man, Warren, approaches him showing interest in the balloon. Ray mentions his boss wants to "corner the market" in aerial advertising. Warren seems very interested.

Warren goes to see his boss, Tony Pike, at home. Pike tells Warren that Arthur is moving in on his advertising business. Warren then explains about hearing Arthur wants to "corner the market" on inflatable advertising. Pike says they need to treat Arthur to a "night on the marsh."

At the car lot Gloria is patiently attempting to take photos of Arthur and his balloon, but he annoys her by continuously telling her what to do and ignoring her suggestions to make the photos more interesting. They eventually compromise. Gloria and Ray arrange to meet at a restaurant at 8pm. He has some deliveries to make first. As Ray leaves the car lot he spots Warren sitting in a van watching him. Arthur leaves his office and Warren's van has been reversed into the car lot and the back doors are open. No sign of Warren. Arthur approaches. Warren moves behind him, shoves Arthur into the van, slams the doors and drives off.

Ray delivers the lawn mowers to Mr Ali. Warren drives on to the motorway. Arthur yells at him wanting to know what is going on. Warren says "You have trodden on the forbidden lawns." Gloria arrives at the restaurant. Ray is at the Winchester. He is on the phone trying to find Arthur. Gloria still waits at the restaurant. Dave is phoning round asking for Arthur, but has no luck. Arthur continues to ask Warren what is going on as Warren keeps driving. Dave tells Ray it is too early to go to the police and notes the time.

Ray realises he is late for his date with Gloria. Arriving at the restaurant Gloria is holding the roll of film with Arthur's photos. When Ray mentions Arthur's name she drops the film into a glass of wine. Arthur tries talking to Warren, but all he will say is "You have trodden on the forbidden lawns." Ray tells Gloria he thinks Arthur has been abducted. Gloria asks if Arthur has started anything new, anything to do with the balloon, any new faces around. Ray remembers Warren.

Ray and Gloria go to the petrol station where Ray spoke with Warren. Gloria flirts with the attendant to get some information out of him. At the Winchester, Ray and Gloria ask Dave if he has heard of Tony Pike. Dave says he has but doesn't know him. Dave then remembers Joey Bullen knows Pike. Warren drives towards a big, abandoned industrial mill and drags Arthur out of the van. Ray goes to Joey Bullen's boxing gym. It is fight night. At the mill Arthur asks Warren who Tony Pike is. Joey sits ringside. Ray approaches. A fight breaks out as Ray shouts he wants to talk about Arthur.

Joey asks Ray what he wants to know about Arthur. Gloria tells Joey that Arthur has disappeared and they suspect Tony Pike.

Tony Pike gets in his car and drives off, playing classical music. Joey tells Ray and Gloria that Pike provides fly poster advertising and if anyone else tries it Pike sends them for a "night on the marshes." Joey calls for Les, someone who has experienced a "night on the marshes." Ray puts Gloria in to a taxi. Pike stops to pick a man up. He tells him they are going to the marshes. Warren finally tells Arthur about Pike being into advertising, including balloons. Arthur talks to Warren, who tells Arthur that Pike was going to have him beaten and thinks he is stupid.

Pike and his associate drive down the motorway, classical music still playing. Les tells Ray about Pike, and how he thinks he is a gangster. Les explains what happens on the marshes. He starts to get more agitated, and tells Ray to drive to Dartford. Arthur continues to talk to Warren, trying to connect with him, and Warren admits he had a poster business and Pike turned up screaming at him, then offered him a job. Arthur enquires why Warren didn't beat Pike up as he is so much bigger. Warren admits he doesn't like violence. Warren then asks Arthur if he is trying to get inside his head. Arthur says he wouldn't dream of it.

Arthur tells Warren he has been kidnapped before as a child, by another kid. Arthur says his dad told him to stand up to the bully. Arthur tells Warren that all Tony Pike has is fear, and he shouldn't be afraid. He is better than working for Tony Pike and Pike is really scared of Warren.

Ray and Les arrive at the mill. Les refuses to go any further. Pike arrives at the mill. Ray enters the mill and calls out for Arthur. He spots one of Arthur's cigars on the floor, then Pike and his associate see Ray and confuse him for Arthur. Ray beats up Pike's associate. Pike panics and runs. Ray grabs him and tells him he is Ray Daley, and demands to know where Arthur is. Pike says he doesn't know because Warren has taken him somewhere. Pike begins to cry. Ray runs outside and shouts for Arthur, but he is nowhere to be seen.

In the morning, Ray goes into the lock up office and looks at Arthur's empty chair. He apologises to the absent Arthur, but then Arthur appears behind him and tells him not to worry and he did his best. Ray asks him what happened. Arthur asks Ray if he can drive him to the car lot. During the drive Arthur admits he has been giving Ray jobs beneath him, but no more. Back at the car lot the balloon has deflated. Arthur asks Ray for one last favour.