Lucia really starts to pull away from her rivals in this episode: plentifully supplied with money, she is able to lavish contributions toward multiple organisations, most notably restoring the Church organ.
Lucia genuinely appears motivated to help others less fortunate than herself: there seems no reason to doubt her frequently-voiced (in her seductively-syrupy tones) desire to do so.
Charity is charity: and all credit for having donated.
However, Lucia's charity is not selfless: in return she desires recognition and most of all, advancement.
Poor Mapp and Major Benjy are flooded out -at least the second flood there. Mr Woolgar's statement to Lucia when she bought Grebe that 'the sea has never broken through the dykes' suggests that either the estate agent is -surpise surprise - not entirely truthful or alternatively that Tilling is undergoing rapid climate change.
Lucia generously allows both to stay at Mallards and provides meals etc, for which she seems to receive little gratitude.
Benjy insults Mapp by insisting that the Mallards' cuisine is superior to his own at Grebe.
Ears on stalks, Mapp listens (not very subtlely) for each phone conversation, which includes an offer for Lucia to be co-opted onto the Town Council, so getting what she failed to attain at the election, much to Mapp's anger.
Mapp and Benjy's emergency interrupts Georgie, who is attempting to work around to a suggestion that he and Lucia get married. Thwarted, Georgie throws a 'not-talking' tantrum.
The repairs to the Church organ completed, Lucia offers to cater for a visit from the Bishop to which Padre eagerly assents.
With frequent references to the Vox Humana, Lucia wangles it that she play the initial piece on the organ, Georgie to play pedals only.
Mapp observes this and is reduced to making catty comments- there isn't much she can do anymore to hinder Lucia.
The Bishop presides; he is taken aback when Lucia refers to the organ as 'hers' and he cannot even remember Lucia's name (substituting 'a distinguished citizeness of Tilling') and he beats a hasty retreat after enjoying a bite to eat and drink, clearly reluctant to be held in conversation by self-promoting, if generous, philanthropists.
Nevertheless the local paper duly turns out an edition lauding Lucia, mostly omitting reference to the Padre whose Church it is. Even Georgie is chagrined at his contribution being omitted also.
Lucia invites her disgruntled peers to tea with strawberries, but again gets little gratitude.
The problem is that by getting so far ahead of most of the other residents (the Wyses excepted), jealousy and the wish to see Lucia 'taken down a peg or two' (as Diva puts it) begin to rear their ugly heads.
At Mallards later, enjoying a comfortable evening together- though notably engaged on separate activities and talking to themselves - Georgie finally gets round to popping the question and Lucia assents, subject to the understanding that there be no physical interaction, to which Georgie happily agrees. There is clearly affection, but it's in each other's company.
The main problem to be overcome is how Grosvenor and Foljambe should establish areas of authority. Fortunately the employees have been expecting the marriage and worked it all out for their none-too-bright (if reasonably cultured) employers. The laboured language as the staff attempt to suggest things without offending their employers is tortuous!
Lucia is at first disposed to avoid a formal wedding with the attendant publicity, but Georgie - who has not been married before, as has Lucia - persuades her otherwise.
Then Mapp materialises at Mallards - to give Lucia the self same, word for word warning about marriage to Georgie - the risk of buying a 'pig in a poke' - as Lucia had delivered to Mapp when she announced her engagement to Major Benjy!
Lucia is irritated but says nothing, promising Mapp her invitation to the wedding.
The episode ends with Lucia and Georgie getting married - Lucia explaining that she should be in the centre of the photo (pretty understandably on your wedding day) and a bitchy Mapp remark that this is 'as usual'.
Lucia genuinely appears motivated to help others less fortunate than herself: there seems no reason to doubt her frequently-voiced (in her seductively-syrupy tones) desire to do so.
Charity is charity: and all credit for having donated.
However, Lucia's charity is not selfless: in return she desires recognition and most of all, advancement.
Poor Mapp and Major Benjy are flooded out -at least the second flood there. Mr Woolgar's statement to Lucia when she bought Grebe that 'the sea has never broken through the dykes' suggests that either the estate agent is -surpise surprise - not entirely truthful or alternatively that Tilling is undergoing rapid climate change.
Lucia generously allows both to stay at Mallards and provides meals etc, for which she seems to receive little gratitude.
Benjy insults Mapp by insisting that the Mallards' cuisine is superior to his own at Grebe.
Ears on stalks, Mapp listens (not very subtlely) for each phone conversation, which includes an offer for Lucia to be co-opted onto the Town Council, so getting what she failed to attain at the election, much to Mapp's anger.
Mapp and Benjy's emergency interrupts Georgie, who is attempting to work around to a suggestion that he and Lucia get married. Thwarted, Georgie throws a 'not-talking' tantrum.
The repairs to the Church organ completed, Lucia offers to cater for a visit from the Bishop to which Padre eagerly assents.
With frequent references to the Vox Humana, Lucia wangles it that she play the initial piece on the organ, Georgie to play pedals only.
Mapp observes this and is reduced to making catty comments- there isn't much she can do anymore to hinder Lucia.
The Bishop presides; he is taken aback when Lucia refers to the organ as 'hers' and he cannot even remember Lucia's name (substituting 'a distinguished citizeness of Tilling') and he beats a hasty retreat after enjoying a bite to eat and drink, clearly reluctant to be held in conversation by self-promoting, if generous, philanthropists.
Nevertheless the local paper duly turns out an edition lauding Lucia, mostly omitting reference to the Padre whose Church it is. Even Georgie is chagrined at his contribution being omitted also.
Lucia invites her disgruntled peers to tea with strawberries, but again gets little gratitude.
The problem is that by getting so far ahead of most of the other residents (the Wyses excepted), jealousy and the wish to see Lucia 'taken down a peg or two' (as Diva puts it) begin to rear their ugly heads.
At Mallards later, enjoying a comfortable evening together- though notably engaged on separate activities and talking to themselves - Georgie finally gets round to popping the question and Lucia assents, subject to the understanding that there be no physical interaction, to which Georgie happily agrees. There is clearly affection, but it's in each other's company.
The main problem to be overcome is how Grosvenor and Foljambe should establish areas of authority. Fortunately the employees have been expecting the marriage and worked it all out for their none-too-bright (if reasonably cultured) employers. The laboured language as the staff attempt to suggest things without offending their employers is tortuous!
Lucia is at first disposed to avoid a formal wedding with the attendant publicity, but Georgie - who has not been married before, as has Lucia - persuades her otherwise.
Then Mapp materialises at Mallards - to give Lucia the self same, word for word warning about marriage to Georgie - the risk of buying a 'pig in a poke' - as Lucia had delivered to Mapp when she announced her engagement to Major Benjy!
Lucia is irritated but says nothing, promising Mapp her invitation to the wedding.
The episode ends with Lucia and Georgie getting married - Lucia explaining that she should be in the centre of the photo (pretty understandably on your wedding day) and a bitchy Mapp remark that this is 'as usual'.