Caption:
“Reggie Perrin, 46, presumed dead. Reveals identity to daughter. Wishes to return to wife, but wife engaged to Henry Possett. Oh misery!"
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Reggie attends his own memorial service, heavily disguised in curly wig and beard. Present are Elizabeth, Tom, Linda, Jimmy, Mark, C.J., Mrs. C.J. Tony and David, plus a few of his neighbours and colleagues. The Reverend Wales-Parkinson starts his sermon by talking about Reggie's son Mark's West End debut, then remembers Reggie as a kind man and speculates on the cause of his disappearance. After the sermon, Elizabeth approaches Reggie, and he introduces himself as Martin Wellbourne, a long-lost friend of Reggie's from Brazil. She invites him to the 'wake'. Watch video
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Finally back at 12, Coleridge Close, Reggie is introduced to everyone like a game of Chinese Whispers, his name changing from handshake to handshake. Elizabeth gets a chance to get a good look at him and realises it's her husband, Reggie. Reggie makes his excuses and leaves. In the hallway, Elizabeth invites him out for a drive.
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Back in his bedsit, Reggie is swotting up on Brazil, so he can make his past seem more authentic to Elizabeth. Miss Pershore walks in on him with his encyclopaedia, and is convinced he's emigrating. She storms out in a huff.
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Out in the country, Elizabeth courts Martin Wellbourne. He relates his newly-found encyclopaedic knowledge.
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In Elizabeth's home, Reggie as Martin learns that her engagement to Henry Possett has been broken off, the reason being she is in love with Martin. She tries to catch him offguard by mentioning all the things Martin does that Reggie used to do. He nearly puts his foot in it himself by talking about the pictures of The Algarve on the wall, and by knowing where the lavatory is upstairs. He explains them away as being details of letters that Reggie had written to him. As the mood intensifies, Reggie asks Elizabeth to marry him.
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In his bedsit, Reggie tells his daughter Linda about his proposition, and Linda wishes him well. Miss Pershore walks in on a well-wishing kiss, and again walks off in a huff.
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In Coleridge Close, Elizabeth tries to catch Reggie on the hop by asking Martin about his family. He makes up a story on the spot about his parents being killed, but changes the subject. She invites him to move in, and tells him about a job vacancy that he might like.
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C.J.'s office, Sunshine Desserts. Reggie, as Martin Wellbourne, knocks and enters. C.J. has new chairs, but they still fart. Reggie's death has changed C.J. He is no longer industry-driven, and instead believes that work should be all about loyalty and happiness. He wants Reggie to head the Reginald Perrin Memorial Foundation, a scheme to make employees happy. He introduces Reggie to his new secretary - his old secretary Joan. He also introduces his new superior, Tony Webster.
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Back at Coleridge Close, Jimmy, Mark, Linda and Tom are gathered to celebrate the engagement of Elizabeth and Martin. Linda is fit to bursting and ushers her mother into the kitchen to tell her who Martin really is. Elizabeth tells her that she already knows, but that Reggie is happier as Martin, so she decides not to let on, deciding that it would be fun to live such a lie with Reggie. Linda ushers Tom and Jimmy out of the room so that Reggie and Elizabeth can be alone, and they sit on the settee, arms around each other, looking forward to their futures together.
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