T-Bag Bounces Back Episode 2: Nights In Arabia

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UK Air DateFri 30/01/1987, 4.20pm
Repeat ScreeningThurs 13/07/1989, 4.25pm
Copyright YearMCMLXXXVI (1986)
VTR Date01/10/1986
Fremantle Archive Ref35292 (series ref)
Runtime00:19:57:07
Consecutive Episode Number22
IMDB LinkEpisode page

T. Bag (Tallulah Bag)Elizabeth Estensen
T. ShirtJohn Hasler
DebbieJennie Stallwood
Omar CaraffeBernard Bresslaw
The GenieJohn Levitt

Make UpAnn Briggs
Costume DesignerRaymond Childe
Graphic DesignerAlex Forbes
Stage ManagerBobby Webber
Production AssistantJoanna Stewart
Songs ByTerry Trower
Written ByLee Pressman
Grant Cathro
DesignerJohn Plant
ProducersCharles Warren
Leon Thau
DirectorLeon Thau

Debbie arrives in the desert so T-Bag raises the temperature in the desert so Debbie faints. Omar Caraffe, a water seller, sees Debbie and takes her into his tent where the first bell is in Sinbad’s, his budgie, cage. Debbie finds a Genie in a bottle who grants her three wishes so T-Bag tricks the Genie back into the bottle then she steals the bottle.
The High-T Website synopsis
When Debbie arrives in the desert she is confronted by the friendly Omar and his budgerigar. But strange things begin to happen when T-Shirt and T-Bag arrive on the scene.
TV Times listing

If you would like to contribute your favourite/funniest etc quotes from this episode please contact me.

Debbie's Quest Begins

(Debbie arrives in the desert on her quest to find the missing golden bells. T-Shirt sees this in T-Bag’s saucer, he warns T-Bag and she raises the temperature in the desert to an unbearable level).
Debbie: This music box is such an amazing place, one minute I’m up in the mountains the next I’m here in the desert, phoar, it isn’t half hot. The question is which way now? Eenie-meenie-miney-mo that’s the way I’ve got to go.
T-Shirt: Your Majesty, your majesty, come quickly, look.
T-Bag: What’s up?
T-Shirt: Three guesses, Debbie’s disobeyed you, she’s set off in search of the gold bells.
T-Bag: Indeed, well it comes as no surprise. Words alone will never stop her we’re simply going to have to press home the point in a way she’ll understand and never forget.
T-Shirt: I like the sound of that.
T-Bag: Yes. It’s high time I made Madam Deborah sweat!
(T-Bag’s face appears in the desert sky, raising the temperature with her magic).
Debbie: It’s hot before, it’s roasting now, like an oven. What’s that over there? I’ve got to keep going, stop, (Debbie hears a faint ring of a bell) is that a bell ringing?
(Debbie then collapses in the unbearable desert heat).

You're talking

Omar: Who's a clever little boy then heh? Who's a clever little boy. What a pity you won't talk to your Uncle Omar Sinbad, ain't it a pity. heh?
T-Shirt (as Sinbad): Oi, Uncle Omar. How's tricks then Uncle Omar?
Omar: Who said that?
T-Shirt (as Sinbad): It's me Uncle Omar. Phew! A real scorcher today heh? Me feathers are fair frizzling.
Omar: Sinbad. After all these years. You're talking.
T-Shirt (as Sinbad): Yeah, I just fancied a chat, you know how it is. So what's new then Uncle Omar?
Omar: It's a miracle.
T-Shirt (as Sinbad): Any chance of a bit of millet Uncle Omar?
Omar: Oh yes, course, anything you say, oh. But we'll have to keep our voices down because somebody's trying to get some sleep in here.
T-Shirt (as Sinbad): Righty-o, my beak is sealed. Anyway, I could do with a bit of shut-eye myself.
Omar: Eh? Oh yes. Of course, yes. Ooh, oh, it's wonderful. (Omar eats some of the millet) Hmm.

Added: 04/04/2020

Acme Bird Company

T-Shirt: Who's a clever boy then? (He uses his magic to change costume). Yu-hoo.
Omar: Greetings, greetings. I'm Omar Carafe, this is the last watering hole for two thousand miles. You'd be wanting water.
T-Shirt: No, no, no, I'm from A.B.C.
Omar: Heh?
T-Shirt: Acme Bird Company. Always on the lookout for talented birds. Do you have a performing penguin perhaps? Or a tap-dancing toucan? A violin playing vulture? Or a speaking budgie?
Omar: Ooh, I do have a speaking budgie.
T-Shirt: Really, what amazing luck. You must come and enter him in our grand competition. Top prizes for the champion chatter. Hurry, hurry, come quickly.
Omar: Oh, I'd love too, but he's having a kip right now.
T-Shirt (throwing his voice as Sinbad): That's alright, I'm wide awake and raring to go.
Omar: Ah, oh, fair enough, ha, ha, ha. Alright young man, lead the way.

Added: 04/04/2017

I've won, I've won

T-Bag: T-Shirt, I’ve won I’ve won now that I have this gold bell I’ve won. Mind you if I hadn’t imprisoned that stupid genie in the bottle he would have gone and granted the dreadful Deborah three wishes. I’ve wooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
T-Shirt: Oops.

Updated: 04/04/2015

First wish, second wish, third wish

The Genie: Your second wish has been carried out, o Mistress.
Debbie: Fantastic, no more T-Bag, hooray.
(T-Shirt appears).
T-Shirt: Oi you, what have you done with her Majesty?
Omar: Oh no.
Debbie: She's gone, I wished her away, we won't ever have to see her again. Now all we have to do is find that gold bell.
T-Shirt: What? The bell that T-Bag had?
Debbie: I didn't know that T-Bag had it.
T-Shirt: She had it in her hand when she vanished.
Debbie: You mean the bell's gone with her?
T-Shirt: Yes.
Debbie: Oh no, I wish I hadn't wished that.
The Genie: And your wish is my command.
(T-Bag appears).
T-Bag: I'm back, I'm back.
Omar: Oh no, what happened?
The Genie: That was your third and final wish.
Debbie: Oh no, what have I done?
T-Bag: You've done me a great favour, that's what. Come along T-Shirt, the danger's past, tinkle, tinkle.
T-Shirt: Winkle Inkle.
(T-Bag and T-Shirt disappear).
The Genie: I warned you Mistress, choose wisely I said.
Debbie: I know.
The Genie: Don't rush into it I said.
Debbie: I know, I know.
The Genie: In my experience people always squander their three wishes.
Debbie: Really?
The Genie: Well I've done my bit, I'm off.
Omar: Hang on a minute, hang on a minute, I've just thought of something.
The Genie: What?
Omar: What was your last wish again?
Debbie: I wish I hadn't wished the second wish.
Omar: That's what I thought, you know what that means don't you?
The Genie: No, what?
Omar: It means that she's entitled to her second wish all over again.
The Genie: Heh?
Debbie: That's right.
The Genie: Well, how do you make that out then?
Omar: Simple, three wishes, first wish, second wish, third wish. Now Debbie wished she hadn't wished the second wish.
The Genie: Second wish?
Debbie: That was my third wish.
The Genie: Third wish?
Omar: So if she hadn't wished the second wish, that means she's only wished her first wish and the third wish.
Debbie: Which means you owe me another wish.
The Genie: Another wish?
Omar: The second wish she wished she didn't have.
The Genie: Second wish?
Debbie: Exactly, child of three could work that one out.
The Genie: Oh, er, oh, of course you're right, absolutely, it's obvious, huh, huh, erm, you have got another wish.
Debbie: Great.
The Genie: Only this time, be careful.
Debbie: Don't worry I will. I knew exactly what I want to wish for this time. I wish I had the little gold bell in my hand.

Added: 08/12/2013

"The Dismembered Hand"
When T-Shirt is in the T-Room and releases the Genie from the bottle, inbetween the Genie disappearing and T-Bag reappearing there is a dismembered hand at the right-bottom side of the screen.
The Genie: I'll bid you good day, and be on my way. Bye!
T-Bag: Hello I've got the bell and all's well.
This is very tricky to spot as it is only visible for a few frames (blink and you'll miss it). The hand does not belong to Elizabeth Estensen (T-Bag) as it has no nail varnish so is most likely to be one of the cast.

"Bottled Magic"
When T-Bag tricks the Genie into the bottle she magics herself back to the T-Room and leaves the bottle on the table. In the next scene when she magics herself to get the bell from Omar and T-Shirt reappears in the T-Room the bottle has gone, the cup and saucer are also separated. The next scene in the T-Room when T-Shirt walks back in the bottle is back and the cup and saucer are together.

"Busy Budgies"
Watch the birdcage carefully during this episode, where whenever there is a locked-camera disappearing/reappearing effect (characters disappearing/appearing, the bird(s) can't keep still, so whereas the actors seem not to move, one minute the bird's tail is in the air, the next it's sitting normally!

For more mistakes from other episodes, please see the Nitpicker's Guide

  • Bernard Bresslaw, who played Omar Carraffe, is most famously known for appearing in many of the 'Carry-on' films.
  • Bernard Bresslaw, who played Omar Carraffe, sadly passed away on 11th June 1993, aged 59.
  • Omar's surname 'Carafe' is taken from the word meaning 'a container used for serving wine and other drinks'.
  • The name of the character Omar Carafe, is a play-on-words for 'Oh My Carafe'.
  • The name of the character Omar Carafe, is also a parody of the actor Omar Sharif, who appeared in the film Lawrence of Arabia.
  • John Levitt appeared in Mike & Angelo which was also written by Lee Pressman and Grant Cathro. John Levitt appeared in the episodes 'Mike Meets Angelo' (#1.1, 16/03/1989), 'The Big Secret' (#1.2, 23/03/1989), 'Mother Turns Up' (#1.8, 04/05/1989), 'Up The Wall' (#2.1, 14/09/1989), 'Out For The Count' (#2.4, 05/10/1989), 'Neighbourhood Watch' (#2.9, 09/11/1989), 'The New Angelo' (#3.1, 14/11/1990), 'The Time Machine' (#3.4, 05/12/1990), 'Mother Finds Out' (#3.11, 30/01/1991), 'New Friends And Neighbours' (#4.2, 24/10/1991), 'The Blob' (#4.6, 21/11/1991), 'Sunflowers' (#4.8, 05/12/1991), 'New Kid On The Block' (#5.1, 07/01/1993), 'Tunnel Of Love' (#5.4, 28/01/1993), 'Putting Up With Pinner' (#5.6, 11/02/1993), 'Trust Me, I'm A Doctor!' (#6.2, 29/02/1994), 'Up To My Neck' (#6.5, 22/03/1994) and 'Pinner Plc' (#6.9, 19/04/1994) as Cyril Pinner.

  • This episode features a genie in a magic lamp, variations of this theme appeared in other series.
    (T-Bag Strikes Again, Episode 4: Scrap Harry)
    (T. Bag and The Revenge of the T. Set, Episode 4: Turkish Delight)
    (Take off with T. Bag, Episode 2: Thief Of Baghdad)
  • The acronym of ‘ABC’ is used four times throughout the nine series, this is the second time it is used, and the first out of two times in this series. This time ABC stands for 'Acme Bird Company'.
    (T-Bag Strikes Again, Episode 3: Ben And Bunty Badshot)
    (T-Bag Bounces Back, Episode 9: Nikdit The Thief)
    (T. Bag and The Revenge of the T. Set, Episode 3: Lost In Space)
  • Omar's budgie is named 'Sinbad', after the fictional film character who is later referenced by Ali in an episode of Take Off With T. Bag when he tries to sell the latest fictional Sinbad video.
    (Take off with T. Bag, Episode 2: Thief Of Baghdad)
  • The DVD cover for this series mentions appearances from a few of the guest stars including Bernard Bresslaw from this episode.
    (T-Bag Bounces Back, Episode 1: The Ousting Of Major Happy)
    (T-Bag Bounces Back, Episode 3: Ivan The Horrible)
    (T-Bag Bounces Back, Episode 6: Hi-Hat)
    (T-Bag Bounces Back, Episode 10: Happy Ending)