Ep 3. The Grapes of Wrath

Bernard Black, the proprietor of the bookshop Black Books, is a surly, misanthropic man who would rather drink wine, smoke cigarettes, and ignore his customers than actually sell books. His only friends are Fran, the friendly, scatterbrained owner of the shop next door, and Manny, his mild-mannered, long-suffering assistant.

In season 1 episode 3, "The Grapes of Wrath," Bernard is dealing with some unexpected changes in his life. His accountant has informed him that he owes thousands of pounds in back taxes and must pay them immediately. To make matters worse, his nemesis, the cheerful and successful bookshop owner Ian, is opening a new store just down the street.

As Bernard tries to figure out how to pay his bills and remain solvent, Fran convinces him to attend a wine-tasting event at the local community center. There, they meet a group of wine enthusiasts who are snobbish, pretentious, and prone to making overblown pronouncements about things like the "nose" and "bouquet" of various vintages.

Bernard quickly grows impatient with the wine snobs and decides to crash the event's featured speaker, a famous wine author named Peter Vincent. He manages to get on stage and argue with Vincent about the merits of a particular vintage, embarrassing himself and alienating everyone in the audience.

Meanwhile, Manny is dealing with his own problems. He has become obsessed with a customer who comes into the shop every day to read the same book for hours on end. Manny decides to confront the man, only to discover that he is a famous author who is struggling with writer's block.

Manny takes the author under his wing and helps him to rediscover his love of writing. Along the way, he also learns some important lessons about creativity and the writing process.

Despite the chaos and drama, Bernard manages to come up with a plan to pay his taxes and stay afloat. He decides to sell off all of his rare and valuable books, which he has been hoarding in the basement for years. The decision is bittersweet for him, but he knows that it is necessary if he wants to keep the business going.

In the end, "The Grapes of Wrath" is a witty and playful exploration of the joys and challenges of small business ownership, friendship, and the often-absurd world of wine culture. Fans of the show will appreciate the sharp writing, quirky characters, and fast-paced humor that Black Books is known for. And for those who are new to the series, this episode is a great introduction to the offbeat world of Bernard, Fran, and Manny.