Ep 7. Stand Up and Be Counted
- December 27, 1974
- 24 min
-
7.7 (75)
In Rising Damp season 1 episode 7, titled "Stand Up and Be Counted," Rupert Rigsby, the landlord of the run-down boarding house, is pleased to have a new tenant, a young African student named Philip Smith. However, his enthusiasm is short-lived when he realizes that Philip is not the shy, obedient tenant he hoped for. Instead, Philip is a confident and successful student who challenges Rigsby's outdated views on race and culture.
Rigsby becomes increasingly frustrated with Philip's confident and independent attitude and feels threatened by his intelligence and success. Rigsby's discomfort is further exacerbated by Philip's friendship with Miss Jones, the other tenant in the boarding house. Their closeness makes Rigsby feel left out and he starts to worry that he will be left behind by the new generation of confident, independent people.
Meanwhile, Alan, the other tenant in the house, is determined to impress a girl he fancies by pretending to be a comedian. He enlists the help of Rigsby, who reluctantly agrees to help him with his act. However, Alan's jokes quickly fall flat and Rigsby's attempts to save the situation only make things worse.
As tensions rise in the house, Philip's intelligence and confidence begin to have a positive effect on Miss Jones. She starts to feel more confident and assertive and even stands up to Rigsby when he tries to belittle her.
The climax of the episode comes when Rigsby challenges Phillip to a game of chess in an attempt to prove his intellectual superiority. However, Philip outsmarts him and wins the game, leaving Rigsby feeling humiliated and defeated. This defeat forces Rigsby to confront his outdated views and realize that he needs to change if he wants to keep up with the changing world around him.
"Stand Up and Be Counted" is a thought-provoking episode that explores themes of race, culture, and generational differences. The episode is a reminder that it's important to stay open-minded and embrace change if we want to grow and succeed in life.
