Ep 2. The Psychiatrist

The second episode of the second season of Fawlty Towers is titled "The Psychiatrist." The episode originally aired on October 26, 1979, and was written by John Cleese and Connie Booth. This episode features a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications that lead to chaos at the hotel.

The episode opens with a phone ringing at Fawlty Towers. Basil answers the phone and speaks to a guest who is inquiring about booking a room for two weeks. Basil is eager to take the reservation, but when he learns that the guest is a psychiatrist, he becomes flustered and begins to act strangely. He is convinced that the psychiatrist will be analyzing him, and he becomes paranoid and suspicious.

At the same time, Sybil is preparing for a bridge evening with her friends, but she is worried that Basil will embarrass her in front of her guests. She instructs Manuel to keep Basil out of the way so that he won't cause any trouble.

As the evening unfolds, Basil becomes increasingly paranoid and convinced that the psychiatrist has ulterior motives. He becomes obsessed with finding out what the psychiatrist is really there for and begins to spy on him. Meanwhile, the psychiatrist is struggling to keep his own sanity as he deals with the chaos and confusion at Fawlty Towers.

Throughout the episode, there are a number of hilarious misunderstandings and miscommunications that add to the chaos. For example, Manuel misunderstands Sybil's instructions and believes that Basil is not allowed to serve any food or drinks. This leads to a number of absurd situations in which Basil tries to find ways to serve the guests without getting caught.

As the episode comes to a close, the chaos reaches a climax. Basil's paranoia and suspicions get the best of him, and he ends up getting into a physical altercation with the psychiatrist. The bridge party is disrupted, and chaos reigns supreme at Fawlty Towers.

Overall, "The Psychiatrist" is a classic episode of Fawlty Towers that showcases the brilliant writing and comedic talent of John Cleese and Connie Booth. The episode is filled with hilarious misunderstandings, miscommunications, and moments of sheer absurdity, making it a must-watch for fans of the show.