Ep 4. The Kipper & The Corpse

In Fawlty Towers season 2 episode 4, titled "The Kipper & The Corpse," things are not going smoothly for Basil as he tries to cover up a mishap in the hotel.

After Mr. Leeman, one of the guests at Fawlty Towers, dies suddenly in his sleep, Basil takes it upon himself to ensure that the rest of the guests don't find out. He enlists the help of Manuel, the hapless Spanish waiter, to move the body discreetly and cover up any signs of foul play.

As if that weren't enough to deal with, a group of Americans arrive at the hotel, including a loud, obnoxious businessman named Mr. Walt, who is determined to have the best suite in the hotel and isn't afraid to throw his weight around to get it. Meanwhile, a guest named Mrs. Peignoir is complaining about the strong smell of kippers that is coming from the room next door.

Basil is already on edge when he receives a call from the kitchen, informing him that the sausages have gone off and need to be thrown out. Desperate to salvage the situation, he decides to serve the American guests kippers for breakfast instead. However, things go from bad to worse when Mr. Walt becomes violently ill after eating the kippers.

With all these different problems to deal with, Basil is barely holding it together and things only get worse when a couple of police officers arrive at the hotel to investigate a missing person. Will Basil be able to keep up his facade and prevent his guests from finding out about the dead body in their midst, or will he be exposed as a fraud and a liar?

As always, "The Kipper & The Corpse" is full of hilarious moments, with John Cleese delivering a masterful performance as the manic, neurotic Basil Fawlty. It's a classic episode of one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, and a must-watch for fans of British comedy.