Are You Being Served? Season 1 Episode 2 Our Figures Are Slipping

Are You Being Served? is a British sitcom set in the fictional London department store, Grace Brothers, and revolves around the humorous and often absurd experiences of the staff members. The series, created by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, originally aired from 1972 until 1985. It was known for its cheeky humor, memorable characters, and the interplay between the store's staff and their customers.

Season 1, Episode 2, titled Our Figures Are Slipping, the episode dives deeper into the realm of Grace Brothers as staff grapple with more personal and professional challenges. This episode primarily centers around the department’s concern with declining sales figures. The staff's attentiveness to customers—or lack thereof—is spotlighted as a possible contributor to the downturn.

The episode opens with a typical day at the Ladies' and Gentlemen's Clothing Departments, the two areas of the store around which much of the show's action revolves. The staff includes the bombastic and flirty salesman Mr. Lucas, the elegant and ever-proper Mrs. Slocombe, with her frequently changing hair colors and feline obsessions; Mr. Humphries, whose flamboyant and witty charm is as sharp as his sense of fashion; the stately and sometimes pompous floorwalker Captain Peacock; and the stern and ever-budget-conscious Mr. Rumbold, who manages the floor staff with an iron fist in a velvet glove.

As the staff carries on with their daily duties—which often include various antics and comedic interactions—a meeting is called by management to discuss the troubling sales figures. The head of the department, Mr. Rumbold, relays the message that the store’s owner, young Mr. Grace, is expecting a swift turnaround to ensure the store's financial health. He insists that the staff make every effort to personalize their service in attempts to revamp the store's reputation and sales performance.

This edict sets off a series of efforts by each staff member to try and increase their individual sales figures. Mr. Humphries and Mr. Lucas attempt to use their wit and charm to lure in customers with varying degrees of success and often humorous outcomes. Mrs. Slocombe, with her knack for the dramatic, tries to infuse her interactions with a dose of personal flair that goes predictably over the top. Captain Peacock, caught between the drive to enforce discipline and the need to boost sales, tries to keep everyone in line while also navigating his own contribution to the effort.

The staff's multiple endeavors to engage customers lead to a collection of comic sketches that often showcase the quirky nature of both the staff and the clientele of Grace Brothers. As they deploy their tactics—from the overtly accommodating to the downright goofy—the episode explores the theme of how personal behavior and human interaction can impact business success or failure.

In this episode, viewers are also given a glimpse into the social dynamics of the workplace. The generational divide between younger and older staff members becomes apparent through their differing approaches to sales and customer service. The divide between the classes, represented by the store’s hierarchy from management to floor walkers to sales clerks, adds another layer to the humor as each character struggles within the confines of their roles, often bucking against the chain of command with varying degrees of subtlety.

Furthermore, the show excels in its use of the department store as a microcosm of society with its rigid hierarchies, roles, and expectations—providing a comedic reflection on British culture and norms of the time. There's also a hint of satire regarding commercialism and the lengths to which retail establishments will go to attract and retain customers.

Our Figures Are Slipping incorporates slapstick, wordplay, visual gags, and innuendo, all characteristic of Are You Being Served?. The episode's pacing seamlessly transitions between scenes, moving from the stockroom discussions to the bustling shop floor, where most of the action occurs.

Overall, Our Figures Are Slipping weaves a narrative of a dedicated and quirky team battling against the modern tide of retail challenges. The episode embraces the idea that in the world of Grace Brothers, a blend of teamwork, individual eccentricity, and commitment to the cause—no matter how misplaced—might just keep the ship steady as it sails through the tumultuous seas of department store retail. It's an installment that continues to establish the endearing qualities of the Are You Being Served? series and its beloved characters, ensuring that viewers remain invested in their humorous escapades.