Open All Hours Season 2 Episode 5 Arkwright's Mobile Store

Arkwright's Mobile Store, the fifth episode of Open All Hours season 2, follows the antics of Arkwright as he tries to boost his profits by taking his shop on the road. Arkwright purchases an old mobile library from a teacher and sets about transforming it into his own personal store on wheels. His nephew, Granville, is tasked with driving the van around the local villages, selling all manner of goods to the unsuspecting public.

The episode begins with Arkwright excitedly showing Granville the van that he has purchased, detailing all the changes that he plans to make to it. Granville, however, is not so thrilled at the prospect of driving the van around all day, particularly in the cold weather. Nevertheless, he is eager to please his uncle and agrees to the job.

Once the van is ready, Arkwright and Granville set out into the countryside, keen to make their first sale. At first, they struggle to attract attention, as many of the villages they pass through are small and sparsely populated. However, they eventually hit upon a busy market town and are able to sell a few items, including some 'genuine' antiques that Arkwright has spirited away from his shop.

As the day wears on, Arkwright becomes increasingly obsessed with making a profit, to the point where he begins to haggle with his own nephew over the price of a packet of cigarettes. Granville is annoyed by his uncle's miserliness but can do little to stop him from penny-pinching at every opportunity.

However, things take a turn for the worse when the van breaks down in the middle of nowhere, leaving Arkwright and Granville stranded in the freezing cold. Despite his uncle's insistence that they should not waste any money on a mechanic, Granville manages to flag down a passing farmer who agrees to tow them back to the shop.

Back at the shop, Arkwright stubbornly refuses to accept that his mobile store was a failure, even though he has barely made any money. He begins to plan his next venture, determined to come up with an even more profitable scheme.

Overall, Arkwright's Mobile Store is a classic episode of Open All Hours, showcasing the eccentricities of its central characters and the peculiarities of rural life. With its emphasis on thriftiness and ingenuity, it is a nostalgic look back at a bygone era, when small shopkeepers like Arkwright were the backbone of many communities.