Waldorf Salad (Fawlty Towers)

"Waldorf Salad" is the third episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.

Synopsis

American tourist Mr. Hamilton checks in with his wife late one evening. They want a hot meal, but Terry, the cook, has finished his shift. Hamilton bribes Basil to keep the kitchen open, but Terry leaves after a dispute with Basil about overtime. Hamilton orders items not on the menu and, in a panic, Basil tries to prepare the meal while maintaining the pretence that there is a chef slaving away in the kitchen.

Cast

• John Cleese as Basil Fawlty
• Prunella Scales as Sybil Fawlty
• Andrew Sachs as Manuel
• Connie Booth as Polly Sherman
• Ballard Berkeley as Major Gowen
• Brian Hall as Terry the Chef
• Gilly Flower as Miss Abitha Tibbs
• Renee Roberts as Miss Ursula Gatsby

With:

• Norman Bird as Mr. Arrad
• Bruce Boa as Mr. (Harry) Hamilton
• Terence Conoley as Mr. Johnston
• Anthony Dawes as Mr. Libson
• June Ellis as Mrs. Johnston
• Dorothy Frere as Miss Hare
• Claire Nielson as Mrs. Hamilton
• Beatrice Shaw as Miss Gurke
• Stella Tanner as Mrs. Arrad

Plot

Dinner time is exceptionally busy, and several guests are dissatisfied. One guest, Mr. Johnston, and his wife complain that her starter prawns are "off", and they wish it to be deducted from their bill, even though she has eaten half. Another couple, meanwhile, have been neglected. When Basil checks on them, however, they do not even mention it. Meanwhile, Sybil lazily talks to one of the guests (who himself appears not to be...
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