Grange Hill

Episode 16 (2x16)

Air date: Feb 23, 1979

Sutcliffe sees the four boys coming out of the forest and he asks them where they went. They lie and say they saw a deer and followed it. Sutcliffe says that the other pupils (apart from Penny and Susi) are back at the centre as a puma has escaped from a nearby reserve and that hunters are to go out looking for it. Justin wants to tell the teachers that they saw the girls in the forest but Doyle and the others persuade him not to. Mitchell calls in the police. The four boys hold a dormitory meeting. Justin still wants to tell about seeing the girls but Doyle says that they should give it another half hour. Half an hour later the hunt for the girls is about to set off. The light is fading rapidly. Despite their agreement the other boys still won’t let Justin tell the teachers where they saw the girls as they fear it will get them into trouble. Justin says he is going to the toilet but goes and tells Mitchell, Doyle follows. The hunt for the girls is reorganised due to the information about where Penny and Susi were last seen. The hunt sets off with Justin and Doyle squabbling, Justin uncharacteristically says “Look, I’m sick of hearing your voice, so shut it or I’ll smash your face!” which shuts Doyle up. Suddenly the puma is seen and is shot with a tranquilizer dart. The girls are found, basically alright, although Penny has had a fall and has injured her foot. Clarke persuades Mitchell not to take further disciplinary action against the four boys. The next day on the way back Mitchell concedes that it has been “Not a bad trip at all!” and promptly falls asleep.