Chalky, Dufus & Shirt...

...Don't Meet Katy Manning

The What Shop were seemingly quite proud of the fact that they had managed to acquire Miss Katy Manning for a series of events in and around their shop. Despite their apathy where this establishment was concerned, Chalky, Dufus, Shirt and Lupine decided they would forego their qualms and attend, if only so that Shirt and Dufus could get Miss Manning in their 'Companions' books.

Chalky was apprehensive, however. The previous week, the gang had attended a signing at their preferred haunt, 7^th Galaxy. This was to launch the recently released Master Box Set (and Season 12 script book) and was attended by Elisabeth Sladen, Richard Franklin and Terrance Dicks. Chalky was a little concerned that Miss Manning would be promoting the Box Set too and that this could present a problem as the gang members who required it, had already bought it at the previous event.

Dufus had telephoned the What Shop and enquired, of Joseph C, what attendees would have to purchase in order to obtain Miss Manning's signature and was assured that one photograph was the only requirement. Or at least, he thought he had been assured.

The gang set off enjoying each other's company and looking forward to seeing Lupine again.

Once at the What Shop the trio were surprised to find a remarkably long queue. Based on recent events with Nabil Shaban, Geoffrey Sax, Mark Eden and Philip Madoc, the gang had not expected that many people in attendance. But more shocks were to come...

Inside the shop, the gang spied the photographs they presumed were the required merchandise.

"They're not very good," muttered Chalky, picking up the slightly blurred image of Miss Manning from 'Terror of the Autons'. "How much?" he politely asked Helen A.

"Ten pounds," she replied flatly.

Chalky, Dufus and Shirt stood for a moment.

"Ah," they all exclaimed.

"But we can buy just this, and not the box set?" asked Chalky, a worried feeling growing in his stomach.

"Yes," replied Helen A and the gang breathed a sigh of relief..."But you can only have the photo signed."

"Okay," replied Chalky, nonchalantly sidling away from the cash register.

In conspiring tones, the trio gathered beside a shelf.

"I'm not paying £10 for one photo," said Chalky.

"I only came because I want her in my 'Companions' book," said Dufus.

"7^th Galaxy, then?" suggested Shirt.

Desperate not to attract Helen A's attention, the gang slipped out of the shop. Chalky rang the absent Lupine.

"I'm going to be late," he said.

"Don't bother," replied Chalky as he explained the terrible trick the What Shop had played on the gang.

And with that, the trio wended their not so merry way up to 7^th Galaxy.

Postscript: Shirt...DOES Meet Katy Manning (Again)

However, Dufus and Shirt were not to go without Miss Manning's moniker in their 'Companions' books. The What Shop announced yet another signing by the 'charmingly eccentric' Katy before she returned 'down under', this time on a Friday afternoon. Luckily, Shirt had had to work late the previous evening and was therefore able to take back that time in lieu, and so with the two books (having checked by e-mail that he would be able to get them signed if he bought a photo), he made for the What Shop alone (the others allegedly working). Arriving at Mile End, the Tube that Shirt was travelling on decided to wait in the station for no given reason for nearly 15 minutes. A voice then came over the intercom telling passengers to use other routes and so everyone scrambled off.

Arriving at the What Shop, Shirt was unsurprised to find a lack of queue, and going inside found Katy sitting at the back of the shop, signing postcard-sized photos of herself for "An Audience with Katy Manning", which was taking place that night organised by (surprise, surprise) the What Shop. Shirt was offered a choice of photos for himself and Dufus, picking the largest ones (as they were all £10) which also happened to be the ones shunned on the previous occasion. Shirt approached Miss Manning.

Smiling, in a slightly scary way, the one-time Miss Grant, signed the photos as directed, then Dufus' book. Not being able to find any areas without scrawled signatures, she chose to sign on the reverse of the page offered, but still managed to fill most of the page. Shirt then proffered his book, and Katy was much intrigued by John Levene's message "Just above Nick!" (see Chalky & Shirt...Take A Sergeant Around the Rear). Having explained the joke, Shirt was told "I know Mr. Levene of old" (he didn't have the heart to tell her - "Yes, you worked together on the programme nearly 30 years ago") and was then regaled with an anecdote about how Jon Pertwee used to tell John - "That was a good joke, John, but next time you might want to tell it like this!".

Aware that the same man who had stopped our friends from getting extra items two years before was hovering nearby, frowning at Shirt (despite the fact that apart from the shop staff, the whole place was empty), Shirt decided not to chance his arm with any of his video covers. Instead, he asked the man to take a photo of him and Katy. Miss Manning jumped up at this, and grabbed hold of Shirt moving him to the side of the table, where she proceeded to hug him whilst smiling for the camera. Shirt's initial reaction mirrored that of Chalky's when grabbed by John Levene earlier in the year. Retrieving his camera, and having his hands briskly shaken by Katy, Shirt exited the shop and made his way home.

[AE/PL]