Zanzibar (Inside No. 9)

"Zanzibar"
Inside No. 9 episode
Poster designed by Christopher Clegg
Episode no.	Series 4 Episode 1
Directed by	David Kerr
Written by	Steve Pemberton Reece Shearsmith
Original air date	2 January 2018 (2018-01-02)
Running time	30 minutes
Guest appearances
Jaygann Ayeh as Fred Rory Kinnear as Prince Rico/Gus Bill Paterson as Mr Green Marcia Warren as Alice Hattie Morahan as Amber Helen Monks as Colette Tanya Franks as Tracey Kevin Eldon as Vince

"Zanzibar" is the first episode of the fourth series of the British black comedy anthology television programme Inside No. 9. Written by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, the episode was directed by David Kerr and was first shown on 2 January 2018, on BBC Two. It stars Pemberton, Shearsmith, Rory Kinnear, Bill Paterson, Marcia Warren, Hattie Morahan, Kevin Eldon, Tanya Franks, Helen Monks and Jaygann Ayeh. The episode is written entirely in iambic pentameter.

It received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Fred (Jaygann Ayeh), the bellboy, introduces the audience to "Hotel Zanzibar".

Prince Rico (Rory Kinnear), the heir to a kingdom, and his bodyguard, Henry (Reece Shearsmith), who plans to assassinate him, enter the 9th floor. Rico enters room 911, and after Henry enters room 912, Rico "orders" a prostitute. Alice (Marcia Warren), an old woman who suffers from memory problems, leaves and knocks on room 915, and Mr Green (Bill Paterson) answers the door. Her son, Robert (Steve Pemberton), comes out and brings her back to room 918.

Amber (Hattie Morahan) and her boyfriend Gus (Kinnear) enter the 9th floor. Gus looks identical to Prince Rico. Gus goes back down to reception to replace a broken keycard. The maid, Colette, helps Amber enter room 913. Rico changes rooms to room 914. Mr Green, planning suicide, opens his door and asks Colette for a bath plug. He had twin sons, both given up at birth, one of whom was sent abroad while the other stayed in England.

Gus comes back with a new keycard and discovers that it does not work. Fred comes back, mistaking Gus for Rico, and sends him to room 911. Breaking the fourth wall, Gus confides to the audience that he's ordered an apple tart with a diamond ring to be placed in it, and intends to propose to Amber with the pie. Alice leaves her room and knocks on Rico's room, and he thinks she is the prostitute. Amber comes out, and, mistaking Rico for Gus, slaps him in disgust.

Henry comes out to kill Rico. He hesitates for long enough for the prostitute, Tracey (Tanya Franks), to enter the scene. He tells her to pour a sedative into a glass of wine and make Rico drink it. Henry knocks on Gus's room, and brings the "tart" into the room.

Colette (Helen Monks) and Vince (Kevin Eldon), a hypnotist, enter the 9th floor. She convinces Vince to make Amber fall in love with the next person she meets, and they enter her room. Rico has "finished" with Alice, and she enters room 917. Tracey leaves, with Gus horrified at his "experience". Fred comes, and insists that he pays for the "service". Tracey sets down the glass, and demands a meal. Fred gives her the apple tart, replacing the plate with one of leftovers. They enter room 917.

Vince having finished the hypnosis, picks up the glass of drugged wine and enters room 916. Colette knocks on Rico's room, and he leads her in. Fred leads Alice back to her room. Robert knocks on Amber's room, and she falls in love. Colette and Rico leave his room, still mistaking Rico for Gus, and tries to convince him to get back his "girlfriend". Tracey leaves the room and demands payment from Rico. Fred and Colette try to sort the situation out, and enter Vince's room, while Rico enters Henry's room.

Gus comes out of his room. Amber is angry with "him" for having sex with Alice. Gus presents the leftovers by accident, while Fred and Colette carry a sleeping Vince out. Tracey attempts to slap Amber, and slaps Alice instead, bringing back her memory. Gus gives Amber a "true love's kiss", and breaks the spell. Rico comes out of room 914, and everyone is stunned by the similarity between Gus and Rico. Alice screams and Mr Green comes out in anger, and realises that Gus and Rico are his twin sons.

Henry suddenly holds a knife to Mr Green. Vince wakes up and recognises Henry. (Vince had earlier hypnotised everyone who saw his show so that when they heard him say "Spaghetti Bolognese" they would sing and dance the hokey-cokey.) Henry had attended Vince's show, so when Vince uses this trick on him, Henry drops the knife and starts singing and dancing manically. Rico and Fred grab him and lock him in his room till the police can be called. A toilet flushes, Tracey brings out the diamond ring, and Gus puts it on Amber's finger.

External links

• "Zanzibar" at IMDb
• "Zanzibar" at BBC Programmes
• "Zanzibar" at the British Comedy Guide