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A New Low
Anewlow
Series
Episode
4
Airdate
6 December 2010
Ratings
2.85 Million
Running time
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Production code
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Flashback
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Flash-forward
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Flash sideways
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Centric character(s)
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Ratings
2.85 Million
Recurring Characters
Anna Chancellor - Helena
Supporting Characters
Stacey Liu - Tamara
Special Guest Star(s)
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Celebrity Appearance(s)
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Minor or Uncredited Roles
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Archive footage
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A New Low is the fourth episode of the second series of the TV show Miranda. The episode was broadcast on BBC One on 6 December 2010.

Summary[]

A new waitress, Tamara, appears in the restaurant and Miranda and Stevie compete to see who can become her best friend. Tamara, however, is running them ragged with her youthful energy, and apparent tirelessness. There is also some some shocking news looming that will test Miranda and Gary's relationship.

Plot[]

Miranda descends the stairs to a cowering Stevie who is hiding from youths. After they leave, Miranda reveals that she's off to meet her new friend, Tamara. The two of them then argue as to whether Stevie is also friends with Tamara; a mini-dispute erupts, leaving them both rushing to meet "their friend."

At the restaurant, they find Tamara isn't there. Clive seems less than thrilled with her skills as a waitress, and ask Gary if she really was any good at the job back in Hong Kong. Gary then tries to go all 'builder alpha male' in front of them by acting working class next to a plumber. This crashes and burns when he insists on adding some garnish with a flourish.

Gary takes Miranda to one side, and asks if their plan to spend the night together was still on. She agrees it is, and they organize a date for later in the week. Tamara then walks in, and Stevie and Miranda rush up to greet her. Tamara reveals that she's planning on attending an art class, making the desperate duo agree to tag along.

Later, in the shop, Penny arrives and reveals that she has bought herself a "portable phone" for exchanging saucy texts with her husband. After getting a text, Penny strains her eyes to look at the screen, having not brought her glasses, but Stevie jumps in and says how elegant glasses look on an older woman, with Penny immediately asking for an explanation. There's a short and cringe-worthy conversation about how old Stevie thinks Penny is.

Miranda is then shown singing with her fruit friends, including Gordon the Grapefruit. At the art class later that evening, Miranda gets rather excited when she sees the male life model, allowing herself to make an inappropriate comment. A new dispute erupts, and Stevie and Miranda find themselves painting on each other. They are then surprised when Tamara asks them if they want to go clubbing, still competing, they decide to go.

At 11pm, Miranda goes to the restaurant to meet them, but finds that they haven't turned up yet. She asks Gary to provide her with loads of coffee and cake to keep her awake throughout the night. She asks if he feels if he ever feels old, in his mid thirties and single. Gary responds, "Are you still single? I hoped you were off the market." He then asks if she wants to do a spa hotel with him, and she is delighted with the idea. As he leaves to book the hotel, Stevie and Tamara enter.

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Returning to Miranda's flat after their night out, Tamara persuades them to watch the sunrise. After Tamara accuses them of being 'middle aged,' Miranda and Stevie decide to make a pact not to fall asleep, and keep up with Tamara. They find new ways to keep themselves awake including clashing cymbals, putting ice down their shirts, and eating coffee straight up. Tamara then moves onto playing Twister with Miranda and Stevie licking batteries to stop themselves from falling asleep.

At 9am, Tamara decides that it's time to go swimming. Tamara leaves to get ready, and Gary enters the shop wearing a tank top and tool belt, and putting on his best working class accent, tells Miranda they have a date for that night. After successfully wooing Miranda, he leaves. Tamara returns and tells them to meet her at the swimming pool. Stevie and Miranda devise a plan to take it in turns to go out with Tamara while the other one sleeps.

At the pool, Miranda is having issues getting changed in front of people, and is disturbed when someone undresses inches from her. Back at the shop, Miranda retells her tale to Stevie who is too tired to remember how to pour tea. Miranda then reveals that she is nervous about coming to terms with nudity. Stevie suggests that Miranda should imagine the very next person who walks through the door naked. This turns out to be Penny. When Penny leaves, Miranda suggests that she should become the life model for the art class.

At the art class Miranda manages to undress, and pose. Later, Miranda goes to meet Gary, telling him she is more than ready for their weekend. Tamara and Stevie enter, and talk to Miranda, Tamara ignoring Clive's orders to bus a table. Gary returns and takes Miranda's hand as they head for the door. Clive returns and sees Tamara has still done nothing, so he angrily fires her. Irritated, he lets slip, "Sorry, Gary, but you only employed her 'cause she's your wife, or whatever the set up is..." Miranda is stunned and demands and explanation. Gary admits that technically, Tamara is his wife. Upset and angry, Miranda runs out, and Gary follows after. At the flat, the argument continues. Gary tells her, "She's a friend from Hong Kong and for a pass to study here, I said I'd do the green card thing for a visa. I know I'm an idiot. But I owed her massive favour." And he also admits to having had a fling with Tamara while he was traveling, but it didn't mean anything.

Miranda tells him that she won't be his next fling, and tells him she can't talk about it anymore. She makes him leave before falling asleep on the sofa. The next morning, she heads over to the restaurant and Gary reveals that Tamara left to get out of the way, and asks if they can move on from this, and Miranda says that she feels it best to move on. Misunderstanding, Gary is relieved and grateful. Miranda then makes it clear that she wants to move on from him, "I want to move on from you, us."

Understanding and rather despondent, Gary walks away. He then nearly bumps into a large canvas and demands to know what it is. Clive tells him Tamara left it as a gift; her painting of a nude Miranda. Gary seems quite appreciative, "So that's your naked sweep." Penny and Stevie are shocked, Clive finds it amusing, and the handyman appreciates her 'undulations.'


Quotes[]

Miranda: My name's Miranda and my idea of a big night is a getting through a giant Toblerone with an omnibus of Countryfile. Yeah, I know, it is lovely. And the only reason I'd be up at dawn is if I woke up needing the loo.
Stevie: My name's Stevie and it's my ambition is to grow vegetables and make my own ratatouille.
Miranda: Oh, that's lovely. A kitchen garden.
Stevie: We're very old.
Tamara: What's ratatouille?
Stevie: You don't need to know that yet, all in good time. Consider us, your Auntie Miranda and your Auntie Stevie.

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