Captain Blackadder receives numerous calls to the wrong number before finally having a call with orders to advance. He avoids going over the top by pretending the line is breaking up. He then throws away a telegram ordering him to advance on the grounds that it is wrongly addressed to “Catpain Blackudder” and also shoots a carrier pigeon relaying a message to go over the top. Upon inspection of the pigeon’s partly charred message, however, it turns out that shooting carrier pigeons has become an offense punishable by court-martial, and Blackadder simply decides to eat the evidence for lunch. When General Melchett arrives at the trenches, demanding an explanation as to why the group hasn’t advanced, Blackadder nearly gets away with it by blaming the communication breakdown. Unfortunately Private Baldrick and Lieutenant George unintentionally reveal what Blackadder has done (as having been told not to answer any questions on the incident, when asked unrelated questions, they reply, “We didn’t receive any messages, and Captain Blackadder definitely did not shoot this delicious plump-breasted pigeon!”). Finally, there are pigeon feathers on the floor, to which Captain Darling and Melchett believe them to be white. But after Baldrick points out that the feathers are “speckly,” Melchett is enraged, as it was his beloved pet pigeon Speckled Jim, and tries to kill Blackadder himself, forcing Darling to restrain him. Smugly, Darling then informs Blackadder that he’s under arrest …

Tags: Blackadder, Corporal, Punishment