“Confetti Check A-O.K.” is episode twenty-two of season one of UFO.
Starker arrives at SHADO Control as someone is handing out cigars because he’s just become a father. Freeman is watching Straker and lights his cigar. Triggering a memory of another time that Freeman lit Straker’s cigar; at Straker’s wedding to Mary.
After the wedding, they end up pulling the car over to the side of the road to remove stuff Freeman has attached to the back. Straker uses the opportunity to change out of uniform. They arrive at a hotel and are watched checking in. At the airport, getting ready to head out on their honeymoon, Straker is approached. He’s been summoned to see General Henderson.
Henderson is still injured after the car attack in “Identified”. The general needs Straker to go to the United Nations for the meeting; Henderson is going to be stuck in the chair for a couple more months.
Straker heads to the meeting and apologises for the general’s absence. He’s asked if SHADO is necessary and if they will get value for money. Straker has a list of what they are funding. The danger is imminent but it will still take 7-10 years to set up the organisation. When asked who should command, Straker says General Henderson is the obvious choice.
When Straker heads to see Henderson again, he’s told that SHADO was unanimously approved. And the commander in chief was decided as well, also unanimously. Straker. But if Straker wants to refuse, he has to do it now.
Straker and Mary get a house but the strains of setting up SHADO very quickly start showing. Straker wants to tell her everything, but can’t tell her anything, and some of what’s happening gives the wrong impression because of that.
Most of the episode is in flashback, and of course it’s known that Straker’s marriage falls apart. What is different is that Straker’s earlier relationship with Henderson was far less adversarial.