- 2 weeks ago
Classy, intelligent, witty political drama series about the fascinating, ruthless businessman/politician sir John Wilder who becomes Special Envoy (the original name of the series was "Special Envoy'') - ambassador for special situations and trade - and has to deal with the equally ruthless competition. His wife is the witness, trying to support him without interfering much, while his handsome secretary is too ambitious for his own good. The sequel to "The Plane Makers". Starring Patrick Wymark, Barbara Murray, Jack Watling, Michael Jayston, Clifford Evans, Peter Barkworth, George Sewell, Ian Holm, Richard Hurndall, Barrie Ingham, Donald Burton, Norma Ronald, Robin Bailey, James Maxwell, Rachel Herbert, William Devlin, Philip Madoc, Norman Tyrrell, John Brooking, Peter Hughes, Peggy Sinclair, Ralph Michael. Written by Peter Draper, Wilfred Greatorex, Edmund Ward, John Bowen, Raymond Bowers.
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Short filmTranscript
01:59Oh, same for me.
02:01What you need is a stiff quinine.
02:03Get this straight, John.
02:04I'm staying with this little African expedition of yours.
02:08If it takes as long as it took Stanley to find Livingstone.
02:11With all that desk work piling up at the Foreign Office?
02:13Well, that's my worry.
02:15And the Foreign Secretaries.
02:16He must know that you're on safari.
02:17All I know is you're not going to keep me in the dark.
02:21So you're clinging on like a neurotic limpet with a peeping Tom complex.
02:26You should have realized when you worked me in as your over here, Ambassador,
02:29that you were hardly ideally placed office bound in Whitehall to keep taps on me.
02:33Well, I don't know what you achieved in Kenya, Malawi or here in Abyssinia.
02:37Oh, it's got you sweaty.
02:38Nothing, I suspect.
02:40I made contacts.
02:42Well, it's not like you to jet around just making friends.
02:46Anyway, it's the next stop that matters, isn't it?
02:48Somalia.
02:49That's the one it's all about.
02:51Well, it may be just another stop.
02:54What should I be doing in Somalia?
02:56Selling them hospitals fully equipped.
03:01Somalia is a poor lad.
03:03Two and a half million people raising cattle.
03:06Who is going to buy them hospitals?
03:08We are.
03:09Could be quite a cool job in Somalia,
03:11so well placed in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.
03:14Britain may continue to pull out east of Suez,
03:16but a British government looking further ahead
03:18could see this place as strategically important.
03:22Well, can I have a breath of fresh air?
03:31Who told you?
03:33Dowling or Henderson?
03:36I'm the Minister for Special Situations and Trade, John.
03:40Dowling is a permanent civil servant.
03:42Henderson, a temporary.
03:44On my staff.
03:45You merely have ambassador status.
03:48When your minister requires information, John,
03:52it is their duty to kill.
03:55Duty? Nothing.
03:56They're just sorry for you.
04:13To start with, Prime Minister, I had in mind four hospitals.
04:17Two here in Mogadishu,
04:20and one each in Kizmaiu and Hargeisha.
04:26Fully equipped?
04:28As up-to-date as any in the world.
04:30And finance?
04:31No problem.
04:32We'll build on an interest-free loan from Britain.
04:37Repayable when?
04:38To be discussed.
04:40Others are anxious to build hospitals.
04:43At least the Italians and ourselves as ex-colonial powers out here
04:47are now competing to help you and not to exploit you.
04:51Your rivalry, I understand.
04:52You both have reasons of self-interest.
04:54You both find Somalia well-placed geographically in case of war.
04:58We will probably find the Italians and ourselves on the same side.
05:04The fact remains that for the hospital program, you are rivals.
05:09Will you assure me that your technicians sent to build the hospitals
05:12will be really technicians and not defense experts?
05:17Really technicians?
05:19There are no strings, Prime Minister.
05:21I'm glad, because the Italians have volunteered a similar assurance.
05:27Yes, I am half Italian, Lord Bly.
05:29I don't see that in matters.
05:31I repeat, I neither know nor expect Sir John Wiseman.
05:33Wilder.
05:34I don't see what he could want with me if business is his trade.
05:38Well, he's here to offer you some hospitals.
05:42He's wasting his time.
05:46Well, sorry we troubled you, Minister.
05:49Good day, Minister.
05:56Get me the Prime Minister.
05:57Quickly.
05:59Well, John said quite categorically he was seeing the Minister of Health.
06:03Ah, of course he did, so as you'd pass it on to me.
06:09Oh, a chap with a name like that.
06:12Should have warned me, Pastore, couldn't be more Italian
06:16if you were selling ice cream outside the Natural History Museum.
06:27You really are learning, Lincoln.
06:30Sending Caswell to see Pastore was a stroke and a half.
06:34And you were right.
06:35He's blabbed to Pastore.
06:36We professionals do have our uses on occasions.
06:39Prime Minister's not Pastore's dearest friend in Somalia.
06:43Now, Pastore, for reasons of ancestry, will push the Italian interest
06:46too far for the PM's taste.
06:48He's not enamoured of half Italians.
06:50I think the job's yours.
06:53Ours, this time, Lincoln.
06:59The restaurant was locked.
07:01I got it from the bar.
07:02Oh, I don't care where you got it from.
07:05As long as it's ice.
07:07Oh, that's better.
07:12Ah.
07:13You should see a physician, Lord Blythe.
07:15Or here, a lot of witch doctors.
07:19Um, try, try Wilder again.
07:22He's out, Minister.
07:23I said, try him again.
07:26I think I'll, I think I'll have a couple more codeines.
07:31That's a job, Wilder, please.
07:33You've had six already.
07:34There is such a thing as codeine poison.
07:37John?
07:38Yes?
07:39Lord Blythe.
07:40Yes.
07:42Lord Blythe.
07:46John, I want to see you.
07:49I'll end the bar in five minutes.
07:52In my room.
07:53In two.
07:55The old man sweats a bit and you feel guilty.
07:58Don't you?
07:59I didn't invite him to come sniffing around.
08:01Oh, would you help lay the aniseed?
08:04I always thought you were a wilder man.
08:06Long service stripes all over your arm.
08:09I left him once.
08:10And crawled back on all fours.
08:13You can't stand ministers like Caswell, can you?
08:17You and your mini-minded chums treat the diplomatic service as a private estate.
08:21Public keep out.
08:22I didn't know you cared, Donald.
08:25No one knows that Caswell's sick.
08:27I'd like to get sick of it.
08:28Well, the answer's simple.
08:29Caswell will go home.
08:31He's stubborn, bloody-minded and scared lest Wilder should pull something off.
08:35I'm surprised he didn't bring his peers' robes and join in the tribal dances.
08:39Cheers.
08:42I can't think of anyone less I'd like to drink with.
08:47Certainly can't pick and choose in this dump.
08:49So it was guilt that made you tip off the old man.
08:53John ordered me to tell Caswell that you were the Minister of Health.
08:56Not that.
08:56I mean about the hospitals.
08:58He found out for himself.
09:00Don't give me that, Donald.
09:01He was as clueless as a virgin in Soho.
09:03While you and John were off on those furtive little safaris of yours to Addis Ababa,
09:06Caswell didn't just sweat it out.
09:08He got hold of some of your trained seals at the embassy there to perform for him.
09:12Well, they juggled with the facts.
09:14And they came up with hospitals.
09:18Have another Lincoln.
09:19That's just something a little stronger than English like Dale.
09:23Try jungle juice.
09:25It might bring out the savage that lurks inside you.
09:30And then, uh, just, uh, thank them for the inquiry and then, you know, you're sincerely in strong.
09:46Very clever.
09:49Who's idea was it?
09:50Dowling's?
09:51Never blame your officials, Caswell.
09:54Uh, stay where you are.
09:56I never thought to see you horizontal.
09:59Uh, but it doesn't please me.
10:00It won't be for long.
10:03You know, you ought to be in London having medical attention.
10:05I'll arrange...
10:06I'm staying to see this through.
10:08See what through?
10:09Our hospital deal.
10:11Oh, leave it to me.
10:12I'll arrange the fringe benefits for the minister and the kudos for the politician in charge.
10:19Oh, no, I don't need a wet nurse.
10:22You can hardly call me wet.
10:24Oh, how has no ice?
10:26I would have been if I'd allowed you to send me on that meaningless conference to Geneva instead of coming
10:34here.
10:36Well, it wasn't you that released me from that chore.
10:39The foreign secretary told you to after I told him about the hospital deal.
10:42He knows you had nothing to do with it.
10:44Everyone knows.
10:45Oh, hello.
10:46More iced water for Lord Bly, please.
10:49Everyone knows.
10:51All I know is that if that'd been for you, I wouldn't have sold my firm.
10:57And you interfered and smashed up my relationship with my son.
11:02Now you sit there gloating and telling me...
11:05Don't rambling, Caswell.
11:07Well, you're wasting your time.
11:09The Italians will get the job.
11:11Now, why stay on?
11:13Just for the pleasure of seeing me fail.
11:16You'll want to win this.
11:18No, no, not me, Caswell.
11:20Britain.
11:22Britain?
11:23You don't care about Britain.
11:25All you care about is your own glory.
11:28Oh, God.
11:30Then, not long since, you were getting...
11:35Contrats.
11:36Of the French.
11:39Oh, God.
11:40Oh, John.
11:50This is Sir John Wilder.
11:52I want a doctor immediately.
11:53The very best.
11:55Is he the Prime Minister's?
11:56Now, I want the Prime Minister's doctor here immediately.
12:03Get in touch with London straight away.
12:05Reserve a private room for Caswell in the best hospital in London that you know.
12:09Is he all right, John?
12:10No, the doctor's with him now.
12:11He's obviously got some sort of heart trouble.
12:13Arrange his air travel.
12:15I want him in that hospital tomorrow.
12:16It's not going to be easy from here.
12:17There's all more reason to do it.
12:19Use our own private executive jet to shift him out of here to Nairobi and see he's fixed
12:23on BOAC as soon as possible.
12:26Now, he'll need more than one seat.
12:28He's a stretcher case.
12:30No cables, please.
12:30And if you're in any trouble with the airline, refer them to me.
12:33The airport, please.
12:36I suppose he is as sick as Wilder says.
12:38Hmm?
12:40It's one way of culling the old stag from the herd.
12:50Don't think I'm going to thank you for getting me out of here.
12:54I know it suits your book.
13:09Don't stand there like a brewing schoolboy, darling.
13:13You've got work to do.
13:27I know it suits your book.
13:42Castle, I think I should at least contact Kenneth.
13:45Oh, no, no.
13:46I don't want Kenneth to know.
13:47This isn't a family affair.
13:49It's a business affair.
13:50Oh.
13:51Well, see you, Castle.
13:56This is Dr. Aver.
13:57Hello. I want to speak to the Foreign Secretary, Lord Bly.
14:01I am your surgeon, Caswell, and you shouldn't be working.
14:06No, no, no. Don't push me around. I'm not an invalid yet.
14:08And if it won't inconvenience you, we'd like to start some tests.
14:13Well, start away.
14:15And we're going to see that you get a good night's rest.
14:18Yeah, and don't fool around and take my phone away.
14:21Hello, Foreign Secretary.
14:25Arthur. Yes, Caswell. Look, I'm back for a day or two.
14:28Look, I think in your own interest, you ought to send someone out to Somalia to keep an eye on
14:32Wilder.
14:33What? On his way back?
14:36Well, he can't have sewn everything up.
14:49Hello, Don. Hello, Ken.
14:54What's it like to be a diplomat's diplomat?
14:57Do come in.
14:59Where's John?
15:00Well, at this moment, somewhere over North Africa.
15:03Oh, because the message I had was that he wanted to see me urgently.
15:07Not John. I put in the call.
15:09Oh.
15:10To tell me that John's the last come round of giving my firm a worthwhile contract.
15:15He did undertake when he pinched you from the firm to do just that.
15:18It's about your father, Ken.
15:19Oh, don't tell me. I've come halfway across London to discuss him.
15:22He's seriously ill.
15:23So he's asked you to rope him the prodigal son.
15:26He's had a heart attack, Ken.
15:31Yeah, well, no one's surprised he didn't have me years ago.
15:36Should have retired and left me to run the firm instead of selling out.
15:39He's your father, Ken. You owe him at least that.
15:41I owe him nothing.
15:43Not money, nor filial affection.
15:47Nor even a word of sympathy.
15:51I wouldn't send him a get-well telegram.
15:52Ken is.
15:53It's all my life he's gone out of his way
15:56to make me feel a...
16:00failure he filed in error.
16:03You know, he was a pygmy in the house,
16:05a prized example of nepotism in the firm.
16:09Some kind of burnt-out case he had to prop up.
16:13When he sold out my construction,
16:15it was much despite me as to frustrate Wilder.
16:17John would have got control.
16:19Do you know what the great Lord Bly's last words were to me, Don?
16:22He said, Lord,
16:25I wish your mother
16:29had miscarried instead of dropping you.
16:34And he said,
16:36Never come whining to me when you're on your beam ends
16:39cause there's not a penny in the kitty for you.
16:42Either now or under my will.
16:44That was two years ago, Ken.
16:45Look, you can't go on feuding like this,
16:47hating for the rest of your life.
16:49Oh, for the rest of his I can.
16:53Anyway.
16:57Whatever else I could forgive,
16:59I can't ever forget that he poisoned my marriage.
17:04Justine took his side and there were rows.
17:08Do you know what happened?
17:09Two years, Ken.
17:12It would be no different if it were a hundred.
17:21Um...
17:22Tell him you delivered the message, Don.
17:25There was no message, Ken.
17:30In fact, he said
17:31he wouldn't see you if you were the last person left on Earth.
17:36Fine. Good. Fine.
17:38It's mutual.
17:42Well, now I'm here, you might as well tell me what John has up his sleeve for my firm.
17:47Yes, well, he's dug up something in Somalia.
17:49Oh, can I see?
17:50No, no, no. It's confidential.
17:51You're more like an established civil servant every minute.
17:54You must be alive for the most po-faced bureaucrat in the year award.
17:57Where can I see John?
17:58When he says you can.
18:01Ken, I know he'd like you to go and see Caswell.
18:04John? Since when has he been concerned about the Blies?
18:08Except to see them in hell.
18:12Well, then, get him out of the conference.
18:15Yes, get Sir John Wilder on the phone.
18:19Yes, now.
18:22Well, tell me the worst.
18:24The tests confirm.
18:26Er, yes.
18:27Look, I don't care if he's in conference in Buckingham Palace, will you?
18:33Oh, never mind.
18:35Oh, I'm getting out of here.
18:37I shouldn't.
18:38Oh, well, I've got a rebellious ambassador in my office who needs a dig in his ego.
18:43If you get there to do it,
18:46with luck and care you could live a year.
18:50And without?
18:52Tomorrow.
18:53Today, if you insist on charging off.
19:09Just a little bit.
19:09Never give up, do you?
19:10Never do, John.
19:11As long as I live, never do you.
19:12well with a surgeon like Harrison involved it must be serious he says the
19:19only hope is a heart transplant he should know when is it it's not and I'm not
19:25gonna be made a guinea pig in this human abattoir if my heart isn't good enough
19:30I don't want anybody else's you mean you'd rather die than have a new heart
19:34yes I would now I'm against all this spare parts surgery this tampering with
19:40human beings and where will it end you sound more and more every day like a
19:4320th century roundhead I've always doubted this progressive streak that you
19:48claim for yourself well they'll put nobody else's heart in me don't be a
19:53bloody fool Caswell or is it that you're scared scared it's not the principle
20:05that worries you not the philosophy you haven't got the guts
20:17well what do you think about model patients that you are not much
20:31hey Graham I've been thinking I've decided you can go ahead
20:39that's better Caswell and get on with it now no delays it's not as simple as that
20:44you have to be prepared and then there's the question of a suitable heart becoming
20:49available finally that there's the most tricky problem of all the permission of
20:54the donors next of kin next of kin
21:03have the list of interested firms and Henderson visited Lord Bly
21:07Henderson has got a George Washington complex he's the rottenest liar I know
21:11well I'm a good one
21:13well let's say you dissemble with integrity you've told him nothing in four
21:18days since we got back why start now he's been pestering the foreign
21:21secretary and the foreign secretary you we have to report to Caswell lies
21:28unalarming facts it wouldn't do for him to know just now how far things are
21:32advanced in Somalia wouldn't be good for his heart or for my work for which you
21:39don't wish to share the credit now don't get above yourself Lincoln get out on
21:43we're busy you have a visitor job hey
21:49oh John how's the modern Cecil Rhodes what the hell do you want well thanks for
21:55rolling out the plush royal carpet ambassador I'll give you two minutes
21:58give me more I've been trying to make an appointment for four days I'm staying as
22:03long as it takes to make my point I'll make it in one minute come on come to the
22:07point when you took Don as your PA and robbed me of a loyal partner you promised
22:13my firm enough work for a year I got you two contracts once turned sour and the
22:17others I'm profitable what you mean is you fell flat on your face on the first
22:21and underpriced the second you haven't learned that's not fair it's true this
22:26time I want a contract just one that's worthwhile and dripping in prestige is that
22:32all they don't want me you want the charity commissioners they might put you
22:36onto a consortium of old ladies with money to burn I know what I want John the
22:41hospital building job in Somalia stop fancying yourself Kenneth that's a job
22:48for a big boy confine yourself to jobs you can handle like public conveniences
22:53municipal bus shelters anyway you can put my name on the list what list for the
22:59Somalian job well Strakers are on it
23:09good day Kenneth don't blame Don or Dowling I've contacts at Strakers I also
23:14know a number of members of Parliament who would be disturbed to hear of Britain's
23:19spending like this on what amounts to an investment in long-term strategy east of
23:22Suez they'd regard it as wasteful let them orms are also on the list and I
23:30wonder what those same MPs would make of the fact about Strakers and Orms have
23:34offered you managing directorships when you leave or are pushed from here
23:49failure is making you desperate now run along and play batter cake with
23:54somebody your own size I don't I don't expect you to know all that Wilder is up to
24:02such a darling that gets in the way I'm surprised he was ever accepted for the
24:07foreign office he has an unfortunate habit of giving on the B side well just
24:13give me five minutes will you Wendlesham yes Minister goodish news Caswell we're in
24:25business I think a young chap in the mile way hospital smashed himself up in an
24:30argument with a lorry on his bike he'll be dead within 72 hours he's got a heart in
24:37what you might call mint condition you sound like a stamp collector there's no
24:43need for sentimentality in this job Caswell when you were a civil engineer you
24:48needed ballast and tarmac for your roads we need spare parts to rebuild people
24:53when there's a chance of a heart that's going like a Swiss made chronometer you grab
25:00unfortunately for the young man of course especially his wife but one must learn
25:06to accept these things she's agreed that's the trouble not quite she
25:12hasn't said yes and she hasn't said no but I think she will we're giving her a
25:18little time to get over the shock who's talking to her two of my assistants are
25:23they like you they're good persuaders where do you keep your heart Graham now
25:29you're being unkind Caswell who is she hmm this poor woman now you know better
25:37than to ask me that
25:53Peter I'd like you to do something for me I want you to make certain inquiries at the
26:00my way hospital I still need to have the job John listen neither orms nor strakers
26:08will get the job and if a hundred other firms fell out of the running you
26:12wouldn't be even on the reserve list
26:18Sir John Wilder's office oh yes Minister are you out
26:28hello Caswell how's the old ticket today John I'd like you to help me could you
26:36come over straight away well you could have Henderson or Darling
26:44neither you're the only man who can do what I want
26:47no now there is someone else he's standing right beside me
26:51Kenneth
26:54holding out his cap for a handout no doubt
26:56I'll leave it to me Caswell
26:57goodbye he's all bark Kenneth like an aging sheepdog it's all bluster really but I
27:09know he needs you to hold his hand he'd only try to break the bones of mine if I
27:12did nothing would induce me to go anywhere near him nothing nothing
27:21you need a contract for your firm
27:27would you put me on the Somalia list no but we have other hefty irons in other glowing fires
27:34no I'd sooner end up in Carey Street well I hope you'll feel the same when the official
27:39receiver hunts you out of your cozy suburb and you have to take digs in the Cromwell Road
27:47so I'm trying to see why you're so concerned that I should see him I suppose it makes you feel
27:52superior not much well if there's no contract within a week where is he then he has his own room
28:06no is that all not his own clinic
28:19your ex-partner is beginning to flex his tiny muscles down you better buy him a chest expander for his
28:26next birthday
28:28oh and Lincoln take orms and strakers off the Somalia list
28:32glad to see you're paying safe job for once
28:35he took the bait you think
28:38what bait
28:39when you've got him no contract a week from now
28:42he'll use his reunion with Caswell to mention your future interests with strakers and orms
28:47Caswell will report it to the foreign secretary
28:49by which time neither strakers nor orms are on your list
28:53and Caswell will be seen to be so hopelessly out of touch
28:56that we'll need a new minister
28:59in ten years time you'll be the most devious in the game
29:03so Sir John Wilder for minister eh?
29:06oh no no no Don not me
29:08you won't catch me towing party lines
29:12it occurs to me I might reinforce the point to Kenneth
29:16well it will do no harm at all
29:19do it with your usual tongue-in-cheek integrity Lincoln
29:32even if Wilder lets you down it's important you don't mention his future interests with orms and strakers to your
29:37father
29:38so now you're protecting Wilder
29:40oh I wish I knew where you stand
29:42I'm protecting us
29:43I gave you the list of firms in for the job
29:45yes you still bother me
29:46for my trying and highly responsible job
29:49of which I had to get a degree in several languages
29:51I get the princely sum of two and a half thousand a year
29:54you do better in Coventry spraying cows
29:56well I can't pay you anything anyway
29:57you didn't strive me as corrupt
29:59corrupt nothing
30:00normally and increasingly ambitious
30:03you can't work with Wilder and not begin to wonder what life's about
30:05what you're doing on a slum dweller's salary
30:07and a career subject to the whims of old bureaucrats with piles
30:12I'll try to stay with you
30:13if I stay on in the diplomatic service I might with luck and fair reporting on my work
30:18be an ambassador who matters at 55
30:20but I'm a born climber
30:21and some of my superiors distrust such a tendency
30:24they prefer you to creep up the backsides of mountains like Philby
30:27I'm different
30:28the ruthless product of a northern grammar school
30:31they murmur in those pretty accents
30:35besides now they're appointing ambassadors from outside
30:38journalists and politicians
30:39and big businessmen like Wilder
30:41what's in it for me
30:43well what is in it for you
30:45I've been approached by two merchant banks
30:47to advise them on what we're up to
30:48in the department for special situations and trade
30:50which you'll not do of course
30:52I'll be breaking the official secrets act
30:54but if I'm worth it to them
30:55I must have some value in business
30:58you're not saying you'd tip me the wig
30:59Kenneth
31:01there's another firm on the Somalia list
31:03Frinton's
31:04they're not all that big
31:05they're looking for growth
31:06I'm pushing them discreetly for the hospital's job
31:09and I think they'll get it
31:10with Orbs and Strakers out of the way
31:12but are they?
31:14you're scared Wilder with your red light
31:17I've suggested to Frinton's two takeovers
31:21ABD construction
31:23and?
31:25well not me
31:26the terms would be generous
31:27and you'd have a seat on their board
31:28but they know what my firm's worth
31:29why should they be interested?
31:30I've made it clear
31:31you're in a strong position
31:32with our department for future jobs
31:33which I'm not
31:34with me there you are
31:38and what's your price?
31:39don't be crude Kenneth
31:41your firm won't be taken over for two years
31:43but the options will be taken out now
31:46and there's nothing in the rules to say
31:48I shouldn't own shares in your firm
31:50which I'm not pushing for any contract
31:52but directly that is
31:53the big catches will go to Frinton's
31:55it's alright how many did you want?
31:57half
31:58you have been learning from Wilder
32:00I'd have been bloody silly not to
32:0425%
32:07tell him to stop at the next taxi rank
32:09and we'll forget all about it
32:10aren't you taking a risk?
32:12it's about time I did
32:13when I take on my option on your shares
32:15I'll be out of her majesty's diplomatic service
32:18I'll be at liberty to do just what the hell I like
32:22or whom
32:23it's up to you Kenneth
32:27so you make a capital clean-up out of my
32:31admittedly shaky little firm
32:34and retire to the Med
32:36hell no
32:37I'll be joining Frinton's board
32:39we could be quite a force there
32:43you coming here to see him?
32:44no he's my master
32:46down the line officials don't burst in uninvited on sick ministers
32:50do you mind if he takes me back?
32:53not at all
33:00hello father
33:02hello Ken
33:04it was thought appropriate that I should see you
33:08by Wilder
33:09I heard you were hanging about his office
33:11I suppose he sent you here to force me into a relapse
33:14now don't
33:15don't go Ken
33:16I did ask Wilder to come himself
33:18well he's tied up with work
33:21please
33:22sit down
33:29some scotch
33:30if I
33:31no no no no
33:32come on
33:32I'll do it
33:37you know that this is pretty serious Ken
33:40I'm sorry
33:43they say it's curtains
33:44unless I have a new heart
33:46I've agreed to a transplant
33:52I'd like you to do something for me Ken
33:55anything?
33:56in the Mileway hospital
33:58no but first
34:00you remember
34:01I told you once that I'd cut you out of my will
34:03well we needn't talk about that
34:04well
34:05actually I'm leaving you quite
34:07quite well
34:08you needn't father I have a thriving business
34:11well I know
34:12anyway
34:13what I was saying was
34:15in the Mileway hospital
34:18there's a young fellow
34:20only has a few more days to live
34:23smashed up on a motorbike
34:25yes
34:27now his
34:28his wife has been with him most of the day
34:31but
34:33she's gone home now
34:36I
34:37I'd like you to go and
34:39talk to her
34:41talk to her what about
34:43well I gather she could
34:46she and the children could do with some security
34:50I thought I'd
34:51I thought I'd like to help them
34:53I don't know what
34:54we could suggest
34:56ten or twenty thousand pounds
34:58mind you it'll come out of your inheritance
35:00what
35:02this is buying a heart
35:05oh no
35:08I'm not buying a heart
35:12all I want to do
35:13Ken
35:15is to
35:17is to help her
35:18to try and compensate her in some way
35:23well will you see her for me
35:28Lord Blight
35:29no no no I don't want that soup now
35:31later
35:32hello
35:32Arthur
35:33Caswell
35:34look Arthur about this Somalia thing
35:36you know I talked with our Italian friends today
35:38and they're pretty put out by Wilder's invasion
35:42you see we're going to need their support on these
35:45those two big European projects
35:47so I suggest that we let the Italians
35:51build the hospitals in Somalia
35:53well we could build them two power stations instead
35:57oh yes yes I know three companies would jump at it
36:00if you give me the go ahead
36:01good
36:02fine
36:04good night Arthur
36:06good night
36:08now nurse
36:09let's have that soup
36:10ah lovely soup
36:45thank you
36:49well ah
36:51I'll just go and make you a cup of tea
36:53well any if you're having one
36:55I was paying tea and coffee all day at the hospital
36:58mommy
36:59sit down
37:00thank you
37:14please eat Mr. Blight
37:16I'm not sure I have any business being here Mrs. Taylor
37:20it's Derek's favourite chair for watching the
37:25Mrs. Taylor I know you've already been asked and I don't want to be a nuisance in any way
37:28how old is he then your father
37:32er to be honest I'm not sure
37:36Derek's 29
37:37I'm very sorry
37:37he's a carpenter you know
37:42this house he thinks it's a palace
37:45well not that I ever did but
37:48this house and the kids
37:51he was doing the late turn just so that he could take them to school he'd never have been there
37:54in that motorbike but for that I could have taken them to school
37:57but you can't look at things like that because you know if you did you'd be
38:01he never minded talking about things like this
38:05it was always me
38:08he'd talk about leaving your eyes you know
38:18I could never face it
38:19I shouldn't be bothering you but um I just wanted to say that my father was very anxious
38:25your father is he in pain
38:28I don't think so
38:30is he conscious
38:32I mean
38:34could I see him
38:36I would just like to
38:38I'd like to see what he's like
38:39what now you mean
38:42what about the children
38:44my neighbour will sit in
38:49well it's more important to keep the goodwill of the Italians
38:52than to let you indulge in another of your turns to boost up your ego
38:57humbug
38:58you're smashing the hospital plan because you didn't think of it
39:02you're like some
39:04ageing brat who runs away with the ball because he didn't make the team
39:09let's not be petulant John
39:14go to hell
39:17there's just one chance
39:21he thinks he hates
39:23Kenneth
39:25if we could show that Cazell was
39:26smashing the hospital plan because he knew that Kenneth was the contractor
39:30oh that wouldn't work
39:31well don't tell me you hate Kenneth too
39:33I hardly know him
39:36all right why wouldn't it work
39:39or Lord Bly could plead he was concerned to avoid nepotism
39:42or even the appearance of family favouritism
39:45you worry me darling
39:47besides
39:47Kenneth's firm's on the rocks
39:49but we could soon exert a strong enough tug to haul it off
39:53couldn't we Don
39:59no
40:01Mr. Bly I'll not go in
40:02I know now
40:05well nobody likes people around them when they're ill
40:09he can have Derek so
40:11it's what he'd want Derek I mean it's just me that
40:16I'm sure my father would be honoured to meet you Mrs. Taylor
40:25this is my father Mrs. Taylor
40:29please sit down
40:31thank you
40:34I was very sorry to hear about your husband
40:39Mrs. Taylor
40:41if there's anything that I can do
40:44to help you
40:47financially
40:49I
40:50I don't know what my son
40:53talked to you about
40:54but
40:54or whether he mentioned any figure
40:56but if ten or twenty thousand pounds
41:02but Mrs. Taylor
41:04Ken
41:05what do you want a heart for
41:07you've got along without one so far
41:11Mrs. Taylor
41:16I'm sorry
41:17I'm sorry
41:17what does he think people like us are
41:20oh
41:21he may be a lord
41:24does he think he can buy anything
41:26anything
41:26anyone
41:28everything's a branch of commerce to him
41:32sooner we're out of this place
41:33he doesn't deserve
41:35I see that
41:38he's your father
41:52is he very rich
41:54horribly
41:56tell him to put twenty thousand pounds
41:58in a trust fund for our children
42:02oh I wouldn't touch a penny of it
42:04if I were starving
42:08the children might need him
42:10I hope not
42:13they might
42:14one day
42:20now let me drive you home
42:22I'll get a number twenty-five
42:23I'll get a number twenty-five
42:23if you don't have to either
42:25oh please it's it's no problem
42:26oh
42:26well goodbye Mrs. Taylor
42:39yes would you would you ask my chauffeur to meet Mrs. Taylor at reception
42:43and drive her home
42:46oh she's already left
42:48oh never mind
42:49thank you
43:00well I've done my little rescue act
43:03and you've got your heart
43:08so
43:09now I've
43:10an urgent game of bridge to play
43:13don't you care
43:15whether I live or die
43:18are you
43:18really so indifferent
43:22have I any cause not to be
43:24not content with what you did to me in business
43:26you had to break my marriage
43:29things have changed since I
43:31stepped from under that black wing of yours
43:34you'll still benefit
43:35under my will
43:37cut me out of it
43:40I'm worth about
43:41half a million pounds
43:43Ken
43:43before death duties
43:46you may not be immortal
43:47as we once thought
43:49but you'll not die
43:50if money talks that is
43:52the balance will go equally
43:53between you and Justine
43:56and
43:57for the children
43:58there are twelve impressionist paintings
44:01worth another
44:01half million
44:02they won't be liable to death duties
44:04because I put them
44:05in the children's names years ago
44:08I never saw any impressionist
44:09no well
44:09you
44:10you wouldn't have
44:11because they were sent straight from the auction room
44:13to my bank vaults
44:17you'll not die
44:20wouldn't you like to say
44:22just once
44:23that
44:23you hope not
44:26if it consoles you
44:31if I don't come out of this can
44:32and the chances are that I won't
44:34don't waste your inheritance
44:37trying to get back into business
44:40don't waste your inheritance
44:42pay off your debts
44:44and get out of it
44:45even now you're trying to push me around
44:46no I mean it for your own good
44:48Ken
44:48you were never cut out for business
44:50you should have been a
44:51you should have been a parson
44:53or a schoolmaster
44:54you didn't have a hideous
44:56look just
44:56you weren't robust enough
44:58stop
44:59your miserable fortune
45:01go on leave it to Oxfam
45:03oh mental homes for mad businessmen
45:06no what
45:07what I'm trying to say
45:08Ken
45:09is don't waste your inheritance
45:13I mean think of your children
45:15I mean my grandchildren
45:18I mean I know it meant nothing to you
45:20that I was made a
45:21made a baron
45:21but
45:22well
45:25one day
45:25they may be proud of it
45:28and
45:28well
45:29they may
45:29treasure the robes
45:31and the coronets
45:34yes
45:35I'll come in handy for dressing up
45:44for the school pan to mine
45:50oh Ken
45:54poor Ken
46:13I could lift you on witness
46:14I might if you're not careful
46:18Caswell
46:19you have a visitor
46:20well
46:21I hope you're in good nick
46:22Graham
46:23you know
46:24this could make you as famous
46:25as that South African
46:26what's his name
46:27such is fame
46:28you know
46:28even Louis Pasteur
46:29never had a chance like this
46:31I'm glad you're only a life peer
46:33Caswell
46:34we're running short of
46:35blue blood
46:36well
46:37before the weekend
46:38you may be one of the biggest names
46:40in British medicine
46:42they'll make you a royal surgeon
46:44and give you a knighthood
46:45in the owners list
46:46who's been giving this chap
46:47pep
46:48if you don't get me back to the office
46:50by next Tuesday
46:51you know
46:51I'll sue you for incompetence
46:53as I was saying
46:54Caswell
46:54you have a visitor
46:55oh show him in
46:56I knew my son would come
47:00well
47:02well
47:02well
47:04what brings you here
47:06a chance to be in at the kill
47:07to see a celebrity
47:09there are more newsmen outside
47:11than
47:11a crisis cabinet meeting
47:13in Downing Street
47:14it's only because I'm Lord
47:16well
47:16when you get one of these new tickers
47:18you're going to be insufferable
47:20well I
47:23wonder
47:24where's Ken?
47:25he's coming
47:26he should be here in a moment
47:30John
47:32if I don't come out of this
47:34bury me standing
47:38facing you
47:47his son is coming
47:48hmm
47:48hmm
48:54Well, there's nothing I can do about the contract now, Kenneth.
48:58There'll be a new minister.
48:59Hell, John, it's only an hour since he was buried.
49:01Don't be sentimental.
49:03All that matters now is who our new master is.
49:13Oh, no.
49:14No, Lincoln.
49:16Not me.
49:18I'm not even in the queue.
49:21You wanted him out of the way long enough?
49:24But I wasn't the one who hated him.
49:31Better go down and look after Pamela, Don.
49:33She's very upset.
49:36I'll come with you.
49:55Well, now you can afford to forget about Somalia.
50:28I'll come with you.
50:57I'll come with you.
51:03I'll come with you.
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