- 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
00:00The End
00:34The End
01:05The End
01:32Morning
01:33Good morning, sir
01:42Excuse me, sir
01:58Are we opening a Chinese restaurant upstairs?
02:00Yes
02:02Oh, I see
02:04You obviously know they're here
02:06Who?
02:07Oh, you're afraid of Mao flu
02:09They get injections, you know
02:12I think they're going to take the world over
02:15I mean, you see a Chinese waiter a couple of times, you think it's the same chap
02:19Actually, I'm absolutely convinced there's a different one every time
02:22And they're slowly filling the world up
02:25One of these days, we look around and every third person will be Chinese
02:28Which is what statistics in the morning's about for ages
02:32Then, when every second restaurant is Chinese
02:35They'll slowly start poisoning us and take the country over
02:41The only ones who will survive will be the eaters of Yorkshire puddin' chips
02:44What?
02:47Survival of the fattest
02:49Well, didn't somebody say the way to Whitehall was up the Yellow River?
02:52They've already filled up the lifts
02:54What are you talking about?
02:55This little place is full of, um, westernised, oriental gentlemen
02:59W.O.G.'s, wogs
03:01That's where the word comes from, did you know?
03:03Didn't you have any breakfast, or are you hysterical?
03:07You got a cold?
03:08No
03:08Oh, and why are you gargling?
03:10I gargle every morning
03:12It's just that you're usually not in early enough to see it
03:15Oh, and I think you've started reading those books on how to be virile, though middle-aged again
03:21Is it true that the word wog derives from the phrase westernised oriental gentleman?
03:27Yes
03:29What are they here for?
03:30Well, they've come to see Cain
03:33How do you know?
03:34I asked the lift man
03:36Did you?
03:38Well, we also serve who only stand and wait for lifts
03:42You know what this entails, Garfield
03:44Yes, I know what it entails, Camdenford
03:46I'm not asking you to do anything to your disadvantage
03:48Surely articles on the strategic list are there as a matter of agreement between ourselves and our allies
03:54Some of the articles are there simply because nobody ever got round to thinking about them
03:58In much the same way as an Englishman could still be fine defything for not practising archery on Sundays
04:04Of course, that list is designed to prevent goods that might be used in the event of war being sold
04:10to a potential enemy
04:11We couldn't take unilateral action to have anything removed from it without the agreement of the Americans
04:16No, I know that, and we don't intend taking unilateral action
04:20We simply want to create a climate of opinion
04:23It would be good for trade, Candleford
04:25Well, I don't know
04:27You don't know what?
04:29It's all very well having a crack at the government of the day
04:32That doesn't do one any harm at all
04:34But once you get involved in the larger issues, people can turn on you
04:37Yes, well, you haven't got into a larger issue in your whole bloody career, have you?
04:41Might put a bit of fizz into your image
04:42My image is doing very nicely, thank you, Minister
04:45Oh, come off it, Candleford
04:47The last attention-gaining device you tried ended in complete disaster
04:50And your constituents hadn't heard a peep out of you for 18 months before that
04:54I carry out my constitutional duties with as much...
04:57You need an issue, Candleford
04:59They're going to ask what you went back for soon
05:02Well, I don't see this
05:04All you have to do is to ask several questions in the House
05:07As to why certain strategic articles are still on the strategic list
05:11When they've ceased to have any useful purpose there
05:14And by being there, are constipating Britain's trade outlets
05:18It's the sort of thing the papers would soon take up
05:21Yes, I suppose they might
05:24Yes, do you repeat the success you had with badgering them about income tax
05:27Never came to anything, but at least people knew you were about
05:30Which articles do you want?
05:32Well, now, you make your own list
05:34But make sure optical goods are on it
05:37Near the top
05:38Optical goods?
05:39Yes, lenses, binoculars, microscopes, telescopes, all that sort of thing
05:44I see
05:46And if I should...
05:48Oh, don't worry, Candleford
05:50You'll be looked after
05:52Chinese
05:54Yes, Don says the place is overrun with them
05:56Well, it is the foreign office
05:57They came here to see Cain, apparently
05:59Oh, well, I'm afraid I know nothing about it
06:00Probably some deputation
06:01Why?
06:03I'd just like to know how things are developing in the department, don't you?
06:07No doubt one will be told
06:09You don't have, do you?
06:10Don't what?
06:12Any doubt that you'll be told
06:13If necessary
06:15You know, there are people, Wilder, who are beginning to despair
06:17That this department is being run like a race between you and Cain
06:21To put one over on each other
06:24I hope you're keeping score
06:28Do you agree that we approve those allocations or not?
06:30Certainly
06:31Will you initial them then?
06:32Yes
06:34Is, er, Cain in his office?
06:36He was, I believe he's gone over to the house
06:37Oh
06:39Yes, well, if you see him
06:41Would you tell him I'd like a word with him this afternoon?
06:43He's going over to Paris this afternoon
06:46Why?
06:49I'm afraid he didn't tell me
06:53I'll bet he didn't
06:56All right, Jill
06:58I'll be back in the office in ten minutes
07:04He's treading on my toes
07:06Cain?
07:07Hmm
07:08Well, the pain is probably mutual
07:10He wants me out
07:12And, er, by association, you also
07:14I know
07:16Doesn't it worry you?
07:17Established civil servants are harder to get rid of than that
07:20He could have you moved
07:22Well, it depends on the form the move would take, wouldn't it?
07:25Don't you object to sweating out the rest of your career in some dusty backwater?
07:30What have you got in mind?
07:32Well, every time he gets something over on me
07:35He gets something over on you
07:36He nibbles away at the foundations
07:38Till he can make us both topple
07:40And?
07:41Do you know why he's going to Paris?
07:43No
07:44No
07:45Oh, nobody does
07:48Where are you going now?
07:51I've got to go down to Holborn
07:52And then lunch
07:53Could we get somebody to pop over to Paris for us this afternoon?
07:57To do what?
07:58Just to look around
08:00Someone who Cain doesn't know
08:03Yes, I think I can
08:04But I'd have to catch the 2.30 plane
08:07I've already had a seat booked on it
08:09Have you?
08:12Okay, I'll fix it up
08:16What are you doing in Holborn?
08:18Nothing much
08:19Just routine
08:23I want out
08:26Don't let them hustle you, Lincoln
08:28You have a brain
08:29Don't use it
08:29I'm sick of being caught in the crossfire
08:31Between your husband and your friend Cain
08:33He's not my friend
08:34Not in the sense you mean, anyway
08:35Well, our friend Cain, then
08:38Doesn't matter which of them wins
08:39It won't advance me one inch
08:42So what are you going to do?
08:44I haven't really decided
08:46Kenneth Bly offered me a directorship with his firm
08:49I've been talking to him about it this morning
08:51They're doing very well
08:52You're going to take it?
08:53I don't know
08:55It means herring off on a completely new path
08:57Rather sooner than I'd planned
08:58Still
09:00You don't really want to go, do you?
09:03No, not really
09:06Still, if there's a choice between that
09:07And ending up like Jason Fowler
09:10Oh, you won't, for God's sake, tell John
09:12I sought Kenneth, will you?
09:14How in the world should I know?
09:16Of course I won't
09:20Where, um...
09:21Where would this job be
09:22That Kenneth is offering you?
09:23Well, the first two years
09:25Would be in Canada
09:27Oh
09:28And that's another thing, isn't it?
09:31What?
09:32I'm also sick of sneaking out
09:33To meet you in obreptitious little corners
09:36That's a good word
09:37What does it mean?
09:38As if I didn't know
09:39Aren't you sick of it?
09:42Yes
09:44It frightens me, Lincoln
09:45I don't know why, but it frightens me
09:48If I took Kenneth's job
09:50I know
09:52We are coming very rapidly to a decision
09:56Yes, I know we are
09:58That frightens me, too
10:03Well, it looks as our table's ready
10:07Nobody met him at Orly
10:08I assumed the trip was unofficial
10:10There was a car waiting, but not an embassy car
10:12Where did he go?
10:14278 rue Jacques O'Hara
10:17Who lives there?
10:18It's a pied-Ã -terre
10:19Nobody actually lives there
10:21The servants, man and wife, come in when it's in use
10:24Who does it belong to?
10:26Hard to say who it belongs to
10:28We suspect the title is held by the D.D.E.C.E.
10:32Who?
10:33Departement de documentation exterior et contre-espionage
10:37Espionage?
10:38Well, that doesn't make it all that suspect
10:40On the whole, it seems to be used overnight
10:42By out-of-town deputies
10:43Who haven't anywhere else to go
10:45Who was using it?
10:46Well, that's what was interesting
10:48It wasn't an out-of-town anybody
10:50It was Monsieur Sanglaire
10:53Albert Sanglaire
10:54Really?
10:56Who is Albert Sanglaire?
10:58Was anybody else with him?
11:00Yes
11:01About half an hour after Mr. Kane arrived
11:03Henri Mamiel turned up
11:07If you wouldn't mind, Lincoln
11:09Vietnam Solidarity Front
11:11Vietnam
11:12They needn't be directly Vietnam
11:13Mamiel is a pretty solid Maoist
11:15He has other connections
11:18Well, will you explain to me what's going on?
11:21Sanglaire and Mamiel
11:22It could only be a commercial connection
11:25Sanglaire wouldn't smudge his position with doubtful political deals
11:28No, I wouldn't have thought so
11:30But when he left, he went along to the Fantasie with Sanglaire
11:33They had a couple of drinks and were joined by a man called Malune
11:36Now, he's something in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs
11:39Whatever that might mean
11:42He was with a chap called Sung Tae
11:43Lives in Hong Kong
11:44Has a factory there, assembling binoculars, microscopes
11:48He's lived there all his life, but he's a Han Chinese
11:52Another chap whose name I didn't know
11:53But I gather he's from the Chinese mainland
11:55Someone thought Heilung Kiang
11:57And something to do with the Department of Industry
12:00Good
12:01Thank you
12:02That's it
12:03That's it
12:05Well, thank you, Mr.
12:06Thank you
12:08I'll have to list it, you know
12:09Why?
12:10Well, they know you asked for me
12:11They'll want a 17A at least
12:12Oh, I give them a 17A and list it as external
12:15I doubt if they'll wear it
12:16Not if I don't detail it
12:17No, list it as external
12:18Foreign Office Supplementary
12:20All right
12:21I can expect you to okay it?
12:22Yes, we'll okay it
12:23Okay
12:25Good night
12:25Good night
12:29Good night
12:29Good night
12:33All right, Lincoln, translate
12:35We just asked him to get information
12:37Who knows what it means
12:39What do you think it means?
12:41Well, the obvious assumption is that Kane's up to something
12:43Not quite on the level, eh?
12:45He said
12:46Otherwise, why all this cloak and dagger?
12:49Well, he wasn't really cloak and daggering, was he?
12:51We were the ones who were doing that
12:52Well, let's say he's making unscheduled visits to Paris
12:57Seeing Maoists in houses belonging to the CG, CD, whatever
13:01D, D, E, C
13:04Chinese industrialists, Peking politicians, and God knows what else
13:08I wouldn't jump in feet first
13:09I'm not going to
13:10Good
13:11But you are
13:13I want you to find out what's happening
13:16If I might hazard a guess
13:19Do
13:19He's quite probably opening up contacts for something that may come along later
13:23In fact, if I had to describe it, I'd say he's probably doing a John Wilder
13:27Really?
13:28Well, that's certainly something that has to be stopped
13:31Anyway, find out what you can
13:33All right
13:33Oh, you realise, having used our friend today, we may well have security sniffing around to see what it's all
13:37about
13:39Good
13:40Good
13:40Good?
13:41Yes, Lincoln
13:42Good
13:48I just thought of something
13:50What?
13:51But he couldn't have met any of those people without the French knowing about it
13:53In fact, he used a house belonging to them
13:56So if we put a man on to him, what's to say they didn't put a man on our man?
14:07Thank you
14:08Thank you
14:11John
14:12If you don't get out of my hair, I may break your back
14:18Ah, did you have a good trip?
14:19Hmm
14:20The airsmouth flyover was jammed
14:23I'm still gonna find out what you're up to
14:26John, I'm warning you
14:28Keep your nose out of it or
14:30I'll break your back
14:33Try it
14:34I'll break your heart
14:37Leaning
14:38All right, what the hell do you think you're doing?
14:40In what sense, Minister?
14:42One thing I know about Wilder, he doesn't have access
14:44Never in a million years would they allow him access
14:46Now you, you're a different kettle of fish, aren't you?
14:48And the fish is beginning to stink
14:49I don't know what you're talking about
14:50Oh, yes you do
14:51For God's sake, don't talk to me as if I was cap its green round the ears
14:54I know you were recruited
14:55I can almost tell you the day you were recruited
14:57Someone's been giving you inaccurate, albeit classified information
14:59You were pretty sure I wouldn't recognise your chap, weren't you?
15:02But what you didn't think of was that another agent might recognise him
15:05You should have got someone with deeper cover
15:07Or wouldn't they let you have anyone like that without asking questions?
15:10I do wish you'd explain this to me, Minister
15:11Well, they couldn't have got someone like that, not from that department
15:14But you are in that department, aren't you?
15:16One of our snivelling teacher's pets
15:18Creeping to the headmaster is what the big boys are up to
15:21I'm not prepared to take this
15:22No, not even from someone in your position
15:23Aren't you?
15:24Then where do you want me to put you so that you don't have to?
15:26Now you listen to me, Lincoln
15:27We can get along very well if we have to get along
15:30Just you declare your neutrality like a good, dedicated civil servant should
15:34It may have escaped your notice, but in fact
15:36I am the minister responsible for this department
15:39And you know the saying
15:40It's better to know the judge than to know the law
15:45And Jason Fowler's nanny made him say it every night instead of prayers
15:48Yes, well I didn't have a nanny
15:50I had a supervisor coming round in for night at nine o'clock
15:52Threatening to beat hell out of us if we were still talking after lights out
15:55And we'd be chucked out of the orphanage and then where would we be?
15:58Politicians in Her Majesty's Government at five and a half thousand a year
16:00I didn't have a nanny either, they're pretty rare in council houses
16:03I wonder where all the other lads who were at school with us are now
16:06All right Lincoln, your sleeve isn't full of trump cards
16:09I'm just telling you
16:11Oh no, the etiquette here is one doesn't tell
16:13One suggests in an amiable spirit of Concord
16:17We've both learned that
16:18It's how we got out of our class
16:20Yeah
16:21Well contrary to the spirit of the service, Lincoln
16:25I am telling you
16:27What?
16:30You declare your neutrality
16:32And if you can't declare it, abide by it
16:35Or?
16:37Or I'll break your back too
16:40One could hurt one's hand doing that, you know
16:52I didn't know you were a drinker of darkness, Lincoln
16:54I was looking for you
16:56Someone said you might be here
16:57That sort of news shouldn't travel
17:00I do all I can to see that it doesn't
17:03It's a very minor lunchtime sin
17:05For which I'm sure one won't lose one's place in heaven
17:10Why did you want to see me and not in the office?
17:12I thought we might have a chat
17:14Oh
17:16It's very nice
17:19I wonder if one might lose one's place in heaven
17:22We need to be led, don't we?
17:25To be told so much
17:28Who's to tell us?
17:29Too many people seem to be telling too many things too often
17:31It seems to me
17:32Do you think so?
17:32You know what those two are going to do, don't you?
17:34Between them
17:34They're going to destroy the department
17:35They might, certainly they might
17:36And yet we could prevent it
17:38Or determine who is going to win
17:39Oh God, what does it matter which of their infantile ambitions wins or doesn't win?
17:45I'm sorry
17:47Of course it matters, the department
17:50I'm sorry I didn't mean that
17:51Wouldn't you prefer to win too?
17:53To win?
17:55Oh yes, I think I'd prefer that more than anything
17:58One has other responsibilities than just one's pension, you know
18:01I always think it's so silly of them to try and give this impression of spurious eroticism
18:05Quite sure there isn't a man here who believes it
18:10Beauty is in repose
18:12I think women never know when they're being beautiful or desirable
18:16They never know
18:18And we're never able to tell them
18:21The great uncrossable barrier between what men need and what women are
18:28I sometimes think it would take a language without words
18:32To be able to speak about it
18:35Is that perhaps what sex is?
18:40I'm not well, Lincoln
18:44Incurably not well
18:47Oh, no, not immediately
18:50Some little time, but foreseeably so
18:53Sufficiently for them to advise one that one should put one's house in order
18:58One's house
19:01Eight leather-bound first editions of the Waverley novels
19:06A hundred minor first editions
19:08And a good lady, Mrs. Hatley
19:09Who prepares my food, my bed
19:12And cleans my bath every morning
19:14Hm
19:17It always seems to be dark in my house when I get home
19:20I have to switch the lights on
19:23It's just as if she were saving up all the electricity somewhere in a box
19:27For some great bright day
19:31When all the lights of the world will go on
19:33Jason? No
19:38Oh, I don't know why one's body should treat one like this when one's always tried to be kind to
19:42it
19:46Still there's no point in it
19:50I think he said it was an irreversible process
19:55Hm, rather like politics
20:00Jason, I...
20:01Honestly, I...
20:01Yes, I know
20:03One can only think of clichés
20:07When one's driven into a corner, all one can say is
20:11Mummy, help me
20:13Something equally ridiculous
20:18I wish I could go up to her and say
20:24I don't know what I want
20:25A wife, a mistress or a daughter
20:28It's so stupid to have missed all three
20:35Oh, by the way, congratulations
20:38On what?
20:39On your promotion
20:40Why, didn't you know?
20:43You're being sent to Jakarta
20:46As First Secretary
20:48It's quite a useful place to serve
20:52Didn't you know?
20:54No
20:56They're not really
21:02Moving you out, is he?
21:03Looks like it
21:05Doesn't it worry you?
21:06It is a promotion
21:09Don't you want it?
21:10No
21:13Ah, why not?
21:14I had other ideas of what I wanted to do
21:16Do you?
21:18You know, we don't always get the things we want the way we want them, do we?
21:21You seem to
21:23Do I?
21:25Well, if you don't want it, what are you going to do about it?
21:27What are you going to do about it?
21:29Why should I do anything about it?
21:32You want your allies depleted?
21:33Oh, allies, hmm?
21:36So we've progressed through
21:38What just is it that Lincoln, darling, does
21:41Is he on my side or their side?
21:43Through, I'm your assistant
21:44That's one who assists
21:46To being an ally
21:48You don't even take down shorthand, Lincoln
21:52But you seem to be very good at entertaining my wife
21:55I...
21:56Well, aren't you?
21:56What a common interest in the arts, in the humanities, it's perfectly natural
22:03One meets too few people who seem as absorbed in the things that interest one oneself
22:10When one does, one tends to cling on to them
22:14I've always wished that I could have met more such people
22:19So, I'm to take it you're going to do nothing about this posting
22:22For one reason or another
22:23Just as you will
22:24What about Cain and his oriental friends?
22:26Don't you want me to go on helping you with that?
22:29How long is it before your posting takes effect?
22:32Two, three weeks?
22:33Months
22:34Unless, of course, this is an emergency replacement
22:37Is it?
22:37I don't think so
22:39Well, nothing's changed, has it?
22:41We still have at least two or three weeks to get things tied up
22:47Now, if you'll excuse me
22:59At the most
23:02I see
23:02It could be a month
23:04Or if he really wants to be bloody minded about it
23:06He could arrange to have me flown out in two or three days
23:08Two or three days?
23:09Emergency replacement
23:13Oh, would you like another drink?
23:15No, no, I've still got one
23:17You have one
23:18No, no, mine's all right, thanks
23:19No, okay
23:23So, what are you going to do?
23:25It doesn't give me much time to do anything, does it?
23:27If I can't get out of it
23:29Do you think it might be able to get out of it?
23:30I doubt it
23:32I think he's got me tied up so tight
23:33If I try and struggle, I'll strangle myself
23:35So you'll have to go?
23:36No
23:37Well, not to Jakarta anyway
23:40I'm damned if I'm going to take that dusty road to the top
23:42But...
23:42If I can't wriggle out of it
23:44I'll take up Kenneth's offer in Canada
23:49Oh, yes, yes, of course
23:52So whatever happens, you'll have to go
23:55Looks like it
23:57It also looks as though we've come to the time for that decision
24:07John Wilder
24:09John Wilder
24:09Sir John Wilder
24:10There's a living ready
24:11We didn't think you managed to make it
24:15Bayek's success looks to agree with you, lad
24:17How are you, Walter?
24:19Do you remember Don Henderson?
24:21Donald, well...
24:22Hi, Walter
24:22Yeah, you're putting on weight
24:24And Frank, and Harry
24:26Oh, I know these two
24:27I made them about once a month
24:29And that's too often
24:30Well, are you going to have a drink, then?
24:32You'll bet I am
24:32I'm on committee this year
24:34I can do what I damn well like
24:36Well, well
24:37So you're an ambassador, eh, Arthur?
24:40No wonder country's going to the dogs
24:42You're out, lad
24:43It's nice to see you, Walter
24:45Oh, don't think I'm talking to you
24:47Because I like the look of your face
24:48No, I've been detailed to look after the celebrities tonight
24:52And I thought you'd come on with that, Eddie
24:55Yeah, I've got to vote the MP somewhere
24:57I suppose he's wandering round sucking up to the poor voters
25:03How's Mary?
25:04Oh, she's fine, fine, eh?
25:07Is she well?
25:08Oh, well, she's...
25:09Well, we're all knocking on a bit, you know, John
25:11I mean, an engine's only got a certain number of running hours, hasn't it?
25:15She's as well as I am, whatever that means
25:18Good
25:20Are you, uh, still at Lambleford's?
25:23Oh, no, I left there about three years ago, no
25:27I'm back at Farnborough now
25:30Oh, I'd had to believe you, John
25:32I mean, is there an aircraft industry or isn't there?
25:35Nobody seems to want to make up their mind
25:37It's boom one minute and redundancy the next
25:41Hey, you are very wise to get your backside out of it, John
25:45Well, I'm not so sure about that
25:48Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served
25:51Oh, I'd better go and find my bloody MP and see he knows which knife to use first
25:55Yeah, we'll get speeches over and then we'll have a jar and a nattery
26:00I'd like you very much water
26:01Well, now I must get on with my ceremonial duties
26:05Hmm
26:07You were sir and me on committee
26:10We haven't done so badly, have we, man?
26:21Time is the only thing I really have
26:23And I'm damned if I'm gonna put up with other people telling me how I should spend it
26:26No?
26:27No
26:28Well, that's nice for you, isn't it?
26:30What's the matter?
26:32It's raining
26:33The thing is, I don't really see where it gets him
26:35That's not so bloody stupid about it
26:38You've got a light
26:42Something occurred to me this evening
26:46When?
26:48This evening
26:51When did it occur to you this evening?
26:55What were you doing when this, whatever it was, occurred to you?
27:00How do you mean?
27:02Alright
27:03What was it that occurred to you?
27:07What do you think John knows about us?
27:10I don't know
27:11Nothing, I think
27:12He might
27:14He might
27:16Are you alright?
27:19Yeah, sure, of course I am
27:23Don't worry
27:29What was it that occurred to you then?
27:32Well, that it needn't have been Cain who arranged my transfer
27:36Could have been your husband
27:39Yeah
27:40I suppose that's possible, yes
27:42Do you think he knows something?
27:46I don't know
27:47He hasn't said anything
27:48No, but he might, mightn't he?
27:50He might
27:51Couldn't be easier for him, could it, if he wanted me out of the way
27:56Just listen to it
27:59Didn't even bring an umbrella
28:00Do you think he does suspect?
28:04Well, what does it matter if he does?
28:05You're not being transferred because you're resigning
28:07I'd just like to know
28:10If I'm going to Canada with you
28:13I know
28:14No
28:18Put this out for me, will you?
28:23Quickly, Lincoln
28:25Please
28:34Please
28:35Old Francis don't half natter on, does he?
28:37Only time anyone ever listens to him at one of these doors
28:41Cheers
28:42Cheers, Walter
28:44All that tripe about long-haired youth
28:46I've got one at my office, hair right down to his shoulders
28:49Lady Godiva, I called him
28:51He just laughed
28:53You're jealous, Walter
28:55Grass can't grow on a busy street
28:57I see you managed to keep yours all right
28:59But I'll tell you one thing
29:01If I want a fast-stress analysis that I can lean on
29:04It's Godiva I go to every time
29:06So you mean grass can grow on a busy street?
29:10He can grow any damn well except on my lawn
29:12Clover, yes, but grass, no
29:14Yet I wonder where my bloody MP is
29:17I suppose I'd better find him and get him a drink or something
29:20I suppose you're used to drinking with politicians, John
29:24Well, I can swallow my pride for once
29:25There he is, he looks all right to it
29:28But we'd better have him over, do you mind?
29:31Mr. Candleford
29:32Ah, hello, there you are
29:34Can I get you a drink?
29:35A brandy, I think
29:36There you know, Sir John Wilder and Mr. Henderson
29:39Yes, of course, we've met
29:41Have we?
29:43A very warm personality, yes, Mr. Candleford
29:48Warm just like horse manure is warm
29:52Here you are, Mr. Candleford
29:54Must keep our representatives stopped up
29:56Or at least the time
29:57You've got one, yes
29:59Splendid speech of Sir Francis, I thought
30:02Yes?
30:03Excellent, glad to see him having a go at all these long-haired young layabouts
30:08Ah, you're out of sympathy with hairy youth, then
30:12Perhaps he thinks Sir Fulce belongs to the middle-aged young
30:15I always say one has to earn one's whiskers
30:18Do you? Where did you get yours from?
30:21My dear fellow, with twenty thousand a year, you could do as you damn well please
30:26Really?
30:27Is that another thing you're always saying?
30:30You know, Donald, it isn't as being an MP I object to, but it's in spite of that he's got
30:35a fool
30:36I hope you've been following my efforts on behalf of your department, Wilder
30:40My department?
30:41Yours and your ministers
30:44What have you been doing on behalf of our department, Mr. Candleford?
30:50Haven't you read my speeches? I think I can say we're beginning to make their skin itch
30:56Really?
30:57Cain was right, the papers are beginning to take it up
30:59Had a couple of chappies round this afternoon
31:01I just thought...
31:02Oh dear Sir Francis, excuse me, I'd better just have a word with him
31:06John
31:08Look, get hold of a copy of Hansard, find out what that idiot has been saying
31:13Twenty thousand a year and he can do as he damn well likes
31:16And on that medieval philosophy, he has the votes of thousands of poor bloody voters
31:25After seeing him, you know, I'd grow my hair right down to my blasted boots
31:30It for good
31:37Thank you very much indeed
31:42Morning Lincoln
31:43Your name is Lee House, you remember
31:45Morning
31:47Why, did you want to meet me here?
31:49Well, as if you didn't know
31:50All right
31:52What are you saying?
31:53Oh, it interested me, want to know more
31:55There isn't any more, I put it all in the report
31:58Don't slip your ziplad
32:00You called for one of our people, we had a very non-committal 17a
32:05Was it about this?
32:06Yes
32:06Are we going to put in a report about that?
32:07I mean, after all, using one of our checks we do
32:09If it became necessary
32:11Now you think it is necessary?
32:12Yes
32:13Why now, not earlier?
32:15Now, I'm only evaluating Lincoln, it is my department
32:20Why not earlier?
32:22I wasn't sure earlier
32:23Now you are sure?
32:24Yes
32:24Something happened to make you sure?
32:26Yes
32:27I see
32:30It's a walloping great charge, lad
32:34A minister of the crown, secret meetings in Paris with members of a foreign communist power
32:40A hell of a charge, lad
32:41Well, that's what he did
32:45Possibly
32:46Now, what we want to know is
32:48Do we blast in and ask him what he's up to and risk a perfectly explicable answer
32:53Or do we merge quietly into the background and see if there's an answer which isn't quite so explicable
32:58Well, that's up to you, isn't it?
33:01How very truly
33:03What's happened to make you sure?
33:05I think he knows I'm on to him
33:07Why?
33:08Because he's had me posted abroad to Jakarta
33:10Has he now?
33:12Do you want to go?
33:13Very much
33:14I just thought you ought to know
33:17Quite
33:19Does he know you're with us?
33:21Yes
33:22Trying to winkle you out, is he?
33:25What do you think you'll do?
33:26Me?
33:27Well, I should just put in a report, Lincoln
33:28That's my function in life
33:31But no doubt someone will take a second look at our Mr. Cain
33:36We're very grateful to you, Lincoln
33:37Not at all
33:40Very grateful indeed
33:45Here lies the bones of Elizabeth Charlotte
33:48Born a virgin but died a harlot
33:50She was still a virgin at 17
33:52Remarkable thing in Aberdeen
33:55You know that's supposed to be carved on a stone in an Aberdeen churchyard
33:57I doubt it
33:58I think he's just part of the great British myth-making
34:01Yes, I'm sorry John's late
34:04No, thank you, no
34:05He said he'd be back at two o'clock
34:06That's okay, Mr. Henderson
34:07I'm in no rush
34:09Do you happen to know what Sir John wants to talk to me about?
34:12I'm afraid not, no
34:13Oh, never mind
34:15Now, I like this one
34:16It's not an epitaph
34:18But it has a kind of a period flavour about it
34:20There was an old man from Darjeeling
34:22Who travelled from London to Ealing
34:25It said on the door
34:26Please don't spit on the floor
34:28So he carefully spat on the ceiling
34:30No, I've not heard that
34:33Ah, here's John
34:34Ah, Mr. Edmund
34:40Oh, the minister?
34:41He's out, I'm afraid
34:43Oh, I'll come back later
34:44Well, Lincoln
34:45Could I have a word with you?
34:46Yeah, sure
34:47Well, I just wanted to say
34:48I'd be very grateful if you wouldn't mention
34:50What we were talking about the other day
34:52You know, my...
34:53Oh, no, of course not
34:54Well, it's no concern of anybody else
34:55If you'll just keep it to yourself
34:57Yes, certainly
34:58Well, I'll come back when the minister's in
34:59I gather you were looking forward to going to Jakarta
35:02Oh, yes
35:03Why, what's happened?
35:05You seem to be the last to hear about everything
35:07Your posting's been cancelled
35:09Why?
35:11Well, I don't know
35:12Word came through that on no account where you'd have been posted
35:15It's bad luck if you were looking forward to it
35:18What did the minister say?
35:19Well, I haven't spoken to him
35:20But never mind
35:21One door closes, another door opens
35:23How do you mean?
35:24Well, in my annual report
35:25I put that I thought you were exceptional
35:28And I hear they agree with me
35:29Where am I going?
35:31Well, nowhere as humidly romantic as Jakarta, I'm afraid
35:34It'll mean you'll be remaining in London
35:36To do what?
35:38Well, you'll be getting official words
35:39So I don't think I'd better say too much
35:42It's quite a lift for you
35:48I see
35:48I just wondered what you thought the attitude of your government would be towards these articles
35:54Well, I think you know what that would be, Sir John
35:57We feel that all the articles at present on the strategic list
36:00Are there because they are actually of some strategic value to our enemies
36:05But if the situation changed in the Far East and the foreseeable future
36:10Would your attitude change towards these articles?
36:15Well, whatever changes take place over the next two or three years
36:19At the moment, whatever the rights and wrongs
36:21We do have a very deep commitment in Vietnam
36:24Now, my own attitude and that of many of my colleagues
36:27Is even if one is doing it for the wrong regions, which is disputable
36:31Even to send one battalion of men into a combat area
36:34And then to undermine their security at home
36:36And without their knowledge
36:38Would be an inexcusable breach of faith
36:41We can discuss it, Sir John
36:43They have to fight it
36:45So you would be opposed?
36:47Why does Mr. Cain feel this way?
36:49Well, I merely think he's trying to open up other trading areas
36:53There's nothing more sinister than that
36:55You tell me he's bringing pressure to get backing
36:57Yes
36:58Do you think he has any chances?
37:00Well, I think he might have
37:01Might have had
37:04Something's happening
37:05Mr. Edmonds, to be honest, I don't entirely disagree with him
37:09The optical goods on the list that he's concerned with are not immediately strategic
37:14If they didn't get them from us, they could get them elsewhere
37:17They are, we are not the only people that make them
37:19Nevertheless
37:20Now, things have come off the strategic list
37:23Which your country have been quite happy to sell
37:27Well, I must say that on your behalf I've been trying to slow up this exercise
37:32And in two or three weeks I may be able to stamp it in altogether
37:34But you must understand that it is to my country's disadvantage
37:38And I may be told so
37:40I quite see that, Sir John, and it does mean an area of trade closed to you
37:44Exactly
37:46But, suppose other areas were opened up
37:49Then it might save my neck and save you a lot of bother
37:53Quite
37:54Have you got anything in mind?
37:55Well, for instance
37:58If I went to my people with a possible agreement on, say, space instrumentation
38:05Which would be to the advantage of my country
38:09I have no doubt that they would be willing to swap one for another
38:14Well, I think maybe a little reorientation with the powers that be might be coordinated to that end
38:22Ah, well, it would be a step in the right direction
38:25Now, how about that drink?
38:27Fine
38:33Just a minute
38:33No, sorry
38:35Ah
38:36Thank you, Lincoln
38:37Uh, ground?
38:38No, sir
38:39I'm going to visit you
38:42Well, you're not leaving us after all, eh?
38:45No, apparently not
38:46Father told me
38:47Really?
38:49Getting promotion, I hear?
38:50Yes, so it seems
38:51Well, that's very nice for you
38:52I'm sure you deserve it
38:54Mind you, I had hoped if, uh, you'd been going abroad
38:57We wouldn't be quite so pestered by those friends of yours from security
39:01Every time I came my hair, two or three fall out
39:03I used to think it was dandruff
39:05But I can assure you that, sir
39:06No, no, no, no, don't, Lincoln, don't
39:08I might have to believe you
39:10Oh, by the way
39:11It wasn't me who arranged you to be posted
39:15I don't really care whether you're here or not
39:25You put him onto me
39:26Put who onto you?
39:27Come on, Fitzgerald
39:28You know what I'm talking about
39:29Lincoln Darling and his gang of witch hunters
39:31He wouldn't have had the guts to start this on his own
39:32That's for sure
39:33I had a very oily gentleman named Mobs
39:35Waiting for me in my office just now
39:37Suggesting what I should and shouldn't do
39:39For the benefit of the crown
39:40I have no idea what you're talking about
39:43No
39:44No, I merely asked Darling if he could find out what your interests were in Paris
39:49That was all
39:50I asked you very specifically to stay out of this one
39:53You told me very rudely
39:55But as usual you took it as a slight on your commercial virility
39:59And decided to stick your own ore in
40:00To what end I really can't imagine
40:03This absurd scheme had no chance of ever getting off the ground
40:07Do you imagine for one moment
40:09That the Americans would allow to be taken off the strategic list
40:13Anything that they thought even remotely might not be to their advantage
40:18Well, they won't
40:19Strategically or commercially
40:22They're not only a military power
40:24They're a commercial power
40:26You have to deal with them like any other competitor in business
40:30Oh, your mind is jammed up in business, isn't it?
40:33You're like one of these half-wits who say the country we'd better run
40:35If we had a government made up of businessmen
40:39Well
40:40Wouldn't it possibly be?
40:42Oh, forget about it
40:43They tried that in Germany, didn't they?
40:46Romance and big business
40:47That ends up turning people into soap
40:51I asked you to stay out of this
40:52You told me
40:54Well, I'm sorry I should have asked you
40:59Oh, this would present a scene of some beauty to a passing citizen, wouldn't it?
41:04A minister of the crown and an ambassador in a slang match
41:08If any passing citizen imagined that it doesn't happen
41:12They'd better grow up before the next elections
41:16I was told to do it, you know
41:18Asked or told or whatever
41:20It was decided that certain articles were on the strategic list
41:23Not because they had any strategic purpose
41:25But because they'd always been there
41:26We are trying in this country
41:28To be both a political and a commercial power
41:31But if you take away our commercial potential
41:33We cease to be a political one
41:35You know this
41:36This is why you go herring off after every business opening
41:39Like a sex maniac when the whorehouse lights go on
41:43Very pretty report
41:44No wonder the whole list reviewed
41:46And they're quite right
41:46When you think about it
41:48You could probably draw up a strategic list
41:50That prohibited the export of chewing gum
41:53So?
41:54So, you've sodded the whole thing up
41:57I agree, it's probably bad communications
42:00And bad communications seem to be the nature of the way we set things up
42:04But now, we've got security, we've got the Americans
42:08You name it, and we've got it trampling all over us
42:10Wouldn't it have been easier if you'd have just let me know?
42:15Well, I suppose so
42:16But they wanted it doing with the minimum of exposure
42:21Well, I suppose we'll just have to wait for a year or so
42:24And then start all over again
42:26I didn't put security onto you
42:28Even over that Paris thing
42:29I thought it would be just someone from this office
42:34Oh
42:37Well, they'll crawl back into their holes
42:40As soon as somebody gives them an official hot foot
42:42They're not so frightening
42:44Things could be worse, couldn't they?
42:47Huh?
42:47Well, what I mean is if we don't open up in China
42:50We do have the beginnings of a new agreement with America
42:55Have we?
42:56Yes
42:57Yes, we have
42:58On space instrumentation
43:02Snap
43:04When the Americans asked us if we'd soft-pedal it
43:07The Foreign Secretary and I said we would
43:10If we could talk about a civil engineering project
43:15Well, you're very good health
43:19Well, by the way
43:21Hmm?
43:23Was it you that had Lincoln Darling transferred?
43:28No
43:30Wasn't it you?
43:32No
43:34Hell, don't tell me there's someone else in here
43:37That wants to get rid of him
43:43Oh, hello, Jason
43:44I was even there for the Minister
43:45Oh, Lincoln, I was just wondering
43:47I was just wondering if you had nothing particular to do this evening
43:51Well, I was just wondering if you'd care to have a meal with me somewhere
43:54Well, that's very kind of you, Jason
43:56Well, it was just
43:57I
43:59Well, if you had nothing to do particularly
44:02Well, actually, Jason, I have something quite important on tonight
44:06I would have liked
44:07Oh, no, no, that's all right
44:09No, no, I just suddenly thought of it
44:12We can do it again
44:15You're going out, are you?
44:18It's just that
44:20It's different now
44:23You're not going to Jakarta?
44:25No
44:26Nor to Canada?
44:27No
44:29So it's different now?
44:30I didn't say that
44:32Which that do you mean?
44:34The that of my not coming to Canada with you
44:36Or the that of my coming up here to see you whenever you feel it might be nice?
44:40Oh, don't be ridiculous
44:42Suddenly everything's different
44:44Which that have we given up?
44:46Simply that I'm not now going abroad
44:50Lincoln
44:53I was about to alter my entire life for you
44:57You asked me to and I might just have been prepared to do so
45:03In two weeks, I would have had to reorganize my whole life
45:07All you had to do was to buy two tickets to Canada and alter your job
45:11And suddenly it's different
45:13I didn't say that
45:14Because you've been offered a new job, you're not going to buy those tickets
45:20You tell me this evening
45:23But you knew this morning
45:26At any time I might have spoken to John
45:28You didn't
45:31No
45:32No, I didn't
45:33All I said was we'd have to be careful
45:35Because it might endanger your new job
45:37No, I didn't mean it to sound like that
45:39Oh, no, of course you didn't
45:41You didn't mean to go on talking about yourself and your problems that night when I was up here with
45:45you
45:45But you did
45:49Oh, I know you
45:51I married you
45:52No
45:53Pamela
45:54Let's not be silly about it
45:55It's all been a terrible mistake
45:58You're afraid that I
45:59I might be embarrassment to you in your new job
46:02That's unfair
46:03And I'm afraid that in five years from now
46:05I shan't be able to tell the difference between you and John Wilder
46:08Pamela
46:12Pamela
46:29You have it wrong, you know
46:31Canada, yes
46:33Even Jakarta
46:35But not London
46:36Hell, look where I live
46:37Look where you live
46:40Well, this promotion doesn't make me rich
46:45I've got to work things out
46:48I need a day or two to think
46:54Yes
46:57Take all the time you want, Lincoln
47:21Mrs. Hatley?
47:24Are you up there, Mrs. Hatley?
48:05Thank you
48:28I had a meal with Walter Hallib this evening.
48:32Did you?
48:34I think it was the most pleasant thing that's happened to me this week, seeing him again.
48:39Was it?
48:41It made me want to go back into aircraft.
48:45Why don't you?
48:53What did you do tonight?
48:56Went to a show.
48:59Any good?
49:02Average.
49:12Good luck.
49:23What do you do tonight?
49:25Good luck.
49:26Good luck.
49:28Good luck.
49:29Good luck.
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