- 3 days 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
00:09THE END
00:35THE END
01:05THE END
01:33THE END
01:33Who's he going to be then?
01:35That leaves us with five backbenchers, two industrialists and Prescott.
01:40And yourself. Sounds like a field for the Grand National.
01:43Not one of them will make as good a Minister of State as old Caswell.
01:46It's a bit late for that. He's dead.
01:49Besides, half these deadbeats will never make the course and the rest will get nobbled.
01:52Yes, in with the dope tests, I say.
01:54What do you mean by that, Lincoln?
01:55Well, for a start, you can rule out the two businessmen.
01:58Frame's had enough of commerce, so you can be sure he doesn't want to be Minister of State in our
02:01department.
02:01He's gone religious. He wants the race relations board.
02:04His guilt and greedy bastard made a fortune out of arms for Nigeria.
02:09And Dawson?
02:10And megalomania.
02:10Isn't that an asset for a Minister?
02:12Not now. He's taken to screaming.
02:14Screaming?
02:14And twitching.
02:15Twitching?
02:15And kicking over tables.
02:17You better take up fiction, Lincoln.
02:19I'm telling you. Last Monday, he tipped over a table at La Belle Alaine just because they'd run out of
02:23chocolate mousse.
02:24Then he made his driver go so fast, they hit two taxis and a commissioner in the West End.
02:28Go on saying things like this about people, Lincoln. You find yourself up for slander.
02:31Every word's true.
02:32Clearly, twitching Dawson is out.
02:34We've had enough Ministers in this country with big lungs, sharp tempers and outsized thirsts.
02:39Now, Dawson doesn't look like a Minister of State.
02:41Nor you, a Foreign Office civil servant.
02:44Though I like the way you're learning to speak out.
02:46Instead of wrapping everything up you say, like so much diplomatic fish and chips.
02:51Thank you, Ambassador.
02:52All right.
02:53Now you've demolished the prospects of our two leading tycoons.
02:57Perhaps you have some ideas about our other candidates.
03:00You can rule out all those five MPs tipped by the pundits this morning.
03:04Mrs. Lovell, MP.
03:06Bunty's a pusher.
03:07She has talent, she's tough.
03:08She has one drawback.
03:10Go on.
03:11She's a woman.
03:12Well, I hardly think that needs stating, considering her statistics.
03:16Which she plays on.
03:18Can you imagine the tizzy she'd cause if she gave Sir Jason Fowler the come on?
03:22Our Deputy Undersecretary wouldn't know the difference between a woman and a bound copy of Hansard.
03:28No.
03:29I want Mrs. Lovell as our next Minister.
03:32Oh, no!
03:33What the hell do you mean by that?
03:34Well, John, I know she's a sex plot.
03:36Probably the hottest politicians receive a pair on.
03:38It's not like you to let a woman come between you and your work.
03:41She's the only one of those that I can control.
03:44Don't forget you're in the race yourself.
03:46Oh, very shrewd.
03:47You push Mrs. Lovell so that Prescott, our temporary minister, doesn't become permanent.
03:51Then, after a decent interval, you leave Mrs. Lovell in the ditch.
03:54Oh, sounds like quite a damp romp.
03:57Decent intervals are for civil servants like you, Lincoln.
04:01No.
04:02I want the job filled permanently by Mrs. Lovell.
04:06And make you second favourite, Walther.
04:08Second?
04:08Second.
04:10Let's get this straight.
04:11I never join any political party.
04:14Certainly not for however brief and dazzling power in government.
04:19I have to remain independent.
04:21Back to industry one day?
04:23One day.
04:23The big neutral.
04:24The untainted political virgin.
04:27Lincoln, I do know a good analyst.
04:29What do you mean, Lincoln?
04:31Are you thinking of joining me out there in the wilderness one day?
04:35If you do, consult me first.
04:38Out there, they spill real blood, not Reading.
04:41Doesn't it bother you that whoever gets the job might get you out and appoint a new ambassador?
04:46Prescott.
04:46Oh, Prescott's got his own department and that's given him an ulcer.
04:49He's only a tick over appointment.
04:51Which leaves us with my Mrs. Lovell.
04:54No.
04:54Someone quite else.
04:56Someone pacing himself from the rear like a quality miler.
05:00Go on, Lincoln.
05:01Who is this Olympian?
05:02Garfield Kane, MP.
05:05Who?
05:06Garfield Kane.
05:07Mr. Instant Success himself.
05:09From deprived child to industrial consultant and member of parliament in a few giant strides.
05:14A francophile, a socialite and a bit of a lad with the women.
05:17Yes, well let's see what who's who has to say about him, shall we?
05:20Very little so far.
05:22He's at this moment at Le Gourmet Francais, best French chef in London of course, lunching with your wife.
05:30I don't believe you.
05:32That's true.
05:33And there was the British Minister, an ex-trades union official, at this very special diplomatic luncheon at the Elysee
05:38Palace.
05:39And when the escargot was served, he just sat there like this, with his forked vertical, like Britannia on a
05:45hapenny.
05:45Couldn't stand the sight of Snail?
05:47Loved him.
05:48He was waiting for the salt and vinegar.
05:50Well if he wanted salt and vinegar so much, they should have let him have it.
05:53To Elysee Palace.
05:54Any palace.
05:55A lady after my own heart.
05:57I wouldn't bank on that, Mr. Kane.
05:59Now I don't tell him you didn't check on me before accepting my invitation to lunch.
06:02Should I have?
06:03Well, it's customary in diplomatic circles before accepting anyone's invitation to do a little of it.
06:08What do you do before inviting someone for dinner?
06:11Now, no, dinners are for people who know each other.
06:13In a month or less, I'll ask you to dinner.
06:17Don't appreciate my sense of humour.
06:19I hadn't noticed any, only your extraordinary slobbery.
06:22I can see you're new to diplomacy, Lady Wilder.
06:25After all, you're no better than a man who eats oysters with a spoon, are you?
06:29Never said anything about oysters.
06:30Snails, sir.
06:30Or about a spoon.
06:33Did you know, for example, you can eat a frog's legs with chopsticks?
06:37Where?
06:37Peking.
06:48Garfield Kane.
06:50Oh, yes, Maggie, would you?
06:52But not before 4.30.
06:54No, I'm enjoying myself too much.
06:57Fine, Maggie.
06:57Bye.
07:00John used to take phone calls in restaurants.
07:03Well, there's no gimmick, I assure you.
07:06I should have thought you'd known that head waiters should serve food, not GPO lines.
07:11Tastes better.
07:12Oh, thank you.
07:14I'm amazed you didn't just casually mention some deal worth millions of dollars, or rather hundreds of millions of francs.
07:21Not even penis, I'm afraid.
07:22Some of my constituents want to see me.
07:24They're being pushed around.
07:25Oh, but I dare say you'll be able to knock up some useful publicity out of it.
07:29I'll knock a few heads together.
07:31Don't make me out of total cynic.
07:33I'm only 50% one, or at the most 60.
07:36And you must try the treacle tart.
07:40Treacle tart, Francaise.
07:42Anglais, Francaise.
07:43And I taught the chef how to do it.
07:46Treacle tart, that is.
07:48René, de treacle tart.
07:53It's a British gourmet's contribution to the entente cordiale.
07:56Don't you mean discordial?
07:58Well, some of us have to keep on trying.
08:00It's sometimes a bit overfacing, but it does have its own rewards.
08:03In sterling and francs.
08:06You're not politicians, do you?
08:08Or is it just this one?
08:09The age of virtuous politics is past.
08:12And we are deep in that of cold pretense.
08:18But isn't your husband the politician, no?
08:20John is ambassador for special situations and trade.
08:25He wouldn't join your party if you gave him the powers of Cromwell.
08:29Oh, hasn't he caught the Oliver Sea virus?
08:31Spreading worse than Hong Kong flu.
08:33I didn't come here to talk about my husband.
08:36No, no.
08:37You're here because I want you to serve on a charity committee.
08:40Which I trust exists.
08:42Oh, yes.
08:42But now you are here.
08:44I just want your husband to know that if Prescott is confirmed in the job as Minister of State,
08:49Wilder will be out inside a month.
08:51Oh, he'll bounce back.
08:53Higher every time.
08:54You don't mind, then?
08:56Why are you telling me this and not John?
08:58Well, I don't know him.
08:59You don't know me, Mr. Kane.
09:00Oh, he'd mistake my motives.
09:03I think you're scared of him.
09:04Well, I want to work with him, not against him.
09:09Work with him?
09:11This is Minister.
09:15I don't think I'll stay for your treacle tart, Mr. Kane.
09:18I think it's time you learnt not to invite a lady, even one who hasn't had you vetted,
09:23to lunch under false pretenses.
09:25No, no, please.
09:25There's no false pretenses.
09:27Just one thing I want your husband to know, and then.
09:30Prescott has plans to combine the job of ministers with that of your husband.
09:34He fancies VIP trips to faraway places, pulling off vast deals a la Sir John Wilder, wherever
09:40he goes.
09:42Natural fact, he's never done a deal in his life.
09:43Not even for peanuts, it's, um, all a substitute for sex.
09:49So, no charity committee?
09:51Oh, yes.
09:52I want you to serve on the committee of something I run, to raise money for an orphanage.
09:57No, it's my old school.
10:00We even, you'd never believe this, we even have a tie.
10:05All right.
10:47Tell him to call me as soon as he gets back.
10:52He's getting too independent.
10:54I'm doing the rounds of his business chums in your roles.
10:57I blame you, John.
10:59He wasn't ambitious before he worked for you.
11:02The day we met, he told me he aimed to be an ambassador before he was 45.
11:07That's ambition.
11:09And I wants to make money, pots of it, before he's 35.
11:12And he will do.
11:14Anybody who can wander off in my roles and keep it all afternoon is well on the way.
11:19Not to mention your wife.
11:21When I borrowed your roles once for an hour, John, you used a far less complimentary word than ambitious.
11:26Well, try Bunty Lovell again.
11:29Either she didn't get the message, or she takes lunch to be a half-day feast.
11:38And make sure that the surprise visit of the Eastern European delegation doesn't upset my meeting with the Foreign Secretary.
11:53John, our man for all seasons, Lincoln Dowling, says you're wasting your time lobbying the Foreign Secretary for the job.
11:59Darcy.
12:04I realise that my tenancy here as Minister is for the moment temporary.
12:09But if I should stay, you, Sir Jason, as Civil Service Head of the Department, would find your staff and
12:15powers increased.
12:17I've been looking at your memos and been disturbed to see so many of your excellent ideas just not acted
12:23upon.
12:24No, thank you, Minister.
12:25For you, darling, I have the highest regard.
12:28I should like to see you groomed as the next roving ambassador.
12:32Our personnel would never wear it at my age.
12:35It's supposed to be bad for the morale of the ones left behind.
12:37Well, even they must learn the need to change.
12:40I'm all for having ambassadors in their thirties and forties, instead of keeping them down till their skin dries up.
12:46Anyway, that's all I want to say.
12:48Thank you, gentlemen.
12:55Prescott's quite definitely not our man, Lincoln.
12:57Dried up before his time.
12:58I'm glad you agree it so rarely these days you do.
13:00Still, I can see what he's up to.
13:02He would amalgamate his own department with ours and import his own hierarchy.
13:06Which would be goodbye to you.
13:07And you, for all your urge to try new pastures, might find yourself menially tied to the old.
13:12Running errands would be quite a come down from riding around all the afternoon in wild as rows.
13:17I'm running nobody's errands, either now or in the future.
13:20So when do you leave us for the big grab outside?
13:22Well, not before everyone's snatched all the plums here.
13:25Still, I should deliberate with care, Lincoln, before you step into the undergrowth.
13:30You make business sound like some primitive corner of the Matto Grosso.
13:33Well, isn't it?
13:35I'm not lucky enough to have a son.
13:37But I'd never let my nephews entertain business as a career.
13:41Did your nephews wear pinstripe nappets?
13:43That'll do, darling.
13:44Yes, Sir Jason.
13:45And while you remain here, you'd do well to help us make sure that our temporary minister...
13:49Our temporary minister, Prescott, presently departs.
13:52I didn't know you were a John Wilder man.
13:54He's the last person I'd want at that desk.
13:56Don't tell me you're carrying on with Mrs. Bunty Lovell, MP.
13:59Don't be facetious, Lincoln.
14:00Oh, I don't know.
14:01A quick tumble off your high horse into Bunty's bed might bring the colour to your cheek.
14:04Lincoln, I will not endure rudeness from a raw apprentice.
14:08Yesterday you were going on about my great qualities when you wanted my backing against Wilder.
14:12Don't forget you may yet want a favourable annual report from me should your big business ideas crumble.
14:17You can still help us to ensure that we, as officials, get the minister we want.
14:22And who's that?
14:23The best of a bad lot.
14:27Garfield Kane.
14:28I thought that was the lyric I'd hear.
14:37And where the hell have you been?
14:40Learning to eat frog's legs with chopsticks.
14:43And did you?
14:44Did I what?
14:45That was a straightforward question.
14:47And I'll give you the answer in French, if you'll allow me a moment to acclimatise.
14:53Oh, thank you, Don.
14:55Don, that's two gentlemen I've met today.
14:58Since when has Darling been a gentleman?
15:01Poor Lincoln.
15:02You do have it in for him.
15:03He was sent to collect you.
15:05And this piece of baggage needed no collecting.
15:08Oh, Don, you do it, will you?
15:10Did you know, either of you, that the cultural renaissance in Europe is in full swing?
15:16I find the news deeply moving.
15:18I know more about Paris, France from this one afternoon than if you had been British ambassador for a whole
15:24year at the Quai d'Orsay.
15:25Well, never mind about Paris, France.
15:28All that matters is what you've been saying in London, England at lunch today, which appears to have been lavish.
15:35Sophisticated.
15:36Whatever.
15:38Don, get a damn pair of scissors or leave it.
15:41Oh, no, Don, don't leave it.
15:44No, it should be opened in the interest of the spread of cultural knowledge.
15:49And scissors, it's dangerous.
15:54Do you know, either of you, why the girl with the best legs in Paris wears a maxi skirt?
16:02Something to do with French culture?
16:04No.
16:05Don?
16:06No.
16:07Oh, no idea, really.
16:08Unless the father's a cloth manufacturer.
16:11Hmm?
16:12Well, I mean, if he makes cloth, this is in his interest to make maxi skirts, he uses more cloth.
16:18For God's sake, Pamela!
16:20Oh, no.
16:23Shall I tell you?
16:25In as few words as possible.
16:27You see, when she was very young in Marseille, she made a mistake.
16:32She joined the French Navy, the French Wrens, of course.
16:35One would hardly have expected her to be in the Marines.
16:39And, um, she had her legs tattooed.
16:48For God's sake, Don, open that parcel!
16:51Give it to me.
16:57Oh.
17:07Hmm.
17:17you know the man who painted that was only 23 years old i should have thought he'd been under
17:2614 in another 30 years he'll be as famous as picasso is now in another 30 years if he goes
17:32on doing daubs like that he'll drive the world mad and i think it's very attractive pamela and
17:37so do i what's it supposed to be he it's not supposed to be anything it exists in its own
17:49right but you are a philistine john i only hope you didn't buy it it was a gift well whoever
17:58gave
17:58you that wasn't generous he was a practical joker whoever gave me that is six foot one
18:04self-made fascinating and a great european who cares about the aunt on concordial
18:13pamela should i go make you a nice cup of tea or strong black coffee yes john
18:20yes if you make it if you personally with your own hands make it without sugar
18:38he must be quite a fella whoever took you to lunch he has style and a penchant for dustbin art
18:47not to mention a penthouse with a view right over shepherd's bush
18:53who wants a view over shepherd's bush i liked it
19:01what else has he got there besides tenth rate art bound copies of playboy
19:09mirrors
19:14yes
19:15oh just a minute it's bunty lovell for you john
19:19hello mrs lovell i'm glad you called yes
19:23can we meet tomorrow
19:27in my office yes
19:31yes that would be ideal
19:32yes thank you very much goodbye
19:37mrs lovell mp with a majority of four thousand odd
19:44well i don't care about her odd majority how old is she
19:48about as old as garfield kane
19:51ah now there's a man to watch john
19:55a man to watch damn closely
20:07get a bottle of brandy don
20:09brandy
20:09brandy
20:11yes brandy you make it sound like vaccine
20:13a bottle or three glasses
20:15didn't know that don had joined the band of hope did you
20:19a bottle and three glasses
20:21john it's half past three in the afternoon quite sure you're not doing this to get your own back
20:27what's that all about
20:29oh
20:30family had a jolly afternoon out at lunch with garfield kane
20:34oh yes i know
20:35bistro kid to bon viveur that one
20:38well it's not a bad image
20:39oh no he has one of the best publicity agents in town
20:45to you john those plans must look like love letters
20:49certainly on simon it certainly takes me back
20:53i think you'll ever go back to making aeroplanes
20:55not until i have a european set up strong enough to smash in on the americans
20:59yes
21:00i think that's what you've missed john all these years
21:03the challenge of keeping 20 000 people in work
21:08oh she's a beauty isn't she
21:09yup
21:10every tycoon will want one for his firm
21:13and for his girlfriend
21:15what's the market potential
21:18over the next seven years
21:19around 4 000
21:21could be the biggest seller since the viscount
21:24but i confess you have me puzzled john
21:27we have the germans all but hooked on a co-production deal
21:31and you of all people want to bring the french in
21:34you were never much of a froggy lover when i worked on you
21:37all i'm saying simon is
21:38we ought to let the french have a sniff of it
21:41and they'll follow their big noses right in
21:43albeit with a show of gallic cochranja
21:46then the germans will close without any further delay
21:52you sure that's all john
21:53no more to it
21:55where else could that be
21:58so we use the french as bait to encourage
22:01and i take care of any anti-german political prejudice on our side
22:09bring up simon
22:10it's french
22:11and naturally very old
22:14i'll have to go easy
22:15i'm due at the german embassy after this
22:19i wish you'd given you schnapps
22:23have another one son
22:24well
22:25i will have just one more
22:28it's not quite the way to dispose of good brandy
22:31still
22:32work before aesthetics
22:37shall i leave those with you john
22:38yes i uh i like to look at them
22:42yes
22:44well
22:45goodbye then
22:46goodbye simon
22:49goodbye simon
22:50oh thanks everyone
22:51bye
22:52don
22:54get hold of garfield kane
22:56tell him i want to see him
22:57now you mean
22:59yes jill
23:00mrs lovel is here to see you sir john
23:03oh will you show us straight in
23:04do you still want me to get hold of kane
23:06immediately
23:07any more of the people's representatives you want to round it up while i'm at it
23:13i heard you'd introduce novel practices into whitehall sir john
23:17well the only thing that's new about it is its quality if a survey were taken of the hooch in
23:22all the offices here you'll probably find the spirit manufacturers advertising in the civil service gazette can i offer you
23:28one
23:28no thank you
23:32i don't imagine you invited me here for a binge
23:35you know why you're here
23:37won't you sit down
23:38everyone knows that we amongst others
23:40are both in line for appointment of minister of state in this department
23:44well i'm glad the appointment is not being made on looks
23:49mrs pankhurst would have had you in her front line chorus
23:55are you sure you won't have a drink
23:57i have a dozen constituents waiting to see me in the house
23:59some of whom want to stop sunday licensing and then i expect to speak in a debate
24:04foreign affairs
24:05pregnant au pair girls
24:09oh i'm sorry
24:10it's not funny
24:12i i don't think so either it was merely the juxtaposition
24:16you don't have to pretend with me sir john i can see straight through you
24:21i assure you i have every sympathy
24:23i'm talking about the appointment now
24:25oh
24:27don't come your woman's wives with me mrs lovell as far as the job is concerned you're a fella
24:33fine
24:34though when you were a parliamentary private secretary i hear you had half your civil service over the moon after
24:40you
24:41this cow jumps over no moons to jump
24:44i don't know about cows
24:47you seem to have come here for a bullfight
24:49you've been saying that you want me to get the job because you think you can tame me
24:54if i said any such thing i was very rash
24:57i would soon attain a fully grown tiger
25:01tigress
25:01tiger
25:04if you've invited me here in the hope of persuading me to withdraw from the candidates list
25:10you're wasting your time
25:12whatever the inducements
25:15inducements
25:15i'm told that you have a splendid talent for buying your way out of trouble
25:19i am not buy-offable
25:22that's slander
25:23i'll fight you all the way
25:28you're more militant than a battalion of commandos
25:32i understood that you are a domesticated housewife
25:36with a couple of kids not to mention an aging mother-in-law and an au pair girl
25:40who is not pregnant
25:42how can one tell
25:45would it surprise you to learn that i'm not interested in becoming the new minister
25:49only in who gets the job
25:51for someone who's seen the foreign secretary three times in the past 24 hours
25:56and has also been trying to see the pm
25:57you don't sound like much of a non-starter to me
26:00i told the foreign secretary who i wanted in the job
26:06not me
26:07i don't want prescott
26:09or any bloated politician
26:11i'm one
26:13unbloated
26:14and a woman
26:15oh come sir john
26:16your record doesn't show that you have very much confidence in women
26:19you wouldn't take that woman who was such an expert in swing wing geometry onto your board at scott furlong
26:25it was her own geometry that bothered me
26:28thirty eight twenty four thirty six i didn't want distracted directors playing footsie under the table
26:36are you sure you won't have a brandy
26:38hmm
26:39yes
26:40and to hell with the anti-sunday licensing delegation
26:43though i don't want to be breathing fumes all over mr speaker
26:46yes john
26:48don will you bring in the brandy
26:50i don't want you to think this is our usual routine
26:53or that i am trying to predice your chances of appointment
27:00we certainly need two glasses dog
27:08well don't stand there like some wine waiter in an orgy
27:14no wonder the nation's on its beam ends
27:18uh pamela
27:19this is
27:20mrs lovell
27:22mp
27:23you know i thought you were going to say that
27:25and my wife
27:27well who comes next
27:29danny larue and the blue bell girls
27:31pamela
27:33well would you care to take a drink with us
27:35you know i'm on the wagon john
27:38anyway i wouldn't dream of intruding on such affairs
27:41of state
27:42actually though i was looking for lincoln
27:47don
27:53lincoln
27:54lincoln dowry my private secretary
27:56one of the foreign office
27:58high flyers
28:00oh
28:00i thought so
28:02yes he's certainly been flying high amongst my friends
28:05not to mention my enemies
28:07question here
28:08an inquisitive phone call there
28:12for you
28:14i know all i need to know about you
28:17if
28:18darling has been doing any digging
28:20you can be sure the
28:21shovel belongs to the
28:24permanent civil service here
28:25who believe they have a right to influence the
28:28appointment of a new minister in their own interests
28:31i know somebody who also believes in this right
28:34in his interests
28:35he's been doing more lobbying in the
28:37uh
28:37right places
28:39than anyone
28:40so i think i know who you're talking about
28:42the professional orphan
28:46garfield k
28:48frank if wilder jumps the queue of loyal backbenchers
28:51if he's made minister of state just for signing a party card
28:54the explosion will make student riots look like parents they had eaten
28:58now don't tell me how to do my job
29:00i've been a member of this party as long as you have frank
29:02as chief whip you're custodian of its interests in this house
29:05you know quite well what a menace wilder is to backbench MPs who are quite reasonably looking for promotion
29:12like you
29:13i've worked for it
29:17wilder could be quite a catch for the party if you're only willing
29:19willing
29:20since the day caswell died his mouth's been as wide open as a hungry sharks
29:24now don't you believe it
29:25he protests too much
29:26he's never fought shy of power since the day he was born
29:30suppose i were to disclose that wilder has been discreetly sounded out
29:34oh
29:36go on
29:37and said no
29:39loud and bloody clear
29:40tactics to make sure you ask him again more persuasively
29:43did you offer him a peerage
29:45no
29:46you mean not yet
29:47i mean no
29:48well do so and you have your new minister
29:51how often have you met him Garfield
29:53i know what he's made of
29:54but you're talking from ignorance
29:56and from a long experience of our party
30:00do you want a rebellion
30:01led by you from your usual position at the rear
30:04you can't keep hard working MPs sitting on the back benches like dumb waiters serving your political banquet
30:10you're not the only candidate Garfield
30:11Prescott
30:13couldn't run a tenth rate discotheque
30:15what i like about you is your loyalty to your colleagues
30:19now listen Frank
30:22part of your job as chief whip is to ensure that the broth of opportunity is kept stirred
30:27not to keep jobs for established junior ministers like Prescott
30:31or the wilders
30:33you're not even the only backbencher in the hunt Garfield
30:36Bunty Lovell
30:37the F.O. would never take a woman like that in this job Frank
30:40and you bloody well know it
30:43hmm
30:48i didn't ask you here about this anyway
30:50you offered to help convince those troublesome fellow backbenchers of yours of their duty to the party
30:57well now Frank
30:58if that's what you want
31:00i think i can help
31:02good
31:04if i've warned just once more to be on my guard against Garfield Kane i'll know you've all turned a
31:10shade of jealous green
31:12you're not jealous
31:15oh no Lincoln
31:16i've no right to be have i
31:18no no you haven't
31:20it's nothing to do with rice actually
31:21only chromosomes
31:22Lincoln
31:22all i said was he's a crafty politician who believes in using people
31:25well John uses me i use him
31:29you and Don incessantly use me to influence John Garfield was doing no more than that
31:33anyway Don at least isn't crafty he's sweet
31:37you left me out of that last bit
31:39you Lincoln are not nice to know
31:42i do sometimes find you fascinating and complicated and interesting
31:47and sometimes attractive
31:49and flattered
31:51he's going about it the wrong way you know if he wants to be minister
31:54why on earth does nobody believe him when he says he doesn't
31:58because he's been lobbying the foreign secretary and trying to cultivate downing street
32:01what on earth else should he lobby mrs bunty lovell
32:06lobbying mrs bunty lovell
32:08Wilder's been wasting his time
32:10he should be cultivating the puppet master
32:12the man who pulls all the strings as far as jobs are concerned
32:15the government chief whip
32:16have you told him
32:17oh he stopped listening to me
32:20so you want me to tell John
32:22now who's using who Lincoln
32:24if Garfield Kane gets the job i'll clear it out within 24 hours
32:27my resignation would have been before he even steps foot in the place
32:30but you don't even know him
32:31i know enough
32:34Lincoln
32:35i had no idea you were sitting waiting out there in the rolls yesterday
32:39and if you had
32:40well
32:42i'd have introduced you to Garfield
32:43there wasn't Kane i wanted to talk to
32:45now you're just being silly
32:48anyway
32:48by all accounts you kept the rolls all afternoon
32:51who did you pick up in it
32:52well if you must know i got good old keep going round and round the high park circle
32:56whatever for
32:57i needed to think
33:00nobody else in the back seat
33:01not even a dolly bird
33:04Lincoln
33:05darling
33:06you are jealous
33:11all i can say Garfield is that if you can help to persuade these half dozen recalcitrants
33:16to hold off attacking the government for another month
33:18oh Tony Frank leave it to me
33:20i know how to handle Headley and Downhill
33:22and without that pair of political rams the rest are sheep who'll graze on placidly
33:27i hope you're right
33:28absolutely right
33:30if you can pull this off Garfield we in the parliamentary party will be in your debt
33:35oh i know that Frank
33:37i know that perfectly well
33:42it's Sir John Wilder calling
33:44i'm sorry he's not back yet
33:46one moment please
33:47Sir John Wilder again
33:51he shouldn't be terribly long
33:53is there any message
33:54well i've left two already
33:56you might ask him to call
33:57as soon as i get hold of him
33:58goodbye
34:00what do you think he's up to John?
34:01he's trying to suggest that his appointment is cut and dried
34:05a sure thing
34:07about which he has to keep total silence till it's announced
34:11i suppose it is
34:12i don't think so
34:14it won't be announced for a few days
34:18time enough for him to nibble our piece of french cheese
34:29maggie you didn't say Dufour had been on?
34:31just before you came in
34:32where is he not in London?
34:33no no in his office in Paris
34:34hmm
34:36and this was all he said?
34:37nothing more?
34:38he said Sir John Wilder was trying to set up this co-production deal with the french for this executive
34:42jet
34:43and you might want to intervene and help
34:45and this was all he said?
34:47all that counts
34:49maggie everything Dufour says counts
34:51there's nobody bigger in french aviation
34:53he also said
34:54that if he made us an excuse to come to London
34:56would i one night do the king's road with him?
34:59what?
34:59god
35:00he's sixty
35:02what would the french use for blood transfusions?
35:05all right maggie
35:05get me Dufour in Paris
35:08and then i'll be ready to talk to
35:11our Sir John
35:18well i have Hedley and Dunhill dropping in around four
35:20so if you would like to come in just before
35:22it would appear circumstantial
35:23and not like the carpeting it would seem
35:25if you were to discipline them in your office
35:27hmm?
35:29right Frank
35:30bye
35:34do come in Sir John
35:35thank you
35:37Sir John
35:39so pleased to meet you face to face at last
35:42we've met some other way
35:43well i stood behind you once at a Lord Mayor's banquet
35:46i was facing your wife
35:47which i'm sure you'll agree is aesthetically preferable
35:51your friend Mrs Lovell has been addressing the house for the past ten minutes
35:54she'd been there for quite a time yes if i know her
35:57i'm surprised you're still in the building
35:59well there's a three line whip on
36:01as MPs were supposed to be trained watchdogs
36:04i'd say chained
36:07she's got in on the age of consent debate
36:10mind you she'd parade stark as if she thought it would help her to get the minister's chair
36:22well i'm flattered you should come here Sir John
36:24i understand it's more usual for you to be called on
36:27i'd go anywhere Kane
36:29to the least significant of people
36:31if i wanted something badly enough
36:33hmm
36:34and what you want now is the minister of state job
36:37what gave you that idea?
36:39oh come Wilder
36:40i know i'm just a humble backbench MP
36:42who even has to share an office
36:43but i know you've been lobbying like mad
36:47oh
36:49not for me
36:51for you
36:53i couldn't work as ambassador under a minister
36:56whose only concern was the building of futile empires
37:00you mean our stopgap Prescott?
37:03who if he gets the job
37:05intends to display his talents as a globe-trotting trade genius
37:11i don't think he could sell jellybabies
37:13what about our other candidate?
37:16hmm
37:17Westminster's answer to Bridget Bardo
37:20yes
37:21Mrs. Lovell is very attractive
37:24as a candidate?
37:26as a woman
37:27now can you see me working under a woman?
37:30you could work on one
37:33i don't see why you support me
37:35you say you do
37:38because you're so ambitious
37:39you'd be so busy with your politics
37:42you'd leave me to get on with my own job
37:45still don't believe you you know
37:46ah it's up to you
37:48but if you mean what you say
37:51there's a way you could help
37:54one of our aircraft firms
37:55of which you were once managing director
37:57has on its drawing boards
37:59an executive jet
38:01now
38:02if we could get a co-production deal with the French
38:05with whom i might say in all modesty
38:07i have substantial influence
38:09somebody's been talking
38:10oh i know it's all hush hush
38:12i must remain sir
38:13all the same
38:14if i knew more about the aircraft and its possibilities
38:17i might well hasten a deal with France
38:20where they don't eat frogs legs with chopsticks
38:25your wife
38:25very lucky man wilder
38:27and by the way it wasn't from her that i heard about the aircraft deal
38:31she knows nothing about it
38:33and in future
38:34if you want to talk to me
38:37you needn't have to do it through her
38:40she's doing a great deal of work for my orphanage
38:43well if you think you can pull the French in
38:47discreetly
38:48i'm sure i can
38:51well i see what i can do
38:52but first you must see the plans and specifications
38:58i'll see they're sent over to you
39:00well thank you
39:02sir john
39:04i don't do
39:17he's thrashing around ready to take the bait
39:21all you have to do down this afternoon is dangle it to him
39:24i'm not with you john
39:27the aircraft plan
39:30all right good old the foreign office please
39:39sir john wilder's office
39:40sir john there
39:41not yet minister
39:42tell him to see me when he is
39:45why did you shut the door miss thomas
39:48hmm
39:49you shut the door
39:51sir john doesn't like draughts
39:53he's not here
39:53i've been telling the minister for the past two hours
39:55there's no one else in the other room is there
40:00well then why shut the door
40:03well actually sir jason i have it in mind to seduce you
40:07you quite knock me out
40:09hmm
40:10i imagine somebody knows where sir john is
40:13yes i do
40:14well then kindly tell him i waited
40:16you were early he said 4.30 it's now 4.29 and a bit
40:27did you shut that door jason
40:31i'm beginning to have my doubts about you
40:37see that he gets it straight away
40:47oh
40:48oh jason do you want prescott slung or not
40:51not the verb i'd have chosen
40:53to hell with the semantics yes or no
40:55i should prefer some another in the interest of the country and the office
40:59not to mention your interests
41:02oh we're on the same side jason
41:04this isn't april the first wilder
41:08you want cane in
41:09i understood you'd prefer a woman
41:12infinitely
41:13in the right place
41:15mrs lovell mp
41:19could you assume
41:21that my interest in mrs lovell was not political but purely immoral
41:27if you want to give cane a leg up in this department there is a way open to both of
41:32us which is to say in the least ironic
41:34no
41:36prescott
41:36prescott
41:37in his naivety
41:38trust you
41:40as temporary head of this department he could push an anglo-french co-production deal on a jet aircraft
41:47the credit for which in the end would go to cane
41:50will you brief me in this deal
41:54or will dowling
41:55dowling
41:56no get hold of henson
42:01yes sir john
42:03jill will you count for a moment
42:07so it's up to you jason
42:08if you want to help cane
42:09with your usual discretion of course
42:12right
42:14hmm
42:17your master's lady friend is still on her feet
42:19and in good voice
42:22quite a bird bunty
42:23yes
42:24of the predatory kind
42:26the harpy eagle
42:28she'll get a big press in the morning and she knows it
42:32no i must say if i were in her shoes i'd use different tactics
42:37i mean if i were mrs lovell gunning for the job as minister of state in the f.o
42:43i swear i'd be making the running right now
42:46madame froskova
42:47hmm
42:48she's no size muscovite in more senses than one
42:51she's one of her country's top state employed consumer goods buyers
42:55bunty should be cultivating her not letting her tongue rip in the house
43:01still who am i to advise my rivals eh
43:04i'm not happy about your inviting all these tycoons
43:07i mean it's pretty obvious all you're doing is trying to squeeze cash out of them to your pet orphanage
43:11blackmail isn't always black lincoln
43:14this is a pretty murky off white
43:16doesn't it warm you
43:18doesn't it excite you a little
43:21the prospect of prizing open those tight podgy fists
43:25i can't bear men with podgy fingers
43:30lincoln you haven't
43:33let me see
43:34come on lincoln
43:36that's them
43:37it happened when i was nine
43:38my mother used to send me to the butchers for chops
43:41he was a bad-tempered butcher with a red face
43:43and i used to give him a bit of lip
43:44did they prosecute him for child cruelty
43:47no but the head butcher axed him
43:50come on lincoln open up those podgy fists
43:53lincoln you're not safe to be with
43:55you keep saying that and you keep seeing me
43:57and i haven't podgy fingers
43:59well they're hardly long and elegant are they
44:00misspent youth
44:01too much time on the guitar
44:02the guitar wasn't invented when you were young
44:05oh damn and we've got so much work to do
44:10i'm glad you're here
44:11you've got so much work to do
44:13so put down whatever it is you have
44:15and wrap your fingers round that glass and listen
44:17he can't
44:19if you need a social secretary so much
44:22why don't you hire one
44:23he can't
44:24what
44:24wrap his fingers round that glass
44:26can you lincoln they won't travel that far
44:29oh mrs lovell do sit down
44:32can i get your drink
44:33oh thank you yes
44:34vodka
44:34i may as well get in some practice
44:41get weaving on your soviet contacts
44:43they have a visiting vip
44:45that it's important that bunty should get to know
44:49quickly
44:49madame froskova
44:51well i'm delighted you're so on the ball
44:53whose idea is this
44:55why
44:55only it's not a very good one
44:59please lincoln just do as you're told
45:01all right
45:02all right
45:11great
45:13there
45:14they're on their way up
45:17mrs lovell
45:18mmm
45:19right in it
45:20up to here
45:23i told you yesterday it was a lousy idea
45:25but you never said that madame froskova
45:28was one of the female hawks behind the czechoslovakian invasion
45:32you wouldn't listen
45:33hell she looks like somebody who runs a siberian camp
45:37anyway your favorite lady mp can wave goodbye to being our minister
45:41find out if kane has got old his french aviation chums
45:46and they flew over this morning they'll be having cocktails with prescott and kane at this moment
45:49at least something's going right
45:53did prescott invite simon davy and the other directors from the aircraft industry
45:57which davy and co declined
46:00then you'd better get simon davy to give you a letter of complaint
46:03about this
46:05french interference
46:06it's done
46:07i drafted it an hour ago
46:09he came in and signed it
46:10there's also the accompanying memo for you to sign
46:13i can't avoid being a step or two ahead on my own initiative
46:16but if you resent it
46:18lincoln
46:18don't be cheeky
46:22yes
46:25you should do
46:28just see if the foreign secretary gets it immediately
46:31right
46:47let's get here
46:49oh yes yes foreign secretary
46:52yes um at the moment
46:56oh no
46:57oh no
46:58well er
46:58well er
46:59yes yes indeed foreign secretary
47:02if er
47:03your excuse for the moment gentlemen let's just
47:05what
47:05excuse me
47:06kane
47:07yeah
47:07i'm about to make my excuses
47:09you can do what you like with your french friends so long as you get them out of here one
47:12minute flat
47:12what do you know what we're doing we're botching up a big deal with the germans
47:16that could be signed today get them out of here
47:29well let's see prescott and kane survive that all that can be said about that pair
47:33now is rest in peace prescott will be very much out but i wouldn't be so sure about kane
47:44i was just passing this way garfield
47:50what in hell did you think you were up to the foreign secretary's fuming yes well i must say
47:56i've laid a few neat traps in my time frank but the way wild abates his oh well you can't
48:03win
48:03them all garfield and i am grateful to you for straightening out our waverance he handled
48:08dunhill very neatly yes well he always wanted to go that parliament's delegation to hawaii
48:13i'm still wondering how you got headley to toe the line managed to get him a neat little sideline as
48:19political advisor to an import export house oh not dealing in aeroplanes i hope
48:25you watch me orbit that industry at long range in future frank
48:31yes maggie you're expected at number 10 right away number 10
48:40thank you maggie
48:44congratulations minister you frank even though you nearly chucked it all away
48:58it's garfield darling
49:02well i suggest that you agree whatever you have to agree with my wife about this charity thing
49:07then take your leave kane i'm very grateful for all you're doing pamela but that isn't why i'm here
49:13though i had to imply on the phone for security reasons that it was
49:18well it might not be out of place to offer me a drink sir john
49:22after all i did come here as your new minister i could have well sent for you
49:35you after that french fiasco
49:38mere ripple on the surface of deep political water
49:42john political mud
49:47well for heaven's sake let's toast something even if it's only lincoln's charity list
49:52well that isn't quite the most important thing that's happened today but i'll drink to that
49:56if you will
50:12the
50:21the
50:22the
50:22the
50:22the
50:23the
50:23the
50:32The End
50:55The End
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