The Professionals (TV Series)

Not a Very Civil Civil Servant (1978)

Gordon Jackson: George Cowley

Quotes 

• [Cowley has accused the Minister of corruption and withholding details of a murder. The Minister believes that he immune from the law] 

  Minister : [unconcerned]  What do you suggest I do?

  George Cowley : Resign. But we live in a world without much honour, where politicians hang onto office like dirty glue, so I don't suppose you will - blame is for others.

• [Cowley just won a fencing match with Bodie] 

  George Cowley : That'll do for today. Like dancing the tango with my granny.

  Bodie : I'm a disco man myself sir.

  Doyle : It's his army training. He's quite good with a bayonet.

  George Cowley : [Cowley to Doyle who is also in fencing gear]  And you weren't much better.

• Repton : And then I suppose the divorce showed on the file.

  George Cowley : Yes. I wondered about that.

  Repton : Nothing to worry about. My wife decided on a second "spring time" and I suppose I was a bit staid. We still talk to each other by cheque.

• George Cowley : And Bodie, there are ways of asking people questions without removing their teeth. For one thing it makes for clearer diction.

• [Cowley and Bodie meet the Colonel at his club] 

  Col. Summerville : [unimpressed with Bodie's dress sense]  I say Cowley did you sign him in.

  George Cowley : Yes Colonel, he works for me, if you use the term loosely.

  Col. Summerville : I can remember when this used to be a 'military' club.

  George Cowley : He was military once.

  Col. Summerville : Oh. One of those rag and bone regiments crawling about behind the enemy lines. He looks the type.

  Bodie : [effeminate voice]  I couldn't find a bowler hat to fit me.

  George Cowley : Colonel I want pick your brains. First this Temple-Blake case.

  Col. Summerville : Ah, that will blow over. Storm in a concrete mixer.

  [laughs] 

  Col. Summerville : Well they're always buying these fat little councillors, all giving them motor cars to the sub-contractors. If a contract is worth a million or two it's worth greasing a few palms... I mean when people have a lot of work to offer they expect something in return.

  Bodie : What do people offer you colonel?

  Col. Summerville : Courtesy and civility young man. And that is all. They'd get the back of my hand if they'd offered me a farthing.

• [Cowley, Bodie and Doyle preparing for another fencing bout] 

  George Cowley : Well I hear you've been spending a lot of time talking with this Fraud Squad man Riordan, is it?

  Bodie : Yea, he's good. Says the deadly crossfire is between two balance sheets and the fingers on the pens are crooked.

  Doyle : And the most efficient blunt instrument is a cheque book. Provided you've got money in the bank behind it.

  George Cowley : You two are really branching out, but don't try to put any of the drinks on your expenses.

  Doyle : Why? It's work.

  George Cowley : Sounds more like education. And education's never free.

• [Cowley and the Minister seated in Mr. Repton's office] 

  George Cowley : I'm not quite with you Minister. As you know I'm not answerable to you or this department. Or Mr. Repton here widely known as the Cardinal Woolsey of this nation's spending in the building industry.

  Minister : Not a very civil civil servant are you?

  George Cowley : No. Mostly we don't have to be. So first, why us? Why not the Fraud Squad, Special Branch?

  Minister : Reasons of policy Mr. Cowley.

  George Cowley : The usual phrase for two coats of political whitewash.

  Minister : You are to hold a watching brief on the corruption case due to take place against Temple-Blake Limited.

  George Cowley : [Cowley evidently quotes Temple-Blake Limited's logo]  "We Build for Britain"

  Minister : Here is my specific authority from your own minister to involve CI-5 in this affair.

  George Cowley : I don't know what you mean by "watching brief"?

  Minister : Precisely that. To see that justice is done and blame apportioned accordingly.

  George Cowley : If you mean that I'm to see that none of it get shovelled anywhere near you or your department you've picked the wrong labourer. Because the minute my department gets packed in any politician's do-it-yourself image kit I get very angry indeed.

  [Cowley leans forward towards Minister] 

  George Cowley : And I know my way around the same corridors as you do.

  [Cowley leaves] 

  Repton : I can see the need for political insurance Minister, but Cowley is hardly the insurance broker I've have gone to.