Are You Being Served? (TV Series)
The Think Tank (1974)
Nicholas Smith: Cuthbert Rumbold
Photos
Quotes
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Mr. Ernest Grainger : Now, how about advertising in the local newspapers? You know, something like, "You get a square deal at Grace Brothers"?
Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries : We'll be in trouble with the Trades Descriptions Act.
Mr. Dick Lucas : Oh, I don't know. I mean, you couldn't have squarer clothes than what we've got.
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : What do you mean, Mr. Lucas?
Mr. Dick Lucas : Well, we're not exactly trendy, are we? I mean, look at all the fuss you all made the other week when I came in wearing high-heeled shoes.
Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries : It wasn't the shoes, it was that walking stick you had to stop yourself from falling over.
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Young Mr. Grace : Whose idea was the fashion parade?
[Captain Peacock opens his mouth to speak]
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : Mine, sir!
Young Mr. Grace : Well, I think it's a rotten idea.
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : [chagrinned] Or was it mine?
Captain Stephen Peacock : Yes, it was.
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Captain Stephen Peacock : After I came out of the army, I made a study of sales technique. Now, there was a theory that a moving display has more impact than a... than a static one.
Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries , Mr. Dick Lucas : [both together] True.
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : Well, I suppose you mean we should have our trousers moving about more.
Mr. Ernest Grainger : How do we achieve that?
Mr. Dick Lucas : Couple of dozen pairs of electric legs.
[laughs]
Captain Stephen Peacock : I'm being quite serious, Mr. Lucas.
Mrs. Betty Slocombe : Well, how does that affect my department?
Miss Shirley Brahms : Yes, do we have lots of electric knickers jumping up and down on the counter?
Mr. Ernest Grainger : Wouldn't that be very expensive?
Mr. Dick Lucas : You could have Mrs. Slocombe jumping up and down on the counter. That should make a big enough impact!
[laughs]
Mrs. Betty Slocombe : That's it. I am withdrawing to the canteen.
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Captain Stephen Peacock : I mean a down to earth fashion show, where we demonstrate to the man in the street that we sell ordinary clothes that are well within the reach of his pocket.
Mrs. Betty Slocombe : And what about the woman in the street?
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : Unisex!
Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries : I beg your pardon?
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : I, I mean a show for both sexes. I don't think your idea for a men's fashion show would get us anywhere. But my idea for a... a unisex show seems very original.
Miss Shirley Brahms : But I thought unisex meant men and women in the same clothes.
Mr. Dick Lucas : It does!
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : Does it? Perhaps I meant bisexual.
Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries : No, I don't think you meant that, Mr. Rumbold.
Captain Stephen Peacock : Perhaps we should call it A Man And Woman's Fashion Parade.
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : Or better still, "Male And Female Modes On The Move". Yes, that's it. I don't think your idea for "A Man And Woman's Fashion Parade" would have any appeal at all, but my idea for "Male And Female Modes On The Move" has fantastic appeal. Agreed?
Mr. Dick Lucas : Oh, yes, Mr. Rumbold, yes. What a pity you couldn't have thought of something like that, Captain Peacock.
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Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : Yes, well, it's up to me now, to get over the financial problem. If I run into any difficulties, we'll just have to have another session of the think tank.
Captain Stephen Peacock : In which we think and it all goes into your tank.
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Young Mr. Grace : I hope this is not going to take too long. I'm supposed to be going to see "Last Tango In Paris". I got the okay from my heart specialist this morning.
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : No, no, Mr. Grace, you uh... just sit there. Now, what you're going to see is the fashion show that I told you about.
Young Mr. Grace : Did you? Oh, yes. Yes, I remember. Yes. "Male And Female Moods In The Mauve".
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : "Modes On The Move". The fashion show to help the falling figures.
Young Mr. Grace : Oh, are we going to see girls in corsets?
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : No, sales figures, Mr. Grace. And if you like it, then we'll have one.
Young Mr. Grace : One what?
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : A fashion show, Sir.
Young Mr. Grace : Oh, I thought we were having one.
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : No, this is just a demonstration to show you what we have in mind. It's aimed at the man in the street and woman in the street.
Young Mr. Grace : You mean tarts?
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : No, Sir, just ordinary people.
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[last lines]
Young Mr. Grace : Well, goodbye, everybody.
Mrs. Betty Slocombe , Mr. Dick Lucas , Captain Stephen Peacock , Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries , Miss Shirley Brahms , Mr. Ernest Grainger , Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : Goodbye, Mr. Grace.
Young Mr. Grace : Goodbye. You've all done very well!
Mrs. Betty Slocombe , Mr. Dick Lucas , Captain Stephen Peacock , Mr. Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries , Miss Shirley Brahms , Mr. Ernest Grainger , Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : Thank you, Mr. Grace.
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[first lines]
Mr. Cuthbert Rumbold : Morning ladies.