Conspirator Page #4

I've just done the stupidest thing.

Here, I've made those

plans with you for tonight.

And completely forgot there

is a chap I promised to see.

Oh no, Michael.

Can't you get out of it?

Well .. I don't know how I can.

Who is he?

You mean his name?

You wouldn't know if

I told you, darling.

Well I would know if you told me.

Ah see, you're too clever for me.

You picked me up on that one didn't you.

I'm glad you think I'm clever.

Because I had a Math teacher who thought

I was the dumbest girl she'd ever seen.

She was the dumb one.

Here.

That's for you to throw away

today on anything you like.

I can't bear the thought of leaving

you after dinner tonight, Linda.

I hate to disappoint you.

I'm terribly disappointed myself.

Bye bye, darling.

Just remember I think you're

wonderful and beautiful.

I thought I'd take this chance of

getting this mess cleared up.

It's a pleasure to make the house

shine for such a lovely young lady.

Good evening, Major.

Good evening.

Now then gentlemen, I have something

for you. Something interesting.

Forgive me, Major. But first ..

First, a little organisation business.

We learn from this magazine

The Tatler, and from other sources.

That you have seen fit to marry.

To marry without learning the

Bureau's decision on the matter.

By "other sources" you no

doubt mean The Times?

I haven't exactly been

concealing my marriage.

That is not the point.

I don't think I like your tone.

My marriage has nothing whatever

to do with my work for the party.

Nothing whatever.

You mean, you hope it hasn't.

What do you mean by that?

You have never been married

before, have you? No.

The Bureau has, Major.

The Bureau has been married

thousands and thousands of times.

In every country in the world.

If you had consulted us

before taking this step ..

We would have told you it is forbidden

for those in operational work.

Wives ask questions.

Where have you been to? Where are you

going? What did you do last, and so on.

Where does Mrs Curragh

think you are tonight, Major?

This marriage happens to reinforce

my official and social position.

I do not apologise for it.

Do you get that? I do not apologise.

I have it down.

Major, forgive me.

I only carry out my orders.

I am instructed to tell you.

That Deputy Director

Radek is most displeased.

You have committed a

serious breach of discipline.

I feel perfectly justified

in doing what I've done.

My whole life is wrapped

up in devotion to the cause.

Considering the value of the

work I do for the party ..

I see no reason to accept a reprimand.

Nevertheless.

The reprimand stands.

Will you arrange a meeting

between me and Director Radek?

That is impossible.

He can come here. I do.

Major, you know perfectly well

that our various levels do not meet.

No-one sees Director Radek.

No-one.

Will you deliver my message to him then?

I will deliver it, yes.

Thank you.

And now, in turn for the reprimand ..

I have a little present for you.

The basic details of the Anglo-American

Military Coordination plan.

Very skilful, Major.

Thank you.

As far as my marriage is

concerned, I feel certain ..

It will prove a very

definite asset to my work.

I trust events will prove that, Major.

Michael.

Look what I found in the

back of the cupboard.

It will go beautifully on our

dinner table tomorrow night.

It's awfully big.

Broaders probably found that out long

ago. That's why it was in the cupboard.

Well, you'll have to help me decide.

And remember, there will be

eight people at the table.

We can't have them all crowded together.

Of course, I really like

small dinner parties best.

Oh, Michael.

It must have been thrilling to have

a big house like that on the corner.

I'll bet they used to

have fifty for dinner.

You seem to have your

hands full with eight.

Now don't laugh at me.

You will notice, Linda darling.

No-one has that house now. It's vacant.

There is a reason for that.

You see .. the money that

kept it going is gone forever.

The society that made

it possible is vanishing.

Just think. No matter how secure the

old boy who lived there must have felt.

No matter how important

he thought he was.

He doesn't exist anymore.

Oh Michael, don't make a speech.

The man who owned the

house just upped and died.

It was as simple as that.

It wasn't as simple as that, Linda.

The ideas he stood for died,

and a good thing they did, too.

You don't know what

you're talking about.

You're forgetting Michael,

we live on the square too.

The way we live has nothing to

do with what we're talking about.

Well I'd like to know why not.

Everybody likes to live

as well as they can.

Even you do.

You're a snob yourself, darling.

Look at that beautiful table.

And the little Renoir.

Well it isn't a crime

to like lovely things.

Otherwise I could be

hanged for loving you.

Alright for you, Major Curragh.

See if I ever have to help you out

when you have to decide something.

Melinda.

Yes?

Linda darling, I have to go out tonight.

Oh, Michael.

Well, one of those things

cropped up that can't be helped.

You do more work than any of the others.

I will speak to the Colonel about it.

The Colonel?

No darling. This isn't

regimental business. It's ..

Well I have to see a chap

by the name of Taplow.

Taplow?

Why in the world would you have

to see anyone named Taplow?

He was my servant in Africa.

Wounded there. Seriously crippled.

I had him for years.

I feel I should help him out whenever

he gets into the dumps, or needs me.

We play cribbage and I talk

to him about the old times.

It seems to make him feel better.

I think that's a sweet

thing to do, Michael.

You should have told me.

I know I should have, Linda.

It's such a simple explanation.

Hurry up, Hugh. Its Joyce's bid.

I bid one heart.

Seven. No trump.

Look, if you ask us in here at the last

minute to play three handed bridge ..

The least you can do

is to bid intelligently.

You can't say "seven, no trump".

But I did say it.

Besides, I know the dummy has got

to be won, because I haven't anything.

Oh, well I'll double.

That's good for me.

Bye.

Oh.

Of all the mean tricks.

Only two aces.

Well I've got the other two,

so you've lost already.

It's all Taplow's fault.

Who is Taplow?

The man I told you Michael has to see.

His old orderly.

But Michael's batman

is called Huskisson.

Taplow.

No, Huskisson.

He's had him all through the

war and he has him now.

A healthy chap, but remarkably dumb.

Come on, Linda. Play.

Lin.

Why, Lin ..?

What's the matter, Lin?

Nothing.

Don't pay any attention to me.

Just leave me alone.

Just leave me alone.

Hello darling. I was hoping

you would wait up for me.

What are you so busy over?

I'm writing mother.

High time.

I'm dying of thirst.

Mrs Taplow's fish and chips.

Oh.

So Taplow even has a wife.

Yes, that he has.

A nice, quiet sort of woman.

How long did you say you've know Taplow?

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