The Constant Gardener Page #5

other lovers.

If she was an unfaithful wife, why stop at Arnold?

I wouldn't listen to rumor,

unless you've evidence?

Yes, evidence. That's always the problem.

Justin,

be a good chap and leave this to us.

There are proper channels for these things.

Ghita, hi. Thanks for coming.

So why did you want to meet here? Something that we shouldn't be seen talking about?

Dypraxa.

I know that Tessa and Arnold wrote a report on the ThreeBees trials,

and I need to know what happened to it.

What makes you think I know?

Because they trusted you, and so do I.

Help me, please, Ghita.

All I know is that Tessa gave Sandy a copy.

Sandy? Why him?

Sandy was a compromise- semiofficial.

Arnold wanted to go public with it. Tessa wouldn't.

Because? Because she wanted to do it your way, through channels.

But, Justin, I wouldn't bother looking for it.

If it threatens British commercial interests, it would've been shredded. She could've brought it to me.

She didn't want to get you involved. Why?

Ghita, why didn't she want me involved? To protect you.

Do you know if she showed the report to anyone else?

Kenny Curtiss.

Time of the month, Kenny?

F*** off.

Might help if you took the f***ing flag out.

Well, get closer to the f***ing hole, and maybe I will.

Interesting man you got there, Crick.

Must be the only white caddy in Africa.

Look, KDH are waiting for me to default on my Dypraxa commitments,

and I have a cash flow problem.

What are you lot going to do about it?

We never promised to protect you commercially.

You protect me? That's f***ing rich.

A word or two from me in the right black ear, a couple of cases of Krug,

and you'd be on the next plane back home.

I mean, I spend more money on champagne in a year than your shop's annual f***ing budget.

Oh, there you go- Cause of your cash-flow problem.

You're in my eyeline, old chap.

You're what passes forJames Bond around here.

Get Her Majesty's secret service to pull a few strings. It's what you spies do, isn't it?

Is it?

Never really sure what it is we do.

Don't even think about bullying me, old man.

I'm not a member of your gentlemen's club. I don't have to play by the rules.

So it seems.

Call that one in, shall we?

Mr. Curtiss, I'm sorry to disturb your game.

My name is Justin Quayle from the High Commission.

I believe you knew my wife, Tessa.

Justin. Didn't know you were a member here.

Yes, I met her at one of your parties.

She came to see you, I think.

She gave you a report that she had written on Dypraxa.

Justin, I really don't think this is the time or the place-

I hope you didn't find her too troublesome, because she could be a terrier when she had a scent.

Huh, sounds like you're describing a b*tch.

I'm sorry about your loss,

but I don't remember being given any report.

Well, that's odd, because she noted it in her diary.

Then you know more than I do.

Didn't know, uh- Didn't know Tessa kept a diary.

Well, I think Tessa was right then, Tim. You don't know everything.

I know where you're going on Tuesday.

Next, please.

Sorry about the weather.

It's hardly your fault.

Oh, dear. We've had some forgeries on the diplomatics.

I'm gonna have to keep this, I'm afraid, sir.

- What? - The F.C.O. Will issue you with a new one in a few days.

What if I want to travel with it? Just two, three days at the most.

Are you saying that's a forgery? It does happen, sir, even on diplomatics.

But that was issued to me a year ago by the diplomatic office - Sir, the F.C.O. Will take care of that.

It's just here on the right.

Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon.

Let me take that for you. Oh, I'd rather keep it with me.

Uh, club rule, Justin. I'm sorry.

No- No luggage in the, uh- in the dining room.

Could you just tuck it into your cubbyhole, please, Jimmy? Thank you. Certainly, sir. Thank you, sir.

My dear fellow, what a dreadful time you've had. Welcome home. Thank you, Bernard.

Any, uh, plans, or is it too soon? Plans?

Well, holiday, visiting friends,

the million things you've always wanted to do in the garden. Mmm.

You're on indefinite sick leave. Enjoy it.

I hear the, uh- the snow's very good at Chamonix.

I don't have a passport, Bernard. They took mine at the airport.

Oh, of course, yes. You missed the, um - You missed the recall.

Mmm. The sole meuni?re's not bad here,

if- if you like sole.

Otherwise have it grilled. Grilled'll be fine.

Um, no starters, I think.

You've been cleared, by the way.

Thought we'd get that bit of unpleasantness dealt with first.

Cleared for what? Um, of what.

Uh, murder most foul.

Seems you didn't hire contract killers in a den of vice after all.

Deasey is satisfied it was a crime of passion by our dark medical horse.

It's just a question now of finding Bluhm.

Arnold Bluhm is gay, Bernard.

Gay men don't rape their women friends.

Well, I've known one or two very savage queens in my time.

Do you no good to go poking around under rocks, Justin.

Some very nasty things live under rocks,

especially in foreign gardens.

Advice of a friend. What is it that I'm not to look into, Bernard?

Quayles have always made reliable foreign service men.

Shouldn't be surprised if you've still got a small Head of Mission in your knapsack.

Challenging post. More challenging than dealing with Kenny Curtiss?

He's a crude sort of chap, our Kenny, but he flies the flag for us.

He got up dear Tessa's nose, I fear.

- Yes, she wrote a report about it. - About Kenny?

No, about Dypraxa. Ah, that.

She expected some action to be taken, but none was, was it?

She tell you about the letter, or did you find it among her things?

Tucked into her diary, perhaps? What letter is that, Bernard?

Ramblings of an aging fart. Senility setting in early, alas.

Naughty of her to take it though. Very naughty indeed.

Yes, I found that.

Be grateful to have it back. Written under stress, you understand.

Regrettable things said. Wouldn't want it falling into the wrong hands.

Sorry, Bernard. Are we talking about the same letter?

What's yours about?

Undying love.

Ah.

What's yours?

They're not so good grilled. You should've had the meuni?re.

Ladies and gentlemen-

Ladies and gentlemen, please keep all your belongings with you at all times.

It's good to see you, Ham.

Sorry about the blubbing. It's those bloody Latin genes, you know.

It's the same old Ham.

Oh, no. No, not anymore.

God, I loved her rotten.

And she loved you rotten.

First cousins can be closer than siblings.

I still don't understand why I let you talk me out of going to the funeral.

It was the wrong crowd for you, Ham. We'll have a private memorial service here.

You can blub all your way through it. Don't think I won't.

Hire the Abbey. You can afford it now. Can I?

Tess left you bloody well off. Want to know what you're worth? Not particularly.

Oh, I've got the keys to the Chelsea house. Thought you might want to stay there while you're in London.

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