Yes Minister (TV Series)
The Death List (1981)
Paul Eddington: James Hacker
Photos
Quotes
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Sir Humphrey Appleby : Surveillance is an indispensable weapon in the battle against organized crime.
James Hacker : You're not describing politicians as organized crime?
Sir Humphrey Appleby : No... well, disorganized crime too of course.
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[a journalist is trying to phrase Hacker's leaking of information to the press]
Walter Fowler : How would you like to be an informed source?
James Hacker : OK... informed source.
Walter Fowler : It's quite a joke really, isn't it?
James Hacker : What?
Walter Fowler : Describing someone as informed when his Permanent Secretary is Sir Humphrey Appleby.
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[a very successful petition on electronic surveillance has just become politically damaging]
Bernard Woolley : Shall I file it?
James Hacker : Shall you file it? Shred it!
Bernard Woolley : Shred it?
James Hacker : Nobody must ever be able to find it again.
Bernard Woolley : In that case, Minister, I think it's best I file it.
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James Hacker : This can't go on, Humphrey!
Sir Humphrey Appleby : I'm glad you said that, minister, because it isn't going to. We have just heard from the Special Branch that your protection is being withdrawn.
James Hacker : Ah, now wait a minute. I... I... I didn't mean... But why?
Sir Humphrey Appleby : Well, the police have suffered an acute personnel establishment shortfall.
James Hacker : They what?
Sir Humphrey Appleby : They're short-staffed, so they can no longer continue protecting you.
James Hacker : Short-staffed?
Sir Humphrey Appleby : Yes, because of the much more real and dangerous threat to the Soviet Premier at the Chequers meeting tomorrow.
James Hacker : But he's Russian. I'm British.
Sir Humphrey Appleby : Well, in fact, minister the special branch have reason to believe the threat to your life has been diminished.
James Hacker : How do they know?
Sir Humphrey Appleby : Surveillance. They overheard a conversation.
James Hacker : What did it say?
Sir Humphrey Appleby : Oh, I don't think it is of any imp...
James Hacker : Come on, Humphrey, I have a right to know!
Sir Humphrey Appleby : Well, it was a conversation to the effect that in view of the somewhat nebulous and inexplicit nature of your remit and the arguably marginal and peripheral nature of your influence on the central deliberations and decisions within the political process, that there could be a case for restructuring their action priorities in such a way as to eliminate your liquidation from their immediate agenda.
James Hacker : They said that?
Sir Humphrey Appleby : That was the gist of it.
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James Hacker : [Reading aloud an article in Private Eye] Ironically, it is the egregious Jim's department that is now responsible for supplying all the government's computerized bugging equipment. Presumably, this makes him the government's chief bugger!
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[Jim and Annie Hacker are under heavy police protection after he has received death threats, and a police officer has just come into their bedroom to check that they are safe]
James Hacker : Don't worry, darling. You'll soon get used to being a famous man's wife.
Annie Hacker : I hope so. I don't really want to be a famous man's widow.
