"I don't need a cap, or a feather in it."

Professionals DVD set 2



Reviewed December 2006

Jo said:

A ship is at dock, and a scruffy man is escorted ashore by a couple of naval types, taking careful note of his surroundings along the way. At London's Port Authority the Dutch captain explains that Scruffy stowed away in Amsterdam. Everyone is very calm and nonchalant about the situation, right up to the moment Scruffy takes advantage of this indifference to escape. Sprinting across the yard, he grabs hold of a gas canister, one he spotted earlier, and threatens to blow himself up – and possibly a few of them, along with him – if they don't bring George Cowley of CI5 to talk to him. "Tell him it's Meredith, and get him here, fast."

So, his name is Meredith. I think I preferred 'Scruffy'.

Credits.

At a church someplace, Cowley is just exiting the funeral of a former agent, exchanging platitudes with one Sir Peter. Funeral attendance must be an occupational hazard in his line of work. They engage in a spot of verbal sparring on the subject of the deceased in particular and funerals and obituaries in general, and how each of them can expect to be remembered by the nation at large when they come to shuffle off their respective mortal coils.

COWLEY: "It's not a subject I think about at great length, Sir Peter."
SIR PETER: "If I had your job I'd think about it all the time."

Hey, isn't that pretty much what I just said! Cowley is spared any further conversation by the bleeping of his radio, and scurries off to take the call. No peace for CI5.

Back at the Port Authority, Bodie and Doyle come screeching into the yard to mollify the rattled harbour police with the news that Cowley is on his way. Having retreated to a safe distance from the madman wielding a gas canister and lighter, the harbour police have to use a loudhailer to relay this message to Meredith.

"Managed to keep the press away," Doyle reports as Cowley arrives, since keeping this kind of thing top secret is always of the utmost importance, and the Lads then enquire as to the man's identity. Because such information is also important when you could be called upon to put your life on the line, although they can't always rely on receiving full disclosure.

"An old friend from the Hong Kong station," explains Cowley, unusually forthcoming by his standards. Maybe the unexpected resurrection of this trusted former agent hot on the heels of burying another has got him a little more rattled than he's letting show. "One of the best men I ever had. Till half an hour ago I thought he was dead. Just leave this to me."

Brushing everyone off, Cowley strides confidently over to Meredith, and they let him go without a murmur of protest. Walking headfirst and alone into danger is not generally the function of the leader, that's what underlings are for, but if he weren't able to handle himself in dangerous situations he wouldn't be the leader.

"Good to see you alive, Colin," he greets the long-lost agent, who now has a first name, as well. "Reports said captured, presumed dead."

Meredith laughs bitterly. "It was a fair assumption."

And with one very succinct exchange a whole huge background for this character and his relationship with Cowley is subtly spelled out for us. Very nicely done.

Cowley gently reaches out and takes the lighter from his hand. Crisis over, but much sorting out still to be done. Meredith just about collapses as he starts to walk away – Bodie and Doyle catch him, but he angrily shakes them off. The harbour police are only too happy to bemusedly defer to Cowley, offering him an office to use while Meredith rests. "Now what happened here today didn't happen, is that understood?" he commands.

"Ours not to reason why," snarks one of the officers, rolling his eyes.

In the office so kindly provided, Bodie hands Meredith a cup of tea, that timeless cure for all ills.

MEREDITH: "I could do with something stronger."
BODIE: "The only spirit we've got is surgical."

Cowley now arrives, having taken his sweet time if Bodie's managed to rustle up a cup of tea in the time it took him to stroll across the yard, and asks how Meredith is doing. Meredith apologises for all the drama. "Till three days ago I was still a guest of the Khmer Rouge, and I haven't stopped running since."

Handing Meredith his lighter back, Cowley asks the meaning of all the song and dance, and Meredith disingenuously points out that it got Cowley here in half an hour.

"We are on the phone, you know," Bodie mildly points out. Heh. Meredith gets defensive and points out that he was a stowaway with no papers, no passport and no official identity. Cowley makes soothing noises and suggests Meredith tell them the full story, starting with how he got out of Cambodia.

"Radouk got me out," Meredith explains. Radouk, apparently, was once KGB and once also China's top man. Sounds like this guy has a habit of shifting allegiances. And he now wants to negotiate a new deal, with Cowley, a deal revolving around a new identity and a lot of money, or Radouk will be a dead man. And in return they get the name of a traitor, a very highly placed double agent code-named Iron Sphinx. Sounds fishy to me.

Radouk is currently in London, Meredith continues. Or so he hopes. They split up in Holland when Kodai got too close for comfort. Damn, this name-dropping is getting annoying since we haven't met any of these characters yet but they are going to be important later. And…how many of us remember that conversation we had on-list probably three or more years ago now, discussing the possible origin of the names Radouk and Kodai and conducting experiments as to how common they might or might not be? *G*

Meredith himself, he claims, is simply a go-between, which is the purpose for which Radouk got him out of Cambodia, which in turn is the reason the Russians have sent Igor Kodai after him.

This episode is tremendously political, and we're still only five minutes in!

COWLEY: "Kodai? They're really giving you the star treatment."
MEREDITH: "Nothing but the best, George."

Since it isn't likely to take this Kodai long to track Meredith down – "about as long as it takes to read a shipping schedule" – Cowley decides that now would be a good time to move this little reunion to safer territory and let the port authority have their office back. Off they go – Bodie taking point, Cowley following with Meredith, and Doyle bringing up the rear, all of them very much on guard and scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. It's apparently a long way back to the cars. Of course, no amount of caution can guard against long-distance snipers, and sure enough a shot rings out. Meredith takes a bullet in the arm, and they all go onto full-scale red alert.

The port authority must be absolutely hating CI5 around about now.

They all seek refuge in the nearest warehouse amid a flurry of covering gunfire from Bodie and Doyle. The sniper flees, and Cowley bellows at his agents to carry on while he sees to Meredith. Meredith snits that he's all right and heads on inside, with Cowley in pursuit. Bodie and Doyle exchange meaningful glances.

BODIE: "Whose turn is it?"
DOYLE: "Yours."

Heh. Doyle provides covering fire while Bodie makes his move, heading up after the sniper while Doyle goes long. Dramatic music plays to heighten the tension.

Bodie reaches the roof just in time to see the sniper disappear inside a rooftop doorway. Probably just as well, really – if the man had simply taken cover and tried to rid himself of his pursuer, he'd have had a perfect shot at Bodie. Couldn't miss. As it is, Bodie continues his pursuit.

Down below, Cowley gets Meredith into his car and away. This is all very action-packed for the first eight minutes of the episode.

Inside the building, Doyle is now heading up, very cautiously. He hesitates when he hears a door open, somewhere above him. Shooting ensues, but both he and the sniper miss each other, neither of them being properly positioned to actually get a decent shot. But since Doyle is forced to take cover, the sniper is able to quickly sprint down a flight of stairs and off through another doorway.

Doyle and Bodie converge and give chase. The music really starts to get on my nerves at this point, but all the running and shooting and hand signals and whatnot looks ever so good. I probably shouldn't enjoy watching the Lads run around shooting at people quite so much. *G*

Bodie gets careless and runs right into the sniper's gun, luckily being used as a club rather than as a gun in this instance. That's twice now in as many minutes the sniper could easily have killed Bodie. Maybe he's out of ammo for the rifle. Anyway, they tussle and Bodie dives for cover just in time before the man pulls out another gun and shoots at him.

Long story short, Bodie and Doyle eventually corner the sniper on the ground level of an empty warehouse, and are in the process of pulling the doors shut to trap him when a car comes barrelling in to alter the odds somewhat. Doyle gets slightly run down, Bodie and the sniper open fire on one another and both manage to miss despite the close range, and the sniper dives into the car. There's a lot more close range shooting during which I honestly can't believe none of the bullets actually reaches its target, and then the car exits at speed, taking the sniper with it, Bodie having to dive to avoid being run down in his turn.

Limping somewhat, Doyle hurries over to Bodie and they quickly check that they are each all right after that hair-raising little encounter. I love those little touches, quiet murmurs of "are you all right?" that feel so natural. Just because they tend to take this kind of hair-raising escapade very much in their stride as all in a day's work doesn't mean they don't get scared, for themselves and for each other. But that fear can only really manifest once the danger is over – there's no margin for error and no room for hesitation of any kind while the crisis is ongoing.

BODIE: "Feel like I know that guy."
DOYLE: "When somebody spends fifteen minutes trying to kill you, you do get that feeling."

Heh. Three minutes, by my count, but I of course have the advantage of edited highlights.

"Not Kodai," Bodie derisively clarifies with a roll of the eyes, pronouncing it 'cod-eye'. "His driving instructor."

At a CI5 safe house, the doctor informs Cowley that Meredith's wound is superficial, but as for his general condition… "He looks like he's spent a year in a concentration camp."

"Two years, in fact," says Cowley. The doctor doesn't seem at all surprised by this revelation, simply informing the Controller that Meredith needs plenty of rest and a high protein diet, which amuses me for the sheer unflappability of his delivery. If he's a regular CI5 doctor, I suppose he's seen it all before and nothing much startles him any more. The doctor's parting shot is that Meredith has got hold of a bottle of whisky, but really shouldn't be drinking.

"I haven't worn civilised clothes for two years," says Meredith with a happy smile, busily adjusting his tie as Cowley joins him. He's also enjoying the whisky, and is mildly perturbed when Cowley takes the bottle off him, insisting that rest comes before celebration. He should be glad he's allowed to finish the one he's already poured for himself. "Rest is a habit I'm afraid I've got out of, I'll have to get it back gradually." He's prickly and defensive, but after two years as a guest of the Khmer Rouge – since at this stage we're still very much taking him at face value – I'd say it was a miracle he's as functional as he is, so that's probably to be expected.

Cowley now starts to take a tougher line, insisting that the long-lost agent tell him what happened. Meredith is reluctant. "You want to try two years in a Marxist prison camp, they'd cure you of that Puritan work ethic for good," he grumbles. Hee.

It was Radouk who got him captured in the first place, Meredith wryly admits. Radouk put him in, and then Radouk got him out, with a two-year gap in between. This Radouk sounds charming, I have to say. As to why – "it's a game to him. Ideology was never his strong suit. He's too sophisticated."

After Radouk has been talked up a little more, Cowley asks why Meredith in particular should have been so targeted. If he was one of their top men, I'd have thought that was the answer right there, but what do I know? Meredith calmly admits that after two years Radouk knew everything there was to know about him and knew he was the best person to get in Cowley's ear. Ah, so Cowley was wondering why Meredith was singled out to help make this deal for Radouk, rather than being captured in the first place.

I'm confused now as to just who this Radouk is supposed to be working for – Meredith was a prisoner of the Khmer Rouge and it hasn't been suggested yet that Radouk ever worked for them, so how could he have spent the two years of Meredith's captivity 'getting to know him'?

Meredith then puts his jacket on and asks what he's to tell Radouk. Cowley admits that he's interested, and Meredith talks Radouk and the potential deal up a bit more. They really are making a big deal out of Radouk and how impressive a double agent he is supposed to be – time will tell if he lives up to the hype.

MEREDITH: "Be a feather in your cap."
COWLEY: "I don't need a cap, or a feather in it."

LOL. I find myself liking these scenes between Cowley and Meredith – they are convincing me that they know each other well and go back a long way, but at the same time that they are each unsure of the other after everything that's happened, sizing each other up and verbally sparring in the way Cowley does with everyone he considers an equal. That's an interesting distinction – that he'd regard Meredith as an equal, not a subordinate – and says something about just who Meredith was before his capture.

COWLEY: "I've got my Puritan work ethic to keep me going, remember?"

Picking up a jacket that's been thoughtfully provided for him at short notice along with the rest of his newly acquired outfit, Meredith says he'll arrange a meeting for tomorrow. Cowley doesn't want him to go alone, but he insists that he must. Cowley protests that he's in no fit state to go alone, and Meredith defensively points out that he got halfway around the world on his own and can manage perfectly well by himself. This man does not give the impression of being a team player – I find myself wondering if he ever was, or if this is something new as a result of his captivity, and I like that they've succeeded in making me so interested in the background of a guest character.

He loses a few points for calling Bodie and Doyle 'goons', though, amusing though it is; no respect for fellow agents, seeing himself a cut above the foot soldiers. It's all solid characterisation, though, and he does apologise for it when Cowley points out that the 'goons' saved his life earlier. Cowley reluctantly allows him to go alone, on the condition that when he returns the doctor puts him under sedation for a full 24 hours, to catch up on much-needed rest.

"Just don't try to have me followed, George," is Meredith's parting shot as he leaves. Cowley looks inscrutable.

Bodie and Doyle arrive just in time to see Meredith getting into a taxi.

"Hey, Meredith – does your mother know you're out?" Bodie cheerfully calls. Meredith just gives him an icy glare and gets into his cab. The Lads are not impressed with this attitude.

DOYLE: "'Thanks for saving my life, boys.'"
BODIE: "Oh, that's all right, think nothing of it, Meredith. Your smile is recompense enough, isn't that right, Doyle?"
DOYLE: "Oh, yeah, it's all part of the service."

ROFL

They head inside, where they find Cowley deep in thought. "Congratulations," he tells them, severely. "Two to one, and you lost him."

Bodie redeems this position by explaining that he recognised the driver, having done some surveillance on him a couple of years ago: a Pole, who came over during the war, Jan Malenski. Neither Cowley nor Doyle is any the wiser, the name not ringing any bells. But since Doyle was already partnered with Bodie two years ago, shouldn't he have also been working on the same case at the same time? Wouldn't Cowley have known all about the cases Bodie worked for him?

Exasperated with their ignorance, Bodie offers another name, which Doyle confirms that even his mum would have heard of, and now Cowley remembers who Malenski is. Well, I suppose CI5 deals with so many cases, so many names, even Cowley can't be expected to remember every single one of them. Bodie remembers checking him out at the time, but nothing came of it, so Malenski wouldn't know him. Well, not from back then, anyway, but I'd say it's a safe bet he got a reasonably good look at both the lads back at that warehouse. After all, Bodie got a good enough look to recognise him, two years later.

Malenski is low-grade, but the type Kodai would use if he didn't have time to set up the hit properly, Bodie hypothesises. Bodie sounds very professional and very assured in what he does, here, very convincing. I'm impressed.

Cowley is completely mollified about losing Kodai earlier, and instructs his men to go bring Malenski in, offering two pieces of parting wisdom. The first is not to underestimate Kodai just because he failed to take Meredith out at the port. The second is to remember how vital this operation is – they are playing for extremely high stakes here.

Cut to: Meredith's cab arriving at a large house somewhere in London. Use of cab isn't terribly discreet, is it? I mean, surely anyone could then get hold of the driver to find out where he made the drop off? Meredith heads inside, where someone is waiting for him.

MEREDITH: "Well, you wouldn't win many coconuts, would you, Kodai?"

Duh, duh, DUH! Fifteen minutes in and the other shoe is dropped, and all the work that's gone into Meredith's characterisation up to this point flies out of the window as it is revealed that it's all been a big act and that he's in cahoots with his own would-be assassin, a double-agent himself.

"You moved in front of Cowley," Kodai grumbles. "You're lucky I didn't blow your head off."

Meaning that Cowley himself was the intended target. The plot thickens. And now the famous Radouk himself joins the party. I have to say: he's not really what I was expecting after hearing all that hype earlier. Meredith petulantly tells him that it's all a big mess, whereupon Radouk crisply informs him that recriminations are a luxury they don't have time for and asks if Cowley believed his story.

If the plan was to kill Cowley back at the port, what was the point of the story, and if the deal they want to make is genuine who were they expecting to make it with? Or was the whole story about Radouk and the potential deal simply a case of Meredith thinking fast and making it up as he went along, with Radouk and Kodai now having to go along with it? It really isn't clear.

Radouk smoothly continues that the first lesson an agent learns is that if they have a story, stick to it. Meredith immediately protests that he's not going back, but he is overruled.

"We must all take risks until the job is done and Cowley is dead," Radouk portentously announces. Do they really need such an elaborate plot just to kill Cowley? A sniper with a better aim than Kodai demonstrated at the port and a bit of inside info as to the Cow's movements is all it would really take, surely? He wasn't exactly swarming with security at that funeral earlier, for example.

Elsewhere, Bodie drops Doyle off, silently communicates what he's going to do with a few vigorous hand gestures, and drives off to the end of the street. Doyle approaches a nearby house and rings the bell. He's not terrible stealthy about it, though – waiting for an answer, he takes a step back and puts himself in full view of the upstairs window Malenski is peering out of. Being no fool, Malenski of course recognises him from that warehouse shootout at the port earlier, dashes downstairs, and hops onto his motorbike out back. However, Bodie is prepared for this eventuality, and hastens to cut him off. Seeing the car heading toward him, Malenski promptly loses control of his bike and topples off. Heh. Retribution for running Doyle down earlier and attempting to do likewise for Bodie.

Malenski runs for it. Bodie, still in the car, gives chase. Malenski hasn't got far when he runs into Doyle, and attempts to scuffle, only for Doyle to take him down with ease.

BODIE: "Not very nice, Malenski, is it, being run down by a car? I didn't like it, either."

Blustering that they won't make him talk, Malenski is bundled into the car and away.

Recovered from his fit of nerves, Meredith is now back at the safe house with Cowley and acting for all he's worth. He butters Cowley up a little – or attempts to, anyway – saying that Cowley is the only one Radouk is willing to deal with. Cowley does not seem terribly impressed by this. "Should I be flattered?" Sensible man, Cowley. Meredith sidesteps this issue and returns to a more crucial point – is Cowley willing to make a deal?

"That would depend on what arrangements Radouk had in mind," Cowley cagily informs him, unwilling to be drawn.

Thus encouraged, Meredith explains that there's a disused RAF base near Manly – Radouk wants to meet him there at noon, tomorrow, alone. Radouk gets a new passport, the money, new identity – Cowley gets the traitor, 'Iron Sphinx'. Radouk then leaves, and that's the end of it.

Cowley points out that Kodai has a different ending in mind, and Meredith, secure in the knowledge that Kodai is in on all the plans, cheerfully informs him that that's Cowley's problem. The base will have to be sealed up tight.

High security doesn't really fall under the banner of coming alone, to my way of thinking.

Cowley makes the point that the hit could happen anywhere; that Radouk could be taken out en route to the meet. But Meredith blithely insists that that's unlikely, as Radouk has access to a helicopter. Cowley is impressed at such resources being available a man on the run, but Meredith brushes it off, saying that Radouk had long expected being driven to this end and made arrangements accordingly.

COWLEY: "You can't play both ends against the middle forever."
MEREDITH: "Right. But Radouk intends to try."

I kinda like the idea of using characters such as Radouk and Kodai as recurring thorns in the side of CI5. They always manage to wrap their cases up in one episode, ending with the bad guys either dead of incarcerated. But it stands to reason that an agency such as this would have cases ongoing for months if not years in some instances, and every now and then that kind of thing is hinted at when we are shown informers that are apparently regularly used (although never seen or heard of again) or old cases are referred to in order to establish a connection between the agents and someone involved in the case. But it could have been really interesting to see a little of that ongoing-ness playing out onscreen with more recurring characters.

Anyway, Cowley points out that the amount of manpower required to seal off the base is fairly hard to keep low profile, but Meredith remains unworried, simply reiterating that Cowley and Radouk must meet alone, with no one else coming anywhere near. Cowley gives a wry chuckle at all these demands and conditions from a man in Radouk's position, and Meredith admits that Radouk is very twitchy, since he was relying on the mysterious 'Iron Sphinx', only to be let down. This happened four days ago, he explains, adding that Radouk's misfortune was a blessing in disguise for himself, since it got him out of prison in Cambodia and back home. Cowley remains inscrutable, but we later learn that this is the point where he wises up to Meredith's lies – or has his worst suspicions confirmed – so have to be impressed by his acting skills and poker face!

The doctor returns. Cowley reminds Meredith that he agreed to 24 hours under sedation, and Meredith doesn't look happy but can't really argue the point too much, not without weakening his own position, so he submits without protest. Cowley looks inscrutable once more as he gets straight onto the phone to the records department and asks for everything they've got on Jan Malenski.

Up in the bedroom, the doctor prepares a hypodermic, at which point Meredith does start to protest, using his imprisonment as an excuse for needle phobia. The doctor caves and gives him pills instead, which of course he does not take. Throwing them on the floor once the doctor has gone isn't the most covert method of disposal, however, it has to be said.

At CI5 HQ, Jan Malenski sits at a table in one of the large interrogation rooms, Bodie and Doyle lurking in the shadows behind him. Cowley arrives, and Malenski sullenly growls that he will tell them nothing. Cowley mildly points out that he hasn't asked the man anything yet, and adds that, on the contrary, he's come to give him something. He goes on to pull a bunch of photographs out of a folder – pictures of Malenski's family, back home in Poland. They're *all* playing at good cop, here, with no bad cops anywhere in sight. Malenski is confused by this warm and cuddly approach to being menacing.

Cowley explains that they know all about him, and made it their business to know all about his family, in case he was in a position to help them some day. And that day has come. Malenski growls that if he helps them, Kodai will have his family eliminated, and he is not convinced by Cowley's counter-threat that the only elimination will be that of Kodai. He's not willing to take the risk. In the blink of an eye Cowley seamlessly moves from smilingly genial to icily threatening, informing Malenski that unless he agrees to help, his family in Poland will be incriminated as Western agents and suffer the consequences.

Whoa. It's easy to forget, in some episodes when he's being gentler and more mild-mannered, just how ruthless and intimidating Cowley can be when he needs to be.

Malenski explodes, and is restrained. "You're like Kodai," he seethes. "You use people – innocent people, old people, anyone to get what you want."

"I do try to get what I want," Cowley admits. "But I'm not like Kodai. I look after the people I use. Help me, and I'll protect your family. Refuse me, and I'll do what Kodai would do, what Kodai will probably do anyway, once you're no longer of use to him."

He's got him right where he wants him. A broken man, Malenski gives in, and tells them where to find Kodai.

Satisfied, Cowley happily snaps out orders as they all charge out of the room – Malenski to be kept in isolation, Bodie and Doyle to go after Kodai and bring him and anyone with him in alive. "Play it by the book. Especially you, Bodie!"

The Lads roll their eyes at one another and head out rather languidly, apparently in no especial rush to confront Kodai once more. To them, this is just another case. But Cowley is taking it intensely personally. Maybe because he secretly does rather fancy that feather in his cap…but mostly, the benefit of hindsight tells us, because of the connection with Meredith, an old and trusted friend that he knows has turned and is lying to him. And because it's a huge deal and he's anxious about it, with so much responsibility to bear, whichever way it works out. Double-think and triple-think – this episode just abounds with all of that, and Cowley seems to thrive on it.

Cowley charges back to the safe house. It's now morning, apparently, and the agent on duty reports that all is quiet and Meredith hasn't stirred. He hasn't made a run for it, then – not taking the sedative was about retaining control of the situation, rather than being ready to make good any kind of escape.

The phone rings. Cowley answers – and is rather taken aback to find Kodai on the other end.

KODAI: "I thought it was time we had a talk, Mr Cowley. At a safe distance, this time."
COWLEY: "You're maybe thinking of the last wee chat we had."
KODAI: "I still have the scar. A constant reminder of how little your word is worth."
COWLEY: "As much as yours – you had a gun, too, Kodai. I was just quicker."

Ooh. Cowley really does have a history with just about everyone in this episode. Gives a real sense of all the spies of the world all knowing one another, like some kind of old boys network, where they exchange pleasantries while trying to kill each other. Meanwhile upstairs, Meredith is just emerging from his room, and creeps close to listen. On the phone, Kodai explains that he hasn't called to reminisce about the past but to talk about the present and the future. Cowley keeps him talking while simultaneously using the R/T to communicate with Bodie and Doyle, en route to Kodai's hideout.

Kodai rambles on at length about wanting Radouk – with Radouk standing right there in the room with him – and knowing all about the plans for the meet, how he could have killed Meredith at any time if he felt Meredith were in any way important, and in terms of the big conspiracy, I'm really not sure what the point of the call is. But while Kodai has got Cowley on the phone, Meredith uses an upstairs phone to call a second phone line in Kodai and Radouk's hideout. What's up with all these double phone lines? Radouk answers, listens intently for a moment, and then curtly cuts off Kodai's call to Cowley.

Bodie and Doyle arrive at the conspirators' hideout. Doyle very nimbly hops over a fence out back, always fun to watch, and Bodie follows. Why are they both going for the back? Shouldn't they be covering all possible exits? But they are too late anyway – they bust into the back end of the garage just as Kodai and Radouk speed away in their car, leaving disgruntled Lads in their wake. "I hate flashy drivers, don't you?" Bodie grumbles. That's twice they've lost Kodai now, and they both know Cowley will not be happy about it.

At the safe house, Cowley looks in on Meredith and finds him apparently fast asleep in bed, just as he is expected to be. He's faking, of course, as viewers are shown once Cowley leaves the room, just in case they were confused on this point.

Downstairs, Bodie and Doyle have arrived, and are trying to work out a strategy for telling Cowley they have lost Kodai again.

DOYLE: "So, what you going to tell him?"
BODIE: "What do you mean, me? You tell him!"

Heh.

"The good news is that my colleague here obeyed orders and didn't shoot Kodai," Doyle ventures as a possible opening gambit.

"And the bad news is he got away," Cowley surmises, appearing in the doorway in time to hear this. Hee. "Again. And you're my best men. You *were* my best men."

"There's no answer to that," Doyle mutters.

Got to love the snark and banter in this episode.

Bodie insists that Kodai must have been tipped off somehow, but they can't work out how. Cowley is also unsettled that Kodia knew the phone number of the safe house, and decides he wants Meredith moved to a new location, out of harm's way, with either Bodie or Doyle staying with him at all times, in shifts. Nursemaids, Bodie grumbles. Heh – it's their punishment for letting Kodai escape twice.

The Lads depart to make it so, and Cowley begins to make arrangements for his meet with Radouk.

Bodie and Doyle escort Meredith to a new safe house, going to great lengths to ensure that they aren't followed. Doyle's hair is starting to get seriously out of hand now, I have to say. I prefer it just a wee bit shorter than it is in this episode – shaggy, rather than flyaway. Meredith complains about all the secrecy and the armed guard, grumbling that when he got out of Phnom Pen he thought he was coming back to freedom.

BODIE: "In the circumstances, I wouldn't complain."
MEREDITH: "What the hell would you know about it?"

Cue Bodie and Doyle exchanging meaningful side eyes in the rear view mirror, since Doyle is sitting in back with Meredith. They really haven't taken to Meredith, and he could almost be going out of his way to aggravate them further. Probably is.

BODIE: "I know everything about it, Meredith. We all do. Only some of us don't keep talking about it, right?"

They reach the new safe house, and Bodie resignedly admits that he lost the toss and drew first shift. He and Meredith head into the house, while Doyle gets custody of the car and makes good his escape. He returns to Kodai's abandoned hideout to chew over the problem a little more, noting the presence of the two telephones. I love it when Doyle mulls over a puzzle – he's like a dog with a bone, just keeps worrying at it until he finds a resolution.

At the safe house, Bodie and Meredith are both bored rigid, and Meredith is trying very hard to subtly rid himself of his bodyguard, requesting alcohol, attempting to wheedle. Bodie is immovable. "Got to stick with you. There's a big, bad wolf out there, you know."

More verbal sparring follows, very different to that Meredith shared with Cowley. There, they were on an equal footing. Here, Bodie is at a disadvantage and he knows it, but is undeterred. He neither likes nor trusts Meredith, and makes that clear, still smarting over Kodai's inexplicably well timed vanishing act. Meredith plays it cool, and Bodie doesn't believe a word of it, but doesn't press the point, again refusing a request to slip out and pick up some Scotch and suggesting instead that Meredith get some sleep.

Bodie starts to head downstairs…and is alarmed to hear a car screeching to a halt outside. No one but Doyle and Cowley should know they are there. He dashes downstairs and into the lounge, diving to the floor for cover. Kodai and two random armed men burst into the house shooting. With Bodie pinned down and in imminent danger of being found and killed, Meredith meets Kodai on the landing, smoothly remarking that subtlety never was Kodai's strong point. Kodai just shoots him, without a word. Seems Radouk and Kodai have reached the conclusion that Meredith has outlived his usefulness and that their plans are best served by removing him from the equation. The moral of the story is this: trust no one when making deals with double agents.

One of the random gunmen then moves to the window where he sees Doyle's car pulling up. He opens fire, and Doyle is forced to take cover as the car takes a few hits around the engine. Bet he wasn't expecting a welcome quite like this when he returned for his shift.

Downstairs, Bodie manages to take out the first random gunman and then shoots at Kodai up on the landing. Kodai retreats out of a back window, and Bodie charges up one set of stairs while the second random gunman escapes down another. How many sets of stairs does one house need? The surviving random gunman doesn't survive much longer, providing cover for Kodai to sprint to the car, but then taken down by Doyle before he can follow. Kodai makes good his escape – that's the third time they've lost him, then. Bodie and Doyle charge back into the house, find Meredith dead, and are dismayed.

BODIE: "How the hell did they know he was here?"
DOYLE: "Someone, somewhere, was waiting for a call from him."

Having failed to protect Meredith, Bodie and Doyle hotfoot it back to the first safe house to face the wrath of Cowley, who is most displeased. He accuses them of leading Kodai straight to Meredith, but they stand up for themselves, Bodie insisting again that they weren't followed – he really doesn't appreciate the slur on their professionalism, or the fact that all these failures are making them look sloppy when he knows they haven't been – while Doyle points out that Meredith could have tipped Kodai off himself, what with having a phone in his room, and all.

COWLEY: "There are times, Doyle, when you show remarkable intelligence. But this doesn't appear to be one of them."

Heh. Meant as an insult and as part of a dressing down, but it's actually quite a compliment, really. Doyle refuses to back down from his point that Meredith had a phone in his room in both safe houses, and that Kodai had two at his hideout. Meredith is the only person who could have tipped him off. And viewers watching with hindsight bear in mind that at this stage Cowley already knows that Meredith was lying and was part of a bigger plot, but here is deliberately choosing to keep his agents in the dark and tear strips off them when they aren't at fault, even though Meredith is no longer around to put on an act for. Maybe he just wants to keep them on their toes, but I really can't see why he wouldn't let them in on more of what he knows at this stage, other than being a control freak.

COWLEY: Why would Meredith use the phone to summon his own executioner?"
BODIE: "Perhaps he was just a poor judge of character. The fact remains, sir, there's no way we were followed."

The phone rings again, and it's Kodai, again, holding Meredith's murder up as a reason why he should be given Radouk – who is, again, standing right beside him as he talks. The conversation is basically just an exchange of bluster in preparation for the meeting at Manly the following day, although I thought it was already the following day, so have clearly lost track of time somewhere in the course of the episode.

With Meredith dead, and Cowley blaming them, Bodie and Doyle find a pub to drown their sorrows. While Bodie flirts with the barmaid and tries to distract himself, Doyle broods morosely about being given a roasting by Cowley three times in the space of a few short hours. Amusingly, Bodie manages to con Doyle into buying him a Harvey Wallbanger, the expense of which Doyle whinges about, and Doyle then manages to draw Bodie into frank discussion of the trouble they've had that day. They know damn well they weren't followed, and yet Kodai knew where to find Meredith, and although Bodie seems like he'd quite like to just forget the whole thing, Doyle can't let it go.

DOYLE: "Cowley's pulling one over us, he's not giving us the full story – why the hell just for once can't he give us the whole story? Unless Meredith thought he was un-expendable and wasn't."
BODIE: "Why should Meredith be working for them?"
DOYLE: "Two years in a Khmer prison camp, I'd work for 'em."
BODIE: "Only till you got back, I mean, there's no law says you can only change sides once.

I love this scene. I love the banter, and the characterisation, and the verbal chewing over and over of the problem. Doyle ponders on how close Meredith and Cowley were, and whether or not Meredith would have been good enough to fool Cowley if he had changed sides, and viewers watching without the benefit of hindsight are asking themselves that question, too, and it's all good.

Bodie finally snaps. "Doyle, just buy us a drink and stop pouring out conjecture."

Doyle points out that it's Bodie's round, not his. "Your reward will be in heaven, my son." Hee. So then Bodie buys Doyle an orange juice – and vodka – and Doyle guzzles it, then yanks Bodie out of the bar before he can drink the lager he's just bought for himself. Mwah. It's a fantastic scene. So much fun.

RAF Manly. Cowley arrives to find his high security already in place, and starts getting set up in a disused hanger. Bodie and Doyle then arrive for their final mission briefing.

COWLEY: "I want the perimeter of this field sewn up so tight a gnat can't get at him."
BODIE: "Knee deep in dead insects already, sir."

They are all very tense. Bodie points out that Cowley's arrangements leave him alone with Radouk and no backup nearer than 500 yards, and that he doesn't like it.

COWLEY: "I don't like it, either, Bodie, and even less do I like having my orders questioned."

Hee. Got to love the Cow being tetchy. He tells them both to push off and follow orders – no one to come within 500 yards until it's all over, no matter what the circumstances, and no shots to be fired until further notice. "And anyone who disobeys will spend the rest of his life watching Russian trawlers in the Outer Hebrides."

"Isn't is nice to feel wanted," Doyle snarks as the Lads make their exit. They're using a different car now, I'm pleased to see – Bodie's car seen earlier came a cropper in that hail of bullets back at the safe house. So this one is Doyle's, and Doyle, therefore, is driving.

Random agents patrol the perimeter, sniper rifles in hand. If no one is to fire a shot until further notice, what's the point of the guns, and what are they expected to do if they do see an intruder? Maybe they are supposed to use the guns as clubs in that eventuality.

Doyle takes his frustrations out on the car, demonstrating a nifty bit of driving as they park up and take cover in another building.

BODIE: "Yeah – quite looking forward to seeing Kodai again."
DOYLE: "Yeah, I can't wait."
BODIE: "Oh, he's not such a bad sort, bit careless with firearms, I'll concede."
DOYLE: "Yeah, and he loves animals and children, I know. Maybe he won't show."
BODIE: "Nah, he'll show. Fifty says he shows."

Radouk's helicopter arrives, right on time, and hovers flashily for a while, getting a good look at the surroundings. Bodie and Doyle are distracted by a sound from someplace nearby, and hurry to check it out. It's a tramp, drunk as a skunk, bedding down in one of the disused out buildings. He is indignant at the intrusion.

TRAMP: "You boys realise that you are trespassing?"
DOYLE: "We've got permission."

Hee. The tramp is quite hilarious, standing on his drunken dignity, and wanting to know if they have licences for their guns. Bodie's little shake of the head at the question and the tramp's horrified reaction are very understated, but fantastic for that fact.

The helicopter lands, and Kodai gets out. Cowley seems rather shocked to see him instead of Radouk, and Kodai is smug about his own cleverness. Cowley icily explains that the briefcase he's carrying contains exactly what Radouk asked for – a brand new British passport and £200,000 in used notes – because Cowley keeps his promises.

KODAI: "When Radouk and I celebrate, our first toast will be to your probity, Cowley."

At gunpoint, Cowley throws him the case, turns and runs, and is shot in the back. He goes down, and first time viewers are appalled. This is a cracking good case, this is. Hearing the shot, Bodie and Doyle are also appalled and leap into the car to go see what's happening. They have to stop and open a security gate on the way, which slows them down a bit, rather than just crashing straight through – must be made of sturdy metal rather than easily breakable wood, I suppose.

Kodai's helicopter takes off, and Bodie shoots at it, to no avail. Kodai has escaped again. Reaching the hanger where the meet was to take place, they are bemused to find it empty. Then Cowley steps into sight in the doorway, not dead after all. "Was that you firing, Bodie?"

Heh. What's up with picking on Bodie so much in this episode? Both Lads confess to having shot at the departing helicopter.

"Knew you would, never could obey orders, either of you," Cowley tells them, as Doyle helps him out of his bullet-proof jacket while Bodie eyes the holes the bullets tore in his coat. Bodie argues that Kodai could have killed him, if he'd gone for a headshot, but Cowley is untroubled. "At twenty yards in poor light with a hand gun?"

Now that the meet is over, Cowley is full of brisk efficiency, snapping out orders left right and centre and thoroughly enjoying all the intrigue and adrenaline rush, and the Lads struggle to keep up, not being in on the big plan. This is exactly what Doyle was complaining about in the pub, lack of disclosure. All they can do is follow orders and react to whatever situation develops, because they are not trusted with the full details. Only Cowley possesses those, and they have no choice but to trust him and go along with whatever he tells them.

DOYLE: "Why aren't we taking the lads?"
COWLEY: "Because I don't want a bloody procession, Doyle!"

In the car, speeding along, Cowley picks up the radio, scrambler enabled, for guidance as to the helicopter's movements. "John Brown to Queen Vic." Hee. Doyle drives, and Bodie gets to navigate. Fun.

At a mansion someplace – which is dead impressive, it has to be said, not to mention ostentatious – Radouk anxiously waits for Kodai. Seeing as how this little partnership is entirely composed of double agents and turncoats, this has got to be a nerve-wracking moment for him, wondering if Kodai will return at all or just take the money and passport and run. Just how far can they trust one another? Especially since, from what I can tell, Kodai and the late Meredith have done all the work so far. All Radouk has provided is his name as bait.

In the car, Doyle wonders how Cowley knew to wear the 'fancy waistcoat', anyway.

COWLEY: "As soon as Meredith claimed to have spoken to Iron Sphinx four days ago, I knew he was lying. Whatever it was Radouk wanted, it wasn't a new passport."
BODIE: "Didn't you trust us, either?"

He sounds really hurt, too, and angry. It would be really nice to be able to tie that into earlier episodes and breaches of faith, if not for reset button pressed in between times. Still, it does tie in fairly nicely with issues raised in episodes such as Fall Girl, so I can imagine a link there if I want to, whether the continuity and character development was intended or not!

COWLEY: "Bodie, I'm sure you have many hidden talents, but if acting is one of them, I didn't want to put it to the test with Meredith."
DOYLE: "What did I say about Meredith?"

So, Bodie's smarting about not being trusted, but Doyle is just happy that his copper's instincts have been vindicated and that his suppositions have turned out to be correct.

Radouk looks relieved to see Kodai's helicopter come in to land at last. Now, they've got to know that the helicopter's movements are easily traceable by air traffic control, but presumably they were counting on Cowley's assassination to slow the pursuit down long enough to make their escape.

If it was the money Radouk and Kodai were after all along, this was an awfully elaborate way of getting it, and if Cowley had been killed back at the port as seemed to be the plan earlier, they wouldn't have got it at all. I love the way the plot unfolds in this episode, but I really don't grasp what the overall plan of the bad guys is supposed to have been, as it seems to change like the wind.

Kodai and Radouk switch from the helicopter to a car, and drive away just as team CI5 arrives. Doyle instantly changes direction to give chase.

There's a bit of woodland car chasing and smashing through of gates, and then both cars come to a halt, their occupants take cover, and shooting ensues. Doyle provides cover for Bodie to get around behind their opponents. Isn't it supposed to be Doyle's turn to do that this time? But they are going with expertise, in this situation, I presume, and Bodie gets to put his mercenary experiences in the African jungle to good use, creeping up behind the bad guys through the woods. Radouk and Kodai, meanwhile, snarl at each other in, presumably, Russian. No translation is provided, but the gist seems to be that they are rather surprised to see Cowley alive and well after all.

Pinned down with nowhere to go, Radouk tries to talk his way out of trouble, shouting that he'll do a deal with Cowley. Yeah, that's what started all this in the first place, the offer of a deal with Radouk. It's the same deal he's offering, as well – Iron Sphinx. Cowley counters that he already knows the name, and the man – he worked with him for twenty years. "He was working for us, he was always working for us." A double-double agent, apparently – definitely sounds like Cowley's kind of man.

Radouk shouts back that he doesn't believe Cowley, and Doyle mutters to keep him talking, giving Bodie more time. Cowley obliges, calling out that the man is dead.

RADOUK: "You're bluffing, Cowley."
BODIE: "I'm not."

Heh. Nice one Bodie – he got right up behind them without them noticing. Kodai spins around, gun at the ready, and Bodie takes him down. He's been wanting to do that since they 'met' back at the port. Radouk, who is a different kettle of fish entirely, promptly throws down and gives in. He's the type who likes to talk his way out of trouble, rather than trying to fight.

Radouk rather petulantly asks how Cowley knew about Meredith, and Cowley triumphantly explains that he didn't, not until Meredith claimed to have spoken to Iron Sphinx at a time when Cowley knew damn well he'd been dead a fortnight, having just been to his memorial service. "Under the circumstances, it was hardly surprising that he couldn't help you."

Lesson for all double-agents everywhere: if you've got a story, stick to it, fair enough – but check all your facts, first!

Overall, this is a fantastic episode. The plot holds together a lot better than some, even if some of the motivations are a bit hazy. The guest characters are engaging, Cowley at his ruthless best, and the Lads at their snarkiest best. Fabulous.


Birgit started us off, saying:

Our local paper got all excited about the new James Bond film suffering from "numerous" inconsistencies, and listed about 8 (eight) of them, the most outrageous of which seemed to be that Mr Bond sports different wristwatches in the same scene.

Well, guys, I think the Pros can do way better than that! Plotholes wherever you look... and aren't the lads gorgeous with it! <g>

One of them occurred to me while I was dutifully rewatching Stopover the other day. After Kodai got away the first time, Bodie explains to Cowley and Doyle he did some surveillance on Malensky "a couple of years back" - huh?? A couple of years back, he would have been in CI5 for at least two years (says the creators' outline for the show), so Cowley should know whom he sent his lads to do surveillance on, shouldn't he?

And where was Doyle while Bodie was doing it? Even supposing he wasn't on active at the time for whatever reason, I expect he would have been roughly aware of his partner's doings. In Involvement, it emerges that each obviously gets to do the odd job on their own, but the other would ask what he is up to.

To make things worse, Bodie claims that Malensky doesn't know him – mere hours after said Malensky has seen both him and Doyle in full splendour when he picked up Kodai and tried to overrun them both.

Huh?

Predictably, when Doyle stands in front of Malensky's door and even takes a step back so he can be seen from the upstairs window, good old Jan would have to be blind as a bat or suffer from terminal amnesia not to realise who is was, and logically tries to leg it. Well, maybe that was what they intended him to do to draw him out, but it does look a little daft to me.

Oh well, like I said: we love 'em warts, plotholes and all, don't we? Banter-wise, it's one of the best eps at any rate.





Birgit said:

> One Stopover recap coming up - yay for Birgit getting us started off.

Heh - thanks to *you* for providing another hilarious review. You've really got the knack of bringing it all together. :)

> Cowley gently reaches out and takes the lighter from his hand.

It always amazes me how self-assured Cowley is and how well he knows his (ex-) men (thinking of similar scenes with Quinn). Stories in which one of our lads going off the rails and Cowley is standing up for him are always interesting, on screen and on paper.

> Handing Meredith his lighter back,

Ha! It's not even his (he borrowed it from one of the port police people earlier), but he pockets it nonetheless. A first hint at him being a shady character after all...? <g>

> It's apparently a long way back to the cars.

That distance is utter rubbish after Meredith fled just a few yards from the office to the gas canisters, and both Cowley's and the lads' cars were parked immediately in front. It doesn't really help that the setting looks suspiciously like the one at the end of Hunter, Hunted. <g>

> sure enough a shot rings out. Meredith takes a bullet in the arm, and they all go onto full-scale red alert.

... although Cowley should be lying dead on the ground because considering his position halfway behind Meredith, the bullet should have taken him in the chest. <g>

> The port authority must be absolutely hating CI5 around about now.

Yeah, especially as they must have left the entire building riddled with bullet holes...

> Meredith snits that he's all right and heads on inside,

... and, as far as I can see, in the wrong direction... <g>

> BODIE: "Whose turn is it?"
> DOYLE: "Yours."

Ah. I LOVE exchanges like this one. They come so naturally and give a glimpse of the whole working partnership in just five words. :)

> Shooting ensues, but both he and the sniper miss each other, neither of them being properly positioned to actually get a decent shot.

When Doyle winces, I think it's not because of Kodai's bullets, but because of the ricochets of his own slugs.

> I probably shouldn't enjoy watching the Lads run around shooting at people quite so much. *G*

Aw, come on. You don't intend to make us all feel guilty of the same sin, do you?

Anyway, just before Malenski arrives, Kodai is shown standing there out of breath, his nose red and running - not really the accomplished, cold-blooded Russian agent you'd expect, is he?

> BODIE: "Not very nice, Malenski, is it, being run down by a car? I didn't like it, either."

Well, strictly speaking, Bodie wasn't, so it's more retaliation for Doyle's predicament here. Nice touch if you think about it.

> Whoa. It's easy to forget, in some episodes when he's being gentler and more mild-mannered, just how ruthless and intimidating Cowley can be when he needs to be.

Yes, absolutely. This scene always leaves me with a sour aftertaste, just like the one with the syringe in Private Madness. I know Cowley can be a ruthless bastard, but it's still a scary thought – I can see why Doyle was uneasy the first time around, although he seems to have got used to it by now.

> Bodie and Doyle escort Meredith to a new safe house, going to great lengths to ensure that they aren't followed.

Just what is that little excursion of Doyle's supposed to achieve, though? They stop at a crossroads, Doyle gets out and walks over it, then Bodie pulls up and Doyle gets back in saying "all clear" - huh??

> Doyle's hair is starting to get seriously out of hand now, I have to say. I prefer it just a wee bit shorter than it is in this episode – shaggy, rather than flyaway.

Noooooo - it's PERFECT in this ep. 8-]-~°~~°~~°~~~ ~~~~~

> BODIE: "How the hell did they know he was here?"
> DOYLE: "Someone, somewhere, was waiting for a call from him."

This is totally beyond me - if they were *waiting* for his call, how come they knew where to find Meredith??

> COWLEY: "There are times, Doyle, when you show remarkable intelligence. But this doesn't appear to be one of them."
> Heh. Meant as an insult and as part of a dressing down, but it's actually quite a compliment, really.

Yes, it definitely is. You can tell from many of Cowley's reactions to the lads that he seems to think of Doyle as the brains of the team (and no, I'm NOT saying Bodie's stupid or anything).

> Maybe he just wants to keep them on their toes, but I really can't see why he wouldn't let them in on more of what he knows at this stage, other than being a control freak.

Either that, or he wants to take personal revenge on Kodai and Radouk somehow for trying to fool him. I reckon the Cow doesn't take too kindly to being led on by anyone, especially not by shady Russian spies.

> With Meredith dead, and Cowley blaming them, Bodie and Doyle find a pub to drown their sorrows. While Bodie flirts with the barmaid and tries to distract himself, Doyle broods morosely about being given a roasting by Cowley three times in the space of a few short hours.

I'd really like to know what Bodie says right at the start of the scene. I even got Werner to ask William Brayne about it (who directed this ep) while watching the scene with him, but all he got was a good deal of grouching about all the things that are wrong about this ep and especially that bloody mumbling... <g>

> Amusingly, Bodie manages to con Doyle into buying him a Harvey Wallbanger,

The amount of alcohol the lads put away during the day always amazes me. Doyle asking for a "large Scotch" in broad day light while on duty? Oh my.

> DOYLE: "Cowley's pulling one over us, he's not giving us the full story – why the hell just for once can't he give us the whole story?

Instinctively - or based on experience - Doyle has put his finger exactly on what's happening, and - understandably - doesn't like it one bit, but is still prepared to risk his life for his boss.

> "And anyone who disobeys will spend the rest of his life watching Russian trawlers in the Outer Hebrides."

Heh - this has become a standard threat in our house... I LOVE Cowley's pronounciation of "Hebrides". <g>

> They have to stop and open a security gate on the way, which slows them down a bit, rather than just crashing straight through – must be made of sturdy metal rather than easily breakable wood, I suppose.

Nah. It's just meant to show how Bodie gets back into the car via the side window so the BBs finally get to see a bit more of their hero whereas we DDs are regaled with loads of eye candy in this one. Those green trousers and short jacket are definitely among my favourite Doyle togs. :)

> DOYLE: "Why aren't we taking the lads?"
> COWLEY: "Because I don't want a bloody procession, Doyle!"

It is indeed weird that they should go without reinforcements, even if they might perhaps arrive a bit later than the heroes. Cowley is definitely keen on personally getting one over Kodai and Radouk.

It's funny that he orders Doyle to drive – watch Bodie's face fall at that! One could argue that thanks to his army background, Bodie is probably better at reading maps, but personally, I reckon it's because Cowley wants to get there in one piece and not lose his lovely Granada... <g>

> BODIE: "Didn't you trust us, either?"
> He sounds really hurt, too, and angry.

It's odd that Bodie, not Doyle, should say this after he seemed rather dismissive about all this at the pub.

But I can see your point about character development. Doyle has got used to not being trusted by his boss whereas Bodie has only recently begun to resent it whereas it didn't bother him before.

> COWLEY: "Bodie, I'm sure you have many hidden talents, but if acting is one of them, I didn't want to put it to the test with Meredith."

Hmmmmmmm - if acting wasn't one of the lads' talents, then they would be useless for undercover jobs, and Cowley keeps assigning them to those all the time.

> DOYLE: "What did I say about Meredith?"
So, Bodie's smarting about not being trusted, but Doyle is just happy that his copper's instincts have been vindicated and that his suppositions have turned out to be correct.

Yeah - not a very nice trait of his, but still endearing, I think. He likes to get things right ("you always say that," Bodie says) and wants his boss to notice, too.

> Doyle provides cover for Bodie to get around behind their opponents. Isn't it supposed to be Doyle's turn to do that this time?

Perhaps you need to count the stunt around Malenski's capture? That
was Doyle's turn with Bodie backing him up.

> Doyle mutters to keep him talking, giving Bodie more time. Cowley obliges

This is very telling of what Cowley *really* thinks of the lads' abilities. He instantly acknowledges Doyle's experience in working with Bodie and does what he's told, very much the pro despite all his earlier grumbling.

> Heh. Nice one Bodie – he got right up behind them without them noticing.

Yes - and considering Cowley thinks of Kodai as a "formidable agent", what does that say about Bodie? <g>

Despite all these flaws, this is definitely one of my favourite eps although this Meredith character is almost as annoying as the phoney Russian spies. But then again, the lads shine all the more compared to him.

> And hey - only one episode left of boxset two! Maybe we will make that 2010 deadline after all...

I must say I'll be quite sorry to see these recaps come to an end, but luckily there are still quite a few left until then.




bardicfaerie (Kelly) said:

> I'd really like to know what Bodie says right at the start of the scene. I even got Werner to ask William Brayne about it (who directed this ep) while watching the scene with him, but all he got was a good deal of grouching about all the things that are wrong about this ep and especially that bloody mumbling... <g>

Scene 19: A pub. Bodie and Doyle are at the bar.

BARMAID: [to customer] Thanks, Mike.
BODIE: [inaudible]. …would stop talking. Get a headache.
DOYLE: That's twice. Three times in just a few hours, Cowley's given us a roasting.
BODIE: It's your round, isn't it?
DOYLE: What the hell's he think--we don't know how to look for a tail any more?

This is from The Hatstander where they have a section of transcripts from all the episodes

Birgit said:

> BODIE: [inaudible]...would stop talking. Get a headache.

Um... thanks, but the *inaudible* bit is exactly what I'd like to know. <g>


Jo said:
I suspect that we aren't meant to know what the inaudible bit is - they just
wanted us to know we were coming in mid-conversation!


Birgit said:

Heh - yeah, that might be an explanation. It's a pity, though, becauseit sounds like a rather sarky remark, judging by Bodie's fed-up expression (that brightens considerably once the new barmaid appears). <g>



Glenys said:

> This is totally beyond me - if they were *waiting* for his call, how come they knew where to find Meredith??

I don't think anyone was actually waiting for a call, I think this is a spot of Brit culture in-joking. There was an advertising campaign about this time for British Telecom - may even still have been the Post Office who ran the phone service then, can't remember when it changed - and the tag line was "Someone, somewhere, is waiting for a call from you!" which was used in all their TV advertising so this is a joky reference to that, rather than specifically to the action. So it would have been entirely familiar to Brit viewers at the time. But you'd need to have watched UK TV advertising at the time to have known that! I'm sure someone of a similar vintage to me will correct me if I've mis-remembered that - had forgotten all about that ad until I read this! Now was that before or after Buzzby, another advertising character for phones? But that's another story!


Carol said:

> I'm sure someone of a similar vintage to me will correct me if I've mis-remembered that - had forgotten all about that ad until I read this! Now was that before or after Buzzby, another advertising character for phones? But that's another story!

Now you mention it, that's ringing bells (forgive the pun!) with me. Busby was around in the 70s until early 80s - he is mentioned in Purging of CI5 IIRC. More about him here:
http://www.connecte d-earth.com/ Galleries/ Itpaystoadvertis e/Hardsell/ Intothe1970s/



Birgit said:

> I don't think anyone was actually waiting for a call, I think this is a spot of Brit culture in-joking.

Oh yes, that would explain it nicely! The show is full of allusions like this, so it's a safe bet you're right. Thanks!

Only goes to show how fast TV shows (like certain books or plays) become outdated in one way or other (quite apart from the flares and the wallpapers). Good thing we're here to keep it alive. ;)


Daisy said:

Had time to re-watch this today - most stuff has already been said but I thought I'd have my tuppence worth anyway!

I'm not a huge fan of this episode - it's not one I'd automatically head to if I was choosing randomly. I find Meredith irritating, and it doesn't help that I've got some sort of mental block distinguishing between the names Kodai and Radouk (yes, I know they're totally different but my mind works in mysterious ways), so I have issues just following who's who... Still having said that there are a lot of bits in it I do like.

I agree with Jo that the scenes between Meredith and Cowley are very convincing, you believe they have a back story and knew each other well, and are now trying to work out how to slide back into that again after all that's happened. Of course knowing as you do later that Meredith has no intention of rebuilding that relationship it all kind of falls apart but it's good while it lasts!

> At CI5 HQ, Jan Malenski sits at a table in one of the large interrogation rooms, Bodie and Doyle lurking in the shadows behind him.

I like the way in this scene Cowley keeps asking Bodie and Doyle's opinion on things, subtly reminding Jan that his 'muscle' are there in case he's planning on trying anything.

> Downstairs, Bodie and Doyle have arrived, and are trying to work out a strategy for telling Cowley they have lost Kodai again.

Doyle insists 'we were on our bikes as soon as Malenski told us' - he's picking up Cowley's little sayings and twisting them in his favour. I reckon there is character development in Pros, you just have to look a little harder for it <g>

> BODIE: "In the circumstances, I wouldn't complain."
> MEREDITH: "What the hell would you know about it?"
> BODIE: "I know everything about it, Meredith. We all do. Only some of us don't keep talking about it, right?"

Clever writing - it's not just Cowley's past we get little hints of in this episode.

> DOYLE: "Cowley's pulling one over us, he's not giving us the full story – why the hell just for once can't he give us the whole story? Unless Meredith thought he was un-expendable and wasn't."
> BODIE: "Why should Meredith be working for them?"
> DOYLE: "Two years in a Khmer prison camp, I'd work for 'em."
> BODIE: "Only till you got back, I mean, there's no law says you can only change sides once.

I think this little exchange shows a lot about Bodie's mentality - that he's pragmatic, he'll do whatever will serve him best in the short term, yes, but also that once that's served it's purpose he'll choose the cause that he believes in. His first loyalty might be to himself but he's loyal to organisations and causes as well.

> Bodie argues that Kodai could have killed him, if he'd gone for a headshot

And Bodie sounds genuinely upset about that possibility. Bless.

> COWLEY: "As soon as Meredith claimed to have spoken to Iron Sphinx four days ago, I knew he was lying. Whatever it was Radouk wanted, it wasn't a new passport."
> BODIE: "Didn't you trust us, either?"
> He sounds really hurt, too, and angry.

Yes - and watch Doyle flick a little glance over at Bodie to see if he's OK. So very bless.

> Cowley counters that he already knows the name, and the man – he worked with him for twenty years. "He was working for us, he was always working for us." A double-double agent, apparently – definitely sounds like Cowley's kind of man.

Lol - yup!

> With Meredith dead, and Cowley blaming them, Bodie and Doyle find a pub to drown their sorrows. While Bodie flirts with the barmaid and tries to distract himself, Doyle broods morosely about being given a roasting by Cowley three times in the space of a few short hours.

> I'd really like to know what Bodie says right at the start of the scene.

It sounds to me like 'I wish everyone (would stop talking. Get a headache)' - which I assume is Bodie having a snipe at the fact that the barmaid is ignoring him and Doyle is having a sulk and therefore not exactly much of a conversationalist either! Hence why he thinks the wallbanger 'might cheer me up a bit'.

> Heh. Nice one Bodie – he got right up behind them without them noticing.

> Yes - and considering Cowley thinks of Kodai as a "formidable agent", what does that say about Bodie? <g>

What we already know - that Bodie is wonderful <g>

> I must say I'll be quite sorry to see these recaps come to an end, but luckily there are still quite a few left until then.

Ah, but then we just have to start from the beginning again <g>


Sue said:
Well, there it is, Christmas and all that jazz all over with now and I've finally made time to sit down and watch Stopover. Not sure I've anything to add to what has already been said but it's been long enough since it was said that maybe it won't matter if I repeat myself :)

I actually started to watch an early Morse episode yesterday and there he was, large as life, our Colin Meredith!

I don't like this episode as much as Jo seems to. It's not one that readily springs to mind when wondering which one to watch. Bits like the pub scene feel tacked on - or did I just read that somewhere?

How fortunate that Cowley's bleeper didn't go off a few minutes earlier when the service was underway. Rather like our mobiles these days - only we are embarrassed by more than the inappropriateness of it - we also have the vast array of cheerful and sometimes inane ringtones!

I always seem to forget until I see him again for the first time - Kodai, played by Michael Gothard, was Kai in Arthur of the Britons. Another of the shows of my childhood.

When Meredith leaves the safe house for his meeting with Radouk, Bodie and Doyle don't challenge him. OK, Bodie makes that jibe but neither of them are that concerned to see him leave. Although unlikely, Cowley could be unconscious or dead inside. Again, granted, Meredith would have to be very, very cool not to show any guilty reaction but even so, you'd think the lads would check. And although he has Cowley's permission to leave, Meredith does actually think he is leaving for good. It's only at Radouk's insistence that he returns.

I have no problem with neither Doyle nor Cowley remembering Malenski's name. Cowley really can't be expected to instantly recall every name from every report he reads, especially one two years old. And Doyle could easily have been on another assignment at the time - they are sometimes assigned to different things - or on sick leave, at the time Bodie was on the surveillance job.

When Meredith has returned to the safehouse and is led away by the doctor to be put under sedation, Cowley phones records and instructs them to send up everything they have on Malenski. Is he using the safehouse as an office outpost? Or do they intuit that he means to have the paperwork sent to his proper office since we next see him at HQ interrogating Malenski?

Just what the hell is going on with Doyle getting out of the car and checking both ways before allowing Bodie to cross the road? He doesn't then do it at subsequent junctions so what was so special about that one? Bizarre.

Bodie really, really doesn't like Meredith, does he? Hasn't done so since they first met at the docks.

I don't see the confusion around Bodie's line in the pub. It's not a partial sentence, it's a complete one - as Daisy said, Bodie is just being sarcastic at the deafening silence surrounding him.

And I have to interject here that I do like Doyle in the grey sweatshirt - so much nicer than that blouson thing of earlier.

When Bodie goes to the bar for the drinks and firstly asks for an orange juice -'for the boy' - and then gets her to put a large vodka into it, she does a quick glance over to where they are sitting. Presumably to check Doyle is rather more than a boy and/or that he appears sober enough to have a vodka and not rip roaring drunk - in either case, presumably, she would have refused to add the alcohol. Although considerably more spiking of drinks went on back then and bar staff turned all manner of blind eyes to it, this was a nice touch and one I'd not spotted before.

Bodie offering 'fifty' that Kodai won't show seems generous - I think he probably means 50p <g>

I adore the whole scene with the tramp - fantastic fun.

I do wish I could remember this episode from first time around and if I were shocked at Cowley seeming to be shot dead. Back then we weren't used to leading characters being killed off a la Spooks so I really don't know if I would have been surprised or not.

All in all a so so episode that nevertheless will always hold a soft spot in my affections for the memory of a Sunday morning watching it, amidst much giggling, with Carol and Marnie <G>


Rachel said:

> I actually started to watch an early Morse episode yesterday and there he was, large as life, our Colin Meredith!

Was it the first one made, "The dead of Jerico" ? Cos I just watched it on video (not knowing it was going to be on tv) if it was, I must watch it again.

> Bits like the pub scene feel tacked on - or did I just read that somewhere?

I think I read that as well, isn't it on Dave's episode guides?

> When Meredith leaves the safe house for his meeting with Radouk, Bodie and Doyle don't challenge him.

Yes, I thought that was odd too.

> Just what the hell is going on with Doyle getting out of the car and checking both ways before allowing Bodie to cross the road? He doesn't then do it at subsequent junctions so what was so special about that one? Bizarre.

Not just bizarre, hilarious.

> I do wish I could remember this episode from first time around and if I were shocked at Cowley seeming to be shot dead. Back then we weren't used to leading characters being killed off a la Spooks so I really don't know if I would have been surprised or not.

Before I got the DVDs I'd only read the novel of this one. In the novel B&D didn't seem to be so far away, (I've just looked and they're close enough to get there on foot) so actually got there before Cowley got up and you have all the anguish they go through thinking Cowley's dead - until he says "Was that you, Bodie?" I was really disappointed when I watched the DVD and that bit is left out.

Sue said:

Mmm, yes, think it was the first one.

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