Howard's Way (1985) s05e11 Episode Script

What time did they arrive? They were waiting at the gate.
Seven o'clock, just as planned.
- They're keen.
- Too keen.
Laura Wilde accused me of being late.
Said she and Ken Masters had been waiting almost half an hour.
Well, we'll see if they're as keen after the test run.
Oh, that shouldn't be a problem.
Lovely job.
Bill.
- Has Jack called? - Yeah, he called.
He won't be in today.
He's working at home on the editorial.
- Or so he says.
- I see.
Did he say anything about missing the yard's open day? No.
But when I asked him, he almost bit my head off.
- What is the matter with him? - I can't say for sure.
I know something's on his mind.
And I reckon it's gonna get a lot worse before it gets better.
- Come on, give us a go.
- OK.
Go on, then.
- Quick, take her! - Ah, let's give it some welly, eh? (Laura laughing) - (Ken) Isn't she going well? - Fantastic.
Message reads, "Good luck, both, "though you don't need it.
Stop.
Mother.
Stop.
" - (Leo) And me.
- Oh, yes.
Sorry, darling.
Correction.
"Mother and Leo.
" That's it.
Fine.
What time will it arrive in Malta? Good.
Well, thank you so much for being so helpful.
Well I suppose your mother will be feeling rather tense around now.
- I'll bet.
- Though I fail to see why.
She's turned out a very impressive collection.
- Er I should say, "they" have.
- She's the boss.
Don't worry, Gran, I'm proud of her, too.
I just hope the Europeans like her as much as we Brits seem to.
It's not the other side of the world, Leo.
Besides, the same journalists cover every collection.
- London, Paris, Rome.
- Mm, you're right.
Hopefully, they'll make a big splash.
Wonderful thing, the power of the press.
Now, that really is debatable.
Not if you're Charles Frere.
Especially this morning.
Have you seen that? I know.
"Innocent", indeed.
There's a great deal of difference between innocence and not being found out.
- Well, good morning.
- Good morning, Charles.
- Champagne this time of day? - Yes.
- Would you like me to cheer that up? - Yes.
Thank you very much indeed.
Champagne or orange juice, it's better than bread and water.
- Celebrating your freedom, eh? - Yes, and so should you.
You could have been jogging round a prison yard for the next few years.
- Sobering thought, isn't it? - Mm.
You know, we ought to send a crate of this to John Stevens.
Oh, I think he'll be all right after he's re-elected chairman of the bank.
Yes.
Assuming, of course, that he retires from Diakra Holdings first.
After such a long and illustrious career of er How long? 20 minutes? I mean, that's how long he was in the witness stand.
God, you know, I don't know how we got away with it.
But we did.
Yes, we did.
And that's all that matters.
I wouldn't be too sure about that.
We're not in the clear yet.
Oh.
Problems? You obviously haven't seen our share prices this morning.
Have another drink while I take a shower.
(Ringing) Hello? (Jack) Don't tell me I've got straight through.
I usually have to charm a battery of secretaries.
- Dad! Where are you? - At home.
- Are you all right? - Yeah, I'm fine.
- How about lunch? - You've got a nerve.
200 years that yard's been going, and you choose to go missing the one day that celebrates that.
I wasn't missing.
I just wasn't around, that's all.
Oh, there's a difference, is there? I thought you might be pleased to hear my er dulcet tones.
Well, I am.
But I was worried.
A lot of people put a lot of time and energy into that party.
- I know.
I was one of them.
- Well, you could have at least turned up.
Oh, don't go on, Avril.
Listen.
I er I need to talk to you.
What's wrong? Not over the phone.
All right.
Lunch time? Jolly Sailor? Yacht Club? No, I'd prefer it was here.
The cottage.
One o'clock.
(Jack puts down phone) Right, Larissa, numbers 7 and 14, OK? Number 7.
This is the important one.
(Man) You've got about five minutes, everyone.
I know, I'm smoking.
- So how are you feeling? - Damn nervous.
How about you? - Steady as a rock.
- I don't believe that.
Well, almost.
As if we didn't have enough pressure, I've just seen Arianna Lopez arrive.
What? Yvette didn't say she'd invited her.
- She probably wanted to spare us.
- Come on, relax, she can't be that bad.
You read that hatchet job she did on the designers in Milan.
She Darling, please, will you calm down? I've been through all this before, Jan! You remember? That woman has destroyed so many careers.
You don't have to tell me how quickly our share price is falling, Philip.
I can see that for myself.
So I would strongly advise that your clients buy.
Yes, of course, usual terms.
Yeah, well, get in touch with Müller in Geneva and he'll transfer funds into your personal account.
But just make sure that Frere Holdings is up by the end of the week, all right? Fiona, get in touch with Sir John Stevens.
Tell him I'd like to see him today if possible, Yacht Club, one o'clock.
Have you seen this? Just arrived.
From your father.
"Congratulations.
A worthy victory.
"Please forward her name and address.
A promising future indeed.
" Bloody cheek.
Now, Gerald, the business park.
If David Cavendish is still keen on a merger, - I think we should talk.
- Oh, no.
I know we don't actually want a merger, but his interest in us will raise our credibility.
- You hope.
- Well, we've got to do something.
If we can push Sahnn on the marina development, that will help.
It might also harm if we push too hard.
Negotiations break down.
That is a risk we have to take.
Now, the next thing is Relton Marine.
We should move on that as soon as possible.
I really do think we ought to draw breath on that one.
- Why? - Because any move against Avril will be seen as revenge and not strategy.
- Nobody forced Avril to give evidence.
- That's beside the point.
Look, Charles, I really do think we ought to lie low for a bit.
The situation is delicate enough as it is.
We only got off on John Stevens' evidence.
The mechanics don't matter, the result does.
Even my father recognises that.
Your father is just one man amongst thousands of stockholders.
An hour ago, you were celebrating.
Before I saw our share prices going through the floor.
That is exactly why we have to move.
Then the City can read that Frere Holdings is gaining ground.
They'll either read that or some lurid resumé about your relationship with Avril and a potted history of this company's war with your father.
All right, so what's the alternative? I just think we ought to lie low for a bit, that's all.
Yes, so while you and I sit here arguing the PR of the situation, our share price continues to fall.
No way.
The next thing is Leisure Cruise.
No.
This is no time to start another war.
You heard Ken Masters' evidence in court.
He tried to ruin us.
And now he's gonna face the consequences.
Mr Masters! Mr Masters! - What is it, Bill? - Urgent call for you.
In the office.
- Well, he's obviously very keen.
- Yeah.
How do you feel about it? I'm only too delighted that Alan Rockwell wants to use our powerboats as prestige ad hoardings.
Especially when he's willing to pay so much for the privilege.
But it's Relton I'm concerned about at the moment, not Confederated Industries.
- Have you seen the news this morning? - Charles Frere and co.
Mm.
Knowing Charles, now he's been acquitted he's not going to leave it at that.
Well, then we're going to need something to impress your supporters.
Like I've been telling you all along, Avril, this boat could be a world-beater.
You're absolutely sure about that, aren't you? Positive.
I can't say I'm keen to be Relton's only standard-bearer.
Oh, you're not the only one, I can assure you.
But you might be one of the more visible.
When can you take delivery? If you sign that contract today, tomorrow.
Hm.
I can do it, Avril.
I just need someone to give me the chance.
All right, Leo.
You've got it.
(# Terence Trent D'Arby: Wishing Well) # A wishing well of butterfly tears # Get upl # On the beat now, ohl # Come on, now # Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell # A wishing well of butterfly tears # Come on # Wish me love a wishing well to kiss and tell # Debbie, we need help with this hair.
Quickly, please, she's on next.
Larissa, stand by.
You look terrific.
Remember, stare them in the eyes.
Go! (# Electropop) Arianna actually seems impressed.
Yeah, so far.
Ah! How was the cruiser? Absolutely fine.
Hey, why all the secrecy? I had Tom's office to myself.
Well, I was trying to be discreet, Ken.
- Is Laura not with you? - No, stopped over at Wilde Mouldings.
I do hope all this conspiracy is going to be worth it.
Oh, I think it will be, now that you're finally going to meet my uncle.
He said he'd be delighted to discuss business with you - when he's next down from the City.
- Hey, that's great! - Does Laura know who your uncle is? - No, of course not.
It's probably better to keep it that way till I've spoken to him.
- Certainly.
If that's what you'd prefer.
- Mm-hm.
Ooh, Ken, there was another call I meant to tell you about.
From America.
Robert Hudson.
He said he'd like you to call him back.
He'll be at the head office of Nielson Holdings for the rest of the day.
- With Sir Edward Frere.
- Oh, right.
Thank you.
- I'll deal with that in my office.
- Oh.
OK.
(Laughing) Well, I think this calls for something extra special.
- Why don't you choose the wine, John? - Oh, that's very kind of you, Charles.
By the way, since congratulations are in order, let me say that you two put up a splendid performance.
Both of you.
After all, the prosecution had some pretty red-blooded things to say.
Your support was absolutely vital.
Oh, I'm inclined to agree with you, Charles.
So, what about the Château Lafitte '66, eh? No, all you needed was a really good QC.
And you certainly had that.
That young lady is going far, in my opinion.
Yes.
Somebody else said virtually the same thing to me this morning.
Nevertheless, I'm very grateful to you for your testimony.
We should always rely upon our friends in time of trouble, shouldn't we, Charles? (Chuckles) Oh, yes.
Quite.
And you can rest assured that several friends have expressed the view that, when the time is right, there's only one contender - for the bank's chairmanship.
- So I should damn well hope.
Well, I shall look forward to the outcome with interest.
Gerald, you're very quiet.
Is anything the matter? I think he's feeling a little windswept today.
Charles means that I favoured a breathing space after the court case and he didn't.
You don't believe in court cases interfering with your objectives, do you? I certainly do not.
And I managed to convince Gerald that what we need right now is action, not sighs of relief.
Such as? Well, a few months ago, we were invited by a consortium in the Mediterranean to participate in a marine development there.
John do you know a gentleman by the name of Eckhardt Sahnn? The banker? Only too well.
Sahnn represents the consortium.
After his initial interest in Frere Holdings becoming a member, he now seems somewhat reluctant to go ahead with the negotiations.
Well, I'm not surprised.
He's probably got cold feet at your bad publicity.
Yes, I've already taken that into account.
But I was also rather wondering whether you might not be aware of any other reasons.
I see.
Well, put it this way Usually, he's only the piper.
He doesn't necessarily call the tune.
Are you saying he doesn't make the decisions? Oh, yes.
But in association with others.
Who, for instance? All I can tell you, Charles, is that you should be very careful of Sahnn.
He's a very, very tricky customer.
- Here we are.
- Thanks.
Oh, Dad, I thought you'd have cleared your desk by now.
In fact, I thought you asked me over here to read your literary masterpiece.
Yeah, well, you can read it when it's finished.
Hey, don't do all that! - It's all in a kind of order.
- Oh, sorry.
- Dear, oh, dear! - Here.
Thank you.
Hey.
Where did you find this? This photograph of Mum.
I haven't seen it for ten years.
Is this what it's all about? Come on, Dad.
Yeah, well I suppose this digging into the yard's history has brought it all back to me.
And it's mainly to do with your mother.
I'd forgotten how much I depended on her in those early years.
And how little time or thought I gave to her.
Huh.
Her life must have been hell.
Well, maybe it was.
But she wouldn't want you to go on tormenting yourself like this.
Hey, and what about the good times? And don't tell me there weren't any, because I can remember them.
Yeah.
There were a few, weren't there? - But I er - What? Well, I just can't get rid of this awful feeling that I er that I let her down.
No, you didn't.
Not really.
Has this got anything to do with Vanessa? Yes, it has.
Well? I'm becoming very, er very close to her, Avril.
Do you love her, Dad? Yes.
Yes, I think I do.
Good.
You've been on your own for far too long.
Yeah, I know.
That's what worries me.
Ken, there is absolutely no way that I am flying out to Geneva this evening and Malta tomorrow morning without knowing exactly what I'm getting myself into.
- Coffee.
- Yes, just put it down there, please.
- Shall I pour? - No, that's all right, we can manage.
- Who gave you the introductions? - Did you get the plane tickets? Yes.
He's biking them round at four.
- Wonderful.
- Who gave you the introductions? Sir Edward Frere and Robert Hudson.
Well! I am impressed.
- You have a powerful circle of friends.
- I wouldn't call them exactly friends.
I did business with them in the past.
They owe me a couple of favours.
You know, somehow that sounds suspicious.
They wouldn't have given us the introductions unless it wasn't all above board.
There is nothing to be concerned about.
- What about this banker in Geneva? - Oh, Müller.
You say he's an associate of Eckhardt Sahnn's.
And Sabio Fernandez.
Perfect set-up, wouldn't you say? Just so long as we're not being set up.
- Oh, I don't walk into traps, Laura.
- I do hope you're right.
After the evidence you gave, I'd say you're pretty high on Frere's hit list.
(Laughs) Yes, probably.
Yet you were so confident that the verdict would go against him.
Well, how was I to know they'd have Sir John Stevens in their back pocket? "Chairman of Diakra Holdings"! There was no way he was chairman during the Maclean Leisure affair.
- Well, the jury obviously thought he was.
- Yes.
No wonder.
They'd have needed a road map to unravel Frere's offshore interests.
Don't you worry about him.
He's been trying to ruin me for years.
And here I am, large as life.
- He's a survivor, Ken.
- Aren't we all? Well? I thought she was being delivered tomorrow.
- No time to waste.
- But, Leo, there's no engine.
- I mean, it's nothing more than a shell.
- Relax.
- The engine's being delivered tomorrow.
- Ah.
And believe me, when I've finished, she's gonna go like a bullet.
Sounds ominous, at least for the opposition.
It will be.
Just remember, there's a lot of development money on her.
You don't need to remind me of my responsibilities.
And that's the least of your immediate problems, anyway.
Why? What d'you mean? - Oh, God.
How long's he been there? - Five minutes.
No more.
Right.
Right And what do you want? Well, I was in the area for lunch anyway.
And we need to talk.
How many times do I have to tell you? We have absolutely nothing left to say to one another.
Well, that's where I think you're wrong.
I had plenty that I could have said in court, things which might have incriminated you.
But I held back.
Whatever you might have said, whatever might have come across from your counsel, I was not the one who stepped outside the law.
Oh, don't talk to me about the law, Avril.
All I've ever done is try to secure the highest return for my stockholders.
Now, if that's a crime then yes, I'm guilty.
And every damn chairman of every damn board across this country is guilty.
But that you should want to give evidence to try to destroy me personally, - that's quite another matter.
- I was subpoenaed to tell the truth! - Shall I spell that word out for you? - Don't give me that high moral tone.
Nobody's ever forced you to do or say anything you didn't want.
Oh, and God knows you've tried in the past.
And don't lecture me on how to juggle the due process of law! Admittedly, you're the expert, but it's hardly a skill to be proud of.
Proud? Oh-ho.
Tell me something.
Did you feel pride sitting out there in the court, saying the things that you did? Believe it or not, no.
(Sighs) After everything I've done for you, Avril, I just don't understand.
Why? I think I've already explained why.
No, you haven't.
What is it? Fear that I might have this company in my sights? Hm? Tell me, do you really feel so threatened? There's only one person in this office who feels threatened - and it certainly isn't me.
- Don't talk such rubbish.
And if you're not, then you should be, given your legendary dedication - to your shareholders.
- Oh, God.
The unit price of Frere Holdings is dropping by the hour and yet you come here to try and intimidate me.
I haven't come to intimidate you.
I came here to try to talk to you sensibly.
I've got a meeting.
You can't just ignore everything that's gone on between us, Avril.
Can't I? No way.
(Door closes) - Bag.
- Thank you.
Oh, please come in.
We can open some champagne.
We deserve it.
Yeah, all right, though I think it's too early to start celebrating.
Don't be ridiculous.
The show was a great success.
Yeah.
What is bothering you? Come on.
What is it? It's Nicola.
I'm worried the press will pick it up again.
- (Kate) Is that you, Jan? - Yes.
Do I smell paint? (Sniffs) - Paint? - Mm.
What on earth's she been up to? - How did it go? - Fine.
What's all this about? Well, I'm sorry, but I've been using your study as my campaign headquarters.
Yes, so I see.
I go away for two days, I come back and find you've declared war on some poor, unsuspecting individual.
He is not unsuspecting, my dear.
And he is certainly not poor.
So what do you think of this one? Right.
"Compared to the William Penry, 1952, "a gaff-rigged racing cutter built for its namesake, "this yacht bec" No.
No.
Er This Mona Lisa of yachts.
"Mona Lisa of yachts became renowned in the estuaries of Europe.
" - (Doorbell) - Ah.
That's all I need.
Oh.
Vanessa.
Hello.
Hi.
Can I come in? Oh, please, do go through.
Vanessa, I'm er I'm sorry about the open day.
Yes.
Well Never mind.
- Oh, er do sit down.
- Thank you.
Excuse the mess.
I thought I'd pop round and see how you're getting on with the editorial.
Oh.
Slow but sure.
Only, the publishers were onto me earlier.
They need a date.
You're awfully near the deadline.
Yeah, well, I've only got two or three more pages left to do.
- And then that'll be it.
- Oh! What a relief.
Now, I was looking at Abby's prints today.
We must get together and decide which ones are to go into the book.
Oh, yeah, great idea.
Then why don't you and I go out for a celebration somewhere? - Celebration? - The end of the book.
Two or three pages can't take you long, surely.
Vanessa, I'd er I'd prefer not to go anywhere, if you don't mind.
Oh.
All right.
Why not? Well, there's something I want to talk to you about.
And it's not the book.
And it's not the photos.
What is it, then? You and me.
Hello, Mr Urquhart.
How are you? Oh, well, I'm fine thank you er Victoria.
Yes, that's right.
- And you? - Oh, yes.
Not too bad.
You know.
Yes.
Just thought I'd pop over and say hello.
You seem to be on your own.
- I'm expecting a guest at any moment.
- Ah.
Laura Wilde? If you don't mind me saying so, I think you should double-check your arrangements.
(Jukebox playing) (Laughs) The trouble is, you and I will end up with her on our hands.
She can have my support any day of the week.
Yeah, but she'll want it every day.
Just because she believes in something, you laugh at her.
I don't laugh at her.
The complete opposite, as a matter of fact.
I admire her.
So do I.
I wish I had her in my corner.
In your corner? Is there a fight in the offing? "Fight" doesn't really describe it.
Describe what? What's going on? Have you got 10p so I can call a cab? I've got to see someone at seven.
Well, I'll give you a lift.
Where are you going? I thought you had work to do on the sponsorship.
It can wait an hour.
You've spent the last half hour telling me how urgent and important it is.
Who are you meeting? I don't want to say.
Why? Cos you'll try and convince me not to go along with it.
Go along with what? It's to do with William.
- Laura, taxi's waiting.
- Shan't be a minute.
- You said that 15 minutes ago.
- Oh, calm down.
We've got hours to get to the airport.
(Phone) We have not got that much time.
- Don't answer that.
- I wasn't intending to.
I think I know who it is, anyway.
Now, passport.
Erm, hello.
Laura, look, this is Gerald here.
I've been at the Yacht Club since six o'clock and I just wondered if you'd forgotten that we were due to meet here.
It's just I ran into your secretary, Victoria and, erm she thought there might be some misunderstanding about the dates.
Look, I'll hang on here just in case you've been delayed.
OK? - Ready? - What's your game? - What game? - Stringing Gerald along.
- I'm doing nothing of the sort.
- Not half.
Come on.
Taxi's waiting.
Just give me a couple of minutes, Abby.
I want to check out today's closing prices and then I'll be right with you.
- Tell me, have you had dinner? - No.
I tell you what, why don't I book us a table? There's a little restaurant I discovered just outside Winchester.
I've been keeping it to myself.
Charles I'm not really very hungry.
Anyway what I've got to say won't take long.
All right.
Whatever you like.
- I heard a rumour.
- Oh? What kind of rumour? Are you interested in the Mermaid? Now, I thought you wanted to discuss something personal.
- I do.
- Then let's not worry about rumours.
Why don't you tell me what you really want to talk about? A while ago, you said that you'd be willing to help me get William.
Yes, that's quite true.
I never really got the chance, did I? No.
Because I thought he'd be better off in America.
But I've changed my mind.
I'm gonna fight the Hudsons.
In court, if necessary.
Here or in the States.
And you want to know if my offer still stands? Yeah.
- Have you discussed this with Gerald? - I was going to but Well, he doesn't share the same feelings as you do about Edward.
- What's my father got to do with this? - He'll be hurt if I get custody.
Oh, I see.
And because you think I might enjoy seeing him hurt, you come to me.
I didn't say that but I couldn't avoid that connection.
I don't need an ulterior motive to help you, Abby.
I'm sorry.
Sorry.
Stupid.
I need your help.
More now than I ever have.
Why the change of heart? How can I believe in myself as a good mother if I just shrugged off William? I think you're being very hard on yourself, you know.
You obviously haven't shrugged him off or you wouldn't be here now, would you? No.
But if you are intending to go through the courts, it isn't going to be easy.
- Like for you and Daddy? - That was a totally different thing.
You won.
Abby, fighting a family like the Hudsons will be very, very different and very tough.
They're liable to use anything they can get their hands on.
You walk into court pregnant - you're not even divorced.
So you're not gonna help.
You think it's a lost cause.
As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as a lost cause.
Of course I'll help you.
So - That was a lovely meal, Kate.
- Good.
- It's amazing you ever grew up slim.
- Oh, thanks very much! Mother always cooks enough for an army, don't you? Quite right.
Not that my latest campaign will turn into a war, I hope.
Well, with Charles Frere, I wouldn't be too sure.
It's not just Charles I'm after.
There are too many people trying to ruin the world, for my liking.
And quite a few of them seem to have got their eye on Tarrant.
Ah, so he's just your starting point, hm? That's right.
Are you with us or against us, James? Oh, I'm with you.
You can count on me to hold a banner or make a donation, you know.
Whatever.
Thank you for a lovely meal.
- No more coffee? - No, I've got to go home and unpack.
Stay there.
Finish your coffee.
- I'll see you in the morning.
- OK.
- Good night.
- Night.
- (Clears throat) Good night.
- Night.
- What a charming young man.
- Yes, he is, isn't he? - (Door closes) - You're very fond of him, aren't you? I'm glad.
You deserve someone nice.
(Car drives off) (Tuts) (Sighs) Excuse me.
Well, that was a lovely meal, Vanessa.
- Was nice, wasn't it? - Yeah.
Surprisingly so, considering how little I found in your fridge.
(Jack chuckles) Now, I'm sorry to keep going on about it, but what about the editorial? There's a damn good reason why I haven't finished that.
Jack, I virtually promised the publisher he'd have it tomorrow.
Yeah, well, journey up the yard's history hasn't been easy.
It's my history, as well.
And life with Eileen keeps coming back.
The bad side, I mean.
But you're so near the end of it.
Why don't you just put your head down and charge at it? Like you do everything else.
No, I've been wondering how best to er put something really important into words.
Oh? Like what's happening to us.
And particularly me.
Well, so you've been saying all evening.
Then somehow you you manage to avoid the topic.
Yeah.
I can't help it.
What's worrying you, Jack? Is it our friendship? An old friendship renewed.
You know it's more than that, Vanessa.
You see, my problem is I just can't get away from Klaus and Eileen peering over our shoulders.
No, Jack.
Not Klaus.
I've told you before.
He'd have wanted me to make new friends.
New relationships.
- All right.
Eileen, then.
- She'd have felt the same way.
No, I don't think so.
Not the way I treated her.
Well, you you were young.
Ambitious.
Right.
Ambitious enough to marry her to get a share of her old man's yard.
I don't like the man who did that.
Jack, something you're forgetting.
That marriage produced a bright, successful daughter.
A daughter who thinks the world of you.
And another thing - if Eileen had been that unhappy, she could have left you at any time.
But she didn't.
So there must have been some good times, too.
I don't want you to spend the rest of your life apologising for a marriage that didn't quite work out.
So, you don't think I should I should have a guilty conscience about it, then? No, I don't.
But I'm not the one feeling guilty, so it doesn't really matter what I think.
No, I suppose not.
I'm the one who has to come to terms with that, I suppose.
You can, you know.
Maybe.
It won't just happen.
You have to try.
Right.
Starting from now.
Good.
We've just flown in and I'm phoning to confirm the appointment I made with Mr Sahnn.
This morning, yes.
Oh, I see.
Yes, of course.
Umseda Marina? Yeah, we'll find that.
Right.
I look forward to seeing you.
Bye, now.
Well? Sahnn's cancelled the appointment.
"Unexpected breakfast meeting.
" Sounds a little too unexpected, if you ask me.
Yes.
He's arranged for us to meet his number two.
George Vassilli.
- Sir John, that is wonderful news! - Congratulations.
Well, it doesn't do to count chickens but I do have it on the best authority that it's a foregone conclusion.
Well, I should think so, too.
The bank needs an experienced chairman.
I shall say nothing about your predecessor.
My dear girl, you don't have to.
Everybody knows.
I just dropped in to say that the first thing that I shall do is to confirm that loan of yours.
- Now, that is good news.
- It is, isn't it? For the bank.
No, there's been far too little encouragement of growing businesses while that gentleman's been in charge.
So, I shall have to start making up for lost time, won't I? Well, goodbye for now, m'dear.
And I'm glad the collection was such a success.
For the audience.
We have yet to see what the press say.
Oh, another foregone conclusion.
Oh, thank God! - Well? - Listen to this! "The Howard-Brooke collection assured us, as if still needed confirmation, "of the truly international quality of Jan Howard's designs.
" Yeah.
- Why haven't they mentioned you? - Go on.
Go on.
"This collection places her house among the top fashion names in Europe.
" I love it.
I love it.
And that is no less a person than Arianna Lopez.
Now, Le Monde.
What was that Sir John was saying about counting chickens? - What? - Damn it! My pa seems to be hell-bent on keeping pace with the future.
Read all about me.
I will give our visitors precisely ten minutes, Capitano.
Then we cast off and we shall be with Mr Sahnn by lunch time.
Grazie.
- Mr Vassilli? - Welcome to Malta, Mr Masters.
This is Laura Wilde, my partner.
- How do you do? - A great pleasure.
Can I get you something to drink? Anything you like.
- Not for me, thank you.
- No, thank you.
- Please, sit down.
- Thank you.
I will see you later, darling.
I must apologise for Mr Sahnn's absence, but he has urgent business to which he has to attend.
So do we.
Yes, so I understand from Mr Sahnn.
Has he had the opportunity of studying our proposals? Yes, I believe he has.
And? Delicate.
You are both obviously aware of Mr Sahnn's association with Frere Holdings.
We are also aware of his association with Frere Senior.
Sir Edward.
And the Hudsons.
Then you must appreciate the situation.
Power struggles between families are difficult enough.
When business is also concerned, well, let's just say Mr Sahnn wouldn't want to be forced into a position of taking sides.
I realised that the minute he cancelled the meeting.
Oh, I am sure Mr Sahnn wouldn't be so calculating, would he? Indeed not.
Nevertheless, he might take a different view if he were able to predict a possible victor in any power struggle.
Perhaps.
Or if he realised that Leisure Cruise has the full backing of Sir Edward.
And the Hudsons.
I am sure he would find that extremely interesting.
Now, this marina development.
I gather there could be a place available on the consortium.
There could be.
Assuming, of course, a member dropped out.
What, someone like Frere Holdings, you mean? A possibility.
In order to do business, we have to have something firmer than just possibilities.
Well, I'll discuss the situation with Mr Sahnn and come back to you within 48 hours.
- How was it? - Like a dream.
Just another tweak on the steering gear and we've got ourselves another winner with my little Pelican.
I'll just go and tell the lads about it.
Oh, and er I'll give some thought to Charlie Frere.
Don't take too long.
We'll be facing him in a day or two.
He's due to take delivery of the six-metre, remember.
- Maybe we should hole it first.
- Maybe we should.
Especially after the message he left earlier.
He's finally decided what name he wants painted on her.
- Are you ready for this? - Yeah.
Battlecry.
Well, he'll do a lot of crying if he messes us around.
Right, I'll catch up with you both later for lunch, OK? On me.
(Jack) Hello, Greg! - What's got into him? - I don't know.
Well, there must be something.
He's full of the joys of spring.
(Vanessa) I don't think that's anything to complain about.
I wonder what's going on.
And more important, will it last? Ooh, yes.
Yes, I think so.
Thank you.
- These figures are very good.
- Mm.
No one can doubt this.
Ah.
- Mr Masters? Sabio Fernandez.
- Mr Fernandez.
- Laura Wilde.
How do you do? - Great meeting you both at last.
- Please sit down.
- Thank you.
- Well nice to see you.
- Thank you.
- Good of you to come.
- Thanks.
- Would you like a drink? - Yes, I would.
Whisky, please.
Er, whisky.
Your file was brought over for me this morning.
- An impressive product range.
- Yes, we think so, too.
- That's why we're keen to export.
- So are your competitors.
Relton Marine? Yes, we realise you're in negotiation with Relton.
You should also consider Avril Rolfe is a good friend of mine.
She's also a good friend of mine, Mr Fernandez.
And she'd be the first to point out that there's very little room for sentiment in business.
Evidently not.
Otherwise we wouldn't be here, discussing it.
(Laughs) You seem very down this morning, Gerald.
You all right? Yes, yes, I'm fine.
Fine.
Take a look at this.
Do you know any of the people on there? And if so, do you see any connection between any of them? No.
And therefore no.
Oh, no, wait a minute.
Toby Faringdon.
He owns shares in Relton.
They all do.
They also own shares in Rotherhithe Cable.
Well, that's been on the skids for some months now.
Precisely.
But this is Faringdon and co's lucky day.
I intend to relieve them of all their Rotherhithe Cable stock at the new-year price.
- Good God, you'll lose a fortune.
- No.
Not if I also get their Relton shares as part of the deal.
Look, Charles, I really do think that you ought to hold fire on this one.
Just just let everything die down for a bit.
As always, I appreciate your advice.
And as always, you're gonna take no damn notice of it! Sorry.
All right.
What's the problem? Laura Wilde.
I think I've been a bit of a fool.
We were due to have dinner last night and I think the phrase is she stood me up.
What else? Well, I've been giving some thought to your suspicions about her.
(Clears throat) You know that business with the file of Ken Masters that she gave me? You know, if she'd cheat on her own partner Yes.
There's no doubt she's up to something.
Cheers.
Ooh! - There you go.
- Thank you.
Here's to a successful morning's business.
We hope.
With Sir Edward and the Hudsons on our side, Sahnn's bound to come through.
- What about Fernandez? - I don't think we have to worry about him.
He'll accept our proposals.
Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that.
Sahnn has Fernandez in his back pocket, Ken.
Mm.
Maybe.
But there's something about Fernandez.
He wasn't very supportive over Avril Rolfe.
He doesn't strike me as the sort of man who'd support anyone.
He's out for himself.
I wouldn't trust him an inch.
Oh, I don't.
That's why we've got to play it all very carefully.
Oh, I've had some ideas about how we're going to play it, Ken.
That contract is as good as signed.
How can you be so sure? I'm going to expedite negotiations and tip Avril off.
Avril's a friend of Fernandez.
She's also a friend of mine.
If you can't trust your friends, who can you trust? Well, what's all that gonna achieve? Avril's export order, Ken.
Ah.
You just wait and see.