MI-5 (TV Series)

The Rose Bed Memoirs (2002)

Peter Firth: Harry Pearce

Quotes 

• Jools Siviter : Well, the trouble with whistleblowers is that they do tend to play their own tune.

  Harry Pearce : Do you distrust Maynard?

  Jools Siviter : I find there's an ambiguity there. Well, mustn't miss the ride of the Valkyrie. Nice to see you gentlemen working so late. I'm glad someone's running the country while the rest of us are at the opera.

• Harry Pearce : This better be about something big.

  Hampton Wilder : How about the fall of the government.

• Harry Pearce : Well, that concludes things.

  Richard Maynard : Then, on behalf of my colleagues I'd like to thank you for this briefing. So reassuringly alarming.

• Jools Siviter : There is someone in this building who is seriously disloyal. I could be looking at him or her right now.

  Harry Pearce : That is a very serious allegation to level at your sister service.

  Jools Siviter : Well my sister should be bent over and given a good whack on the behind!

  Harry Pearce : I don't find that helpful.

  Jools Siviter : Helpful? You get an excellent asset of mine killed and you want my help!

• Harry Pearce : I think I may have to have drinkies with Mr Siviter.

  Tom Quinn : And I think this thing stinks to high heaven. Have they just destroyed a good man?

  Harry Pearce : Don't brood, Tom. Politicians are conniving, wheeler-dealing scum. Don't have a fit of morals over them, they wouldn't over you.

• Harry Pearce : MI5 don't do evil; just treachery, treason and armageddon.

• Hampton Wilder : And now I bitterly repent writing that book.

  Harry Pearce : Then why didn't you burn it?

  Hampton Wilder : I couldn't.

  Harry Pearce : Why not?

  Hampton Wilder : I went to its hiding place, and it had gone.

  Harry Pearce : Gone?

  Hampton Wilder : This may come as a surprise to you, but prison is full of thieves.

• Tessa Phillips : The man lies as naturally as the rest of us breathe. Oh, what the hell.

  Harry Pearce : You don't get it, Tess.

  Tessa Phillips : Get what?

  Harry Pearce : It's not about whether Wilder's memoirs are telling the truth about Richard Maynard or even if they exist. It's about the damage the very idea of them can do. That's how scandal works.

  Tessa Phillips : Well, then he's way ahead. He's got us digging up prison gardens and fingering the prime minister's best friend.

  Harry Pearce : What do you suggest we do? Ignore the whole thing? We've got to check Maynard out.