Spies Four

	The spies' office. Stephen is pacing up and down 
	frantically.

	Hugh enters.


Hugh		Hullo there Control. Something up?

Stephen		(Still walking) Well, it's a strange thing, Tony, but
		I've been advised that in order to stay fit I have to
		walk at least ten miles a day.

Hugh		But you've always been as fit as a flea, Control.
		Or a fiddle anyway. "One of the fittest men in the
		service" you've been occasionally referred to as.

Stephen		Look at this.

	Stephen brings out a pedometer.

Hugh		What is it?

Stephen		That's what I asked myself when the doctor gave it
		to me. It's a pedometer.

Hugh		A pedometer?

Stephen		Yes, it measures how many miles I walk. Mrs
		Control is jolly careful to make sure that I put it
		on every morning, worst luck.

Hugh		Hah. Still, I'm sure Mrs Control has your best
		interests at heart.

Stephen		Yes, that's true. Selfish of me to grumble. After all
		Tony ...

Hugh		Yes?

Stephen		It's for my own good she's being quite so firm about it.

Hugh		That's right.

Stephen		Any golly way, you don't want to listen to my woes
		I dare say, Tony.

Hugh		Oh, I don't know, they're quite interesting.

Stephen		What brings you to the seventh floor this morning?

Hugh		Well, do you remember the Minister asking us to
		jolly well hurry up and find out who was behind
		all these bombs that have been going off in
		government departments of lately?

Stephen		Do I remember, Tony. Yes indeed, I most certainly
		do. A top priority investigation was demanded as
		I remember. Surveillance, tailing, tapping, no limit
		to the budget. "Let's pull out all the stops on this
		one, Control, if you'd be kind enough", he said.

Hugh		That's right. Quite a to-do.

Stephen		I was going to ask you Tony. I put you in charge
		of that operation, have you come up with anything
		yet that might be a useful lead, or better still
		concrete information that could lead to some
		arrests?

Hugh		Well, that's the very reason I popped in and
		surprised you at your walking, Control. I've just
		had a report from Commander Henderson of
		Special Branch.

Stephen		That's the Scotland Yard branch founded
		earlier this century to deal with subversion and
		counter-insurgency.

Hugh		That's the exact one.

Stephen		I imagined quite strongly that it would be.

Hugh		Yes. And they say that with some of our agents
		working undercover alongside them, they've
		arrested a cell of men and women who they believe
		they can prove are definitely responsible for the
		whole sorry wave of unfortunate and exasperating
		bomb attacks.

Stephen		It was a sorry wave wasn't it?

Hugh		It certainly was.

Stephen		Well that is good news I must say.

Hugh		I thought you'd be pleased.

Stephen		I'm most pleased Tony. Well done. Full marks.

Hugh		Calls for a coffee wouldn't you say?

Stephen		It most certainly does.

Hugh		I'll fetch you one.

Stephen		No, Tony. It's my turn to fetch you one.

Hugh		Well goodness, thank you Control.

Stephen		No Tony, thank you. White no sugar, I think it is.

Hugh		Yes please. This really is excessively kind of you
		Control.

Stephen		Oh please don't mention it Tony. Besides ...
		(patting his pedometer) ... the extra walk will
		impress Mrs Control!

Hugh		Oh you.

Stephen		Back in a mo, Tony.

Hugh		Righto Control. I don't mind the wait.

Hugh		No it would not be nice. It
		wouldn't be nice if all towns were
		like any town, let alone Milton
		Keynes.