The Responsibility Seat
Setting: Col. Freeman and the commander in Straker's HQ office after Straker finds out that Miss Frazer left her purse in his studio office.
Straker: How could I be so stupid, Alec? That reporter had a tape-recorder. It was left in her handbag in the office. The chances are it picked up Ford's voice over the intercom.
Freeman: That's not so important. He only said 'Commander Straker'. Assuming it was picked up, what could it mean to anyone?
Straker: Not a lot, I agree, but maybe just enough for that woman reporter and her press friends to start snooping around.
Freeman: It was a girl?
Straker: Yes. [Tells Miss Ealand over the intercom to contact Josephine Fraser through the Global Press agency]
Freeman: What was she like?
Straker: Oh, intelligent.
Freeman: Attractive?
[Cut to Miss Ealand receiving news that Global Press Agency deny all knowledge of Miss Fraser.]
Straker: Intelligent, attractive . . . and a possible security leak. It was my mistake. I'll take care of it.
Freeman: Well, I still think I should go.
Straker: Well, it's simple enough, Alec. Find Miss Fraser and get the tape -- a logical sequence. Well, you can look after things here. Freeman: Sure.
Straker: Well, there it is, Alec. The responsibility seat. The other side of the fence.
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Setting: The next day, Straker enters his HQ office to find Col. Freeman sitting behind the desk.
Straker: Hello, Alec.
Freeman: Hello.
Straker: Well, I hear you had quite a day [Offers him a cigar]
Freeman: You could say that.
Straker: Paul Foster might have lost his life. Ordering him on board that rig like that. Tough decision. The right one, of course.
Freeman: It wasn't quite like that.
Straker: Well, whatever way it happened, Alec, you were responsible.
Freeman: [lights his cigar] I certainly have to hand it to you.
Straker: Hmmm?
Freeman: That Miss Fraser. She didn't have you fooled for a moment. That had been me, I'd probably have got myself emotionally involved or something.
Straker: Yes, I can see how it could happen.
[Straker and Freeman both start to say something simultaneously.]
Freeman: [Getting up] Well, it's all yours.
Straker: The other side of the fence.
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Straker: How could I be so stupid, Alec? That reporter had a tape-recorder. It was left in her handbag in the office. The chances are it picked up Ford's voice over the intercom.
Freeman: That's not so important. He only said 'Commander Straker'. Assuming it was picked up, what could it mean to anyone?
Straker: Not a lot, I agree, but maybe just enough for that woman reporter and her press friends to start snooping around.
Freeman: It was a girl?
Straker: Yes. [Tells Miss Ealand over the intercom to contact Josephine Fraser through the Global Press agency]
Freeman: What was she like?
Straker: Oh, intelligent.
Freeman: Attractive?
[Cut to Miss Ealand receiving news that Global Press Agency deny all knowledge of Miss Fraser.]
Straker: Intelligent, attractive . . . and a possible security leak. It was my mistake. I'll take care of it.
Freeman: Well, I still think I should go.
Straker: Well, it's simple enough, Alec. Find Miss Fraser and get the tape -- a logical sequence. Well, you can look after things here. Freeman: Sure.
Straker: Well, there it is, Alec. The responsibility seat. The other side of the fence.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Setting: The next day, Straker enters his HQ office to find Col. Freeman sitting behind the desk.
Straker: Hello, Alec.
Freeman: Hello.
Straker: Well, I hear you had quite a day [Offers him a cigar]
Freeman: You could say that.
Straker: Paul Foster might have lost his life. Ordering him on board that rig like that. Tough decision. The right one, of course.
Freeman: It wasn't quite like that.
Straker: Well, whatever way it happened, Alec, you were responsible.
Freeman: [lights his cigar] I certainly have to hand it to you.
Straker: Hmmm?
Freeman: That Miss Fraser. She didn't have you fooled for a moment. That had been me, I'd probably have got myself emotionally involved or something.
Straker: Yes, I can see how it could happen.
[Straker and Freeman both start to say something simultaneously.]
Freeman: [Getting up] Well, it's all yours.
Straker: The other side of the fence.
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