Mainwaring and Hodges in “Unfinished Business”

Now look here, Hodges.

No, you look here, Mainwaring. My headquarters has been put out of action and I have official permission to use these premises here.

On whose authority?

See for yourself. [Opens a piece of paper] There you are. [Passes the paper onto Mainwaring] Now I'm, I'm a reasonable sort of man. I know you and I've had our differences in the past, but we are both on the same side and I want to be generous. I don't want to, er, well, I don't want to er, you know, be stand-offish and uh, I'm prepared to go shares with you. So I'll tell you what I'm going to do. Now, this half here with your chair, you can have. This half here is me. Right? Draw a line here like this. Got it? [Uses some chalk to draw a line] Here we are, down the wall.

Just a moment. What are you doing?

Now now, Mainwaring, when it comes to the desk, you keep your stuff over there, and I'll keep my stuff over here, alright? [Draws a chalk line on the desk]

How dare you mark my desk? [Rubs the chalk line off the desk using a cloth]

I'm only trying to fair and reasonable.

Rub this out at once.

Then I shall chalk in again. I can chalk quicker than you can rub, mate.