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The Thin Blue Line · Season 1

Fowler and Goody in “Rag Week”

[Grim, having arrested a group of students on a Rag Week stunt, has asked Habib to process them. While she does this, Fowler addresses them.]

Fowler

Look at you. I can scarcely believe my eyes. The future of Britain, the cream of a proud nation. God help us! Do you honestly think that any halfway decent Japanese company's going to want to give any of you lot a job? When Mr Mitsubishi is asking himself, "Where shall I construct our new generation of small family hatchbacks?", do you think he's going to say, "I know. We'll go to Britain, where the academic elite are a bunch of idiots in tutus and gorilla masks?" Or will he go to continental Europe, where young people wear Benetton tops and respect authority? Did you ever think of that? Well, I suggest you buck up your ideas, or before long Britain's name will be mud, or worse it'll be Italy. You're not worth charging, just shove off. [they leave; to Goody and Habib] I weep for our country, I really do. Do you know that 12-year-olds in Holland and Belgium can already speak fluent English?

Goody

They're no cleverer than British children, sir. My niece is only 10, and she can speak fluent English.

Fowler

[berating Goody] Your head is just something you keep your hat on, isn't it?

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