What does "egregious" mean?
Um, I think it means outstanding... In one way or another.
“The Death List” · Season 2, Episode 3
In this episode: James Hacker (5), Sir Humphrey Appleby (3), Bernard Woolley (2)
Ask Walter Fowler of The Express to meet me in the House tonight for a drink. Annie's bar.
What for, Minister?
First law of political indiscretion: always have a drink before you leak.
The freedom of the British people is worth more than the lives of a few Ministers. Freedom is indivisible. Ministers are expendable. A man in public life must expect to be the target of cranks and fanatics. [Sliding into a Churchill impersonation.] It is a Minister's duty to set his life at naught. He must be able to stand up and say, here I am, do your worst! And not cower in craven terror behind electronic equipment, secret microphones, and all the hideous apparatus of the police state. [He snaps back to his normal self.] Anyway, Humphrey, I don't want to hear any more about it.
But Minister, you must allow me to say just one more thing on this matter.
Very well, just one, but be brief.
The Special Branch have found your name on a death list.
That has absolutely no bearing on the situation... What?!
[Bernard wheels in a petition from the archives against surveillance, containing more than two million signatures.]
Shall I file it?
Shall you file it? Shred it!
Shred it?
No one must ever be able to find it again!
In that case, Minister, I think it's best I file it.
[Sir Humphrey informs the Minister that the Special Branch no longer believe there is a threat to the Minister's life.]
How do they know?
Surveillance. They overheard a conversation.
What did it say?
Oh I don't think it's of any particular—
[Interrupting] Come on, Humphrey! I have a right to know!
Well, it was a conversation to the effect that in view of the somewhat nebulous and inexplicit nature of your remit, and the arguably marginal and peripheral nature of your influence within the central deliberations and decisions within the political process, there could be a case for restructuring their action priorities in such a way as to eliminate your liquidation from their immediate agenda.
They said that?
That was the gist of it.
What does it mean? In English?!
Well, it means that they don't think you're really important enough for it to be worth assassinating you.
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