Opa!2005

Eric:
[Curious about how the work is going at Tierney's current archeological dig site] When's the last time you made a find?

Tierrney:
Last time I made one? Or last time I reported one? See, the sad truth is, old boy, we've been experiencing diminishing returns. The well went dry some time ago. Well, *almost* dry... We do find bits of moisture every now and then.

Eric:
I'm not following you...

Tierrney:
Well, the stuff we're producing these days - most of it, anyway - is "used goods": stuff we found two years ago. Three, even.

Eric:
You're telling me you didn't report it at the time you found it?

Tierrney:
Well, some of it, not all. By holding a few of the objects back from time to time, don't you see, we can "discover" them when we want to - or "need" to. So we keep the funds flowing in this direction.

Eric:
I see.

Tierrney:
Well, it's not just MY life I'm talking about. There's an industry here. It's nothing grand, but it's better than being unemployed. What would you have me do, chuck it? What, the equipment, the jobs, the welfare, the ouzo?