Yes Minister1980

Bernard Woolley:
[on the phone] Hello, Graham, it's Bernard. Tell Sir Humphrey that the Minister's just gone walkabout. Yes, yes, AWOL. Well, of course I told him, yes. I know. I think you'd better let him know right away. [hangs up]

Bernard Woolley:
One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight... nine... TEN.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
[arrives at the office] What's all this about?

Bernard Woolley:
The minister's just left the office, that's all.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
That's all? Do you mean he's loose in the building? Why didn't you warn me?

Bernard Woolley:
I did advise him, but he is the minister. There's no prohibition aga inst ministers talking to their staff.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Who's he talking to?

Bernard Woolley:
Perhaps he was just restless.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
If the minister's restless, he can feed the ducks in St James's Park!

Bernard Woolley:
Yes, Sir Humphrey.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Tell me who the minister's talking to.

Bernard Woolley:
Well, surely the minister can talk to anyone.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Bernard... I'm in the middle of writing your annual report. Now, it is not a responsibility that either of us would wish me to discharge whilst I am in a bad temper. Who's the minister talking to?

Bernard Woolley:
Perhaps you could help me. I can see that you should know if he calls on an outsider. I fail to see why you should be informed if he just wants to, to take a hypothetical example, to check a point with... Dr Cartwright...

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
Thank you, Bernard. Must fly.

Bernard Woolley:
Room 4017.

Sir Humphrey Appleby:
I know.