Foyle's War (TV Series)

Fifty Ships (2003)

Guy Henry: John Bishop

Quotes 

• John Bishop : I'm very sorry I can't let you you arrest him.

  DCS Christopher Foyle : Why?

  John Bishop : Because of fifty ships, Mr. Foyle, out-of-date rusting ships with appalling armament and accommodation. Ships we may never actually use.

  DCS Christopher Foyle : American ships?

  John Bishop : Yes. We need the Americans, Mr. Foyle. They're the best friends we have. If we can't persuade them to provide us with arms, food, ammunition and all the rest of it, we will not survive.

  DCS Christopher Foyle : Why do we need Howard Paige?

  John Bishop : Whatever else he may be, Paige has been a great supporter of this country. The American Allies of England have made a huge difference. They've managed to broker a deal, that will almost certainly be the start of many more, they've created a lifeline that could last the entire war.

  DCS Christopher Foyle : Starting with fifty ships?

  John Bishop : Well, the ships are largely symbolic. You have to be American to understand their real significance. They get very emotional about it, giving away a piece of their navy to a foreign country. They even had to change their own laws to make it possible. But the point is, it opens the floodgates. By this one commitment, they will show the world whose side they're really on. America will become the arsenal of democracy, Mr. Foyle, nothing less.

  DCS Christopher Foyle : And arresting him is going to compromise all this?

  John Bishop : It would destroy it. The American Allies of England would lose all credibility at a stroke. The scandal would have repercussions you can't even begin to imagine. The ships might not even sail. Mr. Foyle, this isn't the first time you have crossed powers with military intelligence and I very much hope you will understand that the actions I've taken have been forced on me and not taken lightly.

  DCS Christopher Foyle : What do you mean? Protecting him, lying on his behalf, searching my office, arresting Colin Morton because he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time...?

  John Bishop : Mr. Morton is in Whitehall. He is being interviewed...

  DCS Christopher Foyle : And you will go on interviewing him, presumably until Paige is safely out of the country.

  John Bishop : I don't like this any more than you do, Mr. Foyle. The man is a killer and should be hanged. But right now you can draw a direct line between Howard Paige and the outcome of this war.

• John Bishop : [In a cautionary tone]  Mr. Paige has been involved in negotiations at the highest level and will be returning to the United States shortly. In the meantime I must ask you not to harass him.

  DCS Christopher Foyle : The same way you're harassing me.

  [He turns to go but turns back] 

  DCS Christopher Foyle : I'll do my best.

• DCS Christopher Foyle : Are you planning to arrest me?

  John Bishop : I hope you won't make that necessary.

  DCS Christopher Foyle : And what am I supposed to tell Richard Hunter's widow? What am I supposed to tell his son?

  John Bishop : You can tell them he was a casualty of the war.

  DCS Christopher Foyle : [on Paige]  I want to see him.

  John Bishop : [wary]  Why?

  DCS Christopher Foyle : Well, I'd love to say goodbye.