Loophole

Sorry, I am late. It's a last bit of shopping for the kids.

I bought mine duty free on the Concord lounge.

- Thank you - Thank you.

Well, are congratulations in order?

I am afraid not

You better make the most of it Stephen. Its the last trip, we will have on the company

- What do you mean? - They are tearing the stock after you left.

We didn't get the contract.

Tired about bothering about some other jobs that are small.

Sorry old chap! But we are broke.

Its time I retire anyway. Knocked by the house that clinched it.

There is some money in the Geneva account How about you?

Well, I am not ready to retire yet.

Listen Jim! I knew we were on the edge but I thought we could hang on.

You are a bright boy Stephen. and a damn good architect

- You will find another partnership. - Oh I am sure.

- Cheers? - Cheers. - That's the way.

- Will you have some more champagne Sir? - Why not!

Don't get run in for speeding.

Welcome home Steve. - Oh for gods sake

Oh I missed you. - Everything went all right?

What do you reckon? - Doesn't look like 40 grand to me.

Maybe 20 not more. Well, lets find out.

Steve, I have got a marvelous place. Its 59 years Pimplico, and its so cheap

Well comparatively. I dragged her about there. She is mad about it.

He has finally agreed to roll up his sleeves and work again.

Right David? - Oh yes, right

Ideas unlimited. How does that sound? - It sounds great Laura.

- What is it? - It's a business.

Interior decorating. We are going to be somewhat sister concern of you.

People like you and David will put up the glass and the concrete.

We move in and make it beautiful. - Oh, I see.

Where do you think they are going to get the capital to start all this.

Oh, easy. From you.

Stephen, come see it. Somebody else is going to snap it up fast, if we don't move in fast. Tomorrow?

Can we talk about it later?

- Drink? . - Yeah! I will have a lager.

- Marty? - No thanks. I am all right.

How do you like to plough some of it back?

International securities Bank. - That's like taking on Fort Knox.

Other may have thought about it. But nobody else had a go.

Sounds like a challenge.

You know about the deposit boxes. I am told in millions.

I can get us in and I can get us out provided we got the right team.

- How many more we need? - Three.

- A straight man. - Straight man?

Specialist. Technical and very necessary.

- Don't like to work with anyone straight. - Well we 4 were once straight Harry.

Where do we get him? Yellow pages.

We have a shortlist from the institute of architects. and it will be fine.

- Its good bye Fairbrother, Young and Brooker. - You mean you have been sacked?

No, not sacked. Damn it. Will you listen to me for Gods sake?

We didn't get the Wiggly contract. They gave it to Japan and so the partnership is dissolved.

Well darling! I am so sorry.

- Why didn't you tell me? - I didn't want to spoil the party.

- What are you ... what are we going to do? - I can found a new partnership eventually I guess.

In the mean time I have to try and find a job some place.

That wont be difficult. Not for you. - Yeah. We will see.

- Why don't you join David? - No.

No. Listen to me... I don't want any of my friends to know it just now.

I need some time to sort things out. - But you can jump on it.

I will phone Leo in the morning

I will get it delayed at least. - Delay what?

- The lease. - What lease?

The shop. Everything that we talked about.

Poor Stephen. No wonder you look so tired. I will phone him.

No darling. Don't call I am serious. I want you to go ahead with your plan.

-You worked Too long and too hard.

Don't worry about it. We will find the money someplace.

- You like her? - Very much. Is it for sale?

Sounds like a bargain. - Oh it is.

She is in for a rephrase for the moment.

Got a lot of equipment here. Got a reputation to put up.

We have twin turbo. Super charged.

You can run her for a week. Full power no trouble.

I don't swim that well. -Sorry?

That shaft it is not lined. If you turn full power You will tear the backside of it.

You know your boats well. - I know this ones bent.

Anything else you like to see?

My name is Tanny. Mike Tanney. - Should I have heard about you?

Possibly... where can we talk? - Over here.

Be back in five minutes Cook. I am Taylor. - I know

Okay Sara. Give us a kiss. Good-bye darling.

Mommy will pick you up at four. - See you after school.

- We have got a match on Sunday - Yeah! Who are you playing? - Middleton Hall.

- I am going to be a wicket keeper. - Wicket keeper? Is that anything like zookeeper?

Maybe I will get down to see you play. - - Will you? That would be amazing.

But, are you sure you got the time? - I am afraid I have got plenty of time.

- Are you retired? - Not exactly no.

Anything now would have to be special. What have you got in your mind?

- Are you surprised? - Yeah! Its possible.

Why do you need the equipment? You aft For a sunken treasure.

Something like that.

Wish we could find a place for you. We have got enough for the moment.

- But the way things are going... - I can understand.

We never recovered from the Wiggle contract.

- I am sure there will be something. - I hope you are right.

I appreciate you gave me the time - Not at all.

- I will make a few phone calls. - That's very kind of you.

Wilson can't even read the bloody specifications.

I am sorry about that. Well I wish I could do with someone lie you.

Now well, the decision wasn't mine.

Frankly I think it is going to last a week. Keep in touch.

- I must say that was a delicious lunch. - I am glad you enjoyed it.

- Have you been a member here long? - Yes. For several years now.

I suppose you have more time for gossip these days.

- Unfortunately I do. - The subscription must be quite high.

- It is - If wonder I might have a brandy?

Jerry! Could we get a couple of Brandy's please? And a cigar for Sir.

Well now I am afraid, we must talk business. - Of course.

Your debt to the bank is now 35000. I thought we agreed to hold it to 30

Yes we did. But unfortunately as you know. I do have a lot of commitments.

When can we expect an infusion of funds? - I am afraid we cant.

That is to say, not until I secure another job. - Any progress? - Well, yes and no.

Thank you very much Jerry.

I have made several applications. I am waiting to hear from some of them

And also I had a couple of interviews ... but. Nothing so far.

I thought that a man with your qualifications. - That's the problem. It appears I am overly qualified.

I have to start in the top and. There aren't many positions available now.

Have you thought of selling the house? - I beg your pardon?

Well, it must have trebled in value. You can sell it to a profit.

We built that house ourselves... I mean. My whole life is there. I can't sell it.

Well what do you propose? - Keep on working. I guess.

I don't know what else to say.

Remarkable. Yes... quite remarkable. - Thank you.

Our field is.. How can I put it? Somewhat smaller. Less ambitious.

Yes, I am sure I can adjust. - I am sure you could.

But in a tiny office like this. I am not sure how we could contain you.

Not even on a temporary basis? - I hard to feel so. I am truly sorry.

-Stephen! Stephen! - Heads up Sara. Strike 3 you are out.

Can I talk to you a minute? - Hey love!

Come and join us. Who wants Momma on his side?

- You are the best pitchman - I will be right back.

Everything is coming down to boil. We have this nice looking Scottish lady..

Who does hand printed wallpaper. There is a big sale at Sarabigs tomorrow.

Is it still ok Stephen?

- How much do you need? - 10000, each.

- Can you give us a bit more time? Couple of day's maybe.. - Sure!

Ok! You call the kids.

Your turn.

- Hello Mr.Brooker. How do you do! - It's nice to see you.

- - This is my partner.. Mr. Daniels. - How do you do sir!

- Please sit down. - Thank you.

- You are an American? - Yes Sir! I am afraid so.

You have got a work permit. I take it. - Of course.

We do not want to do anything illegal.

Well we are not talking of building a skyscraper. Nothing like that.

What we actually want is to add 3 extra floors.

- I assume you have planning permission. - Oh yes. The penholders city. etc.. etc..

- Do you think it will interest you? - Oh yes. Very much so Sir.

Of course there are some other projects I am also interested in..

And I must say I am used to .. more creative control.

Well, the exterior must harmonize the building which goes without saying. Apart from those

Apart from those, we can promise you entirely free hand.

- That's sounds exciting. - What do you think of it?

If we are to offer you the project, when will you want to have a look at the premises.

- When ever you want. - Fine.

Well thank you very much for coming along

Oh, one more thing.. Should you offer me the job and I accept. I assume there will be .

An initial payment upfront. You know sign of good faith. - It's as good ass it is in the bank.

- You got it? - I got it.

- Is it exciting? - Its a job..

- When do you start? - I already have.

- Is it good money? - Well, lets say this...

It's enough for you to continue your project. - How much?

Well I got 10 percent of the budget, plus A big b onus if we finish in schedule.

And this is one job I will finish on time. - Stephen! I am so proud of you.

- I am proud of you. - We are pretty wonderful couple don't you think?

Typical.

- It is Saturday. Nobody wants to work anymore. It's like a disease.

- Package for you. Sir! - Ah! Thank you.

Plans of the building.

I will hold the doors. - Thank you! We wont be long.

Well here we are. This is where we want a break through.

I couldn't agree with you more.

Actually it's the foundations that are trouble us more.

- Foundations? - Yeah! Will there be enough underpinning..

To take the weight of the 3 extra floors. - I don't think it will be a problem.

They usually construct these pretty well. - I hope you are right.

You know, I will have to make a detailed study of the outside as well.

Well I think we actually got, most of the details here.

That's a plan of this level? - Yes!

- Is there anything you want to see you here? - I don't think so. Looks it's all here.

- Well, what are you doing in here? -Actually we are finishing.

Can I help you? - No, we have a qualified architect.

Work my dear is what you should be doing. There is so much dirt here.

Give us a chance. We are all over for the whole morning.

Well I wont detain you any longer.

Looks like you got a handful.

There is a Mr.Brooker, waiting for you in the reading room, Sir.

Hey! Nice to see you again. - Hello Mr. Daniels! Good to see you.

- I am sorry to bother you here. - No, it's not a problem.

Well I discovered something here. I think you better take a look at that.

Make a decision - Well go ahead.

If I take it out here and we have a line of steel ribs here. And here and here.

Sort of a concealed backrest. We can actually gain an added 600 sq my of room, here and here.

And that will add to additional 50000 pounds. What do you think?

Well, its good news. Everybody wants extra office place you know.

- I thought you would.. - Well what about the underpinning.

Would it carry that kind of weight? - Oh very much so, Sir!