The Professionals (TV Series)
In the Public Interest (1978)
Gordon Jackson: George Cowley
Quotes
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Minister : A city sewn up tight but safely... a city where hooligans are kept in check and suspicious characters are forced to move on. For God's sake, George, to most law-abiding citizens it sounds like Utopia!
George Cowley : Aye... That's what they thought about Hitler's Germany!
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[the draconian regime instigated by Chief Constable Green has just been toppled]
Chief Constable Green : It was Chives. He took it upon himself. Overstepped his authority.
George Cowley : Chives was a runaway truck, careering downhill, running over the guilty *and* the innocent. A runaway truck. But *you* released the handbrake.
Chief Constable Green : [horrified] George!
George Cowley : [snarling] The name is Cowley! *Mister* Cowley! I don't know what we'll be able to make stick against you, Green, but I do know that whatever the outcome, you'll never have authority again. Not even to see kids across the road.
Chief Constable Green : [plaintively] My motives - what I did - I thought was in the public interest.
George Cowley : Aye. That's the tragedy.