- Chief Superintendent Strange: Well, I've got some good and bad news for you Morse. We're not going to give you the Super's job.
- Chief Inspector Morse: Right.
- Chief Superintendent Strange: You're a clever sod, but you don't say the right things to the right people. You never will. It doesn't bother me, but it doesn't do you any good.
- [pauses]
- Chief Superintendent Strange: You didn't want it anyway, did you?
- Chief Inspector Morse: No.
- Chief Superintendent Strange: I mean the point is, you're unorthodox. Look at you. It's not exactly... well, anyway, fine. I like that. It doesn't bother me.
- Chief Inspector Morse: Was that the good or the bad news?
- Chief Superintendent Strange: We're giving Bell the job. He's not exactly a brain merchant, but he does... well, you know, I don't have to tell you. He's, erm, he... he fills in the forms, he always says the right thing.
- Chief Inspector Bell: [surprised that Morse sings in a choir] Often wondered what he did in the evenings. Apart from the boozing.
- Chief Inspector Morse: I'd expect you've heard your boss is getting promoted.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Yes sir.
- Chief Inspector Morse: Good, eh?
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Oh, yes sir, marvellous.
- Chief Inspector Morse: I'm a quite different kettle of fish Lewis.
- Chief Inspector Morse: The man who killed Anne Staveley is called Sophocles.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Who's he when he's at home?
- [last lines]
- Chief Inspector Morse: Fancy a pint?
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: I'd like to, but...
- Chief Inspector Morse: Yeah, I know.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: See you tomorrow.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Look, okay, I don't know who this bloke is. Am I supposed to? At least I can survive half an hour's work without reaching for a beer glass.
- Chief Inspector Morse: That's a good idea, Lewis. We still haven't celebrated your birthday!
- Chief Inspector Morse: I wanna know what happened to the son she had adopted. Social services will tell you. And if they get stroppy and awkward, get very stroppy and awkward back.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Morning, Sir!
- Chief Inspector Morse: You're one of those people who has breakfast, aren't you?
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Oh, yes, sir!
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: You see, somebody's lying. That's the point. I can't work out who.
- Chief Inspector Morse: No, I'll tell you what's worse. I don't believe anybody.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Still, at least we can make one arrest.
- Chief Inspector Morse: Who's that?
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: This Sophocles chap.
- Chief Inspector Morse: Lewis, Sophocles died two and a half thousand years ago.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: I can't imagine marrying *my* mother.
- Chief Inspector Morse: Well, Oedipus wasn't too happy about it either.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Wasn't she a bit old for him?
- Chief Inspector Morse: She was very attractive.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Do I know this Sophocles?
- Chief Inspector Morse: Only if you loved your mother, Lewis.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Well, I'll check, but I don't think it was money he got for a job.
- Chief Inspector Morse: Well, I don't see why not.
- Detective Sergeant Lewis: Well, that's 'cause you're in a bad mood.