[accompanied by DO Scase, ACO Baxter has made an informal visit to Blackwall to introduce himself to the firefighters; Recall walks into the recreation room wearing his jacket, unbuttoned, with no shirt underneath]
Scase: [to Recall] Just a moment, young man. I can't help noticing your mode of attire.
Recall: My what, sir?
Scase: How you're dressed. No doubt you're aware of the rule about not bringing fire tunics up here. I'm sure you also recall the regulation that forbids wearing them next to the skin.
Recall: Er, yeah.
Hallam: I told him to take his T-shirt off, sir. It was soaking wet. He's gonna get a dry one, aren't you?
Scase: Oh really? I would have thought, out of courtesy to a visiting ACO if nothing else, you could have been a little less lax in your approach to the regulations. Perhaps he could have waited downstairs and had the dry one brought to him.
[ACO Baxter looks embarrassed]
ACO Baxter: [to Hallam] Sub Officer, perhaps you'd care to explain the circumstances to me as you see me off the premises.
[later, when Baxter and Scase are alone]
ACO Baxter: Mr Scase. I have to say, your little display in there failed to impress me. That firefighter had just dragged a man from a burning house and was on his way to change into a dry uniform. But you didn't give him a chance to explain that, did you? You launched straight into a lecture about the rulebook. Now don't get me wrong, correct procedure is essential, but I think you could have chosen a better moment and a better way to tell him.
Scase: I just thought the point needed to be made, sir. And in front of the others.
ACO Baxter: Well then, that's where we disagree. I wonder if you've understood *anything* about the way we're trying to run the brigade these days. I know you had your differences with my predecessor, and I'm very different from Mr Bulstrode, but what I hope what we have in common is that he ran things with compassion and discretion, and that's what *I* intend to do. I believe he was thought of as old-fashioned by certain officers. But from your behaviour here tonight, that might better be applied to you. I expect a proper level of competence from all ranks. We simply don't talk to people like that any more. Mr Scase, I intend to drag this area kicking and screaming into the 21st century. And if certain people fall by the wayside in that pursuit, then so be it. Please come and see me in my office tomorrow morning. Goodbye, Mr Scase.
[Scase looks crestfallen. He salutes stiffly]