- Adam Carter: Ruth, I uh, I need some research done on one of the people involved.
- Ruth Evershed: Zuli?
- Adam Carter: Uh, no, he's being covered, and Zoe and Danny will be on the hit man. No, I want you to, uh, check out our friend, the bookseller, Harakat. I sometimes think it's useful to look at an operation from a less obvious viewpoint. You know, cover all the bases. Harry tells me you're the soul of discretion.
- Ruth Evershed: Did he? Well, yeah, I try.
- Adam Carter: Good, thought so.
- [He starts walking away]
- Ruth Evershed: Oh, and Tom!
- [Adam stops and returns to Ruth's station. Ruth realizes she's misspoken]
- Ruth Evershed: Sorry. Um. God, so sorry, Adam, uh, I assume that means that you don't want me to distribute my research to the rest of the office as normal?
- Adam Carter: That's right, Ruth. I'd also prefer it if it came to me, Adam, rather than Tom.
- Ruth Evershed: Yes, yes, of course, Adam, Adam.
- [first lines]
- Muhammed Khordad: You know this plant. The more you try to rid the desert of it, the more it spreads. It has no known predator. Early in '97, I was told that there was a traitor in my organization, but by the time I uncovered him, it was already too late. He'd been spirited away. I assume you and Americans are still looking after him. The witness protection scheme or whatever misnomer you give it. This man is a price of our cooperation.
- Oliver Mace: That's not going to be possible. Why on earth do you think we would betray an old friend like that?
- Muhammed Khordad: Because I am your new friend, and I'm now more important to you than the old one.
- Harakat: Why do they think I need protection?
- Danny Hunter: I guess it's because you were the only one who saw the hit man, and he may come after you. Probably someone's heard some chatter on the wire somewhere.
- Harakat: You saw him, too.
- Danny Hunter: Maybe I need protection as well.
- Harakat: [chuckling] But who guards the guards, then?
- Danny Hunter: I think they expect us to be able to look after ourselves.
- Harakat: Danny. I've got this for you.
- [He gives Danny a small parcel]
- Harakat: I'm sorry for what Zuli said in that meeting, but he was certainly not speaking on my behalf. And gratitude is not one of his things.
- Danny Hunter: Clearly.
- Harakat: Please open it. If you don't like it, you can give it back to me or just sell it.
- Danny Hunter: [opens the parcel, revealing a book] 1913 Wisden. I've never even seen a 1913. How did you know?
- Harakat: I saw you notice them in my shop. And I knew that...
- Danny Hunter: You like cricket?
- Harakat: I don't like it. I just love it.
- Ruth Evershed: Go on then, Malcolm. Try your joke out. See if that brings us any luck.
- Malcolm Wynn-Jones: Okay, right, um. Man walks into a doctor's surgery. Doctor, doctor, I've got a cricket ball stuck up my bum! Doctor says, how's that? Bloke says, don't you start.
- Ruth Evershed: [laughing] In some ways, Malcolm, I don't think I'm the best person for you on this.
- Malcolm Wynn-Jones: Right, there's a good one about two ants and an elephant.
- Colin Wells: There's only one thing that worries me. The last thing we want is to keep Zuli alive long enough for him to inflict another one of his novels on us.
- [last lines]
- Zoe Reynolds: You know what, Will? With you, I'll always tell you the truth, as long as you promise to always laugh in the right places.
- Danny Hunter: [to Harakat, quoting the CIA's motto] You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
- Oliver Mace: Before you get on your hobby-horse, Harry, think about this. Do you think we did this alone without help from Langley?