State of Play (TV Mini Series)

Episode #1.2 (2003)

Bill Nighy: Cameron Foster

Photos 

Quotes 

• Cameron Foster : [speaking to Dan quietly so that no one else can hear]  Anything you publish, you publish under your mother's maiden name.

  Dan Foster : Well - okay.

  Cameron Foster : And you never, under any circumstances, on these premises, ever refer to me as "Dad." Understand ?

  Dan Foster : So long as you're paying me what I'm worth these days.

  Cameron Foster : Commensurate to how much you know. And I'm the skeptical one, so don't push it, Tonto.

• Cal McCaffrey : Why is the party pushing for Stephen Collins to do another press conference?

  Helen Preger : This is a good start. I haven't heard about that.

  Pete Cheng : Me neither.

  Cal McCaffrey : Apparently the Mail's got information he was about to leave his wife.

  Cameron Foster : He's only an MP. Why are they throwing a press conference behind that ?

  Helen Preger : He's chairman of the Energy Select. Which is independent of the government but just the fact he got the job means he's one to watch. Everybody I've talked to tips Stephen Collins for the Cabinet within the next few years.

  Della Smith : That must be true because the spin doctors have talked Anne Collins into appearing at the press conference alongside him. She's on the 9:30 train from Manchester. They'll announcement it at twelve. She's due at the podium at 3 to get them time to brief her on what to say when, apparently.

  Cameron Foster : Is this true ? Is he confirming or denying a long-term affair now ?

  Cal McCaffrey : How would you like me to phrase that, exactly ? "Had your girlfriend not gone under a train, would you have left your wife for her?"

  Cameron Foster : It's a fair question, translated into "adult."

• Cameron Foster : [to newsroom]  If Della Smith is in the building, could somebody please tell her that her house burnt down or, uh, her Lottery numbers came up ?

  [waits for a response] 

  Cameron Foster : No ?

  [to DCI Bell] 

  Cameron Foster : I'm not in the habit of lying. She's not here.

  DCI William Bell : She's working on the Kelvin Stagg murder.

  Cameron Foster : Correct.

  DCI William Bell : With your chief reporter, Cal McCaffrey.

  Cameron Foster : Also correct.

  DCI William Bell : Is he here ?

  Cameron Foster : I believe not. Mr. Bell...

  DCI William Bell : It's Detective Chief Inspector Bell.

  Cameron Foster : If you want to talk to busy people, you make a date or risk disappointment.

  DCI William Bell : Can you tell me the extent of their investigations into that murder ?

  Cameron Foster : No.

  DCI William Bell : Well, you're their editor.

  Cameron Foster : They haven't filed a story yet.

  DCI William Bell : But what, so they just, uh, what ? Run around spending your budget without recourse ?

  Cameron Foster : Seniors do. I know. I don't like it. I'd rather be a dictator but no one would work for me.

  DCI William Bell : One of my officers was murdered. Don't piss me about !... Now Della Smith warned Stuart Brown that the patient he was guarding was a potential target for reprisals. Now, where did she get the authority to present that theory ?

  Cameron Foster : I could've - well, my mother could have given you that from the TV reports. A gunman tries to kill a witness but not quite. Stands to reason that the motive for shooting the guy's still valid.

  DCI William Bell : Well, she sought him out at, uh, 11pm to tell him that ?

  Cameron Foster : You've met Della?

  DCI William Bell : Interviewed her.

  Cameron Foster : Beautiful woman. Recently dumped by a long-term boyfriend. It's a lonely job. Maybe she took a shine to your Stuart Brown. I really can't speculate. Well, I can, obviously. I just have. But it's not helpful, is it ?

• Della Smith : [Della and Cal are trying to convince their editor to hire someone]  He's done good investigative work with the "Indie" and the "Mail."

  Cal McCaffrey : And if we're talking working ethic, the guy never sleeps.

  Della Smith : We think he's got information worth having. And we know for a fact that he's not signed a contract with the "Mail."

  Cameron Foster : He's a pisshead. The reason he never sleeps is because he can't turn his back on a drink. He's too young mentally. Loudmouthed bloody typist - that's all you get with him.

  Cal McCaffrey : And he's dedicated freelance. So you only have to pay for what you get... Cameron, he knows something... Honestly, he's useful.

  Cameron Foster : Do we know what he's earning?

  Cal McCaffrey : He hasn't even mentioned money, so he wants this.

  Cameron Foster : Don't give him any cash advance expenses. He'll only blow it on the strung out freak he married when he was about twelve. Have you met her ? Lunatic ! Wedding was a total farce. Gareth Gates meets "Betty Blue."

  [to Dan] 

  Cameron Foster : Oi !