The Moral Dimension
Encyclopedia
"The Moral Dimension" is the eighteenth episode of the BBC
comedy series Yes Minister
and was first broadcast 2 December 1982. The final ' Yes, Minister ' is said in unison by both Sir Humphrey
and Bernard
.
, his colleagues Sir Humphrey Appleby
and Bernard Woolley
, and his wife, Annie, are all on board a plane bound for Qumran, an oil sheikdom. They are part of a delegation that is going to ratify one of Britain's biggest ever export orders. The Minister is concerned at the considerable number of people going, but Sir Humphrey informs him that it has been "pared to the bone". His Permanent Secretary
also reminds Hacker that consumption of alcohol
is banned in Qumran according to Islamic law
. The Minister, not looking forward to "five hours of orange juice", wonders if there is an alternative. He suggests that a communications room is set up near the reception, which will contain illicit liquor
.
At the reception, Hacker and his wife accept a 17th-century rosewater jar as a gift from one government to another. Bernard then interrupts with news of an urgent call for the Minister in the communications room (from a Mr Haig). This establishes the code that will be used for alcoholic top-ups for the rest of the evening. Annie Hacker tells Bernard of her delight at the rosewater jar, but is saddened when he informs her that she won't be able to keep it as it's government property. He states that the only way it could remain in her possession was if it were worth less than fifty pounds. She entreats Bernard to get it valued and he eventually agrees. Meanwhile, Hacker seeks out Sir Humphrey, and can't quite believe his eyes when he sees the mandarin
in full Arab
dress. Sir Humphrey explains that it is a traditional Foreign Office
courtesy. Bernard meets one of the hosts, who overheard his conversation with Mrs Hacker. He has no qualms about writing a false valuation certificate and remarks that the gift seems so trivial when he received a share of $1 million that was paid to the Qumrani finance minister to secure the contract. Bernard makes his excuses and goes to tell Sir Humphrey of this fact (after he sends an increasingly drunken Hacker back to the communications room). The Permanent Secretary is nonchalant: apparently all contracts in Qumran are obtained by bribery — a system that works well, so long as nobody knows.
Back home, Hacker is once again in his office with Sir Humphrey and Bernard. The newspapers are full of allegations of corruption in respect of the Qumrani contract and the Minister is suspicious. He presses his officials and Sir Humphrey admits that some "creative negotiations" were employed to obtain a settlement. However, he will not accept the word "bribery" and lists the payments described by the contract, albeit made via a numbered Swiss bank account or a "fistful of used oncers slipped under the door of the gents'." Sir Humphrey goes on to explain that for certain parts of the world, such remittances are standard government practice. The Minister deplores this as being morally wrong and states that he has every intention of announcing a full public inquiry, should it be necessary.
Later, Bernard calls at Hacker's flat and is greeted by Annie. The rosewater jar is on display and Bernard remarks upon it. He is not the first to enquire about it: Jenny Goodwin, a friend of Annie who works as a journalist for The Guardian
, has also seen it and asked its value. When Annie told her that it was around fifty pounds, Jenny thought it looked genuine and asked if she could ring the Qumrani embassy to obtain its real value — and Annie agreed.
In Hacker's office, Bernard informs Sir Humphrey about the rosewater jar. He states that his subordinate has taken a grave personal risk and that the Minister must be told. Hacker enters and re-iterates his commitment to a public inquiry. However, Sir Humphrey makes Bernard confess all about the gift, and the Minister's press officer, Bill Pritchard, joins them with news that The Guardian has contacted the Qumrani embassy. Their officials are incensed that the extremely valuable rosewater jar is thought to be a copy, and Bill advises that the Foreign Office believes that this it quickly becoming "the biggest diplomatic incident since Death of a Princess
." To add to this, Jenny Goodwin is outside, seeking a statement. Hacker tells Bernard that there is a moral dimension to everything: he will give straight answers to straight questions; he will not be party to a lie; he will not allow himself to be connected to allegations of bribery. Sir Humphrey also agrees that there is a moral dimension — before asking the Minister which of them will inform the press about the communications room. Hacker is speechless as his civil servants
remind him that it was his idea. Sir Humphrey states that he will also tell the truth if asked, and the Minister realises that he has no alternative but to cover things up. He is advised that attack is the best form of defence and forcefully rebuts both of Ms. Goodwin's allegations as a smiling Sir Humphrey proudly watches.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy series Yes Minister
Yes Minister
Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC Television between 1980–1982 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, ran from 1986 to 1988. In total there were 38 episodes—of which all but...
and was first broadcast 2 December 1982. The final ' Yes, Minister ' is said in unison by both Sir Humphrey
Humphrey Appleby
Sir Humphrey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA , is a fictional character from the British television series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He was played by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. In Yes Minister, he is the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Administrative Affairs...
and Bernard
Bernard Woolley
Sir Bernard Woolley GCB is one of the three main fictional characters of the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. He was portrayed by Derek Fowlds.-Character:...
.
Plot
Jim HackerJames Hacker
James George Hacker, Baron Hacker of Islington, KG, PC, B. Sc. , Hon. D. C. L. was a fictional British politician. He was the Minister of the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs, and later the Prime Minister, in the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister...
, his colleagues Sir Humphrey Appleby
Humphrey Appleby
Sir Humphrey Appleby, GCB, KBE, MVO, MA , is a fictional character from the British television series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister. He was played by Sir Nigel Hawthorne. In Yes Minister, he is the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Administrative Affairs...
and Bernard Woolley
Bernard Woolley
Sir Bernard Woolley GCB is one of the three main fictional characters of the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. He was portrayed by Derek Fowlds.-Character:...
, and his wife, Annie, are all on board a plane bound for Qumran, an oil sheikdom. They are part of a delegation that is going to ratify one of Britain's biggest ever export orders. The Minister is concerned at the considerable number of people going, but Sir Humphrey informs him that it has been "pared to the bone". His Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
also reminds Hacker that consumption of alcohol
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
is banned in Qumran according to Islamic law
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
. The Minister, not looking forward to "five hours of orange juice", wonders if there is an alternative. He suggests that a communications room is set up near the reception, which will contain illicit liquor
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
.
At the reception, Hacker and his wife accept a 17th-century rosewater jar as a gift from one government to another. Bernard then interrupts with news of an urgent call for the Minister in the communications room (from a Mr Haig). This establishes the code that will be used for alcoholic top-ups for the rest of the evening. Annie Hacker tells Bernard of her delight at the rosewater jar, but is saddened when he informs her that she won't be able to keep it as it's government property. He states that the only way it could remain in her possession was if it were worth less than fifty pounds. She entreats Bernard to get it valued and he eventually agrees. Meanwhile, Hacker seeks out Sir Humphrey, and can't quite believe his eyes when he sees the mandarin
Mandarin (bureaucrat)
A mandarin was a bureaucrat in imperial China, and also in the monarchist days of Vietnam where the system of Imperial examinations and scholar-bureaucrats was adopted under Chinese influence.-History and use of the term:...
in full Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
dress. Sir Humphrey explains that it is a traditional Foreign Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
courtesy. Bernard meets one of the hosts, who overheard his conversation with Mrs Hacker. He has no qualms about writing a false valuation certificate and remarks that the gift seems so trivial when he received a share of $1 million that was paid to the Qumrani finance minister to secure the contract. Bernard makes his excuses and goes to tell Sir Humphrey of this fact (after he sends an increasingly drunken Hacker back to the communications room). The Permanent Secretary is nonchalant: apparently all contracts in Qumran are obtained by bribery — a system that works well, so long as nobody knows.
Back home, Hacker is once again in his office with Sir Humphrey and Bernard. The newspapers are full of allegations of corruption in respect of the Qumrani contract and the Minister is suspicious. He presses his officials and Sir Humphrey admits that some "creative negotiations" were employed to obtain a settlement. However, he will not accept the word "bribery" and lists the payments described by the contract, albeit made via a numbered Swiss bank account or a "fistful of used oncers slipped under the door of the gents'." Sir Humphrey goes on to explain that for certain parts of the world, such remittances are standard government practice. The Minister deplores this as being morally wrong and states that he has every intention of announcing a full public inquiry, should it be necessary.
Later, Bernard calls at Hacker's flat and is greeted by Annie. The rosewater jar is on display and Bernard remarks upon it. He is not the first to enquire about it: Jenny Goodwin, a friend of Annie who works as a journalist for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, has also seen it and asked its value. When Annie told her that it was around fifty pounds, Jenny thought it looked genuine and asked if she could ring the Qumrani embassy to obtain its real value — and Annie agreed.
In Hacker's office, Bernard informs Sir Humphrey about the rosewater jar. He states that his subordinate has taken a grave personal risk and that the Minister must be told. Hacker enters and re-iterates his commitment to a public inquiry. However, Sir Humphrey makes Bernard confess all about the gift, and the Minister's press officer, Bill Pritchard, joins them with news that The Guardian has contacted the Qumrani embassy. Their officials are incensed that the extremely valuable rosewater jar is thought to be a copy, and Bill advises that the Foreign Office believes that this it quickly becoming "the biggest diplomatic incident since Death of a Princess
Death of a Princess
Death of a Princess is a British 1980 drama-documentary, produced by ATV, produced in cooperation with WGBH in the United States. The drama, be based on the true story of Princess Masha'il, or Mish'al is the story of a young princess from Saudi Arabia Islamic nation and her lover who had been...
." To add to this, Jenny Goodwin is outside, seeking a statement. Hacker tells Bernard that there is a moral dimension to everything: he will give straight answers to straight questions; he will not be party to a lie; he will not allow himself to be connected to allegations of bribery. Sir Humphrey also agrees that there is a moral dimension — before asking the Minister which of them will inform the press about the communications room. Hacker is speechless as his civil servants
British Civil Service
Her Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
remind him that it was his idea. Sir Humphrey states that he will also tell the truth if asked, and the Minister realises that he has no alternative but to cover things up. He is advised that attack is the best form of defence and forcefully rebuts both of Ms. Goodwin's allegations as a smiling Sir Humphrey proudly watches.
Episode cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Paul Eddington Paul Eddington Paul Eddington CBE was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s: The Good Life, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Early life:... |
Jim Hacker |
| Nigel Hawthorne Nigel Hawthorne Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne, CBE was an English actor, perhaps best remembered for his role as Sir Humphrey Appleby, the Permanent Secretary in the 1980s sitcom Yes Minister and the Cabinet Secretary in its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister. For this role he won four BAFTA Awards during the 1980s in the... |
Sir Humphrey Appleby |
| Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds Derek Fowlds is an English actor, known for playing Bernard Woolley in popular British television comedies Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister and Oscar Blaketon in the long-running ITV police drama Heartbeat.... |
Bernard Woolley |
| Diana Hoddinott Diana Hoddinott Diana Hoddinott is an English actress. She was born to Winifred Doris, née Dibble and Alan Hoddinott , who married in 1934 in Langport.... |
Annie Hacker |
| Antony Carrick | Bill Pritchard |
| April Walker | Jenny Goodwin |
| Sam Dastor Sam Dastor Sam Dastor is an actor best known for his appearances in British television series.He is perhaps best remembered for playing Cassius Chaerea in the 1976 BBC adaptation of I, Claudius... |
Qumrani Businessman |
| Vic Tablian Vic Tablian Vic Tablian is an Armenian-born British actor. His filmography includes his double role as Barranca and Monkey Man in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark.- Filmography :* The Bill, Nadim Mura, 2007... |
Prince Mohammed |
| Walter Randall Walter Randall Walter Randall , was a British dancer turned actor with numerous roles in British television, including parts in The Saint, Out of This World, Yes Minister, The Professionals and Dixon of Dock Green.... |
Qumrani Man |
| Michael Sharvell-Martin Michael Sharvell-Martin Michael Sharvell-Martin was a British television and stage actor.-Early life:He was born as Michael Ernest Martin in Herne Bay, Kent, and trained in stage management at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. His acting debut was in 1965 at the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham... |
Ross |
Writer commentary
- The communications room was based on a real incident in PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. In an interview, co-writer Antony Jay stated:
"I can't tell you where, I can't tell you when and I can't tell you who was involved; all I can tell you is that we knew that it had actually happened. That's why it was so funny. We couldn't think up things as funny as the real things that had happened."