Isn't there a later episode (maybe one of the Laura ones) where
Wellingham tells Burnside that Belinda was cleaning out
something in the house (attic?) and found some of his things, then
asks if he wants them back? That implies that the couple lived
elsewhere and Neil moved to the apartment. Considering Wellingham's
wealth and position, that also makes sense, since the apartment seems
rather small for someone accustomed to luxury.
It's still hard to reconcile the idea of tidy Burnside with that
messy, cluttered kitchen.
At what point does he get a computer? I thought I remembered seeing
one in a later episode, but it's not there in "Always Glad to Help,"
unless I'm overlooking it.
Someone asked what the Sandbaggers did in the hutch. In "Always
Glad to Help," Laura and Willie are working their way through stacks
of files and she asks "Is Burnside really interested in 'Communist
China, Curtailment of Religious Practices'?" and he replies "No [...]
he's only interested in anything vaguely operational." I can't tell if
that means they're reading reports and deciding which to forward to
him or, alternately, if she's being sarcastic because they're reading
material he's marked for their attention. Either way, a fair amount
of time in the hutch appears to be spent keeping posted on foreign
situations, presumably in preparation for missions.
--Didi J.