I did a short survey of some folk that I've loaned the tapes to, and it was
unanimous: we agreed that Wellingham is colder, more calculating, more
heartless than Neil. He's age and treachery personified.
My personal view is that Neil usually does exactly what he thinks his
mentors (like Wellingham) would do; unfortunately he isn't quite as heartless
as he'd like to be, because in the end it gets to him. Watching that
knife turn in his guts every time he orders a death, or his hands are
tied by bureaucrats, or makes a mistake, is one of the fascinations of
the show for me. Like a train wreck. I don't think he would have lasted
long, because the day that iron discipline broke, I think he'd likely
crawl into that brandy bottle he used to down half of each night, and never
come out.
And in my version of the story, Wellingham would have done exactly the
same kind of scam with Sally, in fact I don't doubt that he *has* done so
in pursuit of his knighthood and baronetcy (how the heck do you spell that?)
Now I'm making this up, but it is plausible that Wellingham worked in
intelligence during the war, and perhaps earlier. Maybe at one time he
cared about his compatriots, but I think that time is long passed.
Expediency is his watchword.
Gotta watch em again, so I know where to go in London next month -
contact me for pictures in November!
Nicole
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Blessed are those of us who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall never
cease to be amused.