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What did Foyle whisper to the officer as he was boarding the ship?

posted 9 years ago by ProfessorTom
13 replies | jump to latest

At the very end of Series 6, episode 3, as Foyle is boarding the ship to America, one of the ship's officers is bent down and Foyle is whispering something in his hear.When Foyle has finished speaking, the officer stands up straight and has a grin on his face.

We hear no audio and Netflix's subtitles are empty for that particular line of dialog.

What do you think Foyle might have said to the officer? Do you think it has something to do with Sam and Adam and what they were talking to Foyle about prior to him boarding the ship?

Is this our generation's Quiet Man?

[–] scott-269-715736 9 years ago

Based on memory of the scene I thought perhaps Foyle might have said something about Sam and Adam, possibly connecting their engagement as a sign of a promising future after the war was won.

So I watched the scene again, and I'm pretty sure my memory failed me. Whatever Foyle said was too brief and while the officer did have something like a smile, it wasn't very different than his expression before the whisper. Now I wonder if it was one of those things an actor decides to do in order to improve a filler scene. We know Foyle rarely initiates conversations not related to his profession, and since the whisper was incredibly brief, what I do believe would fit Foyle would be if he stopped to thank the officer for his service during the war - I suspect the crews of civilian cruise ships, pressed into service, were far less likely to receive the thanks given to military personnel - I'd like to think Foyle would realize this, which would make him offer the well deserved recognition. Perhaps he made a small comment as to his hopes there wouldn't be any submarines during the trip. Maybe how nice it was things were back to normal.

But I'm going with the thank you being given. I notice when in public, when military members are thanked for their service, the military individual often has a similar expression - pleased, but not really knowing what to say in return. If it had been about Sam and Adam, it seems the officer would have said something.

I'm pretty sure it had to be about the officer, the ship, or the cruise, but I suppose we need someone involved in that episode to find out what was said.

[–] ProfessorTom 9 years ago

I really like your thoroughness of thought.

When I saw the scene play, I assumed that Foyle must have been telling the officer something about Sam and Adam, but this doesn't make sense–why would Foyle tell an otherwise complete stranger about his driver getting engaged? I see your point about the connection with "the war's over, here's a good omen" but for reasons you stated, I don't think Foyle said anything about Sam.

Perhaps this was just some action to fill the scene, but that begs the question–why were these few seconds of film needed?

Perhaps Foyle was telling the officer that he was following up on Howard Paige, but again, why would Foyle tell a complete stranger what he plans to do in America?

[–] Camargue 9 years ago

I'm pretty sure it had to be about the officer, the ship, or the cruise, but I suppose we need someone involved in that episode to find out what was said.

When we meet the captain on first boarding, we make small talk, something to the effect that we are "hoping for a smooth sailing," or we are "hoping for an uneventful crossing."

Small point, but a passage from Europe to North America is NOT a cruise. It's a crossing, a sailing, a passage, or a voyage. Never a cruise!

[Many of our ancestors had bad experiences of that life changing voyage to America. My maternal great-grandparents came "steerage" from Norway. Years later, their daughter (my grandmother) offered to send her parents back to Norway for "a visit," as an anniversary present; a chance to see family members and friends again. Their memories were so miserable (of traveling steerage), they refused to even consider getting on a boat back to Norway; not even second class. Bless their hearts!]

By the time Foyle was en route to the USA, the trip was down to about 5 days, with increased speed, more efficient engines, and much better stabilizers, so he would have had a much more comfortable passage, compared with those who made that trip 50 or 75 years prior. But, still, they were at the mercy of the weather; what matters more than being comfortable while on the high seas?

Normally, Foyle's primary interest would include the availability of radio contact; but, he was not on a mission, past the reading he needed to do, so he wouldn't have wanted to be bothered by radio transmissions.

At any rate, it is entertaining to speculate. Knowing Foyle's character, it seems that ANY communication is important; but perhaps not; he was also polite and kind and appropriate.

[–] ProfessorTom 9 years ago

While it's possible that Foyle just said (or whispered) his name to the officer, I don't recall the officer holding a clipboard or checking tickets. The officer bent down to listen to whatever Foyle said;; since we didn't hear the dialog, I assumed that Foyle must have whispered to the officer.

I see your point, but after careful consideration, I cannot arrive at the same conclusion you have.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] scott-269-715736 9 years ago

I'm going to agree with chapalysson and with ProfessorTom.

It would make sense for Foyle to identify himself to the officer and it was brief enough to be nothing more. If true, it just means the actor playing the officer didn't put much effort into the part and if noticed, it wasn't important enough to redo the scene.

Yet what the actor did or didn't do makes it appear something else was said. The only other passengers are soldiers able to just walk through. Foyle is the only civilian. As he approaches a second officer shows up, also with a clipboard, and takes a position on the other side of the entrance. Neither officer makes any use of their boards, either before or after Foyle enters - perhaps he is the only civilian traveling aboard so they've both memorized the name?

What suggests Foyle offered something more then his name falls on the officer who listened. If all he was given was the name I would expect Foyle to wait a moment while the name is checked before proceeding. Instead something is said and Foyle continues to walk. Rather then stopping him the officer turns his head to watch Foyle walk away, the look lasting longer than the whisper, and after that he simply goes back to standing there, still making no use of his clipboard. Did the officer/actor not know how to do the scene, or was it meant to mean more?

The lack of interest in the props provided to them suggests both actor officers are greeters, not really checking names off their lists. I know sometimes a prop to hold onto is provided to an actor required to do nothing more then stand in the scene. I don't know why, but just standing in a scene can be quite a challenge for some - it's like they've suddenly discovered they have arms and aren't sure what to do with them.

I recall the first time I watched this episode I expected what chapalysson suggests, that Foyle would check in and walk out of our viewing lives. As the short scene played out I also remembering feeling something else unexpected had just happened and it felt familiar.

Given the way the officer watched him after I could only relate it to personal experience involving people who offer thanks to military individuals - if Foyle thanked the officer, the turn of the head and expression fit what I've seen played out in real life many times - it comes unexpectedly, is hard to respond to, yet is appreciated by those who are rarely given thanks (which fits the moment in the show (as does the alternate explanation), so I'll stick to it as being fitting to Foyle's personality and a suitable end to his departure from our lives.)

At least I don't think at that time they expected to do additional seasons?

[–] shelby0296 9 years ago

Not sure anything was particularly said. The "actor" was Anthony Horowitz, the creator and writer for Foyle's War, which is why they seemed to focus on him.

[–] ProfessorTom 9 years ago

Yes. I was aware of that and thought I had mentioned it somewhere above.

I wonder if I could write Mr. Horowitz and see if he'd tell us; I should also check and see who wrote the episode.

UPDATE: It turn out Mr. Horowitz has a Twitter account! (http://twitter.com/AnthonyHorowitz) I've tweeted to him https://twitter.com/professortom/status/666430583971708928; let's see if we can get a response.

[–] greum-mac-uilleam 9 years ago

I agree with chapalysson, too much is being read into this scene. The officer is not bending down to listen to Foyle, he's looking down at Foyle's documentation - presumably his ticket of passage and/or passport - which Foyle is holding in his left hand, clearly visible as he approaches the officer.

[–] johnwwwatson 9 years ago

If The actor playing the ship's officer was Anthony Horowitz, the creator and writer for Foyle's War, it could have been an unscripted private moment.
I imagine Anthony Horowitz cameo is without dialog and Michael Kitchen taking the opportunity to get him to break character, perhaps telling him his zipper is down or giving a funny name. They do have a sense of humor you know 🙂

[–] IndyCelt 9 years ago

"If The actor playing the ship's officer was Anthony Horowitz"

IMDB shows that Anthony Horowitz was indeed the boarding officer, so I'll bet you're right, a little private joke between them.

Fyi Anthony Horowitz is also in the series' very last episode [Elise] as a man buying nylon stockings.

[–] caviar1234 9 years ago

I bet there'll be more Anthony Horowitz appearences if you look carefully.

[–] 9 years ago

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