Terry Jogs down the thinly carpeted hallway sweat running down her face " Olly, Olly did you hear?"
"I don't know Terry, I'm not psychic What's the scandal of the day? Olly takes in Terry's appearance "Jesus Terry you better sit down."
"You won't believe it. Malcolm Tucker is in the building." She managed to gasp through quick breaths.
"The Malcolm Tucker, He can't be. Shit! Are you sure?" All joking was gone. His face drained of color and his joking demeanour gone.
"He was in the lobby" Terry confirmed.
"Any chances he's visiting someone. He can't be working here not after what happened."
"What you did to him," corrected Terry.
"Yes Terry, no need to throw anyone under the bus. We all wanted him gone"
"Looks like he's here for work. He has documents with him, suited up. No one here would want Tucker visiting, he doesn't really have any friends."
"Except glen" Olly smirked.
Malcolm Tucker steps into the familiar briefing room, not much had changed since he was last here. All government offices looked similar, almost clinical. Contempt was already setting in, His anger building up and returning like an old friend. He needed this attitude when doing his job. It was a necessity, exposure to this environment for too long could poison the mind, and Malcolm Tucker had worked here longer than anyone. The worst part was that he was now willingly returning to his former job. No one could spin the media like he could. He slammed his files down, the top one labelled LOCKDOWN.
Terry walks up to Malcolm. She looks apprehensive holding a box partially out, "I'm sorry Malcolm but I'm going to have to ask you to put on one of these masks, It's policy." Malcolm Grimaces knocking her hand away as he refuses.
"I can't wear a mask; I have an exemption."
"You have a disability?"
"Yes Terry, it disables my ability to shout at people. Haven't you retired yet?"
" The lockdown destroyed my retirement plans, my pension dropped"
" Story of your life. Stuck here"
"Oh, fuckers back then I see" Olly whispers as he enters. Malcolm glares at him.
"Yes, I am, it appears the boy scouts here can only do one thing. Sink this country faster than the titanic, only unlike the real titanic no life boats are available, they've all burned" he pauses, thinking "also there's no doors to float on."
"You've been sacked for the last 8 years Malcolm, you were publicly humiliated, why would the prime minister want you in charge." Olly states, wringing his hands, obviously nervous.
"Because you're doing so well" he replies with a facetious tone "I'm the only one who is doing do any work. Plus I've got a little black book to keep the press in line, I'm like the good Santa Claus, the Krampus. Glad the Germans got one thing right."
"What work have you been doing Malcolm?" Olly asks looking perplexed at his colleges
"I've been reading your spins Olly, head of social affairs." Rolling his eyes "Every newspaper article I've read was work. And why we are on the topic don't you think I forgot you betrayed me, you let me down, this department down. You sold me out. I am surprised you lasted this long though."
"I didn't let this department down Malcolm, I did exactly what you would have done. Sold a member out to save the department" Olly's voice was rising; he was adamant he had done his best for this department. His department. He was starting to resent Malcolm trying to step back into his old shoes. He did have to admit though, Malcolm did have a lot of dirt of the media. at least he knew he used too.
"Well creepy uncle Malcolm is back now to fix this Covid mess you've dragged this country through"
"We've taken a lot of our work to social media in the current climate, In case you haven't caught up," Olly stated looking at the folder on the desk.
"No wonder we have global warming all your Skynet systems. Let me tell you something sonny, people on social media still talk about news from the big pigs in the newspapers. This situation is going to hell, the countries fucked up, tier systems for lockdown sounds like prison procedures. Only today I tried to get a coffee and your guidelines closed down the coffee shop apparently.
"Erm, they don't close down coffee shops." Terry interjected confidently "I'm issued the last news article. I'm sure food and drink business were ok as long as they are takeout"
"Look Terry, I don't even know what your closing anymore and If I don't know then these businesses definitely don't know. It's like the Hokey fucking cokey. Lockdown on, lockdown off, stay in, stay out, spread it all about."