Trying out Geoff , a promising amateur who might fill in when Ben has a better paying gig. What he is doing or thinking Ben is jealous. Ben spends two hours, three days a week in protracted ritual humiliations up and down the Tube. He gets in a fight with his tie , and eventually cuts off the ends with a pair of scissors . He gets gum stuck to the soles of his shoe, and from there all over his suit.
People roar with laughter.
Even for one routine, he misses it. Ben pretends that he doesn't understand the woman, but a kind of satisfaction settles over him. It's a brief respite. Police get on. Ben has left the letter of permission from London Transport at home.