Solvers are faced with a grid which has a line below it, always a sure-fire indication that proof of understanding the theme will be required, as the preamble goes on to confirm:
"Nine clues lack a definition, seven of which appear
in the grid reformed after a thematic adjustment. The remaining two are
untouched by such corruption. All clues
have been corrupted by an additional letter in wordplay, which in clue order
provide most of a thematic quotation, the completion of which should be written
below the grid. One grid entry is in
Collins as is one plural."
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| Corruption Solution Grid |
The dénouement can eventually be worked out:
Frank SERPICO was an NYPD police officer who
battled against a pandemic of corruption within the force, as portrayed by AL
PACINO in the film SERPICO. In the grid, seven felons “MOBSTER, MOLESTER,
TRIGGERMAN, CRIMINAL, SMUGGLER, MISCREANT and MISDOER”, each hand out (M)oney
in order to avoid records. The corrupted
versions give no hint of their true activities.
The additional letters from wordplay provide the quotation from the film
“(THE) REALITY IS THAT WE DO NOT WASH OUR OWN LAUNDRY, IT JUST GETS…” completed
by DIRTIER
