All language subtitles for The.Man.In.The.White.Suit.1951

'Now that calm and sanity
have returned to the textile industry,

'l feel it my duty to reveal
something of the true story

'behind the recent crisis,

'a story which we were, happily,

'able to keep out
of the newspapers at the time.

"The trouble began,
not in my own mill, I'm glad to say,

'but during my visit to the mill
owned by Michael corland,

'which manufactures
an artificial fibre similar to my own.

'Corland is a personable young man,

'who seemed to have
impressed my daughter.

'He was also anxious to impress me

'with the idea that his mill was
a sound financial investment.'

output is excellent.
Six million yards of filament a day.

- How many?
- Six million.

That's right, isn't it, hill?

Six million feet. Yes, mr corland.

- Feet, of course.
- Of course.

Good morning. I'm lunching here
with mr corland and my father.

They're still looking around
the mill, miss birnley.

Would you care to wait
in mr corland's off...?

Um... Michael. Hello, daddy.
Good morning, mr hill.

Now, now, Daphne,
please don't interrupt.

I'm having a most illuminating tour.
Is it this way?

- This way, mr birnley.
- Oh, this way. Thank you.

- How's it going?
- Sticky.

- Why, what does he say?
- Oh, nothing. That's the trouble.

Oh, that's only his
"kingpin of industry" act.

"Forty glorious years in textiles."
Don't let it get you down.

I'm sure he'll put up
all the money you want.

- Sorry... sir.
- Come on. Come on.

Of course, it's hardly up
to what you have at birnleys.

Quite.

Er... for instance, sir,
if you'd step this way.

Mr green, perhaps
you would show mr birnley

the latest thing
you've been working on.

Just a moment, green.

Thank you.

What's this?

I really couldn't say, mr birnley.
Mr green?

- Perhaps you would explain.
- Er... gladly.

Well, it's, er...

Obviously, it's, er...

- Mr Wilkins?
- Yes, sir?

- Is, er... this yours?
- No, sir.

Harrison?

- Yours?
- No, sir.

I thought it was... his.

Well, does it matter, really?

- Merely a matter of interest.
- Fotheringay?

Er... could you spare us a moment?

What is this?

Don't you know?

I think it was a special job.

Who for?

Come along, come along.
Who authorised it?

Apparently you did.

Surely, mr green, you must
know whether you did or you didn't.

What does it matter, anyway?
I think you're being very ru...

There must be some
quite ordinary explanation.

Well, of course it...

It's ridiculous.
The thing can't have grown there.

Mr hill, will you please find out
what this is all about?

Yes, sir. Green, check
with the accounts department.

Of course.
Take them the order number.

Uh, very good, sir. Right away, sir.
3-7-8-2-53-7-8-2-5

3-7-8-2-53-7-8-2-5_

I'm so sorry. I really shouldn't
start asking questions.

- On the contrary. Shall we lunch?
- Yes.

I think you've seen
just about everything.

Yes, I think I have.

3-7-8-2-5

here it is.

£40007?

- But spent on what?
- Hydrogen, sir. Heavy hydrogen.

This is absolute nonsense!

Oh, for heaven's sake!

I want to aim at materials
and designs,

combining the strengths
and simplicity

of the old english hand-loom weavers,

with the colour and fire
of the flemish or provencal.

Now, if I had an extra 100,000...

- Excuse me, sir.
- After lunch, hill.

- It's very urgent.
- After lunch, hill.

Now, where was I?

Well, you mustn't let us
keep you from anything vital.

No, it's nothing. Nothing at all.

What is it, Michael, hm?

It's nothing.
Excuse me, will you, please?

Well, I told him it was
nothing to do with me.

- Mr Wilkins!
- Yes?

Mr corland wants you.
He's in accounts.

Mr Harrison!

They want you too, in accounts.

Excuse me. Could you tell me
where mr corland is, please?

Stratton! Mr corland wants you!

No, mr corland,
you're not firing me. I resign.

I'm not a cheat nor a swindler.

I did what I did
because there was no other way.

But at Cambridge they gave me
a first and a fellowship.

I would be there still, if they
hadn't been so shortsighted.

Just as you are
and all the others I've worked for.

But one day there'll be
someone with real vision.

I shall have a laboratory
given to me.

A proper laboratory
with really modern equipment.

And assistants of my own.
No, don't interrupt me.

It's small minds like yours
that stand in the way of progress.

But this is too big a thing,
bigger than you...

I see you've been discharged
from your last six positions.

- Seven.
- Oh.

Oh, well, perhaps a change
of environment might...

Oh, no, it must be a textile mill.

I see there's a vacancy
at the birnley mill, but...

- Birnleys?
- Yes, but...

They have a research lab,
haven't they?

I'm afraid this hardly suits
your qualifications.

- They want a works labourer.
- Oh, that'll suit me.

- That's a nice place to leave it!
- Sorry.

- Sorry.
- Don't mention it.

- You've got it loaded too heavy.
- Have I?

You want to leave it
so you can see over the top.

Oh. Yes, of course. Thanks.

- New, aren't you?
- Er... yes.

- Never worked in a mill before?
- Oh, yes, several.

I know. Leave school, into the first
blind-alley job that comes along.

Too old for that.
Into another and another.

By the time you're 30,
what are you?

Flotsam floating
on the flood tide of profits.

There's capitalism for you.

It wasn't quite like that.

I got a scholarship to Cambridge.

But you hadn't got
the old school tie.

Oh, you can't tell me.
Discrimination.

I've seen plenty.
Where were you going with this lot?

The loading bay,
I think they call it.

You were going the wrong way,
anyhow. It's down there.

Tea up. Better leave it.

Oh, tea? No, thanks.
I think I'd rather...

Tea break! We had to fight for it.

Just a moment.

Look, er... we'd better help you
with it. It's very delicate.

Yes, sir.
Pete, give us a hand with this.

And get these gentlemen
some overalls.

Well, where's sid? Sid!

- Sid!
- No, no, quite wrong.

Sid!

- Where's it got to go?
- Up to the lab.

- It's an electro... electrola...
- An electron microscope.

Ah, at last!

We'd better go and check this over.

Mm, it's a beautiful job.

No, nol

you must have the gun filament off
before you switch on the projector,

otherwise you're liable to put
4.000 volts through the cathode

and blow it to bits.

Quite.

That's the specimen stage,
I suppose.

The intermediate alignment section.
This is the specimen stage.

Of course.

It seems to be all right.
If the chief's satisfied, we'll go.

I don't suppose you could
spare someone for a while,

just till we get the hang of it?

- What, me?
- Well, not necessarily you yourself.

One of your assistants, perhaps.

Oh, I see.

Well, I... 1 think perhaps
I might manage it.

In fact, it might be
quite convenient.

You sure you're not too, er... busy?

There are a few things, of course,

but if while I'm here, you could
let me have a corner of a bench...

Oh, certainly, certainly.
Er... see to that, will you, Wilson?

I couldn't say, I'm sure.

All right, love.
Tell her she can pay it Friday.

He didn't say nothing this morning.

Sid, what's all this?
Harry says you've quit.

Oh, yes, yes.

- Why?
- Well, you see, I...

- You didn't get the sack?
- Oh, no, no, no.

- Then what happened?
- I've got the chance of another job.

- Where?
- At birnleys too, in a way.

- You haven't quit, then?
- Yes and no.

I got the chance of working
in the laboratory.

- It's a better job?
- Oh, yes, much.

- And more money?
- I shan't actually get paid for it.

What? We'll see about that!
Scab labour. Huh!

The works committee
had better hear about this.

- But I don't want to get paid.
- Not want to?

I don't care whether you want to get
paid or not! You've got to get paid!

Oh, you mustn't do that.
It'll ruin everything.

It's only for a few weeks.
I promise you.

What are you going to do
for money?

I was going to speak to you
about that, mrs Watson.

I know it's a lot to ask,

but if I could owe you the rent
for a couple of weeks...

Only the rent.
I shan't need any food.

- You'll not need food?
- Oh, I'll get that somewhere.

Of course you can stay,
mr Stratton.

Thanks very much indeed.

Sid, are you in trouble?

No. Everything's fine.

I've... got some money
in the post office.

Not very much,
but you could have it if you need it.

I can get most of what I need
at the lab,

but if there are a few oddments,
I'll let you know.

Thanks.

Any time.

I'm even glad, Michael,
you get no money from father.

All right. I'm freer to say we'll get
married as soon as you like.

You're... you're very sweet,
but I'm not going to let you.

What do you mean, Michael?

I wouldn't dream of letting you
marry me in a fit of temper.

Not till you can do it
in perfectly cold blood.

Well, I must be off.

I have to look around
in some other direction.

- Daddy...
- I thought you'd gone, Daphne.

Father, I know what you think
about Michael.

You think all he wants is my money.

Hm mine.

Well, it just so happens
you're wrong.

He's going to find some other way
to do all the things he wants.

- Splendid!
- And he still wants me.

Well, if you want him, Daphne,
then I'm very glad.

So, now will you change
your mind about him?

Well, if that means
will I invest in him

in spite of what I've seen
of his mills, no.

Just because there was a lunatic
in the place, you blame him.

- It might have happened to anyone.
- In the birnley mills, for instance?

I'm sick of the birnley mills
and everything connected with them.

And the sooner I leave home,
the happier I shall be.

Sorry.

Hey! Wait!

Hm, hm, hm.

Well, all right.

Ah, mr Stratton. I don't quite
see your point about this.

Daddy, just a minute. I...

Miss birnley!

- Please don't tell your father.
- So, you're working for him now.

How nice. Does he know?

I can't wait to tell him.

- Miss birnley! No, miss birnley!
- Get off!

Just give me two more days. One, even.
It's more important than anything.

It's going to astound the world!

Look. You know about the problem
of polymerising amino-acid residues?

What did you say?

Look, do you know
what a long-chain molecule is?

A what?

Do you know what a molecule is?

No.

- Something like an atom?
- That's it!

Atoms stuck together.
In this case, like a long chain.

Now, cotton and silk
and every natural fibre

is made up of these chains.

And recently we've learned
to make artificial fibres

with even longer chains
such as, um... rayon and nylon.

You've heard of nylon?

Of amino-acid residues
and carbohydrate molecules.

Both containing ionic groups.
It's really perfectly simple.

I believe I've got the right catalyst
to promote interaction

between the reactive groups
at the end of the peptide chains

and the carbohydrate combination,

while the charges of the ionic groups
will cross-link the chains

and confer valuable
elastic properties.

At high temperature and pressure...

"And give a molten liquid so that
there is a great probability of...

"Polymerisation,

"to give a natural molecule
of a length great enough

"to confer spinnability."

Just wanted something to read in bed.

Night, daddy.

Well, after all, how the devil
can I do anything about it?

What's this?

Hey!

Here, I need that!

Terribly sorry. It's very important.

- Ah.
- Just a minute. I'm using that.

- What's all this?
- I've got to see mr birnley.

- Mr Stratton, what's the matter?
- Mr hoskins, it's worked!

- I've done it!
- Done what?

The radioactive groups
in the fibre-forming molecules

haven't catalysed the internal
rearrangement, not in the least.

I thought the polymerisation
would be sterically hindered.

- But it wasn't. Where are my notes?
- Mr Stratton...

Er... I'll see you later.
I've got to see mr birnley.

- You can't do that.
- I've done it! I've done it!

Stop him! Stop him!

Don't let him go! Don't let him go!

Nurse gamage.

I've got to see mr birnley!

You're fired you understand? Fired!

You can't fire me! I don't work here!

- What?
- That's right. He doesn't.

Now, then.

Ah, sister! Come here.

- What's the trouble?
- He's mad, that's the trouble.

A strong sedative,
that's what he needs.

Fantastic.

Utterly fantastic.

- A lunatic, obviously.
- Yes, sir. Very odd, indeed.

Look, I want to see mr birnley.

I can't get any sense
out of the rest of them.

- It's terribly important.
- Your name?

My name, it's Stratton.
Sidney Stratton.

I work at the mill. That is,
I did work at the mill. Only I...

- You have an appointment?
- No, but you see, I know that...

It would have been better
had you made an appointment.

Mr birnley's busy now. A meeting.

- But I couldn't make an appointment.
- Sorry.

Write a letter or telephone.

There's no question of it.

But, mr birnley...

It's all very well
between these four walls,

but what are the shareholders
going to say?

£8,300 for sundries?

What sundries?

Davidson will be here at any moment.

Now, he should be able
to answer that.

Oh, mr birnley's expecting you.

No, please, listen. Let me explain!

Please! Please!

- What's all this?
- Oh, it's nothing.

Please give this to mr birnley.
I promise you he'll want to see me.

I expect my works manager
to know everything, Davidson,

I should hardly call £8,000 a detail.

Judging by the job numbers,
mr birnley, hoskins must know.

- Well, who's hoskins?
- Your head of research, sir.

Well, can you find his private
number, or is it too much to hope?

Oh, do try.

How can it be impossible?
I've got them here. But...

Let me speak to him.

- Oh, it's you.
- Hello. Have you done it?

- Yes, I have, but I...
- Come right in.

Look. Listen,
I'm asking you a simple question.

What is it, knudsen?

No, I don't care what his name is.
I want to know what he...

Very well, then. You must find him
and send him up here.

No, no, certainly not.
Tell him to go away.

What do you mean, you can't?

Well, you must know his address.

Why, hang it all, he's an employee.

Now, look here. He said to go away.

She's gone to fetch him.
Really, she has.

Daphne, have you gone mad?

Daphne, I'm in the middle
of a very difficult meeting,

and I don't know
what you're talking about!

How can you if you won't listen?

Well, whatever it is,
surely it can wait for half an hour.

This friend of yours
can't be so important...

No, don't, don't! Please, don't!

- Ah, there you are at last!
- No, Daphne.

- Now, listen to me!
- I will not listen to you.

- Get out of my house!
- I won't!

Knudsen!

You're an irresponsible young idiot.

- Father!
- Knudsen!

And you're a pompous
and ungrateful old ass.

- Oh! Knudsen!
- Sidney! No, father...

Knudsen! Knudsen!

- No, father, listen to me.
- Knudsen! Knudsen!

If you think I'd give my invention
to you, you must be crazy!

Not if you were the last man on earth!
Even if I liked youl!

Even if you went down on bended knees
and begged me for it!

I won't stay in your house
another minute!

You've made an idiot of yourself,
father.

And I'm delighted to say
you're going to regret it.

You need a good spanking.

You don't even know what he's done.

Well, apart from costing me £8,000,
what has he done?

He's made a new kind of cloth.

It never gets dirty,
and it lasts forever.

Well, that's ridiculous.

Oh, it is, is it?

Do you know
what a long-chain molecule is?

Do you know what happens
if one makes one of infinite length,

with optimum interchain attractions?

Do you know what it means?

It means that to break the fibre,
you'd have to split the molecule.

It means, for all practical purposes,
it would last forever.

And it has a surface charge
of static electricity.

It repels dirt.

That may be nonsense, of course.

Maybe he hasn't really done it.
Maybe he's talking through his hat.

On the other hand, maybe he has.

Maybe you're talking through yours.

The point is, you don't know, and
you're too pig-headed to find out.

£8,300?

They're bound to ask questions.

Stratton, you're coming straightaway
with me to see Mr.

Ah, hoskins.

I've decided to authorise mr Stratton
to continue his research here.

I'm sure I can rely on you
to give him everything he needs.

- Yes, sir.
- Well, there you are, Sidney.

Well, you've got your contract.

And you'll get your equipment.
Now, is there anything else?

- There is just one thing.
- Yes, my boy?

I've been thinking about
the possibility of chain reactions,

and I think probably
we ought to clear the lab.

- Clear the lab?
- Only as a precaution.

- Secrecy, you mean?
- That. That too.

You're a shrewd boy.
See about that, hoskins.

And you'll see that not a word
gets out about this, even in the mills.

Well, perhaps we shall
have a little surprise

to spring on our competitors.

Yes.

Well, there we are.

Shall we try it now? Or do you think
we ought to wait until after lunch?

Whatever you say.

Let's have a go now.

Oh, sorry. Mr hoskins?

- Next door.
- Thanks.

Oh, mr hoskins.

Good morning. I didn't know
where to find you at first.

Would you just ok these
for accounts, please?

Hm.

It does seem an extraordinary amount.
I... I suppose it's necessary.

My dear king...

It shouldn't have done that.

Accounts have sent us
a rough estimate, sir. £18,749.

Mm-hm. Might be worse.

Plus 2,000 to cover
the damage to the building.

What?

Oh, I see.

- Anything else?
- Yes, sir.

Radioactive thorium?
Well, what does he want that for?

More? Er. Shut the door.

There's another one due
at any moment.

What is it all for, exactly?

It's a lot of tomfoolery
if you ask me.

Hello, yes, hoskins here.

"Manchester daily express" here.

We heard there were
some accidents in the laboratory.

Explosion. I just wondered
if there was a story in it.

Must be some stupid rumour.

Of course, we are making
some structural alterations.

But... but that's all.

Yes, right. Goodbye.

There's the

uh-oh. There go the fireworks again.
Good as blackpool here, frank.

Yeah, someone will get hurt
if it goes on.

If anyone does, it'll be sid. He's
the one who's taking all the chances.

And if you was any kind
of a shop steward,

you'd be getting him danger money.

Fat lot he needs it.

Jumped out of his overalls
into a cushy job pretty fast,

and a cushy pay packet too.

Well, whatever he gets,
he earns all right.

It's birnley's pockets he's lining,

or they wouldn't have
pushed him into it.

And a fat lot they care
if he goes through the roof.

Me too.

Well, here's hoping.

I must frankly admit
that I'm discouraged.

Very discouraged.

- No one's allowed in, sir.
- Yes, I know.

- Mr Stratton's orders, sir.
- Mr birnley's orders.

- He gave me strict instructions, sir.
- I hardly think that applies to us.

Well, what are we waiting for?

Would you like to?

It's easy.

It must have worked.

Were you here just now?

Yes. Why?
My dear boy, what's the matter?

Nothing. It's just that it worked.

Do you mean... just now?

Stratton, you should have...

Davidson!

Oh.

We've got it, all right. Look.

We've got the answer, mr birnley.
We can go ahead now.

Fortunately there's a chemical change
at 300 degrees centigrade.

Quite remarkable.

We shall have to do
a little groundwork on that.

- Seven and a half.
- Seven and a half.

- Though as you say...
- Thirty-five.

We only need to vary the intermediates

to make a substitute for wool,
cotton, linen, whatever you please.

- Yes, 31.
- 31

and, of course,
there's the question of dyeing.

Excuse me. Thank you.

At the moment,
the fibre's intractable.

It repels dye just as it does dirt.

But we shall have to introduce the
colouring matter at an earlier stage.

I eft shoulder.

While the polymer
is still in the melt.

- Yes, seven.
- Seven.

There's no difficulty in stitching.

The needle will simply pass through
between the weave as usual.

If he could let me have
paper patterns of the suit.

Paper patterns?

I shall have to have templates made
and get the pieces cut out for you.

Well, just as you wish. I suppose you
wouldn't prefer us to cut them out?

Oh, I'm afraid
you wouldn't be able to.

Come in.

- Well, what's funny about it?
- It's just the suit.

It looks as if it's wearing you.

It's still a bit luminous.

But it'll wear off.

- Oh, no.
- No?

No, it makes you look like a...
A knight in shining armour.

- That's what you are.
- Me?

Don't you understand
what this means?

Millions of people all over the world,
living lives of drudgery,

fighting an endless losing battle
against shabbiness and dirt.

You've won that battle for them.
You've set them free.

The whole world's going to bless you.

Unbreakable?

That's what they're saying,
mr corland.

Green, is... is that possible?

Well, if he's using a heavy hydrogen,
he might get a more complex molecule.

In plain language, yes or no?

It's, er... possible.

I'm very grateful to you, king. I...

I think the... industry will be.

Get me sir John kierlaw.

Now, now, Davidson.

Hardly that, surely.

Well, as soon as I have
finished with the press,

I should like to see the heads
of all departments.

Yes?

One moment, please.

It's sir John kierlaw.

Sir John...

All right. I'll... I'll speak to him.

- He's here.
- Here?

Michael. So it was...

Oh.

No, no, the asthma atomiser.

Now, some fool has invented
an indestructible cloth.

- Right?
- Yes.

Where is he?
How much does he want?

I'm afraid we have mr birnley
to contend with first.

As I understand it,

mr birnley intends to manufacture
and market this product.

- Certainly.
- Are you mad?

Well, I consider it
my duty to do it.

It'll knock the bottom out of everything,
right down to the primary producers.

What about the sheep farmers
and the cotton growers?

- The importers and the middlemen.
- The big stores, even.

- It'll ruin all of them!
- Quite. Let us stick to the point.

What about us?

Well, I'll admit some individuals
may suffer temporarily.

But I will not stand
in the way of progress.

The welfare of the community
must come first.

- You're not likely to suffer much.
- Michael, that's unworthy of you.

Sir John, surely you realise
this is the greatest step forward.

- Step forward?
- Over a precipice.

- It means disaster.
- Disaster?

Was the spinning Jenny a disaster?
Was the mechanical loom?

For those who didn't
control them, yes.

Besides, they increased output.
This will finish it.

Just arriving now, sir.

He's the one to make
the complaint, isn't he?

Well, what's this? Worker's playtime?

- It's sid!
- Look whose car.

- Sid!
- Hello, Bertha. Hello.

- What have they done to you?
- Well, it's really what I've done.

We are just going
to announce it to the press.

- Announce what?
- My new fibre.

Mind!

Mr corland. In mr birnley's office.

It never gets dirty?
And never wears out?

That's right.

Now what do you think of him?

- You think they'll go ahead with it?
- Certainly.

You're not even born yet.

What do you think happened
to all the other things?

The razor blade
that never gets blunt.

And the car that runs on water,
with a pinch of something in it.

No. They'll never let your stuff
on the market in a million years.

He's right, you know. Vested interests.
The dead hand of monopoly.

It's not like that at all, I assure you.
Everything's organised.

We're telling the newspapers this
morning, and then going right ahead.

But if this stuff never wears out,
we'll only have one lot to make.

That's right.

I've been looking everywhere for you.
First of all, I want to apologise.

Didn't recognise a genius
when I saw one.

- Excuse me, sir. I...
- I've just come from mr birnley.

One or two things
he asked me to straighten out.

That's lovely. Six months' work
and that'll be the lot.

Every mill in the country
will be laid off.

It's birnley's doing. Sidney
wouldn't invent a thing like that.

Something ought to be done about it.

Something is gonna be done about it.
Get the works committee together.

I don't want to be selfish about it.

Later on, I might be able to offer it
to other manufacturers under licence.

You want us to cut our throats,
while you build up another fortune!

Well, may I point out
that I control this process?

- Do you?
- Well, of course I do.

A sordid matter of details, sir John.

Well?

Stratton's diary of his first
successful experiment.

Date, September 15th.

Stratton's contract with mr birnley.

Date, October 1st.

Sir John...

I expect he's on his way to us now,
but, er... I'll just make sure.

The works committee?
I'm sorry, mr birnley's busy.

No. No, no, no, really,
I can't interrupt him now.

No! No! Mr Davidson, wait!
You can't go there!

Er... sir John, kierlaw. Mr cranford.

- How do you do?
- Mr mannering.

- How do you do?
- Mr corland you know, of course.

This is mr Stratton, gentlemen.

- What's this?
- A new contract.

Sign it, young man.

What was wrong with the old one?

Well, this is a big thing, Sidney.
Too big for one mill.

And so I decided it was necessary
to bring in these other gentlemen.

I see.

Yes?

'Mr birnley,
it's the works committee. They say...'

- no, no, I'm busy.
- "It's urgent!

- 'It's about mr Stratton.'
- Mr birnley will see them later.

I think it's all in order.

Thanks.

- Oh. That's ingenious. May 1?
- Of course.

How much petrol
as against how much ink?

I really don't know.

There's just one thing.
Wilson, my assistant.

He's been a great help on this,
I'd like him to get some of the credit.

Of course. We all realise the value
of mr Wilson's contribution.

I mean,
when the results are published,

I'd like his name to be mentioned.

There may be a little delay
in publication, of course.

Delay? Oh.

Why?

You see, Sidney, we have to wait
till the right moment.

Why not now?

To announce it right away might upset
the delicate balance of the market.

Would it? But what happens
when you begin to sell the stuff?

Leave these problems to us,
mr Stratton. Just sign the document.

Sir John's right, Sidney.

- You are going ahead with production?
- Well, Sidney, I...

- I'd like to think this over.
- Young man, come here.

We need control of this discovery.
Complete control.

If you want twice the amount
in that contract, we will pay it.

- A quarter of a million.
- To suppress it?

Yes.

Excuse me.

Wait! Now listen, all of you!

Sidney! Sidney!

Stop him!

This is too much! No, no, no, wait.
Wait, please, wait, all of you.

- 'Yes, mr birnley?"
- Sidney, no, no!

- I beg your pardon, mr birnley?
- Miss Johnson, there's a room...

Stop him!

Stop that!

Look here. You can't... hey!

Half a minute!

Stop him! Stop him! Stop him!

For goodness sake, stop him!

Stop him.
He he mustn't leave the mill

- how can we stop him?
- By force.

- By force?
- How else?

I will not resort to violence.

If he sells to anybody else,
he ruins us all.

Then we must reason with the boy.

How can we reason with him
when he's not here?

Yes, sir?

This way, gentlemen.

Oh, I'm sorry. Wrong floor!

Is he all right?

- Yes.
- Pity.

Any news of him?

He's up at birnley's.

What did I tell you?
Right in their pocket.

You've no right to talk like that.
Perhaps he can't help himself.

- They say he had a headache.
- Aye, sticks out a mile.

Birnley won't see the works committee
and sid can't face us.

There.

- Mr Stratton lives here?
- Yes, but, er...

Now he's going to live
with mr birnley.

I've come to collect his baggage.
Also, to give you two weeks' rent.

Now who's right?
It's just as I told you.

Sitting right in their laps.

Well, give me some figures.
Fallen to what?

4697?

No, no, no, no. No, don't sell.

No, of course not.
There's not a word of truth in it.

Yes, yes. I'll be on...
On here till further notice.

Well, that's just the beginning.

Hello, yes?

Yeah? Calcutta?
Tomorrow'll be a nosedive.

Just on these rumours. It's absurd.
There must have been a leakage.

- Well, you started the first one!
- It's no good blaming me for this.

Sir John's right! Let's keep
to the point. All right, put him on.

There's only one thing
that'll pull the market together,

and that is a denial backed with
suppression, total and permanent.

- Hello, mottram.
- But how?

We've already offered him
a quarter of a million.

We can't keep him here forever.
There are laws in the country.

I've got it. Maybe I should talk to him,
let him name his own price.

- I think not, Michael. I will...
- Gentlemen! Gentlemen.

Knudsen? His door's locked.
The key's gone.

I have it, miss birnley.

I'm sorry, miss birnley.

No one goes in, he doesn't come out.
Mr birnley's instructions.

There's no sense in pursuing
this boy with money!

We've all seen
it means nothing to him!

What else could?

Yes, yes, yes.
Put him on, will you?

Women?

He didn't seem to me to be the type.

It's often that type that, um...

Very true. But if we could
just find a friend of his.

I mean, someone who knew
the best way to talk to him.

Father? What's going on?
What have you been doing to Sidney?

Really, Daphne,
it's no concern of yours.

I want to know just exactly
what you've done to Sidney.

- Will you please...?
- I'm sorry, father.

This is a very important
business meeting.

Oh, miss birnley, just a minute.

Stand by the phone, will you?
I'll ring you back.

Um... miss birnley, I take it
you know mr Stratton quite well?

How well?

- We're very good friends. Why not?
- Why not?

It may be very useful to us.

- I thought I told you...
- 'Mr birnley?'

oh, it's for you.

- Hello?
- Sit down, miss birnley.

No, Davidson, I cannot.

Miss birnley,

we're trying to buy the world rights
to mr Stratton's new discovery.

- But he doesn't seem to trust us.
- Doesn't he? Why not?

Miss birnley, you're the daughter
of an industrialist.

You must realise how reckless
exploitation of anything new

would upset
the delicate balance of trade.

You understand that?

I am beginning to.

Good. Good.

You want to suppress it.

But, gentlemen,
if you aren't able to persuade him,

why should I be able to?

Er... all men are susceptible,
miss birnley.

I... I need hardly tell you that
you're a very attractive girl.

Thank you.

Tell them
I'll see them tomorrow.

Well, Michael, what do you say?

It's a desperate situation, Daphne,
for the, um... whole industry.

Yes. Yes,
I'm beginning to realise that.

There's no need
to explain what's at stake.

We've already offered Stratton
a quarter of a million,

- you can see for yourself.
- I can, indeed.

But, since we're on the subject
of price, what do I get out of it?

- Miss birnley!
- Daphne!

I haven't had much experience
with these sort of things,

but I've always understood
it was comparatively well paid.

- Now, miss birnley...
- This isn't anything to joke about.

I suggest 2,000.

Aren't you rating my value
a little low?

Wouldn't 5,000 be fairer?

- 5,000. Agreed.
- Agreed.

It's a pleasure to do business
with you, sir John.

Well, Daphne?

And about time too!

I want to talk to you, Sidney.

I never thought
you would be on their side.

You may not believe me, Sidney,
but I want what's best for you.

I... don't like this
any more than you do.

I hate this town.

The mill. Everything.

People who think of nothing
but money-grubbing.

Don't you feel like that?

Yes.

I want to get away, Sidney.

I want to see something of the world
beyond this dirty little town.

To make a life for myself where there
are people who know the way to live.

Italy, maybe. France?

- Well, why don't you?
- I can't.

But you could.

And you could take me.

How?

I know what they offered you.

You could live
the rest of your life on it.

Go anywhere. Do as you please.

And if you want me...

I'd come too.

What's wrong?

I'm sorry. No.

Not even if it means me?

No.

Thank you, Sidney.

What for?

If you'd said yes,
I'd have strangled you.

Now, we've got to get that suit
to the newspapers.

Show it to them
and tell them the whole story.

That will blow the lid off everything,
and they'll never get it back on.

But how?

Would you stake your life on this?

You can issue a categorical denial
to the press.

The stuff does not exist.

It has never been invented.
It never could be.

There is no panic here whatsoever.

Certainly mr birnley will confirm that.

No, no, no.
Good heavens, Davidson.

I told you to deal with them
in your own way.

Yes, mr birnley. They've come out.

- What?
- On strike.

Strike?

They've got the whole mill out.

I tried to get you on the telephone,
but you kept on being engaged.

You better get them back,
otherwise there'll be a landslide.

- Landslide?
- Now, mr birnley, I...

Good heavens!

Then go and do something!

They want a guarantee that
we're not going into production.

- But we're not intending to.
- That's what we're out to prevent.

Yes, I know. But they won't
take one's word for anything.

Oh, this is insanity!

I mean, they're afraid of being
out of work and so they down tools.

What am I to do?

Get them up here.
Up to the house. I'll talk to them.

Well, what are you waiting for?

But what guarantee can we give them?
We don't control the thing.

Oh, I don't know.

Sir John...

It's only a matter of five pence.
You're very unreasonable.

- Excuse me...
- Right.

No, no, can you let me
have five pence?

- No coppers at all.
- Well, more would do.

I've got three and eleven,
but I want four and four.

I've got to get to Manchester. It's vital.

I could pay you back as soon as
I've done it. More than pay you back.

I could give you £100.
I've got some money at my digs.

Better get it, then.

Kierlaw or anyone else.
And frank'll.

It's sid! Hey! Wait for me!

Sid!

Sid, I want to talk to you!

Can't talk now.
I've got to find a shilling.

Sid, where are you going?
Your room's let.

- Where's that vase?
- Who are you?

Sid, the room's let
to some old geezer.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

What's going on? Will you please
kindly leave this room?

- Oh, sid.
- Sorry.

Sid, I knew you'd turn out right in
the end. They tried to soften you up.

- Yes, they locked me in the attic.
- Oh, you can't tell me.

Human life means nothing to 'em,
but you got away.

- Yes, and I must go now.
- Don't you worry.

They won't get at you again.
I'm going up to a meeting there now.

Wait till I tell them!
What a trump card!

Yes, thanks, Bertha. There's a train
to Manchester at 813.

Manchester? What for?

To give the newspapers
the whole story.

Here, wait a minute. What story?

The whole thing. My invention
and how people tried to stop it.

- But they're not going to.
- Sid!

- Whose side are you on?
- The same as you.

Don't you understand?
They want to stop it.

So do we.

Sid, listen. No, sid.

Sid, don't go!

Sid! Now, look, sid!

Sid! Sid! Sid, don't...

Will you please stop?

Please stop!

- Stop it. Stop it.
- Oh!

I'll fetch mrs Watson.

Here, you can't do that.
That's my room. Open that door.

Let me out of here!

- Let him out of there!
- Not likely!

Hey! Wait a minute!

Ohl

I et me out!

Bertha! What's up?

Harry, stay here.
Don't let either of them escape.

- Eh?
- Sid's gone mad.

He doesn't know what he's doing.

He's got us all muddled up
with birnley.

This is beyond belief, gentlemen.

And if sir John was suggesting

what I could hardly believe
he could be suggesting...

Now, my dear birnley,

let your daughter deal
with Stratton her own way.

After all, she went into it
with her eyes open.

Well, I didn't.

- Yes?
- The works committee is here.

Oh, well... erm...

Well, show them up.

Now, birnley... birnley, listen.

Who is that?

It's me... daddy.

Daphne, I... just wondered
if you were still there.

Yes, I'm still here.

Daphne, I... l want to talk to you.

Not now, father.

I et me

birnley, don't be ridiculous.

But she's locked in.

Crazy or not, we've got him
and we'll get some sense into him.

Daphne! Open the door, please.

Daphne, open this door. Daphne!

No.

Knudsen?

Ladies and gentlemen, sir John will
now explain to you the situation.

We're talking to mr birnley.
No one else.

Mr birnley will be along
in a few minutes.

- He'd better come now.
- And we'll do the explaining.

You see, the boot's
on the other foot now.

Now that Sidney Stratton's with us.

- With... with you?
- That's right.

Sidney's apologies.

But, from now on, you'll just
have to, um... count him out.

- Hello.
- Hello.

Who's that?

- Well, what is it?
- There's a man in that room.

- Aye, I know that.
- Well, he's got out.

Eh?

He went that way.

All right.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Here, let me out of here! Let me...

Listen!

What are we arguing for?
Nobody wants to market it.

- Quite right.
- My dear friends.

You must see that our bone
of contention is nonexistent.

Capital and labour
are hand-in-hand in this.

Once again, as so often in the past,
each needs the help of the other.

- 'Mr birnley?"
- Yes?

- 'Can I speak to Bertha?'
- Who?

- 'Bertha.'
- Is there somebody called Bertha?

- Who is it?
- 'Llt's me, Bertha, Harry.'

- Harry, you...
- 'L don't know how he did it.

"There was bars on the window!
And the kid said he got out.

- 'When I went in, he'd gone!'
- What?

We'll get him at the station!

Michael!

Corland, you take your carr,
I'll take mine.

Right!

- Frank, you're not going with them.
- They're not going without me.

They're not going
to take me for a ride.

Wait for me!

Wait!

Wait. Wait. Wait.

Ok, ducks.
Room for one more inside.

There he is!

- There.
- All right, boys, get after him.

The other way! Cut him off!

There! Come on, lads.

There's a light bobbing up
and down over there.

That's not a light, it's sid.

There he is!

Well, cheerio, alf.

There he is! After him, lads.

Come on. After him!

Hey! What's the matter?

Dad! What have you been doing?

Nothing.

Hello.

That way.

Here! Don't you know
there's a strike on?

Now, listen, there'll only be trouble
if you stay here.

It's the stability. It isn't stable.

Mrs Watson, have you got something?
My suit. They can see me.

Why can't you scientists
leave things alone?

What about my bit of washing
when there's no washing to do?

There he is, lads!

There he is. There!

There he is!

All right, lads.
Now we've got him.

It doesn't work!
It's coming to pieces!

We're saved!

I ook! Look!

Sir John! Sir John!

Look! Look! Look! Look!

Look, it's rubbish. Look!

Here, lad, wear this.

'The crisis is over now.

'The news of Sidney's failure
brought relief to the world.'

I see.

'It had been a hard and bitter
experience for all of us.

'But we faced the future
with confidence.

"We have seen the last
of Sidney Stratton.'

I see.

'At least, I hope
we've seen the last of him.'