Original subtitles

The Right Honourable Gentleman's question concerning import tariffs is

understandable, but premature.

I shall make my proposals known to the House on this and allied matters in the

International Trade Bill on Monday.

For the moment, I counsel the Right Honourable Gentleman to curb his

The Right Honourable Gentleman, not the one being addressed, the one who is

doing the talking now, is the Right Honourable Christopher Waits MP,

International Trade.

He's just one of the many interesting sons of the mother of parliaments.

There are two ways of getting into parliament. You can either be voted in,

him, or you can queue up with the rest and get in the visitor's gallery, like

me. I don't believe it.

Shh, Janet, please.

Why? What will people think if they heard Mrs. Christopher Waite saying she

didn't believe her own husband? Oh, I believe Chris.

I just don't believe my own eyes.

You, here, where laws are made and not broken.

Incongruous, isn't it?

It's the last place on earth I'd have expected to find the notorious Simon

Templer. All right, then. I'll leave.

Okay, Tim. A very fair copy.

Worth one million pounds.

At least.

I can't wait to see Mr. Christopher Waits.

I can't wait to see his speech.

As long as it's before Monday.

Should be an interesting weekend.

Interest I can do without. It's capital I want.

All right, I'll drop you here.

Where to now, Governor?

The House of Commons, please.

This draft of your speech on the International Trade Bill is a superb

Chris. Thank you, Prime Minister.

I'd like to read it again carefully.

I'll send it down to you in the country by telephone tonight.

Thank you, sir.

I look forward to hearing you delivering it on Monday, after the stock exchange

is closed.

Great.

We have some people staying with us for the weekend, Simon. Why don't you join

us? Yes, please do. I'd love to. Thank you very much. We're leaving now, aren't

we, darling? Surely.

I'm ready to leave at once.

I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to join you until later. It's Weatherby House,

Chillington. Yes, I know.

We'll do our best to provide a traditional country house mystery for

solve. May I eliminate the butler right now?

Apparently not.

Thank you.

A constituent to see me. Urgent.

Always is.

Excuse me. Of course.

What are you doing here?

Well, as a matter of fact, I had an hour to kill. In an exciting life like

yours? I can't believe it.

Thank you.

Oh, what can I do for you, sir?

Oh, a million things, Mr. Waits, a million things. But, um, first, I'd like

to have a look at this.

Interesting, isn't it?

Oh, I don't think that really matters, as long as you know that I have it.

The original, I mean.

I'll be in touch with you, Mr. Waits.

It's been quite a time, Janet. You've come a long way.

I'm a much -travelled woman.

It's nice to see you looking so happy.

Who said anything about happening? Janet!

Darling, I'm terribly sorry, but it was urgent after all.

I'm afraid I won't be able to drive down to the country with you now. I'll have

to come down later. I knew it.

What's that, feminine intuition?

No experience.

I'll tell you, Miss Oliver, something really important came up.

Well, I'll see you both later on tonight.

Fine.

What's the matter, son?

Chris looks worried.

Adventurous intuition.

No. Previous experience.

May be misleading. Come on, I'll see you to your car.

Darling. Turn that thing off, will you?

It's over, isn't it?

I read the papers.

I know the signs.

Big speech.

Big career ahead of you. Time to clean up the public image.

So goodbye, Denise. Hello, Downing Street.

What's the matter?

Somebody knows.

Somebody's got the original of this.

Who is it, Denise?

Who's got it? I have, with all your other letters.

I'll get them.

It's no use looking. Start thinking.

It won't be there.

What do you think it is?

You tell me.

Who may I ask? It's a question with some absorbing facets.

Who else has access to your bedroom?

That's a horrible thing to say.

Yes, it is. I'm sorry.

I suppose the obvious thing is to find the police.

You don't seem to understand.

I was private personal secretary to the Chancellor when I gave you that tip

about the budget.

However unimportant it may have seemed at the time, the fact remains that you

made several hundred pounds out of information that was completely

Because I was desperate.

Yes, that makes all the difference, of course.

Don't be sarcastic. Why on earth did you keep the letter at all?

It's a habit.

If it's a habit, you should break.

Before it breaks anybody else.

Darling, I'm sorry.

I didn't know how it happened.

All right.

I'll call you.

It is over, isn't it?

Maybe.

Maybe everything's over.

Bye, Denise.

We meet again, Mr. Waits.

And in complete privacy.

Conference in session.

Five thousand.

No, no, no.

One million.

You're mad.

But it won't cost you a penny.

That's the whole delightful, discreet and unique point.

Your speech on Monday will double the value of certain shares.

You show us that speech in advance, and we give you your letter back.

Okay.

After you've spent them in the house.

Nobody will ever know.

And we'll watch your rise to the summit of political power.

Uh, from afar.

Say, the Bahamas? What a splendid idea, Tim.

And we'll be able to say to each other, Chris Waits is where he is because of

us, and we're here in the sunshine because of him.

The alternative is nasty.

We send the original letter to the Prime Minister.

You got yourself into this mess by giving information, Mr. Waits.

Why don't you get out of it the same way?

What do you say?

This is where I get on.

Right.

Well, what's the word from Mr. Big?

The news from our correspondent at Weatherby House is that a government

messenger is to deliver the speech at ten o 'clock tonight.

Thank you, Mr. B. Thank you, Mrs. Waite. She told him. What? Straight out as

part of an apology for the absence of her husband from the revels.

Mrs. Waite, I love you.

Blackmail.

Somebody knows.

Someone's got the original.

Blackmail. Somebody knows.

Got it.

Got it. Five hours.

No number.

One. You're mad.

The alternative is lust.

Blackmail. Blackmail.

Say thank you, Helen.

Why did I marry him, Janet? Oh, you love him dearly. Excuse me.

Charming way to drink brandy.

You're supposed to savour the bouquet.

I'm having a drink, not picking a bunch of lilacs.

Are you quite sure you won't have a drink with Grant? Oh, no, thank you. I

don't. Spencer, what about you?

No, nothing, thank you.

Don't tell me the Mayfair Michelangelo is on the wagon.

I understand you write books, Mr. Anthony.

Just textbooks, I'm afraid.

What on?

Mathematics. Oh.

What's your theme song?

I got logarithm.

That's very funny.

Thank you.

Is your work interesting, Mr.

Phillips? No, I'm merely a brother -in -law of that rising politician, Chris

Waits. Long may he rise.

Get me another brandy. You've had enough already.

My dear wife doesn't realize that all my life I've never had enough of anything.

She doesn't understand me. Does your wife understand you, Mr. Valens?

I'm not married.

But my previous three wives understood me perfectly.

Which is why each marriage failed so dismally.

How are the roses doing, Janet? Blooming.

What do they expect them to do? The polka?

Oh, excuse me. I think that's the crib.

Oh, thank heavens you're here.

The ball war is raging in there.

Ah, guests.

I'd forgotten. They're terribly dreary.

I'd hoped Simon might cheer things up a bit. No, Simon's not here yet.

I wish I wasn't.

Let's see, there's my neurotic sister and her sort of a husband.

So -called society painter. Mr.

Anthony. Oh, God.

Victor, did everything go well in London?

Yes, of course.

Well, into battle.

Is that it?

Back her in over there.

Then the fireworks began.

Some Arab feast we found out later.

But Ginger didn't know that. Only been with us for a couple of days.

Invasion, he yells, alerts the whole unit and charges off across the desert.

Bang went his rifle, broke his leg, fell down the gun pit. Lucky not to blow his

head off.

Laugh, I thought he'd die.

Anything wrong?

Where the devil's that messenger gone?

What messenger?

Oh, the Prime Minister's sending my speech down tonight, my special

Chris, you're upset about something?

No, no, no. I'm just bored with our guests.

Oh, yeah.

Ten o 'clock.

There he is.

Well, it all seems perfectly clear to me that car failed to stop.

Pretty callous.

Do.

What a pity you couldn't identify the car that passed you, Mr. Templer.

Might have given us a lead.

I'd say, judging from the way it was driven, it would definitely have given

a lead.

They're perfectly entitled to your opinion, sir.

I must get back to the station.

I'll see you out. Thank you. Good night, Inspector.

Good night.

I can't think why the fool didn't stop.

Well, I think he did.

Oh, what do you mean?

There are two keys alert in that briefcase, one at the point of origin

other in the hands of the recipient, the minister in question.

Am I right?

Quite right. The messenger carries no key. No.

Look at these scratches.

They're recently made.

That's why I think the car did stop.

Well, the police don't seem to agree with you.

Police never agree with me.

Good night, Chris.

You should have been there with your brush and canvas balanced. There's an

action painting for you.

Wrecked car, driver dead at the wheel. The 20th century all wrapped up in one

picture. I'm not an action painter, Mr. Phillips.

And that remark is in dreadful taste.

Life's a series of bad jokes and death tops them all.

Hey, did I say that?

Well, who else would?

Simon, you've spoken to Chris?

Yes, but I'm afraid he wasn't very informative.

Have the police traced the other car?

How did you know there was another car, Mr. Antony?

You said so just now, but I didn't.

Then how do I know?

You're psychic, in touch with the spirits. Well, that makes two of you.

Oh, shut up.

Well, Mr. Antony...

How did you know there was another car?

Yes, how did I? You went out on the terrace. For some fresh air. Yes, I

Very mathematical remark.

Yes, I went out on the terrace, not for fresh air, just to look at the stars.

And saw the other car back out of Pluto smack into the Milky Way.

Then you did see the other car.

Heard it. Two cars, distinctly.

One and one makes two.

There's mathematics for you. Oh, Colin, stop it, for heaven's sake.

A man has died.

Do you find that very entertaining?

I don't see why it should spoil our plans for the weekend.

It all depends what those plans are.

Doesn't it?

Good morning, Mr. Templer.

Good morning.

Tampering with material evidence.

Quite frankly, I'm stymied, Mr. Valance. Do you have any theories?

None. And I think it's wrong for you to try to dig beneath the surface of this

tragic but simple affair.

Why? Because of what I might find?

Because there's nothing to find.

Mr. Valance, you can't be sure.

About anything?

or anyone.

Happy sketching.

Good morning, Chris. Good morning.

Could I have a word with you, if you wish?

All right, then, tell me this.

What was the name of the messenger?

Harcourt. Harcourt. Well, it's hardly likely that a man named Harcourt would

have the initials T .J .B. on his knife, is it?

What are you getting at?

I found this knife in the car.

It seems fairly obvious to me that the owner of this knife tried to open the

case with it.

The question is, who is T .J .B.? Well, I've no idea.

You know that this is not an ordinary case of hit and run, don't you?

Well, the police seem satisfied.

Chris, there's a unique look in the eyes of a man when he's confronted with

blackmail.

It's a strange mixture of fear and violence.

I know the look.

You had it in your eyes on the terrace of the house yesterday.

You have it in your eyes now.

Yes, it's true. What do they want?

To look at my speech on the international trade bill?

Before Monday.

Yes. It's worth a fortune to a speculator.

I've refused, but...

There's only one decent course open to me now.

As you can see, I'm dressed for it.

To go to the Prime Minister?

Yes.

To resign.

No.

You're not.

Janet, stay out of this, please.

And what's your clock in a dining street to ruin your career?

Well, what else can I do?

Remember.

Remember how we worked and connived to get where we are.

Do you think for one lousy integrity -ridden moment I'm going to let you

it all away?

Now you...

You'll let Simon help you.

Please.

How long do you have?

Till three o 'clock on Monday.

But I don't say but when you're fighting for your life.

All right.

Thank you, Simon.

If there's a chance, if you think it can help... He doesn't want a vote of

thanks in advance. He wants, yes, a lead.

From you in the first place, Janet.

Did any of your guests know that speech was being brought down by Messenger?

All of them.

Well, I... I happen to mention it, that's all.

So we need it. What do you mean?

Tell me everything.

You'd better start with flat 53, Maxfield Hall, Chelsea, hadn't you?

I take it Miss Denny's grant figures somewhere in this fragrant mess.

Good morning, Mr. Anthony. Oh, I didn't see you.

You see me now?

I have to use the telephone.

It's in the hall.

Oh, yes.

Thank you.

Yes?

Oh, so sorry.

Later.

Top of the morning.

You think a bookie's office will be open by now, Joan?

Oh, after you.

But I'm not using the telephone, Mr. Antony.

He got back last night.

He did?

Oh, you know him.

Who? Professor Strange. He's my oldest friend.

Fancy you knowing Fred Strange.

But I don't. He's an astronomer.

I'm delighted.

I must call him.

You go ahead.

You going somewhere?

To London. I'll be back.

London's most distinguished society reporter.

Underpaid and overhung.

What can I do for you?

Tell me what you know about Colin Phillips.

Ah.

Christopher waits his brother -in -law.

Also a mean -minded, ungifted, loud -mouthed, twisted kink.

What does he do to live?

There used to be something in the city.

The sort of something that's nothing.

Here, Cairnshield.

Oh. Hello, sweetheart.

Yeah.

Yes, of course. Yes.

Tuesday, doll?

Uh -huh. All right. You've got yourself a date.

Here. Bye -bye.

Uh, mother. I thought, uh... What else do you want to know?

What about Spencer Balance?

Oh, the artist.

Oh, yes.

Great easel -side manner.

He's at his best with oils, being an oily character.

Anything specific?

Only his gravity.

He had alimony problems.

Three wives to support.

Anything else to go, Mr. Shields? Only you pull it up.

Anybody else?

Yes, Mr.

Antony. He writes books on mathematics.

Oh, yes.

He's a nut from way down in the shell.

He's obsessed with making a fortune.

He believes that you can apply the calculus principles to the stock market.

What about a girl called Denise Grant?

Ah, yes.

Known to all of us as Government Grant.

I'm busy.

How do you do, Miss Busy? I'm Simon Templer. I'm still busy.

One of the still -busies of going away?

It's traditional.

And where are you going?

What do you want?

To help Christopher Waits. Yes, well, I'm sorry for him, but I'm absolutely

terrified for myself.

This whole thing's going to explode, and what'll come down in little pieces all

over the front page? Me.

Not if you help.

How can I help?

Let me go, please.

Answer a few questions first. One answer now. I know nothing. Do you know Colin

Phillips?

Chris mentioned him. He's a brother -in -law or something, isn't he? Why?

Has he ever been to this flat?

You're the only one who's ever forced his way in here.

To get that far, Colin Phillips needs strategic air support.

We haven't finished playing any questions yet.

What about Spencer Balance?

What about him? Friend of yours?

Don't be silly. I'm not the sort of girl who gets hung in the academy.

No, but you're the sort of girl who would get a politician hanged, aren't

Who do you think you are?

What you're pretending to be.

An innocent bystander. Oh, get out!

Who's TJB?

I don't know.

Think. I'm not very good at that. Didn't Chris tell you?

I prefer to sum people up myself.

Read my palm, then. Why did you keep that letter?

Because I'm sentimental.

Or farsighted.

You've got a nerve. Yes.

And like you, I've got a brain, although you like to give people the other

impression. You see, to give that letter, you'll have to be either very

else very, very smart. I pay you the compliment of thinking you're smart.

You're absolutely right, Mr. Templer.

And I'm not just a pretty face, either.

So be right about this, too.

I'll use it if I have to. That is, if you're not sensible.

And what exactly is being sensible in the circumstances?

To collect your reward for working things out so accurately.

After all, why knock yourself out doing a Galahad for free on behalf of the

year's prize twit, Christopher Waits?

Do nothing except let us cut you in.

What could be fairer than that?

Yes.

Something your Sir Galahad would never dream of doing, isn't it?

Putting a lady between himself and the business end of a gun. Now drop it.

Drop it.

This is really quite attractive. It would be a pity to waste it, wouldn't

All right, pretty face.

On your feet.

Have you had your breakfast yet?

I'm having it.

I feel ghastly.

Why are we here?

Because it would have been a very lean weekend at what passes for our home.

You hadn't worked for five months and there's nothing in the kitty but hot

Dare not.

There's a horse running tomorrow with six legs. Can't you think of anything

to make money at?

Can you?

Yes, I can.

Christopher's speech, it's in the safe.

Get a look at it and invest on margin.

As a matter of fact, I'd thought of that as a surprise for you, believe it or

not.

Not.

Hello?

Fred?

Oh, hang on, would you please?

It's for Mrs. Waits.

Make it as brief as you can.

Templer may be trying to call us. Janet Waits speaking.

Mrs. Waits, if you want to save your husband's career, go immediately to a

called the Jolly D.

She's moored just past Skindle's Hotel.

I'll be there.

Thanks for calling.

Is that brief enough?

What on earth can Timberlake be doing?

Won't you come down?

Miss Grant, I presume.

I'm so glad you're not surprised. It'll take so much time. Oh, nothing about a

woman like you could surprise me.

Oh, splendid.

Won't you sit down? And won't you say what you have to say?

Can't you guess?

All this fencing.

Relax. I'm greatly obliged.

Not at all.

I really should have approached you in the first place.

You're so practical.

Where is Chris?

Oh, perhaps I should call him Mr. Waits. You can call him what you like.

But he's my husband and I'm not going to see him end up on the scrap heap

because of you.

How very sensible of you.

Go on.

You'll go and get that speech and you'll bring it to me.

That's a statement, Mrs. Waits, not a question.

You have no alternative.

Neither have you.

Chris will never give in.

But you will.

Men have very rigid ideas about honour. Women are more flexible, aren't we? I'd

rather not be bracketed with you, if you don't mind.

Why not?

I've deceived Chris for money.

Now you're going to deceive him and cheat the government also for money.

Home position, status, call it what you like.

You have got the letter.

We let you have it on Monday, after Chris has made his little bit of history

Parliament.

You do understand, don't you?

We can't hand it over before we know we've invested correctly.

Can I trust you?

I'm so honest with myself. Why shouldn't I be honest with you?

I'll bring you the speech.

Not here.

Webster Meadows Moorings. More private.

Very well. When?

An hour.

Two at the outside.

And let Chris continue believing that Mr. Templer is still private -eyeing on

his behalf.

So he won't do anything heroic, like resigning.

You'll think of everything.

I only wish I'd thought of approaching you originally.

You're capable of anything original.

Ask Chris.

Mrs. Wake's bite? Like a rattlesnake.

So superior. I kept my hands off her.

Well, we'd better get over to Webster Meadows. How long did you say she'd be?

An hour.

Two at the most.

Oh, she's going to be two hours.

We'll need more whiskey.

Then go and get it.

Aye, aye, Captain.

Break it up, children.

Templer's here.

Morgan, get him. And permanently this time. We've got to keep him out of the

till we get hold of that speech.

Okay. You shove off.

I'll see you in town at the speech. The club, 7 .30. Okay.

I'm sorry to trouble you. I'm looking for a boat called the Jolly Dee.

Jolly Dee?

Yeah, sure.

You can see from here.

There she's now, just leaving.

Oh, it's just my luck. Thank you.

Get out of here. I'll put one on you, too.

Meadow moorings.

I suppose one of us ought to be with our guests.

Well, it can't be me. I've got an important phone call to make.

Janet, I want to talk to you.

About Denise.

Well, it's no need.

I can't bear your acceptance.

Why don't you call me names or something?

Janet, please, let's talk about it. Let's clear the air.

Look, the air is perfectly clear now. You go out and get a lungful of it.

I have to do some work on my speech. No, wait.

Well, until Simon's put you in the clear.

It might be unlucky to work on it until then.

It's not like you to be superstitious.

Well, we've been a calculating, well -organized pair up till now. Perhaps we

should leave a few more things to chance.

No strange woman, Janet. And you're a stubborn man.

Now, you go out and get some fresh air and let me make my phone call in peace.

Very well.

Who am I to neglect your private life?

I always say a fair stock exchange is no robbery. Oh, you'd better be careful

with that seal. If Chris Eden suspects it's been opened, you'll be in trouble.

Come on, come on, quick.

Anna, where is it?

Where is it?

I could eat this up all day.

Will you give it to me?

Thank you.

I didn't think it would matter.

One or two people speculating the stock exchange wouldn't exactly collapse and

Chris would be safe.

That's one way of looking at it, isn't it?

How do you look at it?

A simple case of blackmail.

If you'll forgive me, I'm not too interested in Chris's future or yours.

I can't blame you.

I'm extremely interested in what Denise Grant may be doing at this moment.

I have a feeling she's on the telephone to one of your guests.

One of our guests?

I don't believe it. Why not?

They must all be suspect.

They all know where that speech is, and they even knew what time the messenger

was going to arrive.

They tried blackmail with you, Chris.

Failure. And again with Janet.

Failure.

Tonight, they must make their last attempt.

Well, to do that, they're going to need this.

I'll take good care of it this time.

They'll still try.

I presume you have no sentimental attachment to this.

No.

None at all.

Come on, let's have a drink.

You might like this.

I have it blended specially.

Janet? No, thank you.

Cheers. Cheers.

Well, come on, drink up.

You'd better join the others.

You don't mind if I speak to Janet first?

No, of course not.

See you in a minute.

I wasn't joking when he said it was a special blend. It's been drugged.

What do we do?

Just play along with it.

Chris, you all right?

You're probably tired. You haven't had much sleep lately. Why don't you go to

bed? Yes, I think I will.

Are you all right?

Oh, it's all right now.

I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Good night, everybody.

Good night. Good night.

I'm, uh... I'll give you a little sleep here myself, if you'll forgive me,

Janice. Yes, of course.

Good night.

Good night.

If you'd like a drink, there's one in here.

Looking for something, Mr. Vallance?

It will not fall to me today to introduce the proposals of the

Trade Bill.

Instead, I wish to make a personal statement to the House.

It concerns my resignation.

I am profoundly ashamed to admit that I have allowed my private life...

To clash with my public duty. I know that I can always help a man win a

against blackmail.

But I can't help him win a battle with the country.