Original subtitles

And now, ladies and gentlemen, lot 29.

A unique example in gold and ivory.

A 12th century icon of the Novgorod school.

Shall I say 10?

Thank you, sir. 10 ,000 pounds.

15.

20.

25.

30.

Thirty -five.

Forty.

Forty -five.

Fifty. At fifty thousand.

It's with you, sir.

Fifty -two.

Fifty -four.

The bid is on my left at fifty -four.

At fifty -four thousand pounds... Sixty.

I have a bid of sixty thousand.

Sixty -one.

Sixty -five.

At sixty -five, sixty -six.

Seventy.

Seventy -one.

Seventy -five. At seventy -five thousand pounds.

So, sir.

The Contessa di Continuo.

It's beautiful.

Yes.

St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things.

There's hope for me yet.

No.

Where are you staying in London?

I'm not.

I'm going to Prague.

Prague?

Czechoslovakia.

So how were the customers?

Customers? Oh, customs. Oh, smooth as silk.

I imagine the wheels had been oiled a little, yes?

I mean, I think you had a little talk with the customers.

Oh, yes, I talked. How do you get on with government officials?

Oh, I think they like protectors, really.

They frown a little.

But if you frown enough, the eye closes.

We would call it turning a blind eye. Yes, yes.

The Vitagna. It's beautiful.

In fact, you have a beautiful city.

I recognize Irena's neighborhood.

Your friend is waiting.

Thank you. You Czech protectors have been very helpful.

Caroline, I can't believe it.

You really have the icon?

I really have the icon.

How is Jan? He's fine.

You haven't told him?

Of course not.

Oh, I just don't know how to thank him. Oh, what are friends for?

But how did you get it back?

I bought it.

You bought it?

But I can't allow you to... Oh, please, please. It won't cost me a penny.

That will be Anne.

You see the pavement cafe?

Yes. I'll meet you there in an hour. Right.

You've never considered marrying again?

Oh. I have, but not too seriously.

It has its advantages.

And its problems.

Thank you.

Just one question, Irena.

Was that the man?

Yes.

You have welcomed Prague with the open arms.

I hope it will not be too long in the distant future that I have the pleasure

meeting your company again.

I think you're wonderful.

And I think you're wonderful too, Emil.

He's almost as good -looking as I am. What's his name?

Alan Sutherland.

Background? Gentleman confidence trickster. And a very smooth operator.

Smooth as silk, unless you happen to be one of his victims.

Like Irene Bascot. Right. They met in Paris.

A month later, Irina was left broken -hearted, and he went back to England.

Well, broken -hearted's men. She's married now.

Yes, but valuable miniature paintings aren't as easily replaced.

She gave the icon to Sutherland? Yes.

That's right.

With no strings attached.

So he was able to sell it. All very legal, hmm?

And Carol, hardly bothering to shine her halo, buys it back, flies to Prague,

and returns it to her friend.

Which leaves us with a score to settle.

Us? Well, we aren't doing anything.

You are going to help, aren't you? I see no reason why I should get involved.

Is 75 ,000 pounds a good enough reason? I see a reason.

Any ideas?

Yes.

I think I should become Mr. Alan Sutherland's next victim.

Much too expensive, if you ask me.

It's got style, Cribs.

Style.

Good morning.

Contessa, it will be a privilege to try and help you. Thank you. You're not with

me, Cribs.

Come on, get off, get on.

Was there anything in particular you wished to see?

Yes, the rose, I think. Of course.

Our contest, sir.

Yes? You don't know me. My name is Sutherland.

If you remember, you bought one of my paintings.

Oh.

And I can't.

I buy a lot of paintings.

Yes, of course. I understand.

Now, this is something rather special.

If you'll notice the interior... It's fine.

Venetian. I believe so.

Very nice. I'll take it. You'll take it?

Oh, yes.

Oh.

Style, you see, Cribs?

Style.

I'd say she gave you the brush off.

What do you expect her to do, fall in a faint at my feet?

Give me credit for one thing, Cribs.

I know women.

And that one's interested.

All we've got to do is break through the icy exterior.

Good luck, but I'd say she was no pushover.

Contestant de Contini.

Beautiful, intelligent, rich.

Very rich indeed.

You've checked, have you? What do you think?

There she is.

Come on, we'll follow her. Find out where she goes.

Today, if possible.

Certainly do something with eggs, Harry.

Yeah, I crack them.

You got any news for me?

Reviews? Scandal?

Comments? I am being followed.

By who?

By a nasty little man who works for Sutherland. I saw them together at the

showroom. Well, so Sutherland's sniffing the bait now. Oh, he's interested, all

right. So what's your next move?

Well, I've established... Thank you. I've established a routine which makes

easier for him to find out where I am.

Wait, what do you mean, routine?

I go to the races.

Why don't you join me?

Didn't you see us coming?

Why didn't you stop?

Why didn't you wait until you found us?

You could have caused an accident.

No.

You were coming out of a crossing.

No.

You were sorry I died.

Didn't you see us coming? Oh, Mr. Sutherland, I feel... I think I'm going

faint.

It's all right. It's all right.

You're in good hands now.

Introduce Mr. Sutherland. How do you do?

We met on the drive down. I had a slight accident.

Anyone injured?

Just some fool who pulled his car out straight in front of mine, you know. Mr.

Sutherland has been very kind. It was nothing.

Thank you.

Oh,

thank you.

Cheers.

16. He's probably doubled it since.

Chino? Yes, sir.

Let's start out nice and slow.

All right.

On the nose, Chino.

Yes, sir.

You must be joking.

Sir.

Yes. Ah, good, good. Well, I'd say this calls for another bottle of champagne.

There you are. A little something for your hope chest.

Seemed to have hit a winning streak today. Yeah, it happens.

Do you have some kind of system?

I tell you, my old grandpappy said to me once, and he lost a quarter of a

million at one poker game, he said to me, ain't no system at all, Ben.

Ah, yes, I think I got myself another one right here, yes.

I, uh, I really bet.

You're a wise man.

But I, I thought I, um...

I might just have a bit today.

Oh, you thought you might like to put a little something on my nag, is that

right? I just thought perhaps... Can't let you do that, no. You're a friend of

friend of mine. Can't let you do that.

Cheeto, Cheeto, over here.

Look, let's go for broke on this one, all right? We'll shoot the whole lot.

That's it?

Yeah.

He was such a good actor.

I'm a lawyer, aren't I?

Sutherland, let me buy you a big drink.

Just happen to have a farthing left in my sock.

80 ,722 pounds.

Not that much, huh?

Well,

the original is 75 ,000 pounds plus 5 ,722 more for expenses and entertainment

for Sutherland for two weeks.

He doesn't exactly break his arm picking up the tabs.

Tonight's a big night.

Listen, are you sure he's ready for that?

Mm -hmm.

We're going to the White Cockatoos.

Ah, you'd better get out the spray for gray again, Paul. Van Ryds again.

Are you sure we're not overdoing this? I mean, Sutherland is no fool.

He lives for two things, money and money.

Well, he also has the two main weaknesses of a con man.

Greed and the sublime belief that he can never be taken in himself. Right. I'll

see you later.

Two short weeks.

Seems like a lifetime.

I know.

Seeing you, being with you, dreaming, thinking, breathing.

Alan, I... I can't explain. I haven't felt like this. I understand.

Alan. Carol.

Van. What?

It's Van.

Hello, Van. Hi.

Won't you join us? No, I don't want to. Oh, Alan and I insist. Come on. Of

course. Waiter.

Thank you. An aperitif, sir?

No, I want a bottle of scotch, a big one.

Hi. How are you, Ben?

Great. Wonderful.

Is there something wrong?

No, there's nothing wrong.

Just finished, that's all.

Washed up. I'm all pooped and dead.

Oh, now look, Van, I have known you for a very long time. You must tell me, what

is the trouble?

Trouble?

Well, I need 100 ,000 pounds by noon tomorrow.

100 ,000? Yeah.

Why?

I have a problem.

I gamble.

I lost.

You... Thank you.

You lost.

Yeah. 100 ,000 pounds. I don't know if I lost it, but I know I owe 100 ,000. By

12 o 'clock tomorrow. No, noon tomorrow.

Well, I...

15 ,000, possibly 20 ,000 here in England.

I have more in Italy, of course.

This van has millions in America, but it takes time to get it transferred here.

Could you help him, Alan?

Oh, Alan, you got big money like that?

No, no.

That's too bad.

Because if you did, I got a great piece of security here.

Security?

Is £85 ,000 in cash?

I understand the contest has already given you £15 ,000. Yes.

So it appears your problems are over. Oh, great.

How can I ever thank you? Oh, it's nothing, nothing.

Oh, perhaps you could just sign this.

What is it? It's a bill of sale.

I think that's the easiest way.

You return the money, I return the gem.

Oh. Where?

Just there.

The villagers will be waiting at high noon. Yes.

There's only one thing that worries me.

It's possible to transfer money at short notice.

Follow him, Cribs.

He hasn't got it.

He's dead. Leave him.

How did?

Shot dead.

In broad daylight.

Who did it?

I don't know. A couple of foreigners.

You know, Contessa, I think I'm in over my head.

What about the money?

Well, they took it.

You still have the diamond, haven't you?

Yes, yes.

They searched him.

Maybe they were looking for that.

Here. Get rid of it.

But I... Sell it!

But I... Van would want you to, really.

Yes, but where?

Well, there's only one place I know of in London.

The House of Diamonds.

help you, sir. Ah, good morning.

Yes, we, that is, I would like to sell this diamond ring.

What sort of price were you thinking of, sir?

Oh, around 200 ,000 pounds.

Hmm.

I'm in rather a hurry.

Shall we say 180?

It's a very fair price, sir.

If it were real.

What? What do you think, Eric? Oh, it's hard to say.

This could be genuine.

Oh, I've got to get whiskers out here.

Oh, this is nice. What do you say, sir?

Mr. Sutherland.

Why? Irena Glasgow.

She's a friend of mine.

I shall call the police. Go right ahead. I'll deny everything.

The Contessa is a lady.

And a personal friend of the Commissioner.

Who do you think they're going to believe?

85 ,000 exactly.

That's 4 ,278 pounds profit.

She now waits without.

Without what?

Oh, silence.

Madame la Comtesse, tu es vraiment ravissante. Merci, Paul. Tu es

aussi. Lock up the bread, Zugi.

What do you think, Harry?

Well, I think you look great, but... But what?

But, I don't know, there's something lacking.

Something kind of missing. Missing what?

I don't know. I can't put my finger on it.

Oh, my ring.

Oh, thank you.

This is the real one, isn't it? Carol, how could you?

Oh, I'm sorry, Harry. Come on.

It is, isn't it, Harry?