Original subtitles

It could happen to you.

This is a story based on true-life adventures of men

and women of the city of London.

Thanks are due to Radio Cabs of London, and the Metropolitan

Police Force, without whose help this film could not have been made.

At 10:45 on the morning of April the 3rd,

Fred Martin was driving his radio taxi.

Baker 56 calling Control. Over.

Control replying to Baker 56. Over.

I'm in Kensington High Street.

When I've dropped this fare, I'm coming in.

Over, out.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Have you got change for a pound please?

Have you anything smaller?

No, I haven't.

(BACKGROUND VOICES)

Don't look around or call out.

This gun is loaded, and I'm not afraid to use it.

Now give me all the foreign currency you have.

And the rest.

Quickly.

There are two other guns covering you.

Don't move or speak until I'm out.

Mr. Evans, Mr. Evans!

(GUNSHOTS)

There's a cab following us.

Faster.

Come on!

Baker 56, calling Control.

Baker 56, calling Control.

Over.

Control replying to Baker 56.

Over.

There's just been a hold-up, and some shooting.

I'm following the getaway car. Call the police quick.

Get the police.

Go on!

Grey saloon, FMP 374.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) Grey saloon, FMP 374.

They're heading east from Royal Scot Road.

Over.

(HORN HONKING)

They say, tell him to stick to them and keep in touch.

They say, try and stick to them, and call back where you're heading.

And do be careful.

Over.

(HORN HONKING)

Faster!

Come on!

All right.

(HORN HONKING)

He's caught in a traffic jam.

Quick, give her all she's got.

I'm still behind them. They've just turned into the park.

- Tell 'em. - Roger.

Over.

(LOUD NOISE)

That's fixed him.

Good.

I think you'd better come with me to the police station.

The Inspector'd like to have a word with you.

Well, what about the cab?

The radio's busted.

They don't know what's happened to me.

Oh, that's all right.

We already notified your office.

May have your name please?

Mr. Thomas.

I'm sorry, sir.

You can't go any further than this, sir.

Why? What's happened, officer?

There's a lot of stuff in the road, cut your tyres to pieces.

- Has there been an accident? - Something like that, miss.

No one hurt, I hope.

No.

No one hurt.

But if you'd turn round and go back to the bottom, here.

Turn to the left, then left again, and left again, back

again into the main road, you will be all right.

Thank you, officer.

This is the driver of the cab, sir.

Fred Martin.

Hello, Martin.

You put up a darn good show.

Tough luck you lost him. You're not hurt at all, are you?

No. I'm all right sir.

Who'd have thought it, though?

A dear old lady like that, there were nails all over the road.

- I couldn't miss them. - Here are some of them, sir.

They looked like running spikes.

Yes, we may be able to get a line onto them.

- Get me Halliday, will you? - Yes sir.

You've taken a statement from Mr. Martin, haven't you?

- Yes, sir. - Sergeant Halliday.

We needn't keep you then, Mr. Martin.

We know where to get you if we want you again.

And thank you for your help.

Thank you, Inspector.

Oh, Halliday.

I've got some nails here.

They look to me rather like running spikes.

I wonder if you'd see what you can get on them.

Yes, I'll send them over.

Bye.

Calling George 42.

Calling George 42.

Fred, what happened?

You might have been shot.

- You all right? - Of course I'm all right.

- Tell me all about it. - No, I can't, love.

I've got to see the boss.

I'll tell you all about it later.

Come in.

I'm sorry about the cab, sir.

But with a flat front tyre at that speed,

- there was nothing I could do. - Don't worry about the cab.

Cabs can be repaired.

You might have had a bullet in your head,

instead of a nail in your tyres.

Wouldn't be so keen on chasing armed bandits, if I were you.

Well I don't make a habit of it, sir.

You know they picked up the car?

No, I didn't know.

Not a mile from where they ditched you.

Sit down, Fred.

Help yourself to a cigarette, will you?

The cab badly damaged?

Yes, I'm afraid it is sir.

The sump's busted, and I think the crankshaft's a write-off.

They're stripping it down now.

Fred, have you got any enemies?

Enemies?

Do you know of anybody who might want to do you a bad turn?

I don't think so, no.

Listen to this.

To Mr. MacLaren, you ought to know the type of men you're employing.

Fred Martin has done time for safe breaking.

Is it right to let a man with his record drive your cars?

It's a responsible job, and your driver should be trustworthy.

Unsigned.

Well, where'd you get that, sir?

Came in the post this morning.

Well, you knew all about this two years ago,

sir, when you took me on.

Of course I knew.

What do you make of that letter?

Well, I don't know what to say.

It won't make any difference to my job, will it?

Good heavens, no.

You're one of my best drivers.

I am going to do something about it, though.

I think it's disgraceful that because a man

stepped out of line once in his life,

he can't be allowed to forget it.

Fred, I'm taking this down to the police.

No, I'd rather you didn't, sir.

Anyway, what can the police do?

I don't know, but I'm going to find out.

Get me the local police station, please.

Inspector Finch.

You never know, they might have had a similar letter.

Might be able to trace the paper, or the typing, or something?

These chaps get up to all kinds of tricks.

Hello, Inspector.

MacLaren here.

MacLaren of Radio Cabs.

Look, Inspector, could I come out and have a word with you?

Yes, I've had an anonymous letter about one of my men.

I'm afraid there's little we can do about it.

As a matter of fact, we get a lot of that sort of thing.

The funny part about it is, that the writer

sends a letter in all sincerity, believing it's his duty to do so.

You can't account for some people.

Have you had any other letters like this sent about you?

Not that I know of.

Do you know why anybody should hold a grudge against you?

No.

Is there any way you can trace that letter

by the paper, or the typing?

That's a bit of a tall order.

If you add some suspicions, we could check up,

but we've nothing to go on.

There are lots of typewriters about, you know?

We know it was posted.

Oh, that doesn't mean much.

Still, leave the letter with me, and we'll

have the routine check made on it.

I feel very strongly about this, Inspector.

Martin's been with me two years now, I've got every faith in him.

Well, we'll do what we can.

Thanks.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Hey, sir?

You all right?

Sir?

Blimey.

325.

I have to report a dead man in a parked car.

They've identified the man found dead in the car, sir.

Who do you think he was?

Sniffy Taylor.

Sniffy Taylor?

That's torn it.

Have they got onto it?

I'm not so sure about that, sir.

The report says there's no sign of violence.

Path lab's still checking.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Hello, sweetie.

Hello.

Any luck?

No.

All tests are negative.

How long had this man been dead when you found him in the car?

The police surgeon put it at four or five hours.

I can only find that he died from natural causes.

Natural causes.

He wasn't an old man. His medical history was very good.

Well, I can tell you a lot of things he didn't die from.

I'm sure you can.

Those things I can be certain about,

but now I can only suggest cardiac inhibition.

Oh, and what might that be?

Heart failure, to you.

Yes, but that must have been caused by something.

Shock, perhaps?

- Electric shock? - No.

We could have detected that.

Hmm.

Who was the man?

A Sniffy Taylor.

He was an informer.

A short while ago, he came to us with a fantastic

story about a highly organised safe-breaking gang.

They were getting hold of ex-cons and, either by bribery or threats,

getting them to come in with them.

He was very nervous and jumpy about the whole thing.

Only hinted at what he knew.

But tonight he was coming here to tell us everything.

To give us all the real information we needed.

Then we find him dead in his car.

And you say that it's natural causes.

Well, what would you like me to say?

I'd like you to say it's murder, because I

believe that's what it is.

(DOOR CLOSING)

They can't find anything.

That's a lot of help.

What's this?

Inspector Finch sent it round.

It's an anonymous letter about an ex-con named Martin.

It was sent to his employer.

What's MacLaren going to do about it?

Sack the man?

No, he's very indignant about it.

Wants to see if we can trace the writer.

He doesn't think it's fair ex-cons should be persecuted.

Good for him.

Maybe someone's laying for Martin.

Hmm, perhaps.

It doesn't seem that sort of a letter to me.

What does Finch want us to do with it?

Routine check.

All right, send it down to the lab.

Tell me, what do we know about Martin?

I've checked with records, sir.

He was a commander during the war, attended a course on safe breaking

here, at the yard.

He's a wonder with safes.

Well, he should be.

He burnt quite a lot of tricky ones from military government

in Germany, at the end of the war.

Then when he left the army, he took it up professionally,

but with the wrong lot.

We picked him up on the Ascot safe job.

He asked for five other counts to be taken into consideration.

Got three years.

Came out two years ago, nothing against him since.

A safe expert, eh?

Here, give me that letter.

Give me the assistant commissioner, please.

I may be way of the beam, sir.

It's just a hunch.

But if you agree, I think it's worth a try.

I'm not getting any further with this case just now.

The only lead we had was the man who was picked up dead.

Aren't you taking a risk with this man, Martin?

It's putting strong temptation in his way.

Supposing he double-crosses you?

I don't think he'd get away with it, sir.

Anyway, I think he's learned his lesson.

First class record since he came out.

He never was the criminal type.

Well, he was the driver of the taxi who

chased the holdup car yesterday.

Well, that's a strange coincidence.

Well, how do you know he'll agree?

I don't, sir.

I think you ought to see him.

Very well.

Send him round tomorrow.

If you don't mind, sir, I'd rather not.

If my hunch is correct, they've probably got a tag on him by now.

I'm not very keen on bringing him here.

Well, what do you want me to do?

We can see him at the taxi office.

As it was one of their taxis involved in the holdup,

it wouldn't look strange to anyone who

was interested, to see us arrive.

Yes, there's something in that.

Tomorrow morning?

Very good, sir.

Thanks very much.

We know that this gang have been using expert cracksmen.

Now you, at one time, were considered

one of the cleverest of safe men.

That was a long time ago.

Yes, I know, but there's no reason to suppose that

you haven't still got the know-how.

Supposing they wanted to use you as a safe man.

What would they do?

Come and ask me, I should think.

Now, would they risk doing that openly?

They'd know all about you, remember, that you've got a good job,

and you're going straight.

But supposing they could fix it so you got the sack,

became bitter, and sorry for yourself.

Wouldn't it be much easier to deal with a man like that,

than a satisfied one in a good job?

Bit of a chancy way to get me to go crooked there, isn't it?

Is it?

You just think about it for a moment.

How would you feel if Mr. MacLaren here did

sack you on account of that letter?

But he wouldn't, would you, sir?

That's exactly what he is going to do.

What?

I want you and Mr. MacLaren to help me play out my hunch.

No. No.

What are my men going to say when they

know that I have sacked Martin?

They wouldn't know why.

The only one who'd know why is the writer of the letter.

What do I have to do?

Just act normally, as if you have been really

sacked, and were pretty steamed up about it.

And tip us off to any developments.

That'd make me copper's nark.

There's nothing to be ashamed of in assisting the police.

And a nark is an informant against his friends.

I thought you'd stopped associating with criminals.

Who else would know about this, besides us?

No one.

No.

I couldn't keep it up.

Not with Myra, I couldn't.

And who's Myra?

She's his girlfriend, and operates the radio.

You won't have to tell her, she'll find out anyway.

Is she the sort of girl that could be trusted to keep her mouth shut?

She was a cypher officer in the Wrens during the war.

I suppose she could be used as a contact.

Yes.

That's what I had in mind.

Good enough.

Then you'll do it?

I have to talk to Myra first.

Look, tell me more about all this.

Well, a short time ago, a man came to us with some information

about (CONVERSATION TRAILS OFF).

He's smashing.

Did you see him on TV last Thursday?

TV?

Fred and I are still saving up for a bed.

Pity.

He was ever so good.

How long have you been going out with Fred?

Oh, about a year.

A year.

Don't you get fed up with...

(BUZZER SOUND)

Yes, Mr. MacLaren.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Huh.

What do you know?

Myra, what do you think he just said?

Well, I don't know 'til you tell me.

He said, tell the accounts department to give Fred his bill.

He's leaving tonight.

Fred's been fired.

What?

But Mac, I don't want you to help me.

If he wants to fire me, he's got a perfect right.

Listen, it was your duty to follow that car.

It wasn't my duty to smash the cab up.

- I'd like to see MacLaren hold... - Oh, shut up!

Listen, whether you like it or not, I'm not going to let it lie.

- It's the principle of the thing man. - Oh.

It's persecution, that's what it is.

It strikes at the very roots of democracy.

It's our duty.

Our duty to the workers.

You leave it to me, Fred.

I wouldn't work with this lousy firm

if they came to me on their bended knee.

Oh, yes you will.

You wait.

There's ways and means of dealing with situations like these,

you know. Aren't there, boys?

(ALL) Aye.

Look, you're not going to help me any

by stirring up a lot of trouble.

Listen, it's got nothing to do with you any longer, Fred.

There's principles involved.

But the principles don't involve me.

First thing tomorrow morning, I'll get myself a job.

- Now lay off. - Now listen, Fred.

I know you're trying to help me, but lay off.

- If he wants to leave... - Oh, shut up.

...why shouldn't he?

Listen, it's a free country.

He's not going to leave.

(DISGRUNTLED VOICES)

If I want any suggestions from you, son, I'll ask for them.

Democracy.

Have you ever heard of the word?

You want to clean out your ears, you know?

That's enough said.

This thing is bigger than both of us.

You're not standing for that, Fred,

and neither am I. You didn't think I'd stay here and work for a firm

that'd do a rotten thing like that.

What do you take me for?

I'm handing in my notice here and now, just for a start.

Yes, darling. All right.

Look, keep it quiet.

You're attracting a lot of attention.

I want to attract attention.

I'll hold a mass meeting in Hyde Park, if necessary.

I'll write to the papers.

It's not fair, Fred, to hold a thing against you that

was over and done with ages ago.

It's downright criminal.

If a man does something wrong and pays for it, that's quits.

Wiped off.

The law means nothing if he's got to go on being penalised.

Darling, I'm with you.

But in this case, it's different.

In this case?

Just because you're too soft to fight.

But I'll fight.

I'll go to the House of Lords.

That ought to wake them up a bit.

Look, darling, please keep it quiet.

This is police business.

Oh Fred, you haven't...

No, I haven't. No, I'm palsy-walsy with the police.

I'm holding hands with the commissioner.

Are you all right?

What?

Oh, I'm sober, if that's what you mean.

Hadn't you better tell me the whole story?

Darling, I have been trying to for the last 10 minutes.

Look, I can't tell you here. Everybody's listening.

- Let's get out of here. - All right, then go up to my place.

But I warn you, I'm still all set to start

the biggest row with the boss.

Yes, come on.

Well, I don't know.

It sounds like a whodunit to me.

You're supposed to lean around on lampposts, trying

to look out of work and furious.

That's about it, yes.

Then these crooks come sneaking up,

and offer you a place on the gang list.

You leap at this fine, new start in life,

and then ring me up to pass on the plot.

That's a fair summing up.

Oh, you've burnt it.

Have they ever seen you act?

You look more like a friendly bear than a gangster.

Maybe I've got hidden talents.

Look Myra, it's not my idea of fun.

It must be something pretty serious.

And anyway, whether I like it or not, I'm already in it.

I might just as well go through with it.

You don't have to.

It's nothing to do with you.

- We know that I was crooked once. - You've got to forget all that now.

I know.

Well, if I do this job, I can forget it.

Wipe the whole thing off.

Now don't try and talk me out of it.

I've thought of something else.

Why do the other drivers think you've been sacked?

Because I busted up the cab.

They'll be furious about that.

It seems so mean and unfair.

And the crooks?

Well, we hope that they'll think it's because of the letter.

Nobody is going to think very much of me,

staying on and working for the man who's just sacked you.

Well the governor'll know what you're doing.

You'll be working for the police.

Fred, how long will the waiting about bit go on?

Well, if they don't try and contact me within two weeks,

then the police'll think they've made a mistake,

call the whole thing off.

What do you use for money in the meantime?

Oh, Scotland Yard will be covering my salary.

I'll be almost a civil servant.

Got a bowler hat?

My dad might lend me one.

Bullet proof?

Seriously, Fred.

I don't like any of this, and as for me, helping you,

I'm just not the type.

You need the tough sort.

I don't even chew gum.

I'm a cosy, fireside girl, knitting and all that.

Now look, you're not going to let a row of pearl

and plain come between us, are you?

I suppose not.

If you don't like the idea, I'll get you out of it,

but I'll have to go through with it.

We'll go through with it.

That's my girl.

It's victimisation, and calls for the strongest action of the workers

to resist it.

Now I move before the meeting, that a deputation

be sent to the management tomorrow morning, to demand

Fred's immediate reinstatement.

Suppose they tell us to jump in the lake?

We strike.

All in favour?

Mm-hm.

Carried unanimously.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

Gregson, what is it?

We think it's unfair to sack Martin, sir.

On behalf of the men, I'm asking you to reinstate him.

Since when do you take it upon yourself to run my business for me?

It's not me, sir.

I'm only the spokesman for the men.

Then you can tell them from me to mind their own business,

and I'll mind mine, and theirs.

Does that mean he doesn't get the job back?

I fired Martin for what I considered excellent reasons.

He stays fired.

Then I have to tell you, sir, that unless Martin

is offered the job back within a week, the men come out.

Are you threatening to strike?

The right to strike under Section 4 of the agreement between you

- and... - Thank you very much.

That will be all.

Inspector Rawlings, please.

Hello, Inspector?

MacLaren here.

A darn, fine mess your precious scheme has got me into.

Unless I reinstate Martin, my men are coming out.

What do I do about that?

In seven days.

It's me, Tim.

It's working out.

Signed on this morning.

Good.

Hello.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello?

Yeah, Henry here.

It's working out.

We're keeping a tag on him.

Yeah.

I think you better do your stuff at the end of the week.

End of the week, eh?

Well, perhaps I'd better try and pick him up tomorrow.

Anyway, you leave him to me.

I'll pick him up, all right.

OK.

Lend a hand and put those tools in the bag, will you?

OK.

All right, I'm coming up.

We should need a plank 16 foot long.

Now tomorrow, you've got to get into that building.

Make out you're a radio man, come to see

about fixing the television aerial.

Fasten a pulley to the chimney stack, weave the line through it,

and throw it back here.

So as we can use it to pull the plank over when we're ready.

- OK? - Right.

Right.

You'd better stack all this stuff together in one corner.

- All the gear there? - I think so.

- Better check with your list. - Right.

Oxygen in settling cylinders...

Mm-hm.

...burning and cutting tools, brace and bits, wood saws, axe,

hammer, electric drills and bits.

Yeah.

Ladder, roll of felt, coil of rope and pulley tackle,

gelignite, detonators and ignitor battery, and coil of wire.

Yeah.

With the exception of the special tool, that's the lot.

Better check on those with Martin.

If we get Martin.

Leave it to Henry.

He's contacting him tomorrow.

He should be ripe, just about then.

The date's set.

We carry on anyway.

If we can't get Martin, we'll have to use Simmons.

But he won't be half as good.

Don't worry.

We'll get Martin.

Come on, let's go.

(HORN HONKING)

Give us a light please, will you?

Yeah.

Why it's Fred Martin.

Oh, hello Henry.

Well, fancy seeing you.

When did you get out?

I came back from the country last year.

How you've been keeping?

So-so.

Was a bit tough, eh?

Oh, up and down.

How are things with you?

Oh, fine.

Absolutely marvellous.

Look, don't let's stand here, come and have a drink.

Isn't every day I run into an old mate.

Cell mate?

I really don't know what you mean.

Up to a week ago, I was driving a cab.

What a waste.

A man of your talents.

I've given all that up.

I'm on the straight and narrow now.

Nice work, if you can get it.

I tried it myself when I came out.

Didn't work.

Kept coming up against my record.

You know, give a dog a bad...

You had it, too, have you?

Bet your life, I have. Why?

Have you?

Mm-hm.

Go on.

What happened?

It's all very simple really.

Yeah.

I was working for a cab company, Radio Cabs.

I'm out, minding my own business. Earning good money.

Got a girl. Everything's going fine.

And then one day, the boss sends for me.

He says that he's had an anonymous letter

tipping him off that I'm an ex-con.

Says he can't keep me on.

It's his duty to the public.

So out I go.

Other than driving cab, there's nothing I can do.

Yes, there is.

Oh, no.

I'm finished with that.

Got three years after the last job. Besides, I've lost all my contacts.

No you haven't.

There's one talking to you right now.

- You're still in it? - Sure.

I told you.

Oh, no.

That's not for me.

OK then, what are you going to do?

Thought I might go to Canada.

Canada.

Got any dough?

No.

Well, you'd have exactly the same trouble there.

They'd find out as soon as you started looking for a job.

'Cause it's all right if you've got plenty of dough.

Where would I get plenty of dough?

Well, I might be able tell you who you could see.

No, it's too risky.

- Look what happened to us last time. - It was bad luck.

- It always is. - The set up was wrong.

We hadn't got the experience.

And now you have.

I live and learn.

What would you say if I put you on to something sure-fire?

No risk at all.

A job has been cased for months.

Worked out to the smallest detail, and at the end of it,

a lot of dough.

When I say, dough, enough to set you up for life.

I'd say why would you want to cut me in?

OK, OK.

Our safe man has gone back on us, and it's a Parkerson.

- Parkerson? - Yes.

A Parkerson, your speciality, remember?

When is this job to be?

It's all set for this week.

Are you interested?

I'd have to know a lot more about it.

Of course you would, Fred.

Naturally, you'd have to know more about it.

Look, meet me tonight, 7:30, outside the cinema on Westbourne Grove.

Is it a deal?

OK, it's a deal.

Fred, you've made me very happy.

You won't be sorry.

I hope not.

Thank you.

Yes, that's splendid.

I was right.

It's paid off.

That was Martin's girl.

They've made contact with him.

An ex-con named Henry Capman, who was inside with Martin.

He's picking him up this evening to take him to a rendezvous.

Pretty good work.

Do you want him followed, sir?

Not at the moment.

It's not worth the risk of being spotted.

We'll leave him alone until we can take them on the job.

Fred.

Glad you made it, Fred.

Where are we going?

Oh, you'll see.

And by the way, I put you up to the boys...

- Good. - ...and I think you're in.

They were very impressed with what I told them about you.

I hope so. I haven't brought any references.

(LAUGHS) These are the only references you need, my boy.

Green fingers.

Hiya, Spence.

All right?

Look, I'd like you to meet Fred Martin.

How do you do? How are you?

Sit down, have a drink. What'll you have, whiskey?

- Please. - Henry?

No, thanks.

I've been hearing some interesting things about you, Martin.

Henry tells me you're having a pretty rough time lately.

So-so.

Henry says you've got a lot of talent that's going to waste.

Henry told me.

He said you've got some ideas of using it.

Possible.

Know anything about these?

Set in the map.

Enough to open one?

It depends.

On what?

On how long I've got, what's in it, and where it is.

It's got to be done quickly, say a couple of hours.

Well, you can't burn them.

They're made of a special alloy, dissipates the heat.

You have to blow them.

Will that fit in with your setup?

Hm.

I should think so.

Would you like to tell me the setup?

Possibly.

Look, why don't you two stop scratching around, and get down

to laying.

Right.

A lot of preparation has gone into this.

We've been working on it for three months.

What are you going after?

Cash.

50,000 pounds in used notes.

Where do you expect to find all that amount of money?

In a bank.

A lot of money for a bank to carry, isn't it?

I know.

But this particular bank does, under certain circumstances,

and we happen to know when those circumstances will arise.

How do you know?

Listen, I've told you you're not dealing with a bunch of amateurs.

We've been working on this job for months.

We happen to have inside contacts.

What would my share be?

A fifth.

How can I be sure I get it?

How can we be sure you'll be able to open the safe?

Fair enough.

When do we share out?

Immediately after.

And what happens to me, then.

You stay with us in the hideout until the flap's died down,

and then we beat it out of the country.

It's not going to be too easy.

What about passports and foreign currency?

We've taken care of all that.

We've been collecting foreign currency.

Pretty.

How do we get into this bank?

Through the roof.

We've rented accommodation next door.

And what about the watchman?

He'll be taken care of.

Strong-arm stuff?

What sort of setup you think this is?

Every night at 7:00, the watchman has

coffee sent in from the local cafe.

His coffee'll be fixed to put him out long enough for us to operate.

And what about the strong room?

Sometimes takes as long to bust in a strong room,

as it does the bust in a safe.

Oh, you don't want to worry about that, Fred.

We know the combination.

You've cased the joint pretty well, haven't you?

Sure, it's just like I told you.

It's a set.

An open and shut case.

You know, your luck was in when you run into me.

That's providence, that's what it is.

Providence.

Any more questions?

Let's have another look at that drawing.

I want some special equipment.

Oh, Henry will get you all the equipment you need.

You better make a list out now.

Yeah, have my book.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Hi.

Hello, Jean.

This is Fred Martin, he's joining us.

- Hello. - How are you?

I shan't be long, I'm just going to take my hat off.

There you are.

You may have difficulty getting the drills I've listed,

they're special. They're made by Fair Brothers.

If you can't get those, get Hercules diamond point.

Right.

Are you confident you can open this type?

You won't be disappointed.

When's it to be?

Soon.

Any day now, we're expecting the tip-off.

Oh, by the way, have you got a telephone at your place?

Sure.

Well, give Henry the number, and stick by the phone

everyday between 4:00 and 5:00.

You'll be hearing from us.

Oh, and you'd better fix things so that you aren't

missed for a couple of weeks.

All right.

Oh, by the way, where is this is bank?

For a new boy, you ask a lot of questions.

You'll know soon enough.

Meanwhile, we'll get the stuff ready and Henry will show you out.

Is that man gone?

Yep.

You know, I'm sure I've seen him before someplace.

Well, it's possible.

He drove a cab.

That's it, a cab.

He was the driver of the cab the chased us after the raid

for those dollars.

If it hadn't been for the spikes, he might have got us, too.

And you bring him here.

You sure about this?

Course I'm sure.

I got a good look at him talking to the cops as we drove back.

Probably nothing in it.

Just a coincidence.

Oh, don't give me that stuff, George.

If he's so copper-hearted he'd risk his neck chasing armed bandits,

then we don't want him.

Well, there's no one else who can do it.

Anyway, what chance are we taking?

He doesn't know anything yet.

And if he starts any sort of a squeeze,

he can go the same way as Sniffy.

I tell you, I don't like it.

We need him.

He's the only one who can blow open the safe for us.

- Oh, Henry. - Yeah.

Do you know that this man, Martin, was the cab driver who

nearly ran down Jean and Williams?

Fred Martin?

Oh, you're nuts.

- How do you know? - She recognised him.

If he's so fond of the coppers he'd sooner...

Oh, don't you worry.

Fred Martin's all right.

Hello, it's the governor.

Did you know that this man, Martin, was the driver of

- the cab to chase Williams and me? - Really?

Oh, it was just a coincidence.

He's got no reason to love the cops.

Why, someone's just tipped off his firm he's an ex-con,

and he's been sacked.

That could be a put-up job.

It was.

I sent the letter.

I thought it was my duty as a citizen.

Well, I'll be darned.

Anyhow, Jean, may have something at that.

Don't give him any details.

Tell Tim to keep a tag on him, see where he goes, who he sees.

And get one of the others to help him.

They're going to break in through the roof,

and they've arranged to drug the watchman.

Well, that's all they told me.

They didn't say where or when.

I wish you weren't doing this, Fred.

It's a policeman's job, not yours.

Darling, we've been all over that before.

How are things that the garage?

Well, they're all full of the coming strike.

There's terrible arguments going on about it all the time.

Silly fools.

What's MacLaren going to do about it?

Nothing.

What can he do?

Well, maybe this thing will break before the men go on strike.

Come on, sweetie, I'll see you out.

Well, I don't like it, Inspector.

The man's taking a hell of a risk.

Why can't you pull them in now?

Look, we've nothing to pull them in for.

I've got to wait until they do the job.

No, I daren't.

If they get suspicious, they'll call the whole thing off.

Well, I'm sorry I agreed to have anything to do with it.

In three days, my drivers come out.

What do I do then?

Oh, all right.

Yes, I'll wait 'til then.

(BACKGROUND VOICES)

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

Hello?

Yes.

Oh, hold the line, please.

Mr. Martin?

Mr. Martin? FRED MARTIN: Hello?

It's for you.

FRED MARTIN: Thank you.

Hello.

Speaking, yes.

Yes, I'm ready, yes.

Where?

Where?

OK.

Right.

May I speak to Myra, please.

Yes, it's Fred speaking.

Hello, Myra?

Darling, this is it.

The Merseyside Bank, Hampstead, 9:30.

Have you got it?

This is the Merseyside Bank.

Azul, Maynard, and Buck, will rendezvous here,

and at 9:00 PM exactly, will take up their positions

here, here, and here.

When you receive the signal, you'll move in on the bank.

Hereford and Sussex Roads will be blocked off by cars 102 and 104.

You've got it?

And this way, we approach the area from different directions.

Just act as if you're on normal patrol, the rest of you

will come into the bank with me.

Well, how do we get in?

I'll have a key to the main door.

Any questions?

OK?

OK.

Everything fixed up?

Yes.

I told them we're going up north.

Oh, that's fine.

Well, it's quite like old times, eh?

Excited?

It's a job.

Henry, you're going the wrong way for Hampstead.

Yeah, I know.

We're not going to Hampstead.

Well, you said on the phone that...

Oh, take it easy, will you?

No offence, but you don't think we could really give you

the whole of the lowdown, do you?

I mean, look at it yourself.

Wouldn't you take a few precautions if you're taking on a new man?

Nothing against you, of course, but it makes sense, doesn't it?

Where are we going then?

You'll see later on.

I want to see now.

I suppose the rest of the setup's a phony, too.

Not on your life.

There is a bank and a pile of dough waiting at the end of it.

Now, what's the matter with you, Fred?

You're losing your nerve?

My nerves are all right.

Well, take it easy, will you?

Take it easy.

Hello, Doug 5, Control replying.

Pick up fare at 10, 1-0, Ebury Street, name, Elham.

Over.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) 10 Ebury Street, Elham.

Roger.

Out.

The things got stuck up in there again.

I thought they were going to fix it yesterday.

Oh well, another day gone.

Do you like my perfume?

Smell.

Jack gave it to me.

He's taking me to the palais tonight.

Has Fred got a new job yet?

No.

Jack says he ought to get into the telly.

It's the coming thing, he says.

He says in a few years' time, we'll all be.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) William 8, calling Control.

William 8, calling Control.

Over.

Come in, William 8.

Over.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) I'm returning to garage.

Over.

OK, William 8.

Roger.

Out.

Well, I'm off. Good night.

Good night, Gwen.

Here's a list of the addresses in the Manchester area.

How much longer are you going to be?

I can't do these floors when you're walking about all over them.

I'm very sorry to keep you, Mrs. Fowler,

but we've got a lot of circulars we must get out tonight.

Has everyone else gone?

They all got off shop, there's only you left in the building.

Oh, I see.

Look, don't you bother with our floor today.

You just go on home.

We could be some little time yet.

This is all most unexpected, I assure you.

Well, I suppose it won't do me no harm

to have an early night for once.

Oh, don't forget to switch the light off, and push

the front door, too, when you go.

Right.

We won't forget.

- Good night, Mrs. Fowler. - Good night.

- Good night. - Good night.

OK, fellas.

Come on. Henry?

- Yeah. - Get this stuff up.

Right.

Uh, Joe, give us a hand with the ladder.

Right.

You'd better check over your tools.

All right.

Jean, it's about time you started getting ready for Nat's cake.

OK.

I'll change.

You've got the Fair Brothers.

Good.

Here's the soup.

Nitro.

Careful.

I know.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

What's the matter with you?

Why don't you want to?

Because I don't.

I don't feel like it.

What do you feel like?

I think I'd like another cake.

Well, go and get yourself one.

Can I have one of them blackcurrant tarts?

They're not blackcurrants.

Well what are those?

Gateaus.

They look like jam tarts to me.

Gateaus is French.

Ooh, they've got some French tarts, Burt.

Better bring me one.

Thank you.

Evening.

Charlie Evans says please can have his coffee now.

- I'll take over to him. - A bit early, isn't it?

You brought his dinner over early, we're going to the pictures.

Oh.

You one of the family?

Oh, yes.

I'm staying with Uncle Charlie for me holidays.

Are you now?

That's nice for him.

Makes a bit of a change to have some company, doesn't it?

Staying long?

Only a week.

Oh, well, I might be seeing something of you, eh?

Yes.

Be glad to.

So long.

Ta-da.

(DOORBELL)

I brought you coffee.

Here.

You're early, ain't you? Where's May?

May's ill.

I'm her friend.

I'm helping Nat.

Oh, all right. Thanks.

Good night.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Come in.

The men want to know if you're still

in the same mind about Martin, sir.

Certainly.

Then the cabs come off the road at midnight tonight.

Good evening.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

OK?

Sure.

How'd it go?

- Like a dream. - How much did you give him?

Half the bottle.

Oh, that should fix him.

Come on.

Up you get.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

(SNORING)

OK.

What's that?

It's a lever the watchman has to push down every hour.

If it's not pushed down, the alarm goes off,

and all hell breaks loose.

So we've made a special gadget to fix it.

You haven't missed anything, have you?

No, it's just like I told you.

Everything in this firm is taken care of.

Everything.

Any news of Fred?

No.

I'm terribly worried.

He'll be all right.

How long do you think it will take?

You can't.

I can burn through the sub-case, then I have to drill.

I see.

All set?

Yeah, we're waiting for you.

This is as far as we go.

From now on it's all yours.

And I think we can move off now.

To get the key, sir?

Yes, from the head office.

They're in an awful flap about it.

They didn't seem to realise the bank was carrying all that money.

Hope to heaven nothing goes wrong.

If this doesn't come off, they'll have my guts for garters.

OK. Give me the drill.

- How long do you think you'll be? - I don't know.

Maybe an hour.

Williams, you'd better get going and get down to the car.

Come on.

Why don't you change your mind?

We've still got time to get there, the big picture

doesn't start until 9 o'clock.

All right, then.

Evening, Mrs. E.

Evening.

Passing this way, so I thought I'd come

- in and get the old man's coffee. - You're too late.

- He's been in and took it. - Oh?

Early?

- Smashing bit, isn't she? - Who?

Your niece.

What niece?

Your niece.

The girl what took the old man's coffee over.

A real smasher.

What are you talking about?

A girl what took Charlie's coffee over.

I keep telling you.

Your niece what's staying with you.

Niece?

I'll give him niece.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Will it be an actual bang?

Might blow up the safe, it might blow up us.

You never can tell.

Come on.

We're finished here.

All right.

This is it.

1, 2

- (DOORBELL) - What was that?

It's inside. Doorbell.

What do we do?

Must be someone for the watchman.

You'd better go.

What'll I say?

Say you brought his coffee or something.

(DOORBELL)

Who are you?

I brought the night watchman's coffee over.

I'm his niece.

Oh, you are, are you?

Well you can take that for a start.

Where is he, that little rat?

(YELL)

Come on.

Steady.

You'll break her neck.

Shut the door.

(YELL)

What's in there, Henry?

It's a cupboard for brooms.

(GROANS)

Come on.

(GROANS)

One more squawk out of you, and we'll come up here

and carve you up.

This in your schedule, too?

Come on.

Back to the safe.

(EXPLOSION)

There you are, what did I tell you?

Quicker.

Green fingers.

That's what it is.

Green fingers.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

This is the police.

We know you're down there.

The place is surrounded, so come up with a hands up,

and you won't get hurt.

I'll give you 10 seconds, and then we're coming down.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Come on.

Now wait a minute.

What's all this?

What's going on in here?

Who are you?

Night watchman, of course.

Come on.

Take your hands off me.

Take your hands off me.

Come on.

Why a taxi? Where's the car?

Car wouldn't start.

I pinched this.

Not a bad idea at that.

(ALARM RINGING)

What's that?

It's the alarm. Come on, quick.

Quick. You drive.

Williams, get out of here.

(ALARM RINGING)

Hammersmith have just reported.

Alarm sounding in the National Commercial Bank, Gold Hawk Road.

Extension 8, please.

Radio Cabs have just rung through.

Cab stolen from rank in Shepherd's Bush.

He's down.

He's down a bit.

We're far enough away, now.

All right.

Where do we go now?

He's down, I said.

Relax.

Drive at your normal speed.

Fork right, then first left.

(SINGING) Mayday, mayday, give me answer, do.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) Mayday, mayday, all for the love of you.

(HUMMING) (SINGING) In a taxicab made for two.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) (SINGING) Oh, mayday, mayday...

Shut up.

Get on with the driving.

Is that you, Fred?

Fred, it's Myra here.

Come in.

Fred, I'm receiving you.

Come in, Fred.

Come in now, Fred.

Can you hear me, Fred?

Come in.

Mr. MacLaren.

What is it, Myra?

- It's Fred, calling from a cab. - Where is he?

He wouldn't answer me.

He just said mayday.

- He kept on saying it. - Mayday?

Well, that's the international distress signal.

Please hurry.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) Never thought I'd be driving one of these things

again. Where to now?

Turn right here.

Stop the car and let Williams take over.

- He knows it. - Well, tell me the address.

- I'll be able to find it. - Stop the car and don't argue.

He's in the St. Francis area.

Calling all cabs.

Calling all cabs.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) This is MacLaren here.

Everybody keep off the air.

This is a life or death emergency.

Fred Martin is in great danger.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) His dismissal was a fake.

He's working with the police.

He's been abducted in one of our cabs,

but succeeded in switching on the set.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) To save his life, we must locate that cab.

Now listen very carefully, all cabs switch to Band 3, duplex working,

and listen of all Fred's carrier wave.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) If you hear anything,

report back here, giving your position,

and the strength of signal.

He is, I think, in Area B. All cabs proceed to Area B. All right.

Take over, will you?

Apple 29, calling Control.

Apple 29, calling Control.

Over.

Come in, Apple 29.

Over.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION)

Tell him to keep going.

Hello, Apple 29.

Keep going as you are.

Over. (RADIO TRANSMISSION) Roger.

Over.

Tell them all to converge on Section 3.

Attention all cabs.

All cabs converge on Section 3.

Over.

London 5, calling Control.

London 5, calling Control.

Over.

Come in, London 5.

Over.

Cummings Grove, going towards the greens.

Over.

That puts him on line somewhere here.

If we can get a contact over here, or here...

quick, get on the telephone to Rawlings.

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

Leave the cab Jim. We're leaving in the other car.

Come on.

This way.

These two cabs have already picked him up,

so he must be in a position somewhat Greenham.

All I need now is a contact from somewhere up here,

and another from down here, and I can make a 3-point fix.

Would it be accurate?

We can only get an approximate position, depending

on the strength of the signal.

The danger is, he's battery might run down before we can get it.

How long can he last out?

On continuous transmit, an hour and a half.

Have you an outside telephone here?

There's one just behind you.

Thank you.

Extension 8, please.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) Peter 21, Peter 21, calling Control.

Over.

Come in, Peter 21.

Over.

Peter 21, Peter 21.

Proceeding down Wandsfield road, heading south.

Signal getting louder.

Over.

Good.

Tell him to keep going.

Control to Peter 21.

Keep going as you are.

Over.

We're closing in.

That's another angle of our triangle.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) King 8, calling Control.

King 8, calling Control.

Over.

Come in, King 8. Over.

I'm picking up a signal.

Strength 2.

Penrose Buildings, Dove Lane.

Going west.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) Signal getting weaker.

Over.

Tell him to turn round and head back towards the hospital.

Hello, King 8.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) Turn and head back towards the hospital.

Over.

Sorry I can't take you any further, sir.

Police emergency.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) Apple 29, calling Control.

Apple 29, calling Control.

Over.

Come in, Apple 29.

Over.

Through Earlsdown Crescent, heading west.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) Carrier wave getting very strong.

Over.

That's it!

Tell him to turn down Arnhem Street.

That's our third position.

We've got our fix.

Control to Apple 29.

Turn down Arnhem Street.

Over.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) Roger.

Over.

What's the position now?

He's somewhere between Markham Crescent

Handle Lane and Cloak Street.

Yes, Sergeant Fairnay?

It's Rawlings, here.

Send radio direction-finding car to Handle Lane.

Contact with me there.

Yes, and get going.

I've a direction-finding car on it's way.

Have you a cab here?

Who's in?

You know, I'm still darn puzzled about that alarm.

I put enough stuff in the coffee to knock that man out for hours.

You never can be sure, Jean.

Everybody has a different reaction.

Not that different.

Could your gadget have fallen out of the burglar alarm?

Well, why worry?

We have the money.

There's no chance of them ever trailing us.

First thing in the morning, we go to the hideout.

By the time the police have checked the fingerprints,

- we've skipped out of the country. - That's what I call a perfect job.

Alarms don't go off by themselves.

It was only by luck we got clear.

Oh, we had luck all along.

It's providence, that's what it is.

And old Fred here, with the magic touch.

- (LAUGHTER) - Yeah.

Our friend, Fred.

What do you think made the alarm go off, Fred?

So you're Martin, eh?

Yes.

Take it easy, governor.

Remember what Fred did.

It may interest you to know that at exactly 9:30 this evening,

the police carried out an organised raid

on the Merseyside Bank, Hampstead.

Figure that one out.

Well, what do you know.

Cut it out, all of you.

Stop it, damn you.

Williams, Henry, come on.

Williams, get him up.

Cut it out, I say.

I don't want him marked.

Look.

You're right.

The special gadget for fixing the alarm.

He could put the finger on any of us.

He could, but he won't.

What are you going to do with him?

This is a very interesting piece of machinery, Mr. Martin.

A deep freeze.

At minimum temperature, a man can live inside for about 20 minutes.

But death is quite painless, and apparently from natural causes.

We've used it before in similar emergencies.

I suggest you try and blow yourself out of that one, Mr. Martin.

Shove him in.

All right.

Where do you make him?

Somewhere in a line from here, sir.

Behind those doors.

You mean in the yard, there?

Yes.

The signals are pretty weak.

The batteries might be dying out, or the signals

might be coming from a position the other side of the building.

We can only find out by taking a bearing from the other side.

There's no time for that.

All the cabs and contact report signals getting weaker, sir.

Well, come along.

We'll try and get in here.

Constable, come with us.

Open up.

This is the police.

Open up.

(LOUD KNOCKING)

There's a taxi in there.

Sir, I can see it.

Come on, put your shoulders to the door.

All right. Hold it.

Leave it to me. I'll get you in.

Hey.

What the hell's going on in here?

Oh, don't worry, honey.

This goes on in the states all the time.

The cops, they're here.

Until they get Martin, they've got nothing on us.

Quick, get that stuff out of sight.

Now, don't worry, darling.

It'll be all right.

There's someone in there.

Come on.

Open up.

This is the police.

I'm a police officer.

What are you people doing here?

What are we doing here?

I am Oliver Stanton.

This is my factory, and these are the members of my staff.

We're working late.

What's it got to do with you?

There's a stolen taxi in your yard, which we know has

just been involved in a robbery.

Where's the driver, Fred Martin?

Stolen taxi?

I don't know what you're talking about.

I know of no taxi, or this Fred Martin.

I'm going to search the premises.

In the meantime, you'll all remain here.

Stay here.

And you come with me.

(RADIO TRANSMISSION) We've found Fred's cab.

It's at the Jack Frost Ice Cream Company, Henrietta Muse.

Over.

Well done.

I'm coming right down.

- Can I come, too? - Yes, come on.

Hello?

Hello, have they got Fred?

Come on, let's see.

You've got to tell them where he is, boss.

If they don't find him soon, he'll be dead.

- We'll all be up for murder. - Shut up.

If he talks, we're all done for.

Ten to one they never find him.

Without Martin, they've nothing against us.

I didn't bargain for murder.

You can do what you like.

I'm telling.

Hey, you out there!

What's going on in here?

Get hold of the local patrols, and get all the police here you can.

Very good, sir.

And hurry.

There he is, boys.

I need help!

Quick.

Through the Amalia plant.

Hey.

Quick.

I can show you where he is, but you must come quick.

No, none of your tricks.

It's not a trick.

I'm trying to help you.

You want to save Fred Martin, don't you?

- Sure I do. - Well, come quickly.

And remember, I helped you.

Fred?

You all right?

I think he's alive.

Let's get him on the floor.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

Here they are!

Block the gangway, boys.

Throw over the sacks.

Come on.

Get out, now!

(WOMAN'S SCREAM)

(SILENCE)

(BACKGROUND CHATTER)

Come in, Baker 56.

Come in, Baker 56.

Over.

Baker 56, calling Control.

Over.

Hello, Baker 56.

You will pick up Mrs. Fred Martin at the office at 5:30 sharp,

and take her home.

Don't you dare be late, Fred.

Over and out.

OK, Mrs. Martin.

Roger.

Out.

One thing, you do know where your husband is, which is more

than a lot of wives can say.

(MUSIC PLAYING)