Original subtitles

Thank you.

How long ago was it?

How long?

Four weeks?

Four months?

A lifetime?

One could say that this was where it all started.

Really started.

Just here.

A lifetime ago.

Four weeks.

the British nation worshipping at the Shrine of Sorrow.

How long will it take us to get back?

Where?

To London.

About three hours.

I promised I'd be home at half past seven.

You're going to be late then.

London will be waiting for me.

Don't go home then.

Mr. Fraser, that is an immoral suggestion.

I am an immoral man.

Yes, you are.

I'm glad to say.

I'd have gone mad if I hadn't met you here.

Serves you right coming to Bournemouth for your holiday.

Mummy thinks all girls alone on the continent aren't safe. Mummy's right. A

sensible woman, your mother.

She thinks our policemen are wonderful.

So do I.

Me too.

What a dear can man your inspector must be to send you here just at the right

time.

If he'd known, he'd have a fit.

He expects his sergeant to keep his mind firmly fixed on the line of duty.

I love everyone.

Him for sending you.

The confidence man you were chasing who decided to hide in Bournemouth. And you,

because you're...

Because you're you.

Where are you going?

Help. It's your mummy.

I... haven't decided yet.

I really must go home.

Phone them.

And tell them what? You're in bed with your lover.

On the bed.

That can be arranged.

Fraser.

Yes, sir.

I've only just got back, sir.

Yes, sir.

Right away, sir.

What's the matter?

That was the dear kind inspector you spoke about.

He wants to see me. Come on, I'll take you home.

But I don't want to go.

A minute ago you were giving me an argument.

Come on.

There'll be lots more times.

Hundreds of them.

Hundreds.

And I hate your inspector.

So do I.

Come on, where's your coat?

Nice of you to spare me a moment of your valuable time. I'm sorry, sir, I didn't

get back till after eight. Have you your report?

It's not typed yet. I'll take it.

Well?

Was that all you wanted, sir?

Is there anything else?

No.

When did you get back?

An hour ago.

You're looking for promotion?

He phoned me, the old... Thought he'd keep me here all night. I took her home.

Took who home?

Never mind.

Is Fraser gone? No, sir. He's outside.

Do something about that on your way home. Yes, sir. What is it?

This woman's been phoning in this evening. Her boyfriend wants to kill

her. Mrs.

Matthews? Ex-husband, boyfriend, I don't know.

Hold her hand for ten minutes. Convince her the entire police force are only

here to look after her.

You're very good at that sort of thing.

Yes, sir.

This report of yours is very good, Fraser.

You held it in very well.

The local police were very impressed.

Good night, sir.

Well? Some old woman thinks she's going to be murdered. I've got to convince her

otherwise. Well.

Flat 14, High Trees House, SW 12.

Yes? Mrs. Matthews? Yes?

I'm Sergeant Fraser, police.

Oh.

Please come in.

Keep your coat.

Please sit down.

Would you like a drink?

Tell me about this man who's been threatening you.

Well, now that you're actually here, the whole thing sounds stupid.

Sorry.

I'm married and my husband's away on business.

He has to go away a good deal.

Yesterday I had a phone call from a man I used to know before I was married.

Boyfriend?

Yes. Yes, he was. But I've not seen him since my marriage. I'd forgotten he even

existed. He hadn't forgotten you, it seems.

No, it seems not.

Anyway, he asked to see me and I refused.

Then an hour later, he phoned again and asked the same thing.

And every hour after that.

Every hour?

On the hour, all night.

And this morning he said if I wouldn't meet him today, I'd be sorry.

Did he enlarge on that?

I know it sounds melodramatic, but he said he'd kill me.

Is he the sort of man who would do what he says?

Yes. You sound very sure.

I am.

Kill you?

He tried once before, when I told him I was going to marry George.

What did he do?

He tried to drown me.

We were swimming and he pulled me under and held me there.

Then someone swam over to see what was wrong.

He said I'd got cramp and he was trying to save me.

Didn't you tell anyone?

Nobody would believe me.

Anyway, I felt sorry for him.

Even afterwards?

Not so much afterwards.

Not at all now.

Tell me about him, Mrs. Matthews. Name?

Martin. Martin Casey.

Address? I don't know.

I'm sorry.

Well, the last address did you know of, then?

Well, that was in Liverpool.

Castle Avenue, number 12.

Do you have a photograph of him?

No, I'm sorry. When will your husband be home?

Not till next week.

Can't you contact him, tell him to come home sooner?

I can't. I don't know where he is.

He's a traveller.

Well, wouldn't his firm know?

Only that he's somewhere in the Midlands.

Tell me, Mrs. Matthews, why would this man wait so long before contacting you?

He said he couldn't find me. You see, I used to travel with my husband. We've

only had this place for about three weeks. It's our first permanent home.

Yes, well... There's not much you can do, is there?

Not much.

I'll tell the man on the beat to keep his eyes open.

By the way, you shouldn't have answered the door to me just now.

Why not?

Might have been someone else.

Oh, not Martin. He's far too melodramatic.

If he wanted to come in, he'd climb through a window down the chimney.

Sounds quite a character.

Yes.

Yes, he is.

That's well, Mrs. Matthews. I...

You're not going, are you?

Well, there's nothing much more I can do, I'm afraid. But you don't have an

appointment or anything. I mean, you don't have to go.

No. Well, then, could you stay for a little while?

Just a little while, please.

I... Have you had your dinner yet? I could cook you something.

Please don't go.

I'm frightened.

I'm very frightened, Mr. Fraser.

I swore I wouldn't behave like this.

I tried to be brave, and I'm not brave at all.

Let me

keep

the brandy.

Sorry. It was panic or something.

I'm sorry.

Look, I'll show you out now.

You said you'd cook me dinner.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Oh, I... What now?

I haven't got anything in the house.

Well, that's a nice way to treat your guests.

Just a minute.

The stewed steak?

Do you like curry? Love it.

No.

I've always wanted to start a school, but that takes money.

Besides, to have a really successful dance in school, you need a string of

letters after your name.

Why did you give up dancing in the first place?

I'm 32.

Enough's enough.

So you sacrificed a brilliant career for the sake of domesticity. I wasn't

brilliant, but I was good.

Well, not bad.

No. I met George and married him.

Just like that?

Just like that.

I don't mean that.

I love George.

I fastened it. I know I did. You couldn't have.

Nobody there.

I'd forgotten all about it. I really had.

You're very good company.

I suppose you have to go now.

It's getting late.

Yes, I know.

Thank you for staying so long.

I enjoyed myself.

What are you doing for lunch tomorrow?

Nothing.

Pick you up at 12.30?

or find out who it is before opening. If you need me, here's my phone number.

Call me any time.

Yes. Yes, thank you. I will.

I was just going to bed.

Wearing that delicious nightgown I saw in your room.

As a matter of fact, I am.

Why did you call?

Say goodnight.

We've already said it.

I know. Do you mind?

I'm glad.

Goodnight.

And thank you again.

Goodnight, Claudia.

I'm afraid the inspector's not in, sir.

Yes, I'll tell him.

Goodbye, sir.

I'm going to lunch. In case he wants you where? In case he wants me, I'm not

going to tell you. Anything in that business last night? What business?

The case of the frightened lady.

Ah, that. No, nothing.

Inspector Roberts' office. Sergeant Wagner speaking.

Well? I told Charles I was following a suspicious character and I'd check in

later. Won't your inspector be wanting you this afternoon? Only to follow more

suspicious characters. I'm doing that anyway. More coffee. Thank you.

I don't know what I'd have done if I hadn't met you.

Strong arm of the law.

Something like that, yes.

Not completely.

No.

Dinner this evening?

If you want.

Do you want?

That's your shopping then.

What for?

Dinner. You're going to cook it. Can't eat out twice in the same day.

You do the shopping. I'm going home to tidy the flat. I haven't even made the

bed yet.

Well, we can do that together.

No, we won't.

Yes,

ma'am.

Sergeant Wagner, please.

Hello, Charles. Is the old man in?

No, he isn't. And where the hell have you been?

Busy. Whatever it is you've been doing, you can drop it and join him. He's

waiting for you.

He won't know I phoned in, will he?

Not if I don't tell him.

Then don't. Tell him you haven't heard from him.

He wants you to go to...

Nice of you to join us. What are you doing here?

It can't be.

Come in here.

Is this the woman you came to see last night?

Have a drink.

Hey, I haven't printed it yet.

You didn't answer my question.

Was that the woman?

How the hell do you expect me to know?

Yes, it's a bit of a mess, isn't it?

The customary blunt instrument.

This is it?

It must have been a very angry man that did that.

You came round here last night, I assume.

What time did you leave?

I had lunch with her not two hours ago.

Did you now?

And where have you been since then?

I went home, called the office, bought some food.

I see.

Well, there's nothing more we can do here.

Let's get back to the office.

You can tell me more about it there.

All right, George.

I'll look after it.

Claudia?

Who are you?

George Matthews.

I live here.

I thought I did.

What are you doing here?

Where's my wife?

She's dead. She's been murdered.

Who are you ringing?

The police.

Find the number in there.

The old man wants to see you.

You've put up quite a good

show at the inquest.

Yes, sir.

Matthew's lawyer had quite a game with you, didn't he?

Yes, sir.

Why, Fraser?

It's his job, sir.

It's not your job to turn a coroner's court into this.

Strange behaviour by the police. Police sergeant accused of withholding

information.

Are you withholding information?

No, sir. Then why give everybody the impression that you are?

I'm sorry, sir. Is that all, sir? No, it is not all.

One other little point.

You stood up in the dock and practically accused George Matthews of killing his

wife. We can't find the boyfriend, Martin Casey. Since when, as police

procedure stated, that if you can't find the number one suspect, you forget him

and pick on the number two. Then you admit he's number two. Yes, I do, but

that doesn't mean anything.

You're the number three.

You're a good enough policeman to realize that.

Or you wouldn't be working for me.

You had a personal relationship with the woman. And you were the last to see her

alive.

Not that I think you did it.

But while you're making wild guesses about the husband, make sure that

somebody doesn't do the same thing about you. I still think he did it. Look at

the facts. We can't trace Casey. Nobody's even heard of him for over six

months. If he was in love with Claudia Matthews sufficiently to murder her, why

did he wait till now? She told you she was moving around.

And three weeks after taking a flat in London, he found her. How would he do

that unless he was aware of her movements?

Your theory is that the husband posed as the boyfriend on the phone, then killed

his wife. What's wrong with it? George Matthews was in Liverpool on the day of

the murder. He made four business calls that afternoon.

They've all been checked.

What's the matter with you, Fraser?

Were you in love with a woman?

I'd only just met her.

That doesn't answer my question.

You, um...

You have two weeks leave due to you, haven't you?

Yes, sir. Take them. I don't want to, sir. I'm not interested in what you

want, Fraser. I'm interested in running a department.

It is my opinion, in your present state of mind, you're more of a liability than

an asset.

Look, Fraser, you're a good policeman.

What happened to you could happen to anyone.

You meet a woman and right away there's something between you. I don't know what

it is. Nobody does.

But it exists.

This is what happened between you and Claudia Matthews.

Perhaps if she'd lived, you might have worked something out between you.

But you didn't.

The only thing you can do now is to work it out of your system. Do I make myself

clear?

Perfectly, sir.

Good.

As for now, you're off the case.

That's all.

Don't bang the door.

Hello, Lucy. What do you want?

Well, for a start, I'd like to come in.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I was beginning to think I'd never get in here again.

I'm sorry. I've been very busy.

Too busy to telephone?

I'm sorry. I meant to.

I've been reading a lot about you in the newspapers lately.

Is this her?

Who? The dead woman.

Yes. Hmm.

I'm sorry, Lucy. You'll have to excuse me. I'm very busy.

She's dead, Henry.

I know she's dead. I saw her.

Goodbye, Lucy.

And four children, a parrot and a monkey.

Hello,

you're supposed to be on holiday.

I want the George Matthews file.

Why?

He left town after the inquest. I want to know where.

I'm sorry, you're off the case.

He'd kill me if I told you. He doesn't have to know. He knows everything.

You've got to have it, Charles.

I'm sorry, I can't.

You'll have to excuse me now. I've got to go in and see the old man.

Now, please understand that I can't possibly tell you anything about the

Matthews case.

You stay right where you are.

Claudia.

Well, say something.

Why did you call me that?

Claudia, what's happening?

Who are you?

You're not Claudia, are you?

My name's Pauline Carstairs.

Claudia was my sister.

Your sister?

My twin sister.

Yes, we were alike, weren't we?

You're Mr... I'm sorry, Fraser.

Henry Fraser.

Claudia's dead, Mr Fraser.

I know.

Are you the policeman who testified at the inquest?

You weren't there?

No, I was ill. I wasn't able to be there.

May I sit down?

Yes, of course.

George, Mr.

Matthews has just gone out, I'm afraid.

I saw him.

Isn't that why you're here?

In a way. Tell me, Mrs... Miss... Miss Costas, you and he here.

Oh, there's nothing sinister about it. I keep house for him. He wrote and asked

me to when Claudia died.

I suppose I felt sorry for him.

I didn't know Claudia had a sister.

Did you know her that well?

Well enough.

But I thought from the papers... One didn't have to know your sister long to

know her well.

I see.

Why did you want to see George?

Am I allowed to know?

Just routine, a few questions.

Then why did you come in when you saw him go out?

You thought the house would be empty, didn't you?

Yes.

What are you looking for?

I'm not sure.

You think he killed Claudia, don't you?

I got that impression when I read about the inquest.

Well, Mr. Fraser, I don't think you'll find anything here.

I've already looked.

Would you like a cup of coffee?

Thank you.

What did you look for, Miss Carstairs?

Something. Anything.

Why?

Because I, too, think he killed my sister.

Tell me, Mr. Fraser, are you here officially or unofficially?

Unofficially. Officially, I've been taken off the case.

Why?

Personal involvement, they called it.

Were you personally involved?

Personal involvement means that my judgment may be influenced by emotions

rather than by facts.

But you'd only known Claudia two days.

I know.

I see.

She was a very warm person, wasn't she?

Yes, she was.

She was in love with George?

No.

At least not at the end.

She told you so?

She didn't have to.

Well, what are you going to do, Mr. Fraser?

We both want the same thing, don't we?

You haven't answered my question.

What question?

We both want the same thing for George Matthews, don't we?

What do you want, Mr. Fraser?

If he killed Claudia, and I think he did, he must be punished.

Justice? If you like. Or is it revenge?

In this case, the two are synonymous.

That's convenient.

She was your sister, Miss Carstairs.

Yes, she was.

What do you suggest we do?

You've looked around.

There's no evidence in the house.

All we can do is try and trap him into an admission of guilt. How?

Does he trust you?

He's no reason not to.

You'll have to win his confidence.

It'll take time. Do you have time?

Two weeks.

It's not long.

It'll have to be long enough.

I'll tell you what to look for, what sort of questions to ask. And you must

tell me everything he says or does.

Agreed?

Agreed.

Does he come home every evening?

He has been. He's selling in this area for a month at least.

We meet during the day. Where's a good place?

Well, there's a cafe. No.

It's best if we're not seen together.

We could meet here.

The front's deserted this time of the year. We could fix a place down there.

All right, if you say so.

There's a beach hut. It belongs to the house.

It'll be perfectly safe.

No one will ever see us.

You're late.

Yes, he didn't leave till 11.

What are you thinking?

We've been meeting for a week now.

What have we accomplished?

Do you want to stop?

Seeing you? Of course not.

That's what we've accomplished, then. But we found out nothing.

About George Matthews? No, we haven't.

You don't mind anymore, do you?

Why do you say that?

Well, it's true.

A week ago, it was the most important thing in the world to you.

Get something on George so that he could be punished.

Do you know, for the last couple of days, you haven't said a thing about

him? I think there are times now when you forget he even exists.

And you?

I asked you a question.

Haven't there been times when you two have forgotten George and Matthews ever

existed? An hour here, an hour there, haven't there?

Yes.

I'll walk part of the way back with you. No.

I'm going shopping.

I have to cook an extra special dinner tonight.

Why?

Because George isn't going to be there, and I'm entertaining.

See you at seven.

I must say your cooking is above reproach.

Pity I can't say the same for your state of mind.

I'm sorry.

Have I been a misery?

Not exactly the life and soul of the party.

What time did you say George would be home?

Tomorrow.

There's no doubt about that, I suppose?

No. No doubt at all.

You had me worried for a minute.

What are you doing in here?

Hey, what is it?

Come on, come on. What's the matter?

This will be the last time we see each other.

Why?

I have to go away.

So I go with you.

You can't. Try and stop me. It's George.

It doesn't matter. He means nothing to you.

You still don't know, do you, darling? You really haven't guessed.

Guess what?

I'm married to George.

But that can't be. Claudia's only been dead a few weeks. There hasn't been

time.

I am Claudia.

Please.

Please let me tell you.

Please, Henry.

Yes.

You tell me.

Well?

I met George eight months ago.

I thought I loved him.

That's silly. I must have loved him.

He had a wife already.

So you murdered her?

No.

You must believe me.

I did nothing.

He killed her.

I wasn't even there when it happened, but by the time I knew about it, it was

too late. And then I was so frightened I could just do only what he told me.

He hid her body in the apartment and then he went to Liverpool.

He said that he had to establish an alibi for the apparent time of the

murder.

That afternoon after we had lunch together I went back to the apartment

At the last moment, I almost decided I couldn't go through with it.

But you did.

Yes, I did.

Then I called the police, as George had arranged.

Police. One moment.

What do you need to do?

Police, can I help you?

You'd better send someone round to High Tree's house, South West 12.

Flat 14.

Immediately, please.

What's your name, please, caller?

Hello?

Are you there, caller?

I waited long enough to see the police arrive.

And I left.

And came straight down here.

All this after you met me.

Almost from the first moment I saw you, I knew things would work out like this.

And don't you see, it was too late.

Why couldn't we have met sooner?

Why?

There's not much point in regretting the past.

I must think of the future.

What future?

Ours. You... You must tell your inspector.

You know now what you came to find out.

You'd go to prison for a long time. I don't care anymore.

I couldn't lie to you any longer.

Please.

Please say something.

I will when I've got something to say.

What are you thinking?

For a way out.

There isn't one, my darling. There's always a way out.

There are recriminations.

What's the point? I love you.

Therefore, it's up to me to find a way out.

In spite of what I've done to you?

It makes no difference.

It wasn't very difficult for me to imagine you were the same person.

Even for twins, you were remarkably alike.

Now you're Claudia again.

There's still George.

Yes, there's still George.

If he goes free, we can't be together.

And if he's arrested, I'm arrested with him.

It'd be justice in a way, wouldn't it? No.

Punishment for murdering his wife. We know he's guilty, but we can't allow the

law to punish him. I won't let you. What's the alternative?

Go away with him. Is that what you want? You know it isn't. But I'd rather that

than you do something you'll regret the rest of your life. You must allow me to

be the judge of that. All I want from you is your absolute trust. Can you

trust me sufficiently to do everything I say?

You know I can.

But what are you going to do?

There are three things we must take care of.

First, whatever happens to George must look like an accident.

Secondly... Neither you nor I must appear to have been anywhere near the

accident when it happens.

And thirdly, I think we should go away afterwards, right away.

You mean leave the country? I've given it some thought.

Australia eventually, via Rome.

But that would take money. I haven't got any, have you?

You're going to get some.

How?

Now, regarding this insurance policy, do you want double indemnity?

Double indemnity.

Well, for a small additional premium, the face value of the policy in this

case, £10,000, is double should you meet with death as a result of an accident.

The benefit would be £20,000.

Yes, all right.

Fine. But if you'll just sign here... and here...

When will you be able to get in for a medical examination?

Tomorrow. I don't know whether I can arrange things as quickly as that.

Still, I'll try.

Would 3 o'clock be all right?

Fine, yes. Splendid.

Well, thank you very much, Mr.

Matthews. It's been a pleasure doing business with you.

There's no need to be.

I want the birth certificate.

I've got it here.

After the accident, won't they know that George wasn't the man who took out the

insurance?

Did they know that you weren't the dead woman they found in London?

No, but George made sure she wouldn't be identifiable.

I know.

Take the second turning off the main road after you leave the house.

Somehow at 1 o'clock in the morning you've got to get your husband to go

along that road.

How am I going to be able to do that?

I don't know.

Wait.

Say I was at this little village. Look, here.

I could find some excuse to be there and then I could telephone him and say I'd

broken down and would he come and fetch me? You wouldn't go that way. Use the

main road.

Ernest?

Yes. Find an excuse to be there.

Ring in sometime after 12.30 and I'll do the rest.

Where are you going to be?

I'll be waiting for him.

But I thought you said we had to have alibis.

Well, make sure somebody sees you.

Knock on somebody's door, ask to borrow the phone. They'll remember you. Yes,

but what about you? I'll be in London.

Now don't worry, I've worked it all out.

I'll be there and back from London with somebody to guarantee that I've been

there all the time.

It's tricky, I know, but I'm hoping that it'll be so obvious we won't even need

our alibis.

How are you going to do it?

I'll tell you later.

What's the matter?

I'm frightened.

There's no need.

Now, this is the last time we'll see each other until it's all over. No. It's

the best way, darling. Believe me.

Things I must do, and I can do them much better if I don't have to worry about

you sneaking away to meet me.

All right?

Good girl.

Now, a week after the insurance company pays up, go to this hotel in Rome, and

I'll join you as soon as I can.

Later, we'll get the money transferred to Australia.

What are you going to do while you're waiting? I'll go back to work. When the

time's right, I'll have a row with Inspector Roberts, and I'll resign.

It will be all right, won't it?

All of it.

It'll be all right.

Come on, let's go over it again.

Cheers. Cheers.

Well, your holiday seems to have done you good. How did you know I was on

holiday? I rang the office. Why?

Well, I wanted to apologize.

I didn't behave very well the last time I was here. I'm the one who should

apologize. I was very rude. Yes, you were.

I was rather surprised when you called.

Just surprised?

Curious. Nothing else.

All right. Glad to.

I'm glad you're glad.

Another drink?

Where are we going?

We're there.

To eat?

We're eating here.

It's in the oven.

You've cooked it? A man of many parts.

Need any help?

You just sit down and wait patiently.

Who us?

I never thought we'd make it.

I'm terribly sorry.

Am I that dumb?

No, of course not. I can't understand it. Put your feet up for a few minutes.

Aren't you going to join me?

In a minute. I'll just clear away.

No, no, no, no, no.

You just lie there.

Conserve your energy.

What for?

You do realize that you've been an absolute beast, Henry, don't you?

Did you hear what I said?

I did. That's why I'm trying to make up for it.

It'll take... It'll take more than a home-cooked meal to...

What did you have in mind?

There's no waiting up for me tonight.

I hope there wouldn't be.

That means... That means I've got nowhere to go.

Perhaps we can arrange something.

We'll stay here.

The both of us.

The both of us.

Up now.

Slowly.

Drop the bow.

Put your hands on your head.

Go on.

You chose a perfect spot. It's ideal.

How did you find out?

Haven't you guessed?

All right, dear, you can come out.

Come now, you can't be as surprised as all that.

You arranged everything so well for us we didn't have to do a thing.

You even paid the insurance premium.

Why?

Why?

I'll tell you why, Mr. Fraser.

She loves me.

I love her, she loves me.

We killed my wife so that we could be together.

If you hadn't been so nosy, it might have finished there.

But once you came here, we realized that you'd have to go too.

For a long time, we couldn't work out how we were going to do it.

But we didn't have to, though, did we?

You did it for us.

There'll be an accident.

I'll go away.

Claudia will collect the insurance money. I'll join her later in Rome. I'll

even use your ticket.

Now, how are you going to do it?

Use the tyre lever to make me unrecognisable?

And then crash my car into the junction box?

Ingenious.

Well, that's what we'll do.

Here.

Take this. Claudia!

Shut up.

Where are you going? I'm going to phone Inspector Robertson. No, no, you can't.

Look, it's all right now.

Everything's all right.

He's dead.

Everything worked out just the way we planned it.

Just the way...

Don't

go.

Come back.

I'll kill you.

I'll kill you!

all right, mate.