Original subtitles

Help me.

The prisoner will stand.

Members of the jury, are you agreed upon your verdict?

We are.

Do you find the prisoner, David Edward Hollis, guilty or not guilty of the

murder of... Here it comes, wait for it.

They say it's a bad sign if none of them look at you.

Or one of them did.

I wonder if he knows.

I wonder if any of them know what it was all about.

Never mind all that evidence, all those words.

Perhaps if I'd been able to play it back to them like a sort of tape with

pictures, thoughts, everything.

A little muse in Chelsea, quiet, fashionable.

Late at night, not so long ago.

Enter a police officer.

What do you think you're doing?

Oh, you gave me a fright.

Well, miss?

I'm just trying to get into my house.

Is this your latch key?

No, of course not.

Officer, you don't think I'm a burglar, do you?

I just left my keys up there, that's all. I live here.

Well, if you don't mind, miss, I think you'd better accompany me to the station

and we can sort... There's no need.

I can prove it.

Here is my driving license.

Please.

Lisa Shillack, number 11.

And look, international driving permit. It's even got a picture of me on it.

Actually, I look a little prettier than that.

Don't you think so, officer?

Or aren't you allowed to be personal?

It's my duty to inform you, miss, that in this country, we regard burglary as a

very serious offense.

I'm so sorry, officer.

But how is a poor girl going to get into her home?

Well, not this way, miss.

You'd never have broken this open, believe me.

Could you?

No, I couldn't.

Anyway, I wouldn't.

Officer, come here.

That window isn't locked.

I don't suppose... Come

on, old chap.

Be a sport.

All right.

You'll find the keys on the table in front of the fireplace.

Yes.

Catch!

I'm so sorry about all this.

But I can assure you, I don't usually get into my house this way.

That's all right, miss.

Oh, you poor man. You have cut your hair.

It's nothing.

I must dress it for you.

Oh, that's all right. There's a first aid kit in the patrol box. It's just

around the corner.

You'll bleed to death on the way.

Go on. Sit down in there.

It won't take a minute.

All right. Thanks.

How does that feel?

You shouldn't have bothered. It's no bother.

You can tell your sergeant you were injured in the fight against crime.

You don't know our sergeant.

If I tell him I was in a fight... He'll want a blow-by-blow description.

Oh, now, look.

That's very kind of you, but I'm behind time as it is. Doctor's orders.

Don't like it?

Very much. But I'm not allowed to touch alcohol when I'm on duty. It's against

regulations. Do you think I would offer a drink to a policeman?

What's the matter with a cup of coffee?

Nothing much the matter with this one.

Regulations, duty.

What a life you must live, resisting temptation all the time.

Not all the time.

No drinking on duty.

Can you speak to young ladies on duty?

Listen to music?

It's written up on the wall.

Weib, Wein und Gesang polizeilich verboten. Wine, women and song forbidden

by the police?

Or is it to the police?

You speak German.

Only a few words. I was there for a while.

In the military police.

A red cap?

Yes, in Hamburg.

Red caps, snowdrops, such gay names for killjoy.

I was on dock patrol.

Hamburg can be quite a lively place.

I hope you didn't spend all your time around those miserable docks.

We had our fun.

Yes, I'll bet.

And what part of Germany do you come from?

Munich. Well, that's even livelier than Hamburg, isn't it? Yes.

I miss it a lot.

What keeps you here, then?

Sometimes I wander.

Have another?

I'm supposed to patrol the beat at a steady tramp.

So, they've done farries again.

Everything under control?

Only just, sir. Afraid they got the lot.

Old man Farley's down there in his pyjamas screaming blue bloody murder.

Seems to think the whole force spends the night knocking off motorists instead

of guarding his shop.

Pick anyone up?

Not a hope.

Got a car down there, but they've been gone a good ten minutes.

No one on the beat?

Well, that's what I can't puzzle out, sir.

Hollis was due in that area just about the time it happened.

He didn't check in. Still hasn't checked in.

Hollis.

Dave Hollis.

A nice name.

Have another cup, Constable Hollis.

Oh, no, no.

Two's enough.

Thanks very much. I must get back to my beat.

Don't you find it a bore, tied to all this routine?

Well, it won't be for much longer, I hope.

I've applied for CID.

Oh, you mean a detective?

Yeah. The sooner the better.

You know, I think plain clothes would suit you.

Well, I do have some, you know.

No, I meant for all the time.

Yeah, I'd better have a look at that padlock before I go.

It might be damaged.

Mind, it's always on work.

You may never think of anything else.

Is that the key?

This one.

Hold this a moment, will you?

Shine it on the lock.

about this unnecessary noise.

I don't want to call the police, but I'm warning you that if you...

You haven't come across our Miss Wilson?

She spends half her life complaining to the police or threatening to. I don't

think I've had the pleasure, but I've met plenty like her.

Well, Miss, I'd better be on my way.

Thanks for looking after me.

Oh, that's nothing, Dave. It was a pleasure. Thank you for coming to my

rescue.

Good night.

Night.

Frankly, Hollis, I'm at a loss.

Farley's is bang in the middle of your beat. You're a deep pass there at 145.

What happens?

At 150 precisely, two men break in, knock off 2,000 quid's worth, and tear

off waking half the neighborhood.

You don't hear anything.

You're not there.

You're not anywhere.

Some old dear has to dial 999, and we turn up looking like a lot of mugs.

What's going on, Hollis?

I'm sorry, sir. I would have been there, but I was held up. Where?

Marshall's timber yard.

Why? One of the padlocks was missing at the back, so I went in to check.

I thought I saw a light moving about in the office.

You know the procedure when you're single-handed, Hollis.

Call the station and ask for another man.

Yes, I'm sorry, Sergeant, but at the time I thought it was best to stay there

and keep the place under observation.

And the light turned out to have been reflected from a passing car, sir, as I

found out the next time one went by.

That's all very well, Hollis.

Granted, you were acting conscientiously.

The sergeant's right.

There's a procedure.

And if you followed it, we wouldn't be in this mess.

I'm sorry, sir.

Cut your hand, I see.

Splinter, sir. The timber yard.

Could have avoided that too, eh, Hollis?

Yes, sergeant.

That'll be all.

Let's have your report.

Cheer it up, Somerset Maugham.

Have a swig of the old Rosie.

Very good for the creative urge.

Yeah.

Ah, a load of rubbish.

Ah, come off it, mate. You're after the Oscar again.

It's only a report, you know.

Do you remember old Tubby?

Simply enumerate the salient facts in chronological order.

That's just the trouble, Joe. There aren't any salient facts.

What do you mean?

I wasn't anywhere near Marshalls.

I was helping this woman get into her house. She'd forgotten her keys.

I was stuck there for ages.

Well, the old dear turned nasty and bit you?

Oh, no, I grazed that climbing in.

She wasn't exactly an old dear, either.

Hello, hello.

Not that I... Well, what I mean is she talked me into letting her fix her hand

and she gave me a drink.

Well, I say drink, she gave me a cup of coffee and then we sat down and, you

know, started chatting.

Well, what I mean is, Joe, if I put all that down, however I put it, when I'm

supposed to have been outside Farley's knocking off Desperados single-handed...

Well, anyway, I'm in it now.

I told them the tale about Marshalls back in there.

Yeah, I see what you mean, Dave.

I'm the same as you, Joe.

I've got my CID application in.

I mean, what do you suppose will happen to that if I tell them all this?

Yeah, well...

I guess I'd have done the same thing.

There's one thing you've got to watch out for, though.

What's that?

Well, a fan letter to the chief.

You know, please convey my thanks to the charming young officer, blah, blah,

blah, and the enclosed cheque for the widow and orphans fund.

Well, I don't think there's much danger of that.

She's not the type.

Well, I hope that hand's not going to put you out of the tennis match.

We're counting on you.

I'll be all right.

Hell.

Well, what is it?

My torch.

I left it back there.

Oh, you'd better get round there and collect it, boy, before she delivers.

Oh, thanks.

I was going to call in with it this morning.

Just as well you didn't.

Why? Something wrong?

Well, not exactly, but thanks.

I'm afraid I stayed too long last night.

But I enjoyed your company.

No, I mean, I ought to have been back on the beat. There was a robbery.

Oh, dear.

You missed it and you got into trouble. Yeah.

I had to cover up.

Thank goodness I didn't give you away by bringing that.

But don't worry. As far as I'm concerned, you were not here.

Oh, thanks. I know it's a bit irregular, but... I have nothing against things

being irregular.

Your secret is safe with me.

Oh, that'll be Simon. At least he hasn't forgotten his keys.

Simon? Yes, my husband.

He has been abroad.

Hello, darling. Hello.

How have you been?

All right.

I expected you two days ago.

I was held up in Zurich.

What's going on?

Oh, this is Constable Hollis.

How do you do, sir?

I forgot my keys last night and I had to break the lock on the garage door.

He saw the marks this morning.

Just checking, sir, in case anyone had been trying to break in.

Very wise, very efficient.

I hope you don't ever have a real robbery.

As you can see, I often carry some highly valuable stock on the premises.

I wouldn't worry too much, sir. I'm glad to see you've gone to so much trouble

looking after it.

And I am glad that the law's looking after my wife and home while I'm away.

Do you care?

Now then, Lisa.

You might have called me.

I had a tricky deal on hand. Very tight schedule.

Too tight to phone your wife?

Stay around, constable. There's about to be a breach of the peace.

Very funny.

I'll see you out.

Thanks for explaining my presence like that. Oh, don't mention it. Fred, I've

hung around a bit too long again.

Oh, don't worry about that.

Simon and I quarrel all the time.

I hadn't even realized that you were married.

Well, half the time I'm a widow.

A business widow.

By the way, I phoned a locksmith about the door.

Oh.

They told me they would fit in your lap. Good.

Next time you're around here, perhaps you'll check and let me know if you

think it's all right.

Well, that's hardly... I thought the law was looking after me.

Well, that's true.

Good evening, madam.

Just leave the keys. I'll walk the car, sir.

Thank you.

Same.

Two brandies, please.

Two brandies.

Good luck, darling.

Ah, it's only right and proper.

What do you mean?

Before the law was changed, I was helping to break up games like this.

Now the game's getting its own back. It's breaking me.

Surely it's not as bad as that.

I'll have to pack it in for tonight.

Oh, I know. It's my fault. I introduced you to this club.

But we hate to have somebody's creed.

Here's to us.

Come on, Shira.

You're not breaking the law now. And you're not breaking up any happy home

either. I need someone like you, Dave.

Badly.

Why didn't you ever leave, Simon?

With nothing.

Does that matter?

I'll go when the time is right.

You know, I might be moved to a different part of the country.

Oh, Dave, I hope not.

When will you know about being a detective?

You should hear tomorrow.

I wish you luck, darling.

Let's go.

I'll get my coat.

Oh,

you got a pen? Yes, sir.

Here. Good evening, Mr. Hollis.

Oh, hello, Ralph.

Have a drink?

No, thanks.

Forgive me for mentioning it, but your account is running rather high.

This bill brings it up to 128 pounds.

You certainly know the score, don't you, Ralph?

That's part of my job.

As a rule, we don't like members to go over the 100 marks, so if you'd just

like to make out a check now... Well, I haven't got my book on me, but don't

worry, I'll settle it.

Tomorrow night, if you don't mind.

Yeah.

Yes, we'll be in. I'll fix it then.

I'm very glad you said that.

Very glad he said what, Ralph?

Don't tell me one of your guests has actually said something nice to you.

Oh, but yes, Lisa.

Mr. Hollis and I are just having a nice chat.

Most cordial.

We're just arranging to meet again.

Very soon.

Ready, Lisa?

Yes. I'm so sorry you both have to go.

You've had very good reports all round.

Your application's been granted. You'll be transferred to CID.

You'll remain in this division, so you can come to me when you forget what you

ought to have learned about routine.

Thank you, sir.

Send Hollis in, will you?

Right.

Come in, Hollis.

Your application for plainclothes work.

Yes, sir.

Sorry. I'm afraid it's been turned down.

Can I ask why, sir?

No special reasons given.

But while we're at it, I might as well tell you, your general record lately

hasn't been quite up to standard.

You don't seem to have your mind entirely on the job.

Last week, for instance, you failed to recognize a stolen car which lay all

night on your beat.

Yes, sir. A number of other things.

Nothing major.

But this station prides itself in having a bright and alert body of men.

I advise you to buck up, Hollis.

Is that all, sir?

Yes. That's all.

Hi, Dave.

All right, Ted?

Are you kidding?

Hello, Dave.

How'd you get on?

Oh, didn't you hear?

Turned down flat.

No, I mean just now with Ted.

Oh.

Took it all out on him, I think. He didn't know what hit him.

Six, three, six, one.

So there's something I can make a good job of.

Don't let it get you down, mate.

If a mug like me can make it, you know what they say, don't you?

If at first you don't succeed... Yeah, that's right, Joe.

I get it.

I was going to ask you, Dave.

Alice and me are giving a bit of a celebration tonight.

You know, we were waiting till we'd heard one way or the other.

Well, now it's definite we're getting sort of officially engaged.

And Alice specially asked if you'd like to come.

Well, I'd like to, Joe, but I'm afraid I can't make it. I've got a date.

Oh, Casanova strikes again.

It's all this flitting from flower to flower to be the ruin of you, my lad.

You take my advice, settle down with one of them.

Sort yourself out a nice little girl.

You know, luxury muse, flat, own car, rich young widow.

Well, failing that rich old husband who works nights shouldn't be hard to find.

Yeah, I might give it a try.

Yes. All right.

Good night, darling.

Darling, we are in luck.

Simon is staying over in Amsterdam.

Dave, what's the matter with you?

Among other things...

They won't have me for the CID.

Oh, I'm sorry, darling.

Oh, it doesn't matter.

I'm going to leave the force anyhow.

You don't really mean that.

Plenty of other jobs?

Dave.

This brings things to a head, in a way.

What do you mean?

I've been giving a lot of thought to us.

Three of us.

It can't go on like this.

Something has to be done.

You said you wouldn't leave Simon without money.

Yes, I said that.

You mean you've changed your mind, you'll ask for a divorce?

I'm not thinking about divorce.

Simon's rich and he's heavily insured.

You're not serious.

Are you serious about me, darling?

Well, of course I am. But when I said I'd do anything for you, it didn't

include that.

Simon will never divorce me.

Then walk out on him. Do you know how much he's worth?

No, and I don't care.

A quarter of a million.

Excuse me, sir.

Yes, what is it?

You'll soon find out.

I trust you

enjoyed your ride to the country?

A bit bumpy.

I felt that since it was your intention to come to the club tonight, you

shouldn't be denied the pleasure.

Something came up. I'm sure.

So, you're a policeman.

Who told you that?

We have our ways.

On your membership form, you describe yourself as a director. What do you

direct? Traffic?

No, that's an old one.

Quite.

Now, we have no objection to your being a policeman.

Now that the law tells us we're legal, we'll even entertain policemen as our

customers. But they must pay their bills like everyone else.

In fact, being policemen, they should be more honest about it. I said I'd settle

up with you.

You said tonight. You haven't appeared.

Couldn't make it.

Too busy with your lady friend, no doubt.

Can we leave her out of this?

It's her husband I'm worried about.

I wonder what he'd say if he knew.

I wonder what he'd do.

And, of course, there are your police colleagues to be considered.

I can't imagine what they'd think.

A policeman playing at tables and playing around with another man's wife.

Pack it in!

I'll pay!

Now?

I've got to have some more time.

All right.

Two weeks.

That's the limit.

Walter here was an ex-policeman.

Walter, why don't you show Constable Hollis how they did it in the bad old

days?

Your bruises should last you two weeks.

That'll remind you how long you've gone.

Why didn't you tell me about all this?

I thought I could raise the money.

How long have you got?

Two weeks, Ralph said.

I'm in a jam, Lisa. You've got to lend me the cash.

Darling, I told you. I wish I could help, but I can't.

I've got to find that money somehow.

Would a quarter of a million do?

Wouldn't it solve everything?

No. You said you would leave the police anyhow.

You can settle your debt and then we can go where we like.

I know where I'd go for murder.

If you're caught.

I'm in the law business. I know what the chances are.

But people do get away with it.

This isn't just a spur-of-the-moment idea, is it?

No.

I've worked out something foolproof.

Something simple.

Here's the gun.

It's Simon's.

I'm just supposed to stroll in and ask to borrow it?

You can make it look like a robbery.

He catches the burglar, holds him up, and there's a fight.

With your training, it shouldn't be difficult.

No, no trouble at all.

I haven't finished yet. Well, before you go any further, let me tell you, it

wouldn't work.

Why not?

I've been seen coming round here. Suppose I was seen round here that

night. You might be seen, but it wouldn't matter.

Are you out of your mind?

You'd be wearing uniform.

If anyone's questioned afterwards, they will say the only person they saw about

was a policeman.

You want me to stroll in off my beat?

No, not your beat.

Someone else's.

Now they'd find out about us, I'd be a suspect from the start.

They'd have to prove you were here.

No, I'd have to prove I was somewhere else.

I've thought of that too.

We will be staying together at Ralph's Country Club quite openly.

I can't go near there till I've raised what I owe them.

It's worth a lot more than that.

Leave it with Ralf and tell him you'll pay cash later.

I've been in Germany for about a week.

You sure you won't come with me?

No, thanks.

You could look up old friends.

I thought you always liked to go back when you could.

I don't feel like going.

It's about time you had a change.

I know, but not that kind.

What do you mean?

A business trip is hardly a holiday.

Suit yourself.

Lisa. You must notify the police.

Do we have to?

It's certain to turn up.

We've searched every inch of the house.

The police have to be told.

All right, you carry on looking. I will get on to them.

You'd better talk to them.

Simon Shillack speaking.

Registered? Yes.

I'll put it right here.

Uh, A35256.

Issued November the 6th.

Anything else missing, sir? No, just the gun.

Very well, sir.

We'll circulate the number and someone will come around to see you. Thank you

Simon are you sure you don't mind my going out tonight?

No, of course not.

I'm all right

How's

things I'll find you do you know

inspector Gorman Dave sure

What time you off?

Six. I know we plainclothes men don't usually mix with you uniform rabble, but

how about joining us for a crafty one?

Oh, thanks, Joe, but I'm tied up tonight.

Another heavy date?

Yeah.

Okay. Stay out of trouble.

That's valued at 200.

Look, I'm just asking you to hold it against payment.

So the little lady's helping you out?

Never mind that.

It's a deposit. I'll pay you cash in a couple of days.

Coming into money?

Am I off your black-eye list?

But of course.

Sorry we had to be a little rough.

Won't you join the fray? Who knows?

The money might start rolling out of my pocket into yours again.

That'll be the day.

I take it you've no longer any objection to my booking a room for tonight?

By all means.

If you'll just sign in.

Number five.

I must apologize for this pandemonium. It's the Anglers Club annual dinner.

I always thought there were such quiet types strolling on the riverbank.

Don't be fooled by that. They're just saving the strength for one of these

outbursts. It'll go on till about 11 o'clock. I'm afraid there's nothing I

can do about it. I'm sorry.

Don't worry about us. We'll have dinner in the room.

If we may.

But of course, I'll have the menu sent up to you. You just follow the porter.

He's over there. Excuse me.

Thank

you,

sir. Will there be anything else?

No, nothing, thanks.

Thank you, sir.

Good night.

Good night.

Just one thing.

Would you put my shoes outside the door, please? Certainly, sir.

The fish are still jumping down there.

It's all right. It's only half past ten.

Here. Even if I get out of here without being seen.

How do we know that he'll be at home and by himself?

Don't worry. I'll be phoning just before you leave. Don't worry?

I didn't want to think I was going to ask him out to dinner or something.

I wish I was as cold about it as you seem to be.

Dave.

Come here.

I'm not cold.

You don't really think I'm cold.

Do you, Dave?

Hello. Hello, darling.

Oh, it's you.

What's the matter? Have you been held up?

Yes, some trouble with the car. It's okay now.

You'll wait up for me, won't you? Yes.

I'll be half an hour or so.

Bye. Bye.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night, sir.

Ah, my host.

Just the fellow I wanted to see.

My friend here tells me you have some of the real Monte Carlo spirit here.

Yes,

we have a casino, sir, now that the law permits.

Ah, in that case, I take it you'll have no objection to my having a little

flutter? Every objection.

It's only full members, you understand.

Mr. Schillack.

Yes. I've called about your missing gun, sir.

Oh, yes, I expected someone earlier. This is a very awkward time. We're very

busy, sir.

All right, come on up.

Haven't we met before?

A few days ago, sir, at the garage door.

Oh, yes, yes, I remember.

As a matter of fact, I thought it was my wife. Forgotten her keys again.

I expect you want to see my license.

Is this your gun, sir?

I don't know.

I...

Constable,

I want to make a complaint.

children in this house, and some hooligan is letting off fireworks.

It's a disgrace.

Oh, do turn off that torch. You can see me perfectly well without it.

I'm telling you, if something isn't done about the noise in this news, I... We'll

see to it. Yes, well, I should hope so.

Squire's barn.

Oh, one of the anglers.

Yes.

Pair of glasses.

Leather case.

Yes.

Well, they've cleared away now, but I'll have a look just the same.

Oh, no, I'll do it right away now. You just hold on, sir.

That you, Dave?

Yes.

Hide these, like you said.

I'd better get rid of this, too.

You won't have time tomorrow.

In the river, where I showed you.

Yes, okay.

I'm not looking forward to going back to the mews tomorrow.

You've got to go.

I know.

It's just the idea of... But don't worry. I know what

I have to do.

Yes, madam. I've got that.

Now, don't touch anything.

There'll be someone round in a few minutes.

Inspector Gorman's on his way down, sir.

Hollis? Owens?

You got the address, Sergeant?

Simon? Shall I?

Yes, his wife phoned.

Seems she came in and found him.

All right. Come on, let's go.

I put my car in the garage and came upstairs.

Then... I didn't have any idea something was wrong.

Then I came in here and... found the curtains were still drawn and...

Then...

Mrs. Shellac, is there anyone who'd

want to kill your husband?

Hollis! Sir? Come upstairs, will you?

Well, Hollis...

Seems you're involved in all this.

She told you?

Yes.

They're charging you.

Charging me?

With what?

Murder.

Oh, look.

I'm involved with his wife, I admit that, but... I haven't got anything to

do with murder and robbery.

Who's anything about robbery?

Well?

Now, look, Hollis.

There's a wide-open safe here.

with upwards of £10,000 worth in it.

Nothing's been taken.

That's not the work of a thief.

Why did you do it?

Why did I?

Lisa, what's the matter with you?

After I met him, I... I was stupid enough to go out a few times with him.

My husband was away a lot on business.

I was lonely.

Then I realised how foolish I was being, and I said I didn't want to meet him

again.

He began pestering me.

Finally, I decided to tell my husband.

How did he react?

He phoned Constable Hollis and warned him to leave me alone.

This is fantastic.

Lisa! Go on, please.

He threatened my husband.

He claimed I was in love with him, that I wanted to be free.

Threatened him in what way, Mrs. Shillac?

He said he'd kill him.

When was this?

Yesterday.

And yet you stayed away last night?

Yes. It was my husband's idea.

He sent me to stay at a country club. He wanted me out of town.

Why? He and Hollis had arranged to meet... here.

Your husband owned a gun, Mrs. Schilling?

Yes. Where do you keep it?

It's usually in that bureau drawer.

What's become of it, Hollis?

You've got it all wrong. I wasn't here.

I didn't kill Shillac.

I don't know why she's saying all this. I wasn't anywhere near here last night.

She knows that. I was with her all the time. Where?

In this country club that Squire's bar. We had a room there together.

This is ridiculous.

I was there last night, but he wasn't with me.

I took him there once, but as for staying with him... I'm telling the

truth.

Look, you can check.

But you've got to.

No, gentlemen.

Mr. Hollis did not stay at this club last night.

Now, that's a lie.

He booked me in with her.

Mrs. Shellac stayed here, but she was alone.

Well, I signed the register.

Your name's not in the book.

Well, this must be a different book.

Have you got another book, sir? Of course not. It's an official register.

Inspector, this is getting ridiculous.

I'm sorry, madam, but we have to make sure.

Ah, here's the young lady that served dinner to Mrs. Shellac in her room last

night. Eileen.

Come here, my dear.

She's not the one that... The inspector would like to ask you a few questions.

It's quite simple, miss.

Have you ever seen this gentleman before?

Yes, sir. Once or twice.

Did you serve dinner to this lady in her room last night?

Yes, sir.

Room 5, sir.

Yes, I did, sir.

But you didn't see this gentleman with her in her room?

Oh, no, sir.

Or anywhere else with her last night, I mean?

No, sir, not at all.

You'd be prepared to swear to that, would you?

Oh, yes, sir. Me Bible oath.

Thank you, miss.

Inspector, I think I ought to make it clear that Hollis is known to us, but he

couldn't have got in here last night.

The other day I had to give instructions to my staff not to admit him. A little

matter of an unpaid account.

Embarrassing, you understand.

This is all crazy, Inspector. You don't... Something bothering you,

Hollis?

No.

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

You still say you didn't murder Shellac? I've told you 50 times I was at this

club with his wife. You might as well forget that, Hollis.

She disclaims you, the club disclaims you.

You were down that muse, weren't you? No. You were.

Prove it. We intend to.

You were seen, Dave.

I couldn't have been. I wasn't there.

You sure of that?

Yes.

You'll see. Come on.

Ah, Miss Wilson.

Good of you to come along so promptly.

Now, this noise you heard in the mews, you say you spoke to a police officer

about it at the time?

That is correct, Sergeant, and indeed... It's Inspector Parks, Miss.

Oh, I do so humbly beg your pardon. That's all right, Miss.

You're certain about it?

Emphatically certain.

I'm a precise woman, not usually the victim of hallucinations. Quite so.

To be frank with you, Miss, we're a bit perturbed about it. That's why we ask

you down here.

You see, according to our log, none of our men was anywhere near the mews. that

time. Please, Miss Wilson, we don't disbelieve you.

Obviously, there's been a mix-up at our end.

Now, do you think you'd recognize the officer if you saw him again?

Oh, I doubt it, Inspector.

You see, it was dark. And why I know not, but the wretch would persist in

flashing his thought in my face. Yes, you told us.

Did he speak to you?

Yes, he did.

And none too courteously.

Would you know his voice again?

Oh, yes, I would. I have a particularly sensitive ear.

In fact, the noise in the mews is a constant outrage to me, as you must all

be well aware.

But I pride myself on my knowledge of the human voice.

I am a trained speech therapist, you know, and the slightest nuance, the

merest hint of variation in timbre, they're all grist to my mill.

I see.

This is very interesting.

You might say that you...

Never forget a voice.

You might say that.

Horace, what time is your patrol duty tonight?

Inspector Gorbet asked you a question, Horace.

Miss Wilson, I think if you don't mind, we'd better leave this for now. We'll

contact you a little later on.

Very well, Inspector.

You know where to reach me.

Well, Hollis, you feel like talking about it to us now?

Look, this'll never wash, sir. You know that.

We're both in the force.

Well, you haven't got enough even for a committal on all this rubbish.

Sir, take a look at this.

What do you get it?

Hollis's lodging, sir.

Just about clinches it, doesn't it? Careful, sir. It's still there.

And that's how I got this.

And he's still at large?

Yes, he is, sir. And what's more, he's still out.

He's a lunatic.

I just hope he doesn't find out I'm here.

What makes you think he'd come after you, Mrs. Shelley?

Well, you know, Sergeant, revenge and all that.

What do you mean, revenge?

He's unbalanced.

He was convinced I was crazy about him. But I made it crystal clear that I

wasn't. He was mad enough to kill her husband. He might easily try and do the

same thing to her.

Aye, I see what you mean.

Well, we'll put a couple of men here on duty, just in case.

I hope they won't be too obvious, Sergeant.

I have the reputation of the club to think about.

Do you understand?

Yes, yes, I understand.

Don't worry, they won't be in view.

Goodbye, Mrs. Shellac.

Mr. Monk.

I don't like this, Ralph.

They didn't reckon with his escaping like that.

What are you worried about?

We have police protection.

I suppose so. But if they pick him up, he will come out with a full story.

Don't worry, Lisa.

He'd have done that anyway as soon as he realized he didn't have an out.

But who'd believe him? They'd probably think it was just another wriggle.

I dare say.

I wonder where he's now.

Five days.

Five days he's been on the run.

I'll tell you something, Ross.

If you'd asked me to bet a month's pay that a uniformed policeman can rush out

of here in broad daylight and vanish, and stay vanished for nearly a week, I

wouldn't have taken you on.

There's one thing you've forgotten, sir. What's that?

Well, as a trained police officer, he's a lot smarter than most. You're wrong,

Ross. You're wrong on both counts.

He might be trained, but he's no police officer.

Never has been, never will be.

And he's not smart.

We'll get him.

How's the old tennis elbow coming along, then? Are you kidding?

Indoor sport I got this from.

Sirs, you're right. You should have stuck to the beat for a living. Nice and

peaceful.

I'll tell you one thing. I could have thrashed a lot of you today, even with

this. We should have tried.

Want a cover?

Here. No gas.

What's the matter?

No tea, no sugar?

Any beer there, Mary?

All empty.

Well, you're a right sloppy, disorganized lot. Don't blame us. Blame

the sergeant.

Tennis club catering secretary.

You know what he's catering for? He's catering for himself.

Packing off all our supplies so he can sit and swig tea in the station all

night. Not to mention beer.

Well, they're just about open. What about when I cross the road, then?

There you can count me out. I'll be back at the station.

How about Dave Hollis? Still no news of him?

No.

He's probably skipped the country.

You're to patrol the news tonight. Is that right, the wife's coming back

there? Yeah.

She promised to keep up protection.

Thank you.

I'm nervous.

I'd rather stay here.

Not until everything's cleared up and Hollis is out of the way.

That's just it. He isn't.

You'll be quite safe.

I phoned the police and they're putting a man in the mews.

Don't worry.

Torquay, Carlisle, Bedford.

For the first time in their lives, thousands of people are looking at

policemen twice.

And what do they see on their second look?

Dave Hollis, of course.

He'll probably have changed his clothes by now.

He's ditched us good and proper.

We'll get him.

Any more sugar, Sarge?

No, sorry, that's all there is.

Oh, come off it, Sarge. Go and fetch it. Oh, look. Fetch what? What are you

talking about?

Your secret hoard.

What you keep back from the poor starving lads at the tennis club.

So you've fallen for that scandalous diabolical libel, have you?

I'm going to have a word with young Wilkie when I see him blackening the

name of a hard-working police officer.

As a matter of fact, I'm feeling rather pleased with myself.

I put two weeks' supplies in there last Tuesday, and I've still managed to sort

away nearly 15 bob for the kids' outing fund.

You know... Just a minute, sir. I'll say that again.

You stocked up last Tuesday.

That's right.

Enough for two weeks at the rate we use it.

You know, tea, sugar.

Those biscuits the lads like? Beer as well. A dozen, a dozen and a half.

What's up?

I think we've got him, Sarge.

Have you got a car there?

Good.

I think I know where he's gone, sir.

What do you want?

If only you didn't bring Ralph with you, we could have had a real heart-to-heart.

The three of us.

No, Dave!

Didn't Ralph have the guts to do your killing for you?

Don't kill me, Dave.

Don't you see I'm your only chance?

The day after, they will find you.

I can help you get away.

How? I don't know.

You can hide upstairs.

No one else will hear.

I'll work something out.

You will be safe here tonight.

Will I?

Hades!

You in there, Hades! Dave, are you in there, Dave?

Hades! Hades!

Stand that your body be buried within the precincts of the prison in which you

shall have been last confined before your execution.

And may the Lord have mercy on my soul.

Amen.