Original subtitles

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well?

Nothing, sir.

Nothing? After three days?

Nothing, sir.

And what do you suppose I'm going to tell the Commissioner?

Nothing, sir.

Remember him?

Oh, yes.

He in London again.

Think he might be able to help?

How, sir?

Get me the Carlton Tower Hotel, will you?

I remember more than you do, and that's a fact.

Hello, Carlton Tower?

Yes, sir? I want to speak to Mr. Jordan, please.

Mr. Tim Jordan.

Putting you through to reception.

Reception?

Oh, yes, sir.

Oh, well, if he's not in his room, sir, I can have him... Oh, just a moment,

sir. I can see him now.

Mr. Jordan, telephone for you. Thank you. Mr.

Cowley.

Why, Mr.

Cowley, how are you?

When did you stop being a superintendent?

Have you done the same as me?

What? Well, I've resigned.

Didn't I say so in my postcard?

Yes, sir. I sent you a cable reserving a room. What name, sir? Baker.

Mr. Baker, yes, we have your room. Can I just ask you to sign the register?

No, I won't come to the yard.

Why don't you have lunch with me here? It's much more civilized.

One o'clock, then?

Fine. See you.

Thank you. Not at all, sir.

Room 309. I'll get someone to take you up. Why, Harry Stone.

What are you doing in London?

You must be confusing me with somebody else.

My name's Baker.

Charles Baker.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

Mr. Baker.

Room 309, sir.

Keep it.

I'll try somewhere else.

No one saw the man who did it? No one saw the man, no one saw the car.

No fingerprints, nothing.

Killed the policeman and got away with £100,000 worth of jewellery. Clean as a

whistle.

All we've got to go on is the technique.

Drill a hole into the lock.

Insert one of those periscope instruments with a light on the end of

it the doctors use and put watch for the tumblers to fall. But that's exactly the

same technique used in a job done in Salisbury, Rhodesia, 15 months ago. I

thought so. When the officer in charge was me.

I remember you telling me that Salisbury job was done by a man called Lou Daney.

I'll swear to it.

I couldn't ever prove it. My big failure.

What happened to Daney?

Disappeared. He has a genius for disappearing.

I don't know where he is now.

From what you say, in England.

No idea where I could start looking. Yes, but with nothing to prove. If I

catch him, I'll squeeze him until I prove something or other.

A couple of hours ago, I bumped into a man called Harry Stone.

He was in Rhodesia, too, until I had him deported.

I thought he was dead.

If you can find Harry Stone, you might be able to find Lou Dainey.

Friend of Dainey's?

I could never make out whether he was Dainey's best friend or worth anything.

How's it going, sir?

Afternoon.

Sorry, sir, club's closed till six o'clock. Not for me, it isn't.

You a member, sir?

I'm about to become one.

You'd better speak to the manager, sir.

Mr. Gallop.

You a manager?

Yes. The club is not open, and you are not a member.

Oh, I soon will be.

Excuse me. You have to be proposed and seconded. Oh, but I have been. By whom?

By the owner.

Lou Dainey.

My old friend Lou.

I've just got him from abroad, you see. I was expecting to find him here.

I'm sorry, we do not know a Mr. Dainey. Hmm?

Never heard my name either?

Harry Stone?

Lou's old partner?

I'm afraid you've come to the wrong place.

I'm sorry, I must ask you to leave.

Harry Stone.

Never mind how I got your number. I've been calling you all afternoon.

I want to see you.

Anywhere you like, anytime.

Call me back here, tell me what suits you.

Oh, I'm at a dump called the Stardust Club.

Yeah.

Have a word with your Mr. Gallo, will you?

Tell him to make me a member.

A special member.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes, so now I'm a member Have a drink

Hello, Lou. Hello, Harry.

It's good to see you.

I thought you were dead.

You did?

No, thanks, Lou. You still don't smoke.

Some humorist sent me this cutting from Singapore.

Yes, I know.

I did.

They identified that body as me.

Can't think why.

Extraordinary thing.

Who gave you my number?

I paid a lot of money for it. Who?

Johnny Time.

Oh, dear.

I had to see you, Lou.

Wanted to congratulate you.

What about?

They never mentioned your name in the papers, but who else could it have been?

So you took a plane? Straight from Tangier.

Well, I thought that if you were back on your own form, we might go into

partnership again.

You need me, Lou, you know that.

You've got to get rid of the stuff.

Specialized job.

Where are you keeping it?

At a property I own, a place called Clench House, down in Surrey, about 30

miles from here.

Mm-hmm.

You want to see it?

Oh, sure.

Come on, then.

Come in.

Yeah, Tuesday.

I thought you'd retired.

That's right.

So what are you doing here?

Bursting to know what you found out about my old friends. I've looked in the

newspapers. They don't tell me a thing.

First old friend, Lou Dainey.

No sign of him.

The disappearing trick again. He's good at it.

Second old friend, Harry Stone.

After you saw him at the Carlton Tower...

Mr. Stone called at two other hotels.

The first hadn't got a room, second one had.

Signed the register as Charles Baker, inspected his room, had his bags brought

up, went out and lunched at a Chinese restaurant.

Want to know what he ate? No, thanks.

And then?

Since when?

Since when he's not been heard of.

That's right.

Anything in his bags?

Nothing of any help. Two hundred pounds worth of smuggled goods.

Suggestion number one.

He's joined Dainey's disappearing act.

Why should he leave his bags behind?

Why, indeed.

So, suggestion number two. Which is much more likely.

Dainey didn't want to be bothered by an old friend who might squeal on him, so

he sent him to heaven. Or hell.

Much more likely.

And this was two days ago.

Why, thank God knows how many men working on it. All they ever bring me is

expense accounts.

Come in.

Hello, Sergeant Petts.

Well, hello, sir. Nice to see you again. Well?

Just come in, sir. I thought you'd be interested.

Now, there's a coffersnark who really earns his money.

After his Chinese meal, Mr. Harry Stone was in a place called the Stardust Club.

Right, we'll send someone down there. Who, sir?

Who?

Me?

You're not a policeman. I want to get Lou Dainey. Not half as much as I do.

Almost as much as you do. I told you. My big failure.

I ought to be doing something. What would I rather do?

There's a clerk at my hotel who says that he can get me into any club in

London, except the respectable ones.

He'll get you into this one, all right. What, not respectable?

Well, you know, fancy prices, a lot of ugly men, a lot of pretty girls.

Superintendent Cowley?

I'm your man.

Good evening, sir. Good evening. My name's George.

Receptionist at the Carlton Tower, aren't you?

Oh, yes, sir. Just a moment, sir. I'll get Mr. Gallop. Thank you.

Mr. Jordan? Yes, I have your membership card. Thank you. Oh, proposed and

seconded. Of course. Three guineas.

Let me buy you a drink. I'll get some change.

Actually, I heard of this place from an old friend of mine. Ah, yes? A fellow I

met in Rhodesia. A chap called, um, Harry Stone.

Harry Stone?

Mm. I imagine you know him. Stone.

Is he a member?

He was here two days ago in the afternoon.

I would have been here myself. I'm always here.

Aristotle. No. There is no such man. Perhaps under a different name.

I don't think so.

Excuse me. I have work.

Another drink. No.

No.

If you're buying drinks for strangers.

Yes.

Gin and tonic, please.

Gin and tonic. And another for me, too.

Welcome, stranger.

Welcome, Mr. Jordan.

You know my name? Of course.

Just my name?

Tim Jordan, Criminal Investigation Department, Rhodesia.

Recently inherited a fortune and retired. Not bad.

Still a policeman at heart.

Not sure.

May have come here to investigate something.

What could it possibly be?

Good information service you have.

Oh, normal for new members.

Does, um, does Gallo know all this? Of course.

Does that mean trouble?

Thank you, sir.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you.

Trouble?

You're safe.

Glad to hear it.

As long as you're with me.

Then I'd better be with you.

Are you investigating something?

What does your information service tell you?

It tells me you are.

You won't get anything out of these people.

Not even with thumbscrews. But out of you?

Let's go somewhere where we can talk.

Sure.

Now that we've been introduced.

Which do you want? The name I use or my real name?

Real name.

Lydia Dainey.

Mrs. Lou Dainey.

Very elegant.

Yes. From the ill-gotten gains.

Lou spent a good deal of money on me in his time. I bet.

Drink? Let me do it.

You weren't in Rhodesia.

I wasn't invited.

I didn't even know Lou was married.

He doesn't always know it himself.

But you're still friends?

Oh, yes.

Except that I hate his guts.

Which job are you investigating at the moment?

The Rhodesia one or the London one?

London one. Lou did them both.

You know as well as I do.

Would you tell that to the police?

No. You're not the police any longer.

No.

So why are you in this?

Call it revenge. I'd like to catch your husband.

What do you say to that?

I'd like to help you catch him.

Call it revenge.

Revenge for?

Lou's trouble is, he falls in love.

Cheers.

My trouble is I don't.

Shall I take it back?

Not yet.

You know, I tried to shoot Lou once.

I'm a lousy shot. I missed.

Perhaps you'll have better luck.

Where do I find him in order to try?

No idea. He doesn't tell me these things.

Will he get in touch with you?

Sooner or later.

Could be weeks, could be months. You'll tell me if he does?

Yes.

Promise?

Promise.

Do you know a man called Harry Stone?

In the old days. Harry is also looking for Lou, so I'm looking for Harry.

You don't happen to have seen Harry these last 48 hours?

No. Nor has anyone.

Well, we'd better try something else.

You say Lou is always falling in love. Is he in love at the moment?

If Lou finds out, I've told you this.

Take cover.

I'll probably be dead, but there's no reason why you should be.

He's been chasing a girl called Mary Greer.

Where do I find Mary Greer?

Place in Surrey.

Clench House.

Clench House.

Right. Sergeant Pepper, check on who owns it. Check on this Greer girl, so on

and so on. Anything else you can find out. Yes, sir. And we'll send someone

down there. No, you won't.

Why not? I mean, you won't send someone, you'll send me.

You mean you want the part of this case that consists of meeting girls?

That's right. Why, we slave away here checking through all the dreary details.

Carry on checking. I'll go and meet Miss Griffith. Thank you.

Pepper, fix him up as an honorary unpaid acting member of Scotland Yard. Yes,

sir. But warn him if anything happens to him, he doesn't qualify for a pension.

Miss Greer will be down in a moment, sir. Thank you.

Nice place you have here. Yes, sir.

Um, many visitors?

Oh, yes, indeed, sir. This last week or so?

We've not been down here, sir. We've been in the London house, sir.

Hello. Hello.

You don't look like a policeman.

I can prove it.

What have I done wrong?

Nothing. I hope.

I just want to ask about your... My what?

Your admirers.

All of them. Oh, I think that might take too long. Thank you.

Is one of them in trouble?

Well, there's one of them I particularly want to talk to.

Why come to me? They're all in the phone book. Not this one.

A boyfriend of mine.

Well, he isn't exactly a boy.

Who? Oh, 38 or so. Big, dark, good-looking in an amateur boxer sort of

way. You mean Jimmy Ledbetter.

Ledbetter? Yes, the man Daddy bought this house from.

Mind if I use your telephone?

No. It's over there.

Yes, yes, I got that.

Bought the house a year ago, sold it again six months ago to Mr. Greer.

Yes, we'll follow it up. And I can tell you exactly where he's going to lead.

To a solicitor's who'll have an address for him six months out of date, and to a

bank account who was closed the moment Mr. Ledbetter withdrew the purchase

money. Do you want to bet?

Anyway, do pour yourself another brandy.

Thank you.

Ledbetter's been pursuing you, hmm?

Sort of. Did he mention anything about having a wife already?

Well, again, only sort of.

When did you say you last saw him?

Um, ten days ago, I suppose.

In London, we had dinner together.

Tim, what's he done?

Well, in the first place, his name isn't Ledbetter, it's Dainey.

And in the second... Get down! Stay there! What happened? Someone shot at us

from just outside.

Tim! Stay there!

To Lou from Lydia.

Well, we certainly know who they are. You're not finished yet. You have to

look inside.

Cigarettes? Something behind the cigarettes.

Newspaper cutting.

Harry Stone.

There's something written across it in pencil.

Letter D, which means dead.

The date.

The day which Harry Stone didn't come back to his hotel.

We assume he was killed. We assume by Lou. Fair enough?

Yes. That's what's got me worried.

Our first real bit of evidence against Danny.

It's a big break for us.

Yes, but... But what?

All right, he's running away. He's got a gun in his hand.

A man nearly catches him. He turns, shoots, then he runs again.

How does a cigarette case accidentally fall out on the ground?

If not accidentally, then I suppose it must be deliberately.

Yes, that gets me even more worried.

Why deliberately?

Hmm?

Hello. No kiss?

Lou took a couple of shots at me through the window of Clinch House.

He hit my glass.

If I hadn't turned at the right moment, he'd have hit my head.

The man-servant Stocker got out after him before I did, and Stocker was shot

dead.

I guarantee the bullet would turn out to be the same as the one that killed that

policeman.

Well?

Well, I'm glad for you.

Sorry for Stocker.

You don't have to convince me that Lou's a rat. I know it already.

All right, then. I've got some questions.

Is it too early for a drink? Yes.

Permission to sit down.

Why did Lou shoot Stocker? I can tell you this one.

Because Stocker saw him close to. Now, I didn't. Neither did Mary Grier.

But Stocker knew him and could identify him.

So Lou shot him so he could get away without leaving a witness.

Sounds like the truth. Second question. This one I want some help with.

Why did Lou shoot at me?

He saw you with Mary Grier. Crazy with jealousy.

It won't work. Lou isn't crazy.

About her?

All he's done is taken her out to dinner a dozen times. Polite, well-behaved.

He prefers her to me. Which is enough to make you hate him. When it happens for

the tenth time in our marriage, yes. Why did Lou shoot at me? Think of a better

reason.

You're out to get him. So is half of Scotland Yard. He can't shoot all of

them. It doesn't make sense.

You're special. Am I?

He beat me once without shooting at me. He can do it again.

All right, then.

You tell me the reason.

I simply don't know.

Then you certainly do need a drink.

Third question.

How did Lou happen to be at Clench House while I was there?

Coincidence? I don't believe it.

What do you believe? You were the only person who knew I was going to Clench

House. Didn't you phone Mary Greer and tell her you were coming? Yes.

Then I wasn't the only person. I believe her.

And not me?

Your drink.

Did you tell him? No.

Do you hate him?

I haven't seen him for weeks.

I hope I never see him again.

Yes, thank you very much. I do hate him.

But I've heard from him.

Want to see it?

Dear Lydia, don't worry. I'm safe and sound.

Hope to see you soon. Lou. When did this come?

First thing this morning. How?

Threw the letterbox by hand before I woke up. Why didn't you tell me?

I rang your hotel. You weren't there. Checked for the reception.

I left a message. His handwriting?

Oh, yes, and his style. Short and sweet.

Want to keep it?

Yes, even though it doesn't make sense.

The dear Lydia? He knows how you feel. Oh, yes.

Lou isn't crazy. He's one of the cleverest crooks alive.

Every time he's done a job, he hasn't left a single clue, not a shred of

evidence, nothing to prove it was him.

And now, suddenly, scattering clues around.

A cigarette case. Cigarette case? This letter to you, who hate him.

All adding up to enough evidence to send him to the gallows. Now, why is he doing

it? He's got some purpose. And a what purpose?

Do you know?

If I knew, I'd tell you.

Thanks for the drink. I'm going back to the yard.

Take me to dinner tonight?

Oh, Lou's got a date for dinner tonight. A long-standing one, ten days old, with,

um, Miss Mary Greer, the Carlton Tire. You think he'll turn up?

No. Guess I'll be there. Do you want to come along, meet your hated rival?

No, thank you.

Bye, then. See you soon, I hope.

Sooner than Lou.

Johnny time?

Johnny, any news?

All right.

Thanks, Johnny.

Bye.

Can I help you, sir?

Oh, yes. I'm looking for a Mr.

Mortimer. I was supposed to meet him here, but he's a quarter of an hour

late. I was wondering if you could tell me where he might be.

Mr. Mortimer, sir.

I believe he's staying in the hotel.

I don't think so, sir.

J.H. Mortimer.

I wonder if you'd mind checking.

Certainly, sir. I'm pretty sure he...

Sorry, sir, no Mr.

Mortimer staying here.

Oh.

Oh, well, thank you very much.

Carlton Tower reception.

Can I help you, madam?

What's this?

I'm very sorry, madam. I'm afraid we're full up tonight. Not a single room.

I'm sorry, madam. I'm really very sorry.

Shall we start, then?

We didn't expect you. No, of course not. What did you expect? I don't know.

Something.

Everything Dainey's doing at the moment is so irrational that... Well, I didn't

suppose he'd walk in, but I did suppose at least... Excuse me, madam.

Sorry. Where did this come from? Reception, sir.

Another thing, sir. If you take a number 9 bus from in front of here... Where did

this come from?

This letter to Miss Greer. Where did it come from? Who brought it? Who left it?

Excuse me, sir. Then you take this...

Well, it's another to add to the collection. Of letters?

Clues with no rhyme or reason. What's wrong with sending an apologetic note?

Why send it? He saw you with me at Clench House.

Obviously, you told him about this dinner date.

So obviously, he wouldn't turn up. Understood. So why the apology?

Keeping up the pose of gentlemanly Jimmy Ledbetter to the last.

Then why does he sign the note, Lou?

Yours ever, Lou?

He knows now I know who he is. It doesn't explain it. He got confused.

He's got me confused.

Well, let's eat then.

Talk about something else, hmm?

What did you usually talk about when you had dinner with Lou?

About me?

He was terribly interested in everything I did. Such as what?

Oh, just everything. He was always asking me what my plans were.

Plans? You know, parties in London, weekends with friends.

Why?

Would you say that he always found out from you the dates on which Clench House

would be unoccupied?

Yes.

Yes, he did.

Sorry to leave you again. I'm going to telephone.

And when I come back, if you don't mind, I'll borrow your keys to Clench House.

Right, you can take the stables now, OK?

Found anything yet?

Not a thing.

How much left to do? Done the ground floor on the main bedroom, sir. Just got

the attics and the outhouses left.

Thorough enough for you, Tim? Oh, yes. They're not leaving a stone unturned.

Well, I'm not going to say I told you so. Yeah, but you are going to say it

was worth trying.

Well, I'm taking Sergeant Pepper away now. Do you mind? Nope. We'll carry on

to the bitter end.

Oh, look into the office when you get back. I'll be there quite late. Right.

Might have some news.

I'm seeing an old associate of Danny's, a man called Johnny Time.

Oh, no, Superintendent.

No, I'm positive. No, I haven't seen Lou Danny for what?

Three years now.

Yes, it must be all of three years since I was knocking about with him.

And, of course, he was going straight in those days, relatively speaking.

Three years.

You're prepared to swear to that?

Oh, yes, I am.

You know he went abroad?

Yes, I know that. And came back to this country about a year ago?

Yes, I know that, too. How do you know it?

I heard it. From whom?

I don't remember.

From whom?

Superintendent, it's nearly a year ago. I honestly don't remember.

Are you a member of the Stardust Club?

Yes. How long have you been a member?

Quite some time. How long?

Nearly a year. How often do you go there?

I can't afford it very often. How often do you go there?

Once or twice a week.

Look, I'm a member of half a dozen other clubs. I go to them too.

Why do you say that?

I've heard that Lou used to favour the Stardust. Well, that may be so. All I

can say is that I've never seen him there.

How many clubs can you afford, Johnny?

It's part of my business.

What business?

Odd job, ma'am.

What job?

What job you are now, Johnny?

Nothing illegal, superintendent, with my hand on my heart.

You still live in the same dirty little flat, Johnny?

Yes. Over the jazz club? Yes.

Why? It's cheap.

Oh, but I heard you come into money.

I heard you'd been seen with a wallet full of notes buying drinks for all and

sundry.

Where did you get it from, Johnny?

Come on, where did you get it from?

Well, I gave some information to a friend of mine, performed some other

services for him, such as fetching and carrying, but there was nothing at all

illegal in what I did.

This friend, was it Lou Dainey?

Lou...

I have some good news for you, Johnny.

There's a reward that's been announced. £5,000 for information leading to the

arrest of Lou Dainey.

It's nice money.

Do you want to think about it?

Oh, yes, I'll think about it, Superintendent.

But I don't know where Lou is, and I'm certainly not working for him now.

I swear to you on my Bible, I...

Evening, Sylvia. Good evening.

Gin and tonic, please. Yes, madam.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Please, don't worry. I'll find a table.

Bring me a large scotch, will you, please? Yes, sir.

Your gin and tonic, madam.

You drink it, Sylvia.

Thank you. Good night. Good night.

Failure of omission. Right then. You've proved it. There's nothing there.

There's something there. We just didn't find it.

Look, Lou Dainey bought this house with part of his profits from Rhodesia and

sold it again. But pretty certainly he held on to a set of keys for himself.

Naturally, he was interested in the house as a potential hideout. So he kept

himself informed of when the house was empty. That's all. If that is all, why

was he there the night Stocker was killed? Following you. No. It's obvious.

I'm sure of just one thing in this case. That every obvious explanation is

completely wrong.

I can start to make sense of it is to turn the whole thing around.

Back to front, exact opposite.

What does that give you, apart from a crick in the neck?

Supposing... Supposing...

Hello?

What does everything prove?

It proves that Lou did those murders and that he's alive and around. All right,

let's try the opposite of that.

Well, the opposite doesn't make any sense either. Perhaps not.

It might get us some of the way.

Try this thought of another man.

Another man?

That might explain Johnny Time.

What? I thought I got Johnny pinned right down. He was worried, really

worried that I was getting at the truth. So I asked him the clincher. Was he

working for Lou Denny?

Suddenly he relaxed.

He almost laughed in my face.

Thanks. I'll be seeing you. Where are you going?

Pay a call on a girlfriend.

Well, Harry, what's it all about?

I'm sorry I had to get rough just now.

I thought you were going to scream.

I was.

You didn't want to upset the neighbours.

Surprised to see me?

I certainly am.

I thought Lou would have told you in his note.

What note?

The one he sent to the Stardust.

The note just said, come to the flat straight away.

Ah. Didn't want to mention names.

Somebody else might read it.

I suppose so.

Anyway, he told me to meet you here.

Gave me the key to get in.

Show me.

What, the key?

Yes.

Yes, that's his key.

All right, I believe you.

And now that I've passed the test, can I get myself a drink?

Yes, you can get me one, too.

Brandy for my nerves.

Last time I heard of you, Lou met you at the Stardust.

Where'd you get that from?

The manager?

Yes, he tells me things.

What happened next?

Oh, Lou took me down to Clench House and... Well, we went into partnership

again.

In spite of what happened last time? We decided to let bygones be bygones.

Shall we drink to that?

If you want to.

To the partnership.

To the bygones.

Have you been down to Clench House again?

Yes, I have.

The night the servant was killed? No, that was Lou.

I see.

Now you're cutting in on the deal.

Just an honest percentage, that's all.

I'll earn it, you know.

Getting the stuff out of the country onto the market, that's my speciality.

All right.

Now the big question, what do you want from me?

We've got things all planned for getting abroad.

Lou wants me to go with him? Mm-hmm.

You and I pick up the stuff.

The jewelry.

Then we meet up with Lou.

Where?

Can't tell you that, sweetie.

Wait till we get there.

Where do we pick up the stuff?

Well, you know that as well as I do.

Do I?

Clench House.

Hello, Tim. Come in.

To what do I owe the honour? Lydia, I'm getting this case straightened out at

last because I've discovered one thing. It's not just Lou. There's another man

in it. Oh?

Now, whether he's working with Lou or against him, I don't know.

But there's another man.

Who is he?

Well, I've got no idea. Sure of that? Quite sure.

Where will I find Johnny Time?

Who? Johnny Time.

At the Stardust?

Or a dozen other places. Why? Well, you've got no idea. He might have.

Goodbye. So soon?

Pity you're a married woman.

Thank you, Lydia.

What now?

Tomorrow morning, okay?

Use your car, pick me up at...

11 o'clock.

Where? I'll call you, tell you where.

Thanks for the drink.

Sorry I can't stay.

I've got business.

Good evening, Mr. Jordan. It's Johnny Time in the club.

Who, sir? Look, I'm the police and I'm not in the mood for comedy. Is Johnny

Time here?

No, sir. He left about 20 minutes ago.

Where's he gone?

I don't know, sir. Where do you think he's gone?

Well, I could tell you one of two places. Right, tell me.

Hello, Johnny.

Hello, Harry.

I got you a message.

Urgent, sir. Yes.

Something I want for tonight.

Oh?

What is it this time?

It's just a... It's noisy in here, isn't it?

Yes, I don't usually come back so early.

It's just another note.

A bit different this time.

Got a piece of that paper?

Here.

Saying what?

Just one line.

Sort of scrawled across the paper.

He couldn't keep his mouth shut.

Nothing else?

No, I think it's enough.

No signature?

Oh, yes.

Where should we put?

Oh, I think L.D., don't you?

L.D.

There we are.

That do?

Fine. Put a pin.

Yes, I think.

Here.

Right. Pin it on yourself.

Pin.

Pin it on yourself.

No, I... No, I... I swear on my Bible, I'll say it.

This is just in case.

Got here at midnight.

Knocked on the door and no answer. Must have been dead already.

Yes. Lou Dainey got here first.

Poor old Johnny Tye.

Everybody's odd job, man.

I often wonder why he didn't stick to forgery. He'd have done a lot better for

himself.

What did you say?

Yeah, very clever forgery used to be in the old days.

One of the best.

Come on, Pepper. We're going back to the yard.

It's just as I said. Everything the other way round. Back to front. The

exact opposite.

Only far more completely than I ever imagined.

Well, I'm following you, but not very closely. What are the obvious deductions

from the evidence?

Lou Dainey is still alive and around.

Lou killed Stocker. Lou had previously killed Harry Stone. Right, I'm with you.

Turn it back to front. You get the truth.

Lou Dainey is not alive and around.

Lou did not kill Stocker. He couldn't. He was dead already.

Lou did not kill Harry Stone. Harry Stone killed Lou.

And so he set about convincing us of the opposite. The newspaper cutting in the

cigarette case. Only that night he had to kill Stocker, because Stocker saw he

wasn't Lou.

Of course he'd already gone through Lou's pocket. Yes.

Diary there.

Eight o'clock, Carlton Tire, Mary Greer. Now he knows it's a dinner date, but he

doesn't know who Mary is or where she lives.

So all he can do is send a note round to the Carlton Tire. To make sure we waste

our time looking for Lou and don't bother to look for Harry. Only one

weakness. He has to use a forger.

And he has to kill him.

All right, you've talked me into it. Good. What happens next?

Mrs. Dainey is here, sir.

Bring her in.

What happens next is that I have a heart-to-heart with Mrs. Dainey.

Saying what?

Oh, I think this is one I'll have to play by ear.

Well, you won't want me here, then.

I doubt if my ear is quite the same as yours.

How do you do, Mrs. Dainey? How do you do? I'm sorry to bring you here at such

an early hour, but my friend Mr. Jordan wanted to talk to you.

I believe you already know him.

Excuse me now.

I'll be in the next office, Tim.

Go and sit down.

Thank you.

The first time we met, you told me about Mary Grier.

You knew I was going down to Clench House.

The only person who did know apart from Mary, and I'm satisfied she didn't tell

anyone.

Someone followed me down there, took a shot at me, then killed the servant

Stucker, right?

Now, last night I told you I was trying to find a man called Johnny Time.

You were the only person I told that to.

Someone found Johnny Time first and killed him, right?

I didn't know that. You know it now.

You see the conclusions I come to?

You told Lou I was going down to Clench House.

You told Lou I was looking for Johnny Time. Now that's the truth, isn't it?

No. Lou took that shot at me. Lou killed Stocker. Lou killed Johnny Time. You

told Lou everything.

Everything I told you. Lou did those murders on your information.

Now admit that's the truth. It's not. I know it's not.

It couldn't be.

Lou's dead.

He's been dead a week now.

Is that the truth? Yes.

Do I seem very heartless if I say I'm... Glad?

I told you I hated his guts.

I can't pretend. I'm sorry now that I know he's dead.

Are you shocked?

Sorry, I'm no good at pretending.

No, I'm not shocked.

I thought I'd get everything clear, and now I'm baffled again.

Sergeant Pepper?

Sorry I shouted at you. Nothing personal.

I quite enjoyed it.

Yes, sir?

Well, have Mrs. Dainey taken home, would you? Right, sir.

Goodbye, Mrs. Dainey.

Goodbye.

Well?

I tried the exact opposite. It didn't work.

It's got to work somehow or other.

Well, try this thought in the meantime.

Harry hasn't got hold of the jewellery yet or he wouldn't still be in this

country. There must be some reason why. Well, I'm putting out a full description

of Harry. Got some more men on the job.

We'll find him. No, no.

What do you mean, no? I'm not bothered about Harry. Well, I am. Harry isn't

important. The principle of the whole thing is the exact opposite.

And the key to the whole thing is Lydia.

Hello, yes?

Yes, where?

All right, I've got that.

I'm starting now.

Right. Let's pick up the stuff.

Where are we meeting Lou? You can tell me now. We're on our way.

A place called Henfield, near Brighton.

Lou's been hiding out there for some time.

What happens then?

There's a private airfield a couple of miles away. We've got a plane and a

pilot standing by. Take off straight away.

Very nice.

All we have to do here is pick up the stuff.

Sure.

Go ahead.

Well, Lou said you'd show me where it was.

Don't you know yourself?

He said you'd show me. When did he tell you? Yesterday, before I came to see

you. He told you it was in this house?

Yes, of course.

But he didn't say where it was hidden. Lydia, come on. We're keeping Lou

waiting. You know what I think, Harry?

I think you've searched this house from top to bottom trying to find the hiding

place. But you didn't succeed any more than the police did.

What are you playing at, Lydia?

You couldn't find it yourself, so you had to get hold of me. You're trying to

double-cross Lou? He's not going to like it, you know.

I can't double-cross Lou.

Do you know where the stuff is? Oh, yes.

Well, then... And I believe your story about the plane, but there's only one

passenger booked on it. You.

Oh, no, I can't double-cross Lou.

For the simple reason that he's dead.

I knew it the moment I saw you with his gun.

It's the only thing that could have made him part with it.

Do you want to see him?

Yes.

Lou meant me to be there.

But I was a bit too quick for him.

You too, Lydia.

Unless you tell me where the stuff is.

Oh, no, Harry.

That's not your idea.

Your idea is to kill me after I show you.

Only I'm not going to show you.

So what do you do now?

50-50?

No.

All right, then. You name it.

Why?

Why should I?

Why indeed.

I quite agree, Lydia. He isn't a trustworthy partner.

Sorry to interrupt you, and I thought I'd find you here.

Well, Harry, give yourself up.

Get out of my way.

Or else.

That's right. No, I'm a policeman, Harry. That means hanging.

Get out of my way.

Thank you.

You'll probably get a medal for that.

You took a risk?

Calculated one, Lydia.

You said you were bad at pretending, but you're good at it.

You said you hated Lou, but you loved him.

You said you were a lousy shot.

I won prizes for it.

My turn now. No.

No one to help you. No?

The jewels aren't here or you wouldn't have sent me here in the first place.

Your flat?

Just had it searched. No result.

Now, where else could they be?

Come and look.

Harry spent a whole hour sitting within three feet of it.