Original subtitles

Oh my god.

Are you going up to Mr.

Jones?

Yes, sir. I've expected.

There's some letters for you.

Bills, all of them bills. Yes, well, I'll take them. Yeah, you'll be very

grateful, I'm sure.

Hello, Johnny. David's waiting for you.

He's very worked up tonight.

Oh, so you've got to go out. I'm driven out.

Johnny, we've got to do something about David.

Yes, I know, my love. You're right.

I'm going to do something now. A clean break, please. Nothing else.

We'll see.

Where will you be? At the cinema, sucking lollies.

Good night, Mr.

Groves.

You're late.

Well, what odds?

Timing's important. Did Groves see you?

Yes, he gave me these with relish.

That's it.

So I see.

Hey, how did you get on with Murchie? What about the series?

He said no, like a Scotsman.

Lucky we laid this on, isn't it?

It's lucky we can give it up.

Our careers?

Here.

Look. Here.

It's Ayn.

I ought to find another way to make a living.

All you can do is write.

I can change.

We don't have to change. Other people can do the changing, the fitting in, all

the dreary conforming bit.

I'll stay as I am.

All I need is to be recognized.

Oh, great.

What as?

Me. Up.

He did not forget to ask you. Are you a nut? Try it for size.

I'm a nut.

This is kid stuff, isn't it, Dave? What do you mean, kid stuff? It's exciting.

It's a giggle.

It's taking on the whole establishment.

That's what you're young for.

Who's young?

Take it down, lady.

Taking any luggage with you?

Well, I'll... I'll pay you some time.

Oh, doing a vulgar scarper, are you?

Well, they're going to charge us with creating a public mischief.

You know, the police will get right on to us after that Osborne business.

That girl pretended to be kidnapped.

She used us.

The police knew it. They couldn't make a finger.

Right. So they got it in for us.

Everybody's got it in for me.

Us.

That's why they're all going to look very stupid.

Police, press, the lot.

And we'll be doing a public service.

You think we'll get live peerages?

Drawing attention to the dangers of circumstantial evidence.

That'll be our line when it all comes out.

And money!

Money for interviews, syndicated rights, television.

Yeah.

Yes, there could be money.

Money to start a family, have a home.

What's this? What's this? What's this? Who is she?

Oh, well, it's just a... Just a piece that I met in Battersea a week or so

ago.

I've seen her a couple of times since. Why didn't you tell us?

Well, the...

Well, I mean, I don't tell you everything.

Flora.

She's gone back to Dundee.

Better get going, knocker.

Yeah.

Okay, Joe.

Is he going to muck this up?

You keep picking on him and he probably will.

Don't make him nervous.

Who's nervous?

You are.

Doolally. It's dead easy.

He's in that car park every night from 8 o'clock until the pub closes.

Jaguar saloon.

And he's never locked it once.

Well, go and get it then.

Should have knocked it off earlier.

What are you going to do if it is locked?

It's never locked. I told you.

I've been watching it.

You're going to muck this up, aren't you?

You're not considerate, Arthur. Supposing I had knocked it off, where

would we hide it here?

The cop's searching.

That's right, knocker.

Don't get upset.

That way you won't notice till the pub closes.

Now go and get it, mate. You've got about 20 minutes.

Pay 19s.

20.

It's worth enough to cut myself.

You!

Cluck! Sorry.

Did it work?

Yes, of course it worked.

Hey, that yell was very good.

Give us another one.

On cue.

Are you in there?

What's all this charge of the Light Brigade stuff in?

What are you talking about? Well, we're fighting, you know.

One word from me and that'll be it. I'm just moving a few things.

It's like that.

I'm warning you.

Groves!

I'll have a job for you in a little while.

Thank you very much. I want you to give me a handout of the car with some books.

I'll call you, right? You'll have to move that car, you know. Yes, yes. I'm

going to put some books in it. Then I'm going to drive it away.

Will you help me?

Of course I will. I'll help anybody.

Don't waste it all in the basin.

And drip some in the sitting room when you're finished.

Now remember, Johnny, be firm of purpose. I don't care where you hide,

but stay hid.

Nothing must bring you to the surface till the day of the trial. Nothing. Yes,

okay. Now finish shaving and save some hair for the poker.

Wouldn't you like a couple of my teeth as well, would you?

Hey, that's an idea.

I'd never have known you. Very pretty.

They're not naked. Come on, do something.

Listen, how long have I got to be in this thing? Oh, about ten minutes at the

outside. There are no air holes in it. There's enough air in there for ten

minutes. It's only till we get to the car park.

Come on, come on.

On the night of the... I'll get gross.

Don't shut the lid yet. Right.

All right, don't give us that claustrophobic bit.

Look, you hold it open till I get back, right?

And when I come back, I will snap it shut.

Happy?

Oh, get shut.

Oh, Groves!

I've got them ready. Will you come up now?

I don't know what it's for.

Not a box. I'm a heavy reader.

Where'd you say Mr.

Gordon went?

Home.

I never saw him pass out. Oh, yes, he passed out all right.

Careful.

Nearly got it.

You're doing a wonderful job.

Well rid of that.

Many a true word.

I must keep this fun. You see, it must be thought out.

There you go.

What a lovely night.

Here,

Groves.

Drink to a good riddance.

Thank you very much.

Johnny, rescue is at hand.

Johnny?

Johnny?

Give me a knock.

Can you hear me?

Johnny?

Hey, Johnny?

Johnny, say something.

Hey!

Johnny, you... Stop!

There's a man in there!

He's cutting it a bit fine.

I told you I didn't like it.

Rocker's gone right off.

He'll get by.

Dead loss in my book.

Better without him.

Buy one.

We've got to have a car, haven't we?

Police?

Oh, stolen car?

Name, please, sir.

Thank you, Drusilla.

Yes, yes, yes, I know, sir, but you'll save time by giving me the particulars

now. Your name, please, sir.

Sergeant. Yeah? He says a man's life is at stake.

Oh, you'd better watch that, Harry.

It's locked in a chest.

It's locked in a chest.

Where are you speaking from, sir?

What? Listen to me.

I tell you, a man is going to suffocate.

Yes, yes, yes.

I put him into it.

Oh, you put him there. I see.

All right, Harry, I'll take that.

Now then, can I have your name, sir?

Oh, that Mr. Jones.

I see.

And the man in the chest, I don't suppose he'd be your friend Mr. Gordon,

would he?

Yes, I thought he might be.

Sergeant. Sergeant Madsen.

Don't go away. This is serious.

He can't breathe in there.

Now, listen to me, Mr. Jones. We don't like you much, so don't push it.

If you want to mix it with us again, we'll set the time.

Now, go home.

It's only a Gloria Osborne case.

Fun people.

No, no, no.

Oh, yes.

That's a very nice Jaguar knocker. It's the best I could do, Joe.

Hell of a job I had with that Jag.

Engine wouldn't start.

Right out of petrol, I reckon.

And water, too, I shouldn't wonder.

Then this bloke pulled in.

Well, there was nothing else, see?

All locked.

I did all right, though. I took it right under his nose.

He was lucky to get rid of it.

Oh, she's all right, Arthur. She goes like a bomb.

Supercharged, I shouldn't wonder.

What if we get chased?

I'll shake them.

And this?

Look, we've only got to get back to our own wagon.

Nobody will get on to us that quick.

Joe, you said not to pick up a heap what folks had noticed.

When they see this, they'll think we're on the Brighton run.

Oh, get rid of that.

Sticks out like a sore thumb.

It's locked.

The bloke was fiddling around with it.

Talking to himself.

That's when I snatched the car.

I might give him a hand, Arthur.

Don't look inside, Joe.

It's banked safe for after.

Not Captain Kidd's treasure. Just put it in the shed.

Let's get moving.

It's heavy.

Comfy?

Now, let's go through it once more, shall we?

Mrs. Mock comes out at 9.15.

The moment she's opened the bank door, Arthur and I are in.

Knocker gives us half an hour, then he's at the corner fiddling with his engine.

Oh, very lifelike.

You're not fair, you know, Arthur.

Two blasts on the horn.

That's the warning signal.

Have you got the jelly? Yeah. I remember this, Arthur.

I don't like to hear a woman scream.

She won't have time, will she?

Not too hard, Arthur.

Police?

I think he's done for him. Yeah, I meant murder.

Well, it's the Bella Vista Apartments.

Mr. Jones' flat.

Well, don't leave me here long.

I mean, there's blood everywhere, isn't there?

Says it's murder.

Where? Bella Vista Apartments. Mr. Jones' flat.

All right, let me have it.

See if young sir's in.

Now, what's all this about, sir?

Can I help? Mr. Mellon! What do you want?

Much here.

Jones, did my secretary... I need your help.

All right, all right.

Thank you.

Sit down, Joe. Sit down.

Something terrible's happened to Johnny. Johnny Gordon. Here, you better have

this.

Come now.

That'll do. Just a taste. Just a taste.

What's all this about Gordon? He's taken away. In a box.

Is he?

My car was stolen. Johnny was inside.

Locked in a chest.

I see.

I see.

Please, there's no time to explain.

It all began as a stunt.

Ah, a stunt?

Look, if that chest isn't found and opened quickly, then Johnny will die.

You may be dead already.

The police won't listen to me. And you think I'm a bigger fool than the police,

is that it?

Mr. Murchie, listen, I... Go on, get out of here, you and your Gloria Osbornes.

Take your idiot stunts up Fleet Street if you like, but... Yes.

Ah, he's trying to sell me something.

Oh.

Aye.

I see.

Call the police back then. Tell them he's here.

Hold on there.

Who's in the art department?

Galvin. Galvin.

Send him up with a camera.

And don't get the police before he's ready.

Inspector Briggs, you know my husband.

Not all that well, I shouldn't think. At any rate, you know him well enough to

know it isn't in his nature to harm anyone.

There's been some blood spilt around here all the same.

But Johnny's his greatest friend. He's been working with him.

So Gordon was in here all...

All the time, was he? He practically lives here. Oh.

Maybe he was here once too often.

What are you being clever about now?

Well, sometimes, you see, Mrs. Jones, in a case like this, a situation can

develop. And you and your husband have been heard quarrelling.

Is this interrogating? Are you writing down what I said? And you quarrelled

about Gordon?

Never. Hmm?

Oh. Oh, what, Mrs. Jones? Only about... about meals.

Meals. Oh, it doesn't matter. I...

I just thought he ate here too often.

When you went out this evening, were driven out, as you said, you met Gordon

in the foyer.

Groves. And did you say, did you say, Johnny, we must do something

about David? Yes. And did you mention a clean break?

We were talking about David's work.

David's what?

David's work. Yes. And did Gordon reply, I'm going to do something about it now?

And then make an appointment with you at the local cinema. No, not an

appointment. You know, you're making a great mess about all this.

Yes, you can take the murder weapon away.

Oh, now, easy now. Easy.

Watch your language, Sergeant.

Don't start using any big words.

Yet.

Tell me, Mrs. Jones, are there many books missing?

I don't know without counting. Don't bother. Nobody's asking you to count

them. Just look. One quick look.

And tell me if there are a lot missing. No, not a lot. Not a lot. No. Not a

chest of all.

It's been a bank job.

Amateurs.

Busy night.

A patrol car picked up two refugees from Fred Karner's army coming out the bank

door.

Having made a small withdrawal.

We know him?

Yeah, not for bank jobs. Any news of Jones?

Any news of Jones?

No. Right.

Tell him we're on our way back.

What do you think about Coulton?

You're going to look pretty pathetic when Johnny turns up in his digs, aren't

you? Oh, I've thought of that, believe me.

Would make me very cross, that would.

I've got him. Oh, Gordon?

No, Jones.

Walks into the weekly gazette office, editor phones us.

Straight to the newspaper's end.

We're going to have to watch our step, aren't we, Sergeant?

Oh, we are indeed, Inspector.

The eyes of the press are upon us.

Well, I hope everybody's going to enjoy this little episode as much as they seem

to think they will.

Heads. Tails.

Come on, you two, come on.

Come on, put a jack in it, the flesh boys are waiting.

Oh, are they in a hurry?

Oh, it's you.

Arthur, this is Inspector Briggs.

Oh.

You poor fish.

Banks, you should stick to gas meters.

Come on, come on.

How long have you got?

About 40, 45 minutes.

Okay, get in.

doing anything at all.

Well, Jones, like a homing pigeon to the newspaper, eh? I had to find Johnny. So

what were you going to do?

Advertise for him? Well, I couldn't look for him on my own, could I?

Somebody had helped me. Nobody took any notice of me. I thought much he might.

But he wasn't any more impressed than we were.

Well, you seem pretty impressed now. Oh, I don't know.

Let's play it slow for a little, eh? Slow?

Well, Johnny Gordon is... Please, please, will you look for my car? We

have been looking for it. If that chest isn't open...

Is there any way of getting it across to you? He's going to die.

Maybe it's too late now.

Gordon got himself into that chest.

I told you.

And the chest is in the back of the car. It was there when the car was stolen.

Well, it wasn't there when the car was found.

Where was the car found? Not far from where you said it was stolen.

On Potter's Common, near the old shaft.

Now then, Jones, I want you to tell me the precise, unsensational truth.

I'm telling you that... No, Jones, you're not. You're not doing that.

You're not being strictly honest with us.

But I think you will be.

I'm sure he will.

You see, Jones, the sergeant is sure.

And you will be soon enough.

Unless, of course, you're still feeling clever in there.

Do you think he's feeling clever, sergeant? I think he is feeling a little

bit bright, sir.

And what do you think he's feeling bright about?

Well, I think it's the way he likes to make us stupid.

He likes to make people laugh at us.

Very stupid, he must think us.

Well, you think we're funny, do you, Jones?

Hmm? Then why aren't you laughing?

He's not even smiling, Sergeant.

Not a grin.

You know, I think he's worried about the situation he finds himself in, Sergeant.

I think he should be.

on the night of October 6.

He's aged 30, 5 feet 11 in height.

They let you go. They had to. They wouldn't let me see you. They've taken

away all the furniture.

Oh, darling, what's the matter?

They've been at me all those days.

David, what is it all about?

You were trying to fake something for a newspaper story, was that it?

That's how it started.

And now Johnny's turned up.

He has, hasn't he?

No. It was an accident.

Johnny could be... He may be dead.

What did you do?

I didn't do anything.

We're all going to sit there and wait now.

And so we...

Hey, Joe.

Hmm? You know that box in the car?

Hmm?

Why don't we look inside?

You're full of tricks, you are.

On the way to the mint, you want to break open a piggy bank.

Might have been loaded.

What with?

I don't know, do I?

Crown jewels?

Rembrandt paintings?

All the money from the great train robbery.

Teaspoons. In that old rattle trap.

You must be dreaming.

You've lost.

That twit knocker.

Who's a twit?

He's still on the outside, isn't he?

Yeah.

I was thinking that.

He won't go near that shed.

That's for sure.

Got a match?

Good morning, sir.

Yes, yes, what do you want?

There's a gentleman coming to look at the flat at 8 o'clock this evening.

If that's convenient.

Run along.

So, on Saturday, my lovely, we're walking the lonely... streets.

Good.

Yeah.

Is he 49 still, then?

Can't see him. He must be looking sly.

No doubt he'll be with us wherever we go, just like everything else.

Really, it's too bad of Johnny. He must know what a state we're in.

Oh, you've seen it, you pig.

You are really good quality stuff.

We must be practical.

Let's think, we've no money left.

No.

I'll get some. Where?

Merchie. Oh, love. He's had a real ball having me picked up in his own office.

His 14 little local papers have been upstaging every daily in Fleet Street.

And now they're pumping the shaft.

He's away again.

Guess what? He's going to pay something for it.

Don't put him off. He's the nearest thing we've got to a friend.

You

can't

think Johnny's there.

No, it's my belief he'll never find anything there.

Yon shaft's supposed to be bottomless.

Still, it was worth plodding them into doing something. Creates a bit of

interest. And when they find nothing at all, we can always write a feature on

the waste of public money.

Ah, the lad himself, eh?

Yes, yes.

Ah, I've got that.

Bye-bye.

My secretary.

Let me in.

Well, I'm rather busy this morning, Jones. What do you want?

Money. Or a job, a steady job, if you'll pardon me.

Uh-huh.

I see.

One or the other, eh?

Or maybe both.

Well, the Gazette owes me something.

Indeed, indeed.

Read tightly.

My trouble is seeing you lot nicely through the silly season.

Sharpen that.

Aye, we've not done too badly.

And it's not finished.

Ah, well, now, Jones, they never charged you. Remember that.

If they had, maybe.

Mind you, it's only maybe.

You might have found the old Gazette group generous enough.

We might have paid for your defense. Yes in return for the exclusive and

syndication rights, which might still be available Your exclusive my boy is worth

exactly nothing. This case has been hanging fire too long. It needs a touch

of Now if your God were

subtly to pop up again, I suppose he will turn up again sometime

But if I was to pack up and disappear before Johnny turns up, in one way or

another... Oh, you're thinking of that, are you?

You needn't look at the telephone. Nobody can stop me.

So there's no chance at all of Gordon suddenly flashing into the case?

I mean, if he did, then some other paper got the story first.

I'd never forgive you, Jones.

So you'd better keep me on then, hadn't you?

I can't afford to give you a job.

A newspaper like mine can't afford to identify itself with too much

journalistic jiggery-pokery.

We did our civic duty at the beginning, but if the whole thing turned out to be

a mare's nest and you happened to be actually on our payroll, oh, Jones.

I read you.

Yes? Marcus speaking.

What? Jones!

David! Wait.

Don't go yet. Well, if it so happens, I have him here in my office.

Yes. Get on to Big right away.

Go in.

Take some photographs of the two of us.

Janet, put that phone down and come up here.

I want you to stand against the board.

Now then.

Frighten, frighten. It's all secured.

What's happened?

The whole situation's changed.

We've found something, after all, in Rankin's shop.

What, a body?

All right. Well, it's got nothing to do with me.

Oh, actually, you're wrong, Daddy. It's very much to do with you.

There's some particular reason to believe it's a particular body.

Right. What are you saying?

It's been identified.

That's a good one.

Come on, Calvin, at least have us two. Come on, quick, quick.

That's it.

He made no statement. He knows it's no use if you ask me.

You can have him.

Snap out of it.

What for?

You're giving up pretty early.

What should I be doing? Eating a hearty breakfast?

Practising for the big day? You didn't do it. Tell them.

No, tell me.

My name's Lane. I shall be acting as your solicitor in this very interesting

case. Yes, good.

Hello. Met your wife without, so to speak.

And informed her that Mr. Murchie has made the arrangements. For an exclusive

up to the verdict.

Well, I know nothing about that.

But as I'm acting for you, I should like to say that I hope I can rely on you to

keep me fully... Informed?

Of every aspect of the case.

Now, I understand that in the first place you wanted them to believe in a

murder. A fictitious murder.

And you manufactured the evidence of one. I didn't manufacture a body.

I'm sure you didn't expect that to turn up.

It can't be Johnny's body.

But it seems that a Mrs. Hacking, Gordon's landlady, has identified a

ring. Must be thousands of those cheap rings.

Mrs. Hacking claims she was continually coming across it in the bathroom after

Gordon had washed.

Any idea why Gordon wore it? He'd only worn it for two weeks.

A souvenir, perhaps.

We must explore that.

But the worry is that it ties up with rather a lot of other evidence.

I know!

Have you had a meal?

A cup of tea and a sausage roll. Oh, no.

This chest, you acquired it on the day of the alleged murder.

They will say that this is proof of premeditation.

I was premeditating a hoax. Any mustard?

The police say that when you, Mrs. Jones, left the flat that evening, you

had a conversation with Gordon. They twisted everything sideways.

You admitted the actual words.

You've got it here?

Yes. Well, please re-angle your thoughts and read it again.

We were talking about persuading David to give up, to... Jack in his writing.

Yes, you see, Mr. Lane, they've both written me off as a total failure.

Well, that's better.

Now, Mr. Jones, let's start at the beginning of that evening.

Why hasn't that chest been found?

Yes, why didn't I throw the chest down the shaft with the body?

It might have floated. What am I supposed to have done with it, then?

Burnt it in the rubbish tip half a mile away.

We ought to find that chest.

Advertise for it. Somebody must know where it is.

Empty.

Empty. It would hardly help your case.

And if it were found not empty, that would hardly help.

As it is, we might be able to break down the identification of the body that we

have.

But with the chest, and if Gordon should be in it.

Perhaps it would be better if I just went and hung myself quietly in my cell.

All right for rope, are you?

You get it on the National Health, don't you?

Only on prescription.

I thought they let it on here.

That's not funny.

No.

Nor is this a very useful interview.

I have the impression you'd rather do without me.

So I shall go and waste ten minutes on a quite unnecessary phone call.

And when I return, perhaps you'll permit me to be some help to you.

What?

I'll kiss him better when he comes back.

He seems all right, though, doesn't he?

He's fine.

Interesting decor.

That's what I call real functionalism in furniture.

It won't be long.

This is just nuttiness. It can't last.

Things are going very wrong.

You'll think of something.

You couldn't arrange to stay here, could you? It'll be very nasty when you go.

I'll speak to the sergeant.

That inspector's a Neanderthal.

On second thoughts, I think I'll take you back.

Not just now, in a few days.

I'll pick you up.

Good.

Hey, Cyril. What are your views on capital punishment?

He's very glad you asked him that.

Sharp murder.

Eight o'clock for Jonesy, that's short.

Well, he done it, didn't he? Yeah.

Let his name and address.

Here. Have you seen this? Listen.

Weekly Gazette offers substantial reward for information leading to recovery of

wooden chest, fumed oak.

Last seen on the night of October the 6th.

October the 6th?

Well, that's it, isn't it?

May have fallen from Vanguard estate car.

LWK 975.

Here, that knocker.

Can he read?

As I see it, you correct me if I'm wrong.

Surely.

We can find that chest.

Senior counsel was very angry about that advertisement, you know.

Oh, I dare say, I dare say.

Now, we can find that chest with Gordon in it.

Now. So they had to drop all the current charges based on the shaft body and set

up a new case, right?

Roughly, yes.

Or we find the chest empty.

So... So the case is hardly affected.

But supposing we found the chest with Gorton's body in it after the trial.

Now there's really a situation.

And what's the matter now?

I'm tempted to ask if you've got that chest. What, hidden under the bed or

something? Oh, not at all, not at all. No, no, no, no, no, no.

But assuming that Jones is found guilty... We've no right to assume that

at all. No, no, you're quite right, of course, we should not.

But we do.

Now, if he is, and then we find another Gordon's body.

So, all the trial is null and void, and a man can't be tried for the same murder

twice.

That would be quite an interesting legal situation. Aye, it would be quite a

story.

Anything?

Not even after the reward offer?

How are you making out for money?

I've got some night work at the hospital.

You can still get here in the daytime?

Yes, of course.

Food any better?

Cordon bleu.

That ring, Lane said it was probably some sort of funfair prize.

Well, then so was Johnny's. They're exactly alike.

Well, he probably got his from Battersea. He told me he'd picked up

some girl there.

Is your cell cold?

No. No, it's warm.

There is a bit dry, though. It's stuffy.

Nasty taste in my mouth. My room's freezing.

One bar electric stove is useless.

Hey!

He was taking that girl seriously, you know. He started rabbiting on about

settling down.

It's about time.

Did he tell you anything else about her?

She was from Dundee.

She probably gave it to him. Or they won it together.

Did he tell you her name?

Flora. Flora who?

I don't know.

That's why he wore it.

Well, it wasn't much in his line, was it?

Flora.

Did he tell you if she lived in Dundee or only that she came from there?

She's gone back, then.

He might be with her.

Hello, Joe.

What can I do for you, knocker?

Look, you don't hold it against me, do you, Joe?

I mean, what happened?

I'd done my best that night.

I couldn't warn you.

I had to see you, Joe.

Yeah.

I'll read the papers, too.

Yeah, well, I wouldn't go behind your back, Joe.

You and Arthur, you know that.

And they'll be a bit there for you when you come out.

Oh.

That's good.

No coming up, Mark.

Well, there's no hurry then, is there?

But suppose he gets caught?

Well, that's no skin off your nose.

Unless... Well, who said that the chest was going to be any good to him anyway?

It was heavy.

Yeah, I was thinking that.

Heavy enough for a corpse.

Did you see the case in the Magistrate's Court then?

I read it.

He said it was a hoax.

He said that he was going to let his mate out when he found a nice quiet

spot.

What was he doing when you snatched the car?

He was round at the back, fiddling with the... Fiddling with the chest.

And then you stole the car and the chest.

Then what did we do?

Left it in the shed.

It's still there, Joe.

So?

If he wasn't dead then, he is now.

You've got worries, knocker.

Me? Well, if he is a corpse, who made him a corpse in the course of committing

a felony?

I'm up.

Well, you go ahead then, knocker. You put him for that reward.

He'll come in very handy for your old mum.

Afterward. Now then.

Mildred's in Dundee?

Yes, she is.

For all the good that'll do.

If Gordon had a girl and we can find her, it shows you had no reason to be

jealous of him with your wife.

Look, men have been jealous before without cause.

And they've chased after two women at a time.

Even three.

Oh, never mind him. He's always looking on the black side.

Thank heavens your counsel's a cheerful man.

I wish he'd bring his good cheer here sometime.

Mr. Bagshot is one of the busiest QCs at the bar.

I very much doubt if we shall have... There's a telephone calling for you, Mr.

Lane, from your office.

It's all up, isn't it?

No, no, no, no, no.

We had an ad in last night's Dundee papers in the personal column. Flora,

must see you very urgent. Love, Johnny of Battersea Funfair.

What if he's with her?

We put a photograph of him in the same issue, captioned, Missing writer, loss

of memory feared, and so on.

Just to arouse the girl's interest, you understand, without scaring her.

Subtle. Well, some people don't like to be mixed up in a murder case.

And I'm with them.

Your wife just phoned my office.

A girl called Flora MacLean answered the Dundee box number this morning.

Flora MacLean? Hi.

You answered the advertisement about Johnny Gordon.

Who are you?

I'm Mildred Jones.

My husband and Johnny work together.

We've got to find him. Well, what's he done?

He's just disappeared.

Well, that wouldn't have surprised you, would it, if you know Johnny?

I haven't laid eyes on the lad since I left London.

We can come in if you want to.

Why do you want to find Johnny?

David, my husband stands trial for his murder tomorrow.

Murder?

Weekly Gazette. I want to talk to Mr. Murchie.

Who's calling?

It's personal.

Putting you through, then.

Murchie speaking.

You did say the chest, didn't you?

Where are you now?

Yes, I know, but you'll have to trust me.

Now, just listen.

That's the trouble.

You were our last hope.

If only you could prove that that ring wasn't the one that you and Johnny...

I hardly saw it.

We were just larking about at this lucky dip, and Johnny said...

Oh, I cannot believe he's dead.

He was talking about you to David the night he disappeared.

When we parted, he said he'd write every week.

Did he? Oh, not him.

Oh, he wrote the first week all right. After that, just one postcard. No date,

no address, and absolutely bursting with information.

Wish you were here. I love Johnny.

At Conway Castle.

The castle's in the air.

It's posted in Denby.

He had a job there a couple of years ago.

That was before I knew him.

November the 7th?

Congratulations, Inspector.

An excellent turnout.

Yeah. You didn't lose much time, either.

So, you're telling me that this is the chest in the Jones case, hmm?

It answers the description.

All right, better clear this muck away.

Any amount of it.

Oh, come on, Archie. I gave you the tip.

Just a journalist's instinct, Inspector.

Going to open it? Oh, yes, yes.

In private.

The lock holds.

Just as Jones said, Inspector.

Then we'd better get a tire lever, hadn't we?

Now, wait a minute. Inspector, who found the chest in the first place?

I could have opened it if... If you hadn't been afraid of the consequences,

my chief.

Come on, Briggs, what's in it?

Get it down to Central.

Better get the lab boys out of bed.

It'll be a pleasure.

Come on, Galvin.

We'll get something in anyway.

Yes? Lane here.

Mr. Lane.

Well, did you get anything out of them?

I've just been to see the landlord.

He's in hospital. Takes no interest.

Apparently he left the place to some unknown joker who wanted to start a

scrap business.

He only saw the fellow once when he came to pay the rent in advance.

Oh, dear.

Are they going to ask for an adjournment tomorrow?

No idea.

What about Dundee?

Not a word, sir.

Oh, bloody women.

I asked for some coffee.

Oh, hello, Inspector.

Up all night?

Is that all?

I think I owe you something for strengthening our case.

So there was nothing in the chest?

Oh, yes, yes.

Dried blood.

And a lead statue.

Venus.

Why would he put a statue in the chest?

Well, to make sure that the chest and the body sank in the shaft.

But the chest wasn't in the shaft.

So, he changed his mind.

Well, thanks for telling me anyway.

Not at all.

What about Mrs.

Jones's trip to Scotland?

Oh, so you knew about that too.

Well, I suppose it has got some bearing on the case.

Why don't you just wait and see?

Oh, and no stop pressed upon what I've just told you.

I'll be careful when I print it if I will.

Subjudicate, you know.

Ah!

Hey,

did you hear?

Polish patriot is running today.

I don't care if it's running tonight.

I'll have a whiskey, Mac.

Hey, customers!

I'm sorry, madam, we can't serve the public, but... Laura!

You can put that beard back on for a start.

I want to make a long-distance call, please.

It's urgent.

He told me whatever happened to stay hid.

I was only doing what he asked me to.

After you knew a body had been found.

Well, I've made it better.

Better?

I've gone right off you, Johnny. I can tell you that.

Well, it was his idea.

Did it never cross your mind what he might be going through?

Ah, we knew I'd come forward.

How could he know? He thought you were in the chest and he'd lost it.

Oh, great. So now I should apologise for getting out.

How did you get out, Johnny?

Well, I wasn't going to be boxed in there. It wasn't necessary.

All he had to do was make Groves believe that I was in the chest.

So I hopped out and put your Venus statue in instead.

The Venus?

But the police took that away with the furniture.

They didn't, you know.

It was in the chest instead of me.

I don't imagine they're going to get away with it. Don't you imagine for one

moment... I think you're forgetting yourself, Inspector. My client told you

the truth from the start. Yes, we'll see about that.

What have we brought here?

Is it the chest?

Gordon's been found.

Found?

Alive. If you think you're going to get away with it, you're wrong.

I congratulate you.

Yes, yes, I don't mind telling you the brightest flash of intuition of my

career was the day when I put my finger on the...

Unearthingly, too, mind you. Unearthingly, on those two brilliant

young men.

And now the world will be reading their story.

I'm expecting them here at any minute.

Yes, of course, my group is willing to negotiate the syndication rights. That's

what you think.

What? We have taken over from now on.

Those two need looking after.

But the contract.

Scrap it.

Er, my group that I was telling you about.

They're making us throw away ten, fifteen thousand pounds.

Maybe a film contract, too.

Maybe a prison stretch, too.

Well, I mean, we knew that.

Well, it's worth it, a few months inside.

No, it isn't. Believe me, it isn't.

Well, then what was it all for?

Good question.

Station road, please, driver.

Now, then, please, I've got one. I've got one.