Original subtitles

Thank you.

I'm Inspector Shannon. I want to see a prisoner due to be released today.

Bedford, number 1594.

1594?

Oh, she just signed that ten minutes ago. She what?

Oh, well, never mind.

Miss Elton, please.

Miss Elton's busy now.

Perhaps you write a letter. She may see you tomorrow.

I'm her sister and I'm seeing her now.

Who is it, Jeannette?

A visitor, madame. She says she's your... Never mind, I'll announce

myself. No, just a moment, please.

I can't see anybody, Jeannette. I'll be late.

You know that Mr.

Marshall doesn't like being kept waiting.

Audrey! That's right, darling. The prodigal's returned.

Darling, why didn't you let me know? But I did let you know. Maybe you just

forgot.

It's so easy to forget and so convenient.

Look, if you're gonna make trouble... Trouble?

All I want is a bath and a bed.

Well, you can't stay here. The house is too small. Anyway, Jeannette couldn't

cope. Do you have any money?

Three pounds, seventeen and six, my entire earnings for nine months. Pretty

lean wages of sin.

Well, look, I can let you have ten pounds.

I'm a little short myself at the moment, but if you ring me in a few days...

Thanks, I can manage.

You know, all the time I was inside, I thought Dora will understand.

Dora will believe me.

I can trust her. If no one else, she'll stand by me. He hadn't been such a

little fool.

Oh, yes, I should have got a prize if they gave one for stupidity. But the man

that asked me to take that parcel to the station said it would be a favour to

you. He lied. You know it was clearly established.

Oh, yes, it was all legal and proper.

You don't carry parcels with £10,000 worth of jewellery in them without

knowing all about it.

Hello? Dora? Yes?

Dora? Oh, Lacey.

Don't be late. No, I won't be late. It's just that I had a visitor, but she's

gone now.

Bring her along.

What? Bring her along with you. You don't mean it. But I do mean it. Bring

her along tonight.

Cornfelt likes a pretty face.

Besides, we owe the kid a bit of fun. She can't have had much for the past

year. But, Lacey, her clothes.

She left a few things at your place, didn't she? You got all the trimmings.

We'll discuss it at lunch. But, Lacey, how did you know that... Audrey!

Wait! I'm coming down!

Darling, what a little hedgehog you are.

Well, don't tell me the prickles hurt you. Now, don't let's bicker. This is a

new leaf for both of us.

Jeanette, take Miss Audrey's things to the guest room, will you, and make some

tea. Now, you'd like that, wouldn't you?

There's plenty of time, and we can have a nice long talk, right?

There.

You know something?

You haven't changed a bit.

Now go look at yourself.

Well.

If 768 could see me now. Who?

A dear old lady with a hobby, shoplifting.

She was my cellmate. Oh, look, darling, I do think you should forget all that

sort of thing now.

Do you think any Sunday newspaper might pay for my memoirs?

Nine months in stir. Oh, darling, don't be so silly. Lacey wanted you to come.

He feels the sooner you start a new decent life, the better.

Well, how kind of Mr. Marshall.

But then, he's a very kind man.

He's a very important man.

Must be wonderful to have such influential friends.

You see, darling, this is a very important party for him.

Kornfeldt's over here for this big deal.

Well, let's be nice to Mr.

Kornfeldt.

People do not understand us, Herr Marschall. It is we, the top men in

industry and finance, who are the true internationalists. We are the main

pillars of peace.

Isn't it true, Liebsche?

Ja, Henry.

What you say is always true.

Elsa is my keenest critic and my most reliable supporter.

You must be very happy.

Now, Herr Kornfeldt, about this consignment. We talk tomorrow at the

hotel, yes? In the afternoon, because in the morning I must buy a present for

Elsa. She likes presents, don't you, Liebchen?

Ja, Heinrich.

That's quite a hefty bank balance Mrs.

Kornfeldt's weighing around her neck.

To me, no, that eyes. Do you think it's fair?

Oh, yeah, the Germans are pretty solid people.

Say, you've picked up the slang, haven't you?

Audrey's always been mad on slang.

She's made quite a study of it, haven't you?

Yes, and at first hand, too.

Pardon me while I go and take a closer look at all that ice.

Inspector Shannon to see you, sir.

Well, Inspector, this isn't a surprise.

Surprise?

Well, I hope you'll forgive me for crashing like this, Mr. Marshall, but I

want to have a word with Herr Kornfeld before he goes up north. Just security,

you know. Of course, you're always welcome. Have a drink. Thank you.

Well, I see you have a discerning eye.

That's very flattering.

Oh, you know the ladies? Well, I've met them.

By the way, if you don't mind talking shop for a moment, what about that noisy

neighbor of mine, Malpas, or whatever his name is? Oh, yes, yes, the

mysterious Mr. Malpas. Has he been troubling you again?

Several times a week there are the most peculiar sounds next door.

Knocks and creaks and the noise of heavy stuff being shoved around.

Really, if the police can't do something... Well, you know, Mr.

Marshall, we are kept reasonably busy, quite apart from minor offenses, I mean.

We've kept a pretty close watch on the place. Nobody seems to go in or out, and

the windows are always tightly shuttered.

If Mr. Malpas chooses to lead the life of a recluse, I suppose he's entitled

to. Mr. Marshall, is it true that Burlington Arcade is the best place for

old silver?

Excuse me. Make yourself at home. Certainly.

Watch it, Sam. Your eyes are popping.

Hi, Inspector.

My soul takes a purely aesthetic pleasure in Mrs. Kornfeldt's diamonds.

Maybe your soul does, but don't let your fingers itch, Sam.

Slippery salmon diamonds, that adds up to rather...

Fissionable material.

My name's Gordon Seager. I'm an old friend of our host.

So keep your nasty mind under control, Inspector.

Certainly, Sam. As long as you don't mind me keeping a bit of it trained on

you from time to time.

Remember me?

How can an old lad forget the copper who pinched her? Oh, please, Miss Bedford.

How could I help arresting you when you were caught? Red-handed.

True. I didn't have a leg to stand on.

Now, look, all you had to do was to tell me or the judge the names of the people

who got you mixed up in this. But I didn't know.

Anyway, it's all over now.

Are you going to watch me as a potential second offender?

Now, look, Miss Bedford, you know very well that I tried to help you at the

trial because I believed you were innocent.

What a pity the judge didn't think so.

This morning I was at the prison gates. I missed you by ten minutes.

They told me you'd be at your sister's place.

I thought if you needed any help, but I don't know, you seem to be doing all

right.

Dora's been very kind.

Mr. Marshall's been very kind. But tomorrow I start looking for a job.

And you ought to get a very good one.

Can I use you as a reference?

Certainly. Or as a friend, if you like.

Audrey, Mrs. Cornfield wants to dance, so we're going to the Starlight.

I hope you won't raid the place tonight, Inspector.

No, that's not my department.

Anyway, I must be getting back to the yard.

What did he want?

Nothing.

Maybe he was trying to prove that a policeman's a girl's best friend.

I doubt it.

Lacey's expecting a telephone call from New York. He'll join us later.

Who is it?

Who is it?

Speak up to the grill.

It's later.

You're late.

Come in.

Walk upstairs.

In here, Laker.

Switch it off. God, it's blinding me.

That's what it's meant to do.

What's all this mumbo-jumbo for?

You scare a man to death.

You don't scare so easily, Laker.

Got the stuff?

No.

Look at me!

Now, what's all this nonsense?

If you lost the stones or did a crooked deal... I never had them, Gov.

Beesman was caught before he could get them to me.

Get out. I don't want excuses.

I want delivery promptly.

But, uh... But I've got something, though.

Something that's worth a lot more than a few diamonds to you.

I'll bet you pay me, uh... Ooh, 500 for it.

What is it?

A bit of news.

Bad news.

What could you tell me that I don't know already?

It's about Torrington.

But, well, if you know so much... Here we are!

All right.

Now, what about Clarrington?

He's out.

He's on his way to England.

That's a stupid lie.

He's still got ten years hard ahead of him, if he lives long enough.

He's been pardoned, I tell you.

Saved two kids from drowning, the grandchildren of the governor or

something. Or they kept it quiet.

But he's out.

Well, maybe in London now.

That rattled you, didn't it?

Shut your mouth!

There's 50 quid. Now get out!

50?

Look, if you think you can treat me like that... 50 quid's a lot of money for a

bit of news that may not be true.

I'll send for you when I need you again.

Till then, keep away.

Dora! Go away.

It's almost twelve o'clock.

I brought you your breakfast. I wanted to talk to you.

You're fully dressed.

And in my right mind, I hope. I'm off job hunting.

Oh, what on earth for?

You're welcome here.

And laces at any time you want. I think Mr.

Marshall's done quite enough for one member of the family with all those

market tips and parties and presents.

Why shouldn't he? He can afford it. Well, I can't. I put in an ad three days

ago and I haven't had any reply yet.

So I'm off in the rounds.

What a perverse little creature you are.

Tilly the toiler. Nine to six, licking insurance stamps, ruining your digestion

with those luncheon vouchers. There's no need for it.

Goodbye, darling.

And thank you for the pep talk.

Any time.

Hello, Miss Bedford. You know, that's extraordinary.

You must be clairvoyant. I was just going to press the bell.

Well, if I am, I can't see through doors.

Do come in. Thank you.

Dora's having her breakfast.

Oh, is she? And you're going out, I suppose.

It doesn't seem to be my lucky day, does it?

Perhaps I can give you a lift somewhere.

In a police car? No, thank you. Oh, no, no, no. This is purely a private

vehicle. Nothing to do with the taxpayer.

All right.

I'm going to Norton Square.

Well, there you are.

Door-to-door delivery.

I know it's none of my business, but are you going to see Mr. Marshall?

Well, not unless he lives at number 31.

Well, wait a minute. That's the house next door. Nobody lives there.

Well, somebody must, or he wouldn't have asked me to come and see him.

Goodbye, Inspector Shannon.

My name's Audrey Bedford.

Mr. Malp has wrote to me.

Come in, Miss Bedford. Walk right up to the first floor.

Come in. Come in.

Sit down, Miss Bedford.

I can't see very well.

There's a chair in front of you to your right.

I'm sorry, I can't bear strong lights.

I hope you don't mind.

Not at all.

I read your advertisement.

I think I could offer you a job.

What sort of a job?

Secretarial.

I would send you letters and documents to be typed.

Some would have to be done in longhand.

Have you illegible handwriting?

I think so.

Good. Mine is not so easy to decipher.

My eyes, you see.

Most of your work could be done at home.

I may want to see you every month or so.

Not more often, and always by appointment.

I understand.

Now, as to salary, would £30 a week be acceptable?

£30? That's what I said. Or isn't it enough?

Well, it's more than twice what the average secretary gets.

Are you sure, Mr. Malpas?

I hate bargaining.

You can start next week.

That's very kind of you, Mr. Malpas.

But would you mind if I took some time to make up my mind?

What is there to think over? Take it or leave it.

Oh, uh...

I suppose women are like that.

All right, you have 24 hours to make up your mind.

Good day, Miss Bedford.

Good day, Mr. Malfus.

I'll let you know.

Well, I couldn't have timed it better.

What's it to be, home, James, or a cup of coffee?

A cup of coffee, please. Good.

I don't think I'll take it.

There's something strange about Mr. Malpas.

Do you know I never saw his face?

All right, but he's just shy, that's all. Well, he didn't seem shy to me,

more like a bully.

Then offering me that enormous salary, don't you think that was fishy?

No. Probably prefers to pay you than pay super tax. Still, you must make up your

own mind about it.

Famous last words when addressed by a man to a woman.

Oh, hello. You turn philosopher these days. Sorry about my eavesdropping. It's

a bad habit, but very useful.

At least he's honest about it. Oh, yes, yes. Sam's the soul of honesty.

Sam? A nickname the inspector's given me. We're old friends. Yes, we're very

close. Looking for a job, Miss Bedford? Now, look, Sam, Miss Bedford wouldn't be

interested in anything you've got to offer. Maybe not, maybe yes.

I've got my contacts.

Well, what sort of a job were you thinking of?

You never can tell.

You know, perhaps at this very moment, some big tycoon is looking for somebody

like you.

Miss Bedford?

No, I'm afraid she's not here at the moment.

Who shall I say called?

Well, just a moment. I think she's coming in right now. Hang on a moment.

Darling, it's for you, a mysterious man. You wouldn't give me his name.

Thank you.

Hello, this is Audrey Bedford.

It's about your advertisement, Miss Bedford.

Could you come to Chiltern House Haymarket tomorrow morning?

But who are you?

I've just turned down one job and have been offered another.

Can't complain about a dull life, can I?

Mr Wilkins, I've never done this sort of thing before.

I'd be no good as a detective.

You must let Stormers decide that.

Besides, I have a prison record.

We know that.

We also know that you are innocent.

Well, how did you know that?

My dear Miss Bedford, it's the business of Stormer's to know things.

And before he went to New York, Mr. Stormer gave definite instructions about

you. But I've never met Mr. Stormer. Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. Very few

people get to meet Mr.

Stormer. He's very shy.

Well, I see that you know everything about me. Well, a certain amount, but

nothing whatever to your detriment.

We know that a Mr. Malpass has offered you a job. And that I've decided to

refuse it. My, I'm beginning to feel terribly important.

All Stormer employees are important.

Now, about this job that Mr. Malpass has offered you.

Yes? Take it.

That's your first assignment.

Of course, we'll pay you the usual salary. And anything that Mr. Malpass

pays you, you can keep.

That's very generous of you.

But I'd like to think it over before I decide. Well, you know our reputation.

We shouldn't ask you to do anything that's shady or crooked.

We've been hired to keep this mysterious Mr. Malpas under observation.

He's offered you a job. That gives us an opportunity of keeping an eye on him.

Now do you understand?

Well, I suppose so.

Good. Well, now you go back to Mr. Malpas.

Tell him you've fought it over and you've decided to take on his

secretarial work. Don't report to us until we get in touch with you. Now, you

hand this to my secretary.

She will arrange about your expenses and give you a little in advance.

Goodbye, Miss Bedford. I'm so glad you're now going to be one of us.

Well, did you find them? We have a lead, Mr Torrington, at least to the man.

His name is Malpass and he lives at 31 Norton Square.

Never goes out. Has very few visitors.

What does he look like?

Well, I'm afraid nobody's been able to tell us. But now we have one of our

operatives working for him, so before long we should get a description.

What makes you think he's the man I want?

Well, we have reason to believe that he's mixed up in illicit diamond buying

and the selling of stolen gems.

Also, he left South Africa about the right time.

It's worth following up, though. It may be just a coincidence.

If he's my man, you must be extra careful. He's dangerous. Oh, we won't

take any risks.

We know that a man called Laker has been connected with him.

Laker?

He's one of the prosecution witnesses at my trial. What's happened to him?

Well, we can't be sure.

The body was fished out of the river.

Looked like suicide, but the autopsy disclosed that he was dead before he hit

the river.

His neck was broken. No water in the lungs.

Perhaps you're right.

If Laker tried to blackmail Malpas, he wouldn't hesitate for a second.

What about my daughter? Oh, well, we're working on a lead, Mr. Torrington, but

I'd rather not say anything before we are quite sure.

Don't be too long, Mr. Wilkins. I haven't seen my daughter for 20 years.

We'll let you know the moment we can.

Thank you. Goodbye, Mr. Wilkins. Goodbye, Mr. Torrington.

It might take months.

Thanks. Here, Cornfield's a cautious man, and a shrewd one.

Do you think he'll go through with the deal?

Yes, but it means playing it slowly, and I can't afford all that delay.

I thought you made a packet out of the last one.

And spent it.

You helped quite a bit there, Donna, spending it. You're not exactly a poor

man's hobby.

If you mean what I... I'm not complaining.

That's better.

Donna.

What was your stepfather's name?

Torrington. Why?

I never met him.

Mother left him when I was about nine and Audrey was two.

I think he died in prison, didn't he?

He's alive.

And he's in England.

So? He's a very wealthy man, Dora. He owns one of the richest mines in Natal.

How nice for him.

Why all the interest?

Do you know why he's come to London?

To find his daughter.

The daughter he hasn't seen for more than 20 years.

Walter doesn't know this, I'm sure.

And why should she?

Listen.

The old man's lonely, oozing with frustrated paternal love.

You know enough about his early life, your mother and the rest, to get away

with it.

Lacey, you're crazy. Why, he'd never... Wouldn't he?

Listen, I've thought of a foolproof plan.

Yes?

A lady? Who is it?

Oh.

Come on, send her up.

Mr Torrington? Yes, do come in.

What can I do for you?

Won't you tell me your name?

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions first?

Are you from a newspaper?

No. Well, sit down.

Would you like a drink?

Yes, thank you.

Well?

Did you marry a girl named Clara Bedford in Johannesburg about 23 years ago?

I did.

You were a second husband, weren't you?

That's right.

Then two years later you were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Yes, I was.

Your wife came to England with her two daughters and settled in Eversley in

Sussex.

Eversley? I knew she came to England, but of course I lost touch with her.

She wasn't a very good correspondent.

No, I'm afraid she was very bitter.

She believed you were guilty, that you'd ruined her life. That sounds as if you

didn't share her views.

No, I didn't.

Forgive me, but I'm a little puzzled. You seem to know a great deal about my

past and my family. Who are you?

Mr Torrington.

I'm afraid this isn't very easy after all these years.

I think I'm your daughter.

My daughter?

Mother changed her name. I didn't know until recently who my father was.

And you think it's me?

Well, I've read quite a bit about you in the papers. But I wasn't sure until I

found this.

Do you recognize it?

Yes, my dear, I recognize it.

I'm sorry.

And your mother?

She died three years ago.

I'm sorry.

Even though she didn't think too well of me.

And your stepsister?

I haven't seen her for years.

I think she went to America, but we were never very close.

Come and sit down, my dear.

I must get used to the idea of having suddenly found my daughter. I know.

I feel a bit the same.

Please. I hope you don't think I came expecting to get some material gain.

Well, of course not.

Oh, believe me, I'd have come anyway, even if I couldn't have proved I was

your daughter.

Because I think I can help you.

Help me?

I've been thinking a great deal about your trial and your sentence.

I just felt you were innocent.

And I think I know who the man was that ruined you.

You do?

And how could you? Well, I have a friend, a very good friend, an inspector

at Scotland Yard.

He told me all about this person. His name's Malpus, or that's what he calls

himself. But I'm sure that he was the one that robbed you of everything.

Where is this man now?

Right here in London. If you like, I can take it to him.

Yes, I'd like that.

Very much.

Ah, Miss Audrey, there's a gentleman to see you. Well, I can't see him. I'm

going out and I'm... Don't you ever stay in?

It's you.

Why didn't you telephone?

I have, three times.

Thank you.

But you're never at home.

Well, I have a job now.

Don't mean to say you've accepted Seeger's advice.

No, yours.

Mine? Yes.

I've accepted that job from Mr. Malchus.

Oh, wait a minute. I never said anything of the kind.

Oh, yes, you did. You told me to make up my own mind about him.

Well, perhaps I did, but I realize now that I was wrong.

Well, that's just too bad, Inspector.

And now, if you don't mind. But I do mind.

I'm coming along with you.

I don't think Mr. Malpas would like that.

Look, Miss Bedford, I've been watching that house for some months.

There's something very strange about Mr. Malpas, and I intend to find out just

what it is. It wasn't me that you were worried about. It was just your

policeman's cunning.

My what?

Shall we go?

All right.

If I lose my job because of you, I'll sue you for damages.

Well, that's very interesting, but not very profitable.

It's Miss Bedford, Mr. Marpeth.

Come in. You're late again.

Thank you.

Yes, I know. Come on, let's go.

But... Come on.

Wait in the car.

He was shot twice, I think.

Miss Bedford and I ran outside this door. Do you think he's dead, Inspector?

I've never seen one there.

I'll wait there, would you, Constable?

There he is.

Well, this is either a bad joke or... She said he was dead, sir. Yes, and dead

men don't walk. There's only one thing we can do, Constable. We'll have to tear

the place apart.

Don't tell me, let me guess.

No prints, eh?

No.

I found this by the fireplace, sir. Looks like a pebble to me and it's got a

blob of something red on it.

Ceiling wax, I think.

That's quite a pebble, Constable. Worth a couple of thousand quid, I'd say.

What?

Yes, diamonds come high even uncut, you know. Perhaps there's water stuff about.

I doubt it. Whoever grabbed this lot wouldn't scatter it about.

Why, Inspector, you play rough.

You must have been great at basketball.

What are you doing here?

Snooping, same as you.

Lacey asked me to have a look round.

All those knocks and ghostly noises made him kind of nervous.

Yes, yes. How long have you been up here?

Couldn't say. Maybe 20 minutes.

All right, turn your pockets out.

Come on, everything on that ledge.

You tell me what you're looking for, I can tell you I haven't got it. Come on,

everything out.

Now get your arms up.

Higher.

You must have been Teach's pet at police college, Inspector.

Look, Sam, flattery won't get you anywhere.

All right, put your stuff back.

Anything wrong?

Oh, no, nothing. I just lost a corpse, that's all.

Well, I haven't got it.

Come on.

You're not booking me, are you? Look, Sam, I know you're lying, but I happen

to be looking for a man with a gun and a pocket full of diamonds, and you don't

qualify.

Isn't that great?

What happened? Did you find Mr. Malpas?

We found nobody. We even lost our corpse.

Look, I think you'd better be getting home. I don't think Mr. Malpas will be

giving any more dictation tonight.

Go home before I know what happened.

Well, suit yourself.

You may be here all night.

Sir?

Yes, Constable? One of the servants from next door. Oh, look, tell them

everything's under control. I'm busy now. Well, Inspector, Mr. Marshall wants

to see you.

Who? Mr. Marshall, sir. Said nobody else would do. Now, don't argue, Inspector.

All the horses from Ben Hur wouldn't keep me from this.

I'm sorry to bother you, Inspector, and I hope Miss Bedford will forgive me, but

I've had a rather unpleasant experience.

Very unpleasant indeed, I should think.

You know about it? An hour ago, we saw you in that room next door.

We thought you were dead.

Yes, you gave a very good imitation of a corpse.

Well, it wouldn't have been an imitation, except for this. What? I was

knocked flat, went out like a light.

But who did it?

Who shot you? Just a moment, Miss Bedford.

Tell me, Mr. Marshall, how did you get into the house next door?

Through the front door. I see, but why did you go?

There's the note. Read it for yourself.

Maybe I was a fool, but after all... Dear Mr. Marshall, if you call on me

tomorrow at 3 p.m., I'm sure that we could settle our differences amicably.

The last thing I want to be is a bad neighbor.

Malfus.

Is this his handwriting?

Yes, I think so.

Thank you. Do you mind if I keep this? Of course.

I rang the bell, gave my name, and the door opened.

I walked upstairs, stepped into the room, which was in almost total

darkness, and then came the shot.

That's all I can remember.

But there were two shots, Mr. Marshall.

Two?

The second must have missed me.

Did you find the bullet? No, no, not yet. We found you lying on the floor. At

first we thought that you were dead.

Tell me, how did you get back here?

All I can tell you is that I recovered consciousness in the area way behind

number 32.

I was pretty dazed, but I made my way through the back garden and into the

house. Then I must have passed out again. My servant found me here when he

came in.

Well, I must say, you seem to have had a miraculous escape.

Well, we must be going now.

By the way, Mr. Marshall, would you be prepared to make a formal statement?

Gladly. And I hope you get that maniac.

I don't fancy being shot at by my neighbors.

Oh.

It didn't work.

You're a fool to think it could.

I don't know what you're talking about. Your clever, dirty little scheme.

And you almost from the start you weren't my daughter.

But I only came to... Stop it.

There's nothing more pitiful than a woman lying without the slightest chance

of getting away with it.

If you don't believe me, I'm not even going to try and convince you. I think

you'd better go.

Not until you've answered a few questions.

Show me your arm, the left one.

I'll do nothing of the kind.

My daughter had a scar between her left shoulder and the elbow.

Scars can be removed.

Maybe, but then you'd have told me about it.

You came to me with that touching story in the photograph and promised to help

me. Instead, you sent me into danger and probable death.

Prove it.

I don't have to prove it, but I mean to have the truth.

Who put you up to all this?

And where's my daughter?

Nobody put me up to anything. I don't know anything about your daughter. To

spin your tale, you must have known a good deal. You're going to tell me. Make

me.

Very well, I have ways of finding out. But keep out of my affairs or you'll be

in trouble.

You can't scare me.

I'm so sorry, Dora. I didn't know you had a visitor.

I just wanted to tell you about my new job.

Yes, dear, but later. I'm busy now.

I don't think there's much point in going on with this discussion, do you?

There isn't.

Now, don't try again.

That young lady who just came in here, what's her name?

I don't know.

Miss Bedford. Miss Audrey Bedford. She lives here.

Thank you.

But think of the risk, Mr. Torrington. You really shouldn't... Well, he fired

at me and missed. I didn't, and I got my property back. It was a calculated risk,

and it came off.

Yes, but you know the police in this country... Oh, don't look so shocked,

Wilkins. I doubt if the police could have dealt quite as effectively with

Malfus as I did.

Are you sure nobody saw you? No, I hid in an alcove. When that inspector rushed

in, I found a convenient route up to the roof.

But now I have something important for you to do.

Oh, certainly, Mr. Torrington. I want you to check on a young lady. Her name

is Audrey Bedford, and she... Oh, dear.

What's the joke?

Well, really, Mr. Torrington, if we were one of those disreputable firms, we

could present you with a nice fat expense account.

We don't have to look for Miss Bedford.

She's on our files.

What do you mean?

Mr. Stormer hired her yesterday. She's one of our operatives. Oh, she's working

for you.

Well, as a matter of fact, we've arranged for her to work for Malpas.

It's a very convenient plant.

Oh, well, she's working for him. She must be out of a job.

Wilkins, I want her to work for me. For you?

Yeah, just tell her that I'm her new assignment, that I want a secretary,

anything. I want to get to know her.

Well, I'm sure that can be arranged.

Will you send her round to my hotel first thing in the morning? Yes, she'll

be there. Good, thank you.

Mr. Torrington. Yes, do come in.

You're Audrey Bedford.

We've met once before, very briefly.

Have we? Oh,

yes, yesterday. I'm sorry, I didn't recognise you. Do sit down, Miss

Bedford.

There'll be some letters to write presently, but first I'd like to get

acquainted. I believe people who work together should know and, if possible,

like each other.

So do I, but I don't seem to be very good at it.

I've had three employers within a week.

Well, it's about time you made a fresh start.

Would you like some tea or a drink or something?

Tea would be marvellous, thank you.

Tell me a little about your family.

Well, apart from my stepsister Dora, I haven't any.

My mother died three years ago and my father's been dead for a long time.

You don't remember your father?

Well, not really.

My mother brought me to England as a small child and not long after that he

died in South Africa.

I see.

Come in.

You rang, sir?

Yes, I'd like tea for two, please, and some toast.

Very good, sir. Thank you.

And when you came to England, where did you live?

What about school? Tell me all about it.

Well, I'm sure it'll bore you, but I'll try.

You ought to have known about that blasted scar.

Well, I didn't. And don't blame me for everything that goes wrong.

I'm not blaming you. I just hate inefficiency.

These are pretty high stakes, Dora.

A couple of million, at least.

Is Torrington that rich?

He could buy Kornfeld 20 times over.

Well, you'll just have to think of something else, won't you?

I have.

You won't like it, but it's the only way.

I warn you, I won't have anything else to do with that smug, pompous old

buzzard.

You won't.

I promise you.

But I really have been talking far too much, telling you all these stories. No,

I wanted to hear all this about your life and about the prison.

One day those responsible must be made to pay.

I don't want revenge.

It's been, well, an experience. It's taught me a lot.

Yes.

There are more pleasant schools.

Oh, sorry, sorry.

I didn't scold you, did I? No, no, it's all right. Well, let me make sure.

I am sorry. I was very clumsy.

It looks all right to me.

You see, darling, it's quite simple.

No, Lacey, I won't stand for it. I won't. You haven't very much choice,

darling.

Suppose... Suppose you do get order to marry you.

What happens when she finds out that she's Torrington's daughter? But she

won't find out. Not until it's too late. The old man will never agree to that.

Maybe the old man won't be around.

And Audrey, as his next of kin, will inherit a very large fortune.

Lacey, why don't you give up this scheme?

You've got so many irons in the fire.

Yes. Well, the fire's gone out. After all the trouble I took, Kornfeld's

backed out of the deal. He's gone back to Germany. Never even phoned me.

I still don't like it.

You know it'll always be you, Dora.

You and nobody else.

We're two of a kind.

Smooth talk.

Only don't try it on me.

Do you think I could ever really care for that little fool?

That I'd give up champagne for carrot juice?

Poor old me. Just give me a couple of months, darling, and we'll be off

together. We'll, Florida?

Any place you choose.

Miss Bedford, sir.

Hello, Audrey.

Where's Dora? She left a message. Dora? She'll be along soon. You know she's

always late.

The message said that... Don't tell me you're afraid to be alone with me for

five minutes. I might get conceited. Have a drink.

No, thank you.

I promise you it isn't drunk.

Audrey, I have a confession to make.

I asked Dora to be a bit late because I wanted to talk to you.

Well, I'm listening.

You don't know much about me, do you?

Except maybe that I'm rich and a friend of Dora's.

I could sling you a long tale about being lonely and wanting something

desperately I've never had in life.

Are you trying to tell me that Dora and you are going to get married?

Oh, Dora and I?

Oh, that's very funny.

Why? Well, Dora's great fun and we've been good friends, but marriage?

That's the last thing she'd want. She'd never tie herself to any one man.

I don't know. Every girl wants to get married and have a family and belong to

somebody. Then Dora must be the exception.

But I don't want to talk about her.

I'm afraid I'm not very good at this sort of thing.

As a matter of fact, I've never done it in my life before.

Done what?

Proposed to a girl.

Audrey, will you marry me?

But... Is the prospect so disturbing?

Maybe I should have provided all the trappings.

Flowers, champagne... Please don't.

Well, aren't you going to say anything?

If only. I'm sorry, Mr. Marshall.

No.

You don't want to think it over?

Believe me, it would be no use.

And now, if you don't mind... Don't you think you owe me a rather fuller

explanation?

I don't think so.

Every girl is entitled to say no.

You're throwing away something very lightly, which I've never before offered

to anyone.

I appreciate the honour. Please let me go.

Now it's my turn to say no.

I can scream quite loud.

You'd be wasting your breath.

No, she hasn't turned up here, and I don't want to ring her home.

Will you, Mr Wilkins? Thank you.

Soon as possible.

Goodbye.

Come in.

Express delivery, sir.

Thank you.

Here.

Thank you, sir.

Torrington, I have your daughter.

If you come to the house tonight at 10 alone and unarmed, we can make a fair

exchange. You can have her for some property of yours.

I'm sure you'll keep the appointment.

Malpass.

I'd like a taxi, please. I'll be right down.

Thank you.

Come in, Torrington.

Where is she? You're very impatient, all in good time.

I brought what you wanted and I let her go. I don't care what happens to me.

That's very noble of you, Torrington.

But first I'll take the diamonds and no tricks. There's a gun pointing straight

at your heart.

Now, sit down.

Weren't you rather a fool to trust me, Torrington? What choice did I have?

You know who I am?

My enemy.

Certainly.

And also, I hope, your future son-in-law.

Don't, Torrington! When I shoot, I shoot to hurt. And it'll take you a long time

to die.

You're bluffing. Audrey would never marry you.

No, she'd never marry something that looks like a nightmare.

But in a little while, when I've dealt with you and tidied up, maybe she'll

feel differently.

Perhaps even feel a little gratitude.

You've got exactly two minutes, baby.

And you've got exactly one minute to get out before I call the police.

Audrey's with Marshall, isn't she?

I don't know.

Then here's something you really don't know.

Marshall's ready for another double cross.

Only this time you've been elected the fall guy.

Or should I say day? You don't think a cheap trick like that can... Dick

Shannon received this by special delivery an hour ago.

Anonymous, of course, but you can guess who sent it.

Marshall.

It tells a very interesting story.

That it was you who sent Audrey a year ago with that stolen necklace to

Victoria Station.

It was you and Malpus who let her go to jail for something she knew nothing

about.

That's a copy, of course.

Only three people knew about that jewel robbery.

You, Malpus, and Marshall.

Now, where's Audrey, Dora?

I can't tell you.

Women, when they think they're smart, they're stupid.

Marshall's going away with Audrey after he's thrown you to the wolves.

You won't look so glamorous after five or six years in Holloway. Stop it. Stop

it.

Now look, Dora, you've got nothing to lose.

Where is she?

Well?

She's with Marshall.

Now get out.

Go on, get out!

I think it'd be best if you committed suicide.

Would it?

Save a few questions, make things tidy.

You couldn't make me do it. You're underestimating me, Torrington.

I can do anything.

You've got the diamonds, but you'll never fool my daughter.

That's a stupid bluff.

I'm sure you've already made your will leaving everything to Audrey.

Not yet. You'll never lay your hands on that.

He's gone through there.

I'm all right, but don't let him get away.

Where's Audrey? She's somewhere in the house. Get Malthus. All right, look

after him, will you?

I know he wasn't bluffing. She must be somewhere in that house. Or in this. He

couldn't have rung the changes without some way of getting in or out. It must

be from here. Why?

Because we've checked and every other party wall is solid.

What about this?

No, I don't think Mr. Marshall would have thought of anything quite as simple

as that.

What's that?

I can hear my daughter's voice.

Yeah, wait a minute.

Come on!

Oh, I'm sorry. Leave it to me.

Is she all right?

By the way, Audrey, I haven't introduced you to your employer.

My employer? Mr. Stormer of Stormer's Agency.

So did my friend the inspector and so did Mr. Marshall.

Funny how people are ready to take Slippery Sam the jewel thief for what

he's not. Makes life so much easier.

Well, I'm glad I've met my boss.

Your ex-boss, Miss Bedford.

You're fired.

Never mind. I think I can offer you something better.

You don't think I'd be much good at police work?

No, well, this doesn't involve police work.

I'm really offering you a purely domestic position.

Domestic position?

Yes.

You know, I might take you up on that.

Good.