Original subtitles

- Mr Lyon, what a wonderful surprise. - Mr Cilenti.

We are honoured that you join us tonight.

It seems we're in good company.

I've seen four Cabinet ministers

and Tommy Trinder and it's barely 10 o'clock.

How did you know I was French?

Two things define the greatness of a country.

The beauty of their women and the taste of their wine.

- Are you meeting someone? - No, simply curious.

Enjoy your evening. My regards to Miss Rowley and to Mr Madden.

- He's normally in by now. - He never learns.

You like oysters? I'll send some over. We have a new chef, also French.

- Stop flirting. - Impossible.

Save me a glass.

What to do about the hydrogen bomb?

Can the nations effectively ban all nuclear weapons

or must we hope as they rush towards destruction,

crying out that the East-West arms race must go on?

Oh, make no mistake, Great Britain is in the biggest danger of all,

our cities wide open,

while legislators hope that in the world peace efforts,

something will turn up.

Slowly, ordinary people are realising

that with bomber bases crowding this island,

Britain is nuclear target number one.

Excuse me. Sorry.

You don't know me but I think you may have met my colleague,

Miss Rowley from The Hour?

This is probably not the best place to talk.

Miss Delaine, I don't see her here tonight.

I was actually hoping to speak to her, if I may.

- She's not in tonight. - Might she be in tomorrow?

Miss Delaine has been very badly hurt. Does that not concern you?

Mr Cilenti. Do you know what he thinks about the attack?

None of my business.

I'm going to offer you a light.

Sorry, sir, I'm not on tonight

but I'm sure one of the girls can help you out.

I'm trying to find out more about the man you work for.

You know how to find me if you change your mind.

Mashed.

Mmm.

Roast for Sundays and Christmas, chips for schools and prisons,

mashed for every day.

Potatoes, parsley, butter and, um, nail polish.

Pearl swirl. Yes, it gives a nice sheen over the top.

This is television, Alistair, not the village fete.

Doesn't matter what goes in. It's how it looks under the lights.

Yes.

Um... Alistair, you wicked man!

No, I will tell.

Honest.

Oh! Police report.

Miss Delaine's accusations against Hector.

- How did you get hold of this? - Feminine guile.

Five bob and a pint. Well?

No one's seen her. She wasn't at the club last night.

Then where the hell has she gone? And why would she do this?

Page 3, paragraph 7. I've marked it.

"You wouldn't believe what some of these important men

"get up to in their private time, not caring about the consequences."

Sounds like a threat.

It certainly backfired.

No one at the club wants to talk about her.

- But I did speak to... - The dark girl?

Yes. She declined a conversation but took my card.

Camille fared better.

A bottle of champagne and several oysters

and she discovered that the cocktail waitress was from Lyon.

In fact, the girls seem to be largely French or Spanish.

If you want a set of artistic shots taken, then Mr Hawtree is your man.

- Did you get a number? - And an address.

She is good.

Ten minutes, ladies and gentlemen. Editorial conference in 10 minutes.

Oh, good morning, Mr Madden.

What news from Washington about the terms?

- The terms, Barnaby. Yes, the terms. - Bad line?

The line is fine, it's the stringer. He's as deaf as a post.

Had a chunk out of his head at El Alamein.

- There's another bottle over there. - Thanks. I'll replace it.

- Don't encourage him. - He hardly needs encouragement.

Yes, MacMillan might well be saying that this is all to prevent a war

but we're putting our defence eggs in the nuclear basket.

One is left feeling rather nervous.

Whatever happened to a good old-fashioned war?

Barnaby McDonald?

Barnaby, what I... Barnaby?

Damn. He's gone.

Unchanged, unhinged and concerned about the agreement

to house American weapons here.

If MacMillan is biting Eisenhower's hand off somewhere above the elbow,

the rest is surely not far behind.

- We may yet find ourselves grateful. - Grateful for what?

War. It narrows the aperture, insists on focus.

We dwell on things we cannot bear to leave undone.

Will you be partaking of the mince pies and jollity this evening, Miss Storm?

No, Mr Brown, bah humbug is more my style.

- Although the children are very sweet. - Indeed.

Do you think Tommy Steele will be there?

Tommy Steele? No.

No, I imagine the calibre will be more

the Secretary of State for Coal and Steel.

But in either case, I've promised to report in full.

Oh, Sissy, does Sey know anyone who needs a flat to rent?

- The Goldmans have given notice. - No. Why?

Oh, they say they want a garden

but really they're fed up with having their window boxes smashed.

It's quite clear what Mr Pike is up to.

Driving out sitting tenants through intimidation

so he can move in immigrants and charge them whatever he likes,

because he knows they've got nowhere else to go.

One way to build a ghetto.

Right, everyone, end-of-term meeting, let's get on.

Running order. To lead, the Wolfenden Report,

or the Vice Report, as the popular press are now calling it.

Had its first debate in Parliament last week. Mr Wengrow?

The Committee's major recommendation

that homosexual acts between consensual adults in private

should no longer be a criminal offence...

Oh, darling, you shouldn't have.

It was rejected by the government with scarcely even a discussion.

After three years of deliberation by the Committee,

the government simply shut down the matter in one afternoon.

Adultery, fornication, lesbianism...

...are all considered sins but not crimes.

Male homosexuality, on the other hand, is considered both a sin and a crime

and will continue to be prosecuted. As discussed, it falls to us to ask why.

No home secretary wants to go down in history

as the man who legalised buggery.

- Contributors? - No, no one.

There must be someone.

You won't find anyone from the government coming out in defence.

An actual homosexual on The Hour, that would be novel.

We broke new ground with the fascist.

Two hundred letters of complaint on that alone.

So...

- Let's do it. - My interview?

Let's decide when we have a contributor, shall we, Mr Madden?

Good, great. Uh, anything else?

Yes, I would like to talk...

Well, no. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Run-through is tomorrow at 3:00.

- Hello. - I wasn't going to come.

Um, shut the door, Freddie.

- I've not come to talk. I've not... - You're all right here.

I'm only here for Miss Delaine. I haven't heard from her for a week.

Cleared everything from the flat, dressing room,

scraped off all her makeup and...

Have you been to the police?

You don't know anything. Happens all the time.

We had a girl from... Didn't speak a lot of English, drank too much,

made a scene in front of the guests one too many times...

I'm sorry.

And that was it. Gone.

We're all dispensable and we all stay silent.

Excuse me.

Brilliant. Thanks, Hector.

What are you doing?

How the hell did you get this?

We all pay for information at some point in our careers.

She was going to talk.

Marvellous. Of course, the testimony of a showgirl, always bona fide.

- Miss Delaine is missing. - Look, can't you just leave well alone?

Aren't you even curious to know why she did what she did to you?

Oh, for God's sake.

This is your idea, isn't it? You've spurred her on.

And now you're pulling Kiki's friends in.

Well, as a friend, she certainly seemed worried for Miss Delaine.

Convenient she's out of the way.

Well she's hardly good for business, is she?

I have a sense that the management of El Paradis feel the same.

Mr Cilenti is a businessman.

So, don't let your imaginations carry you away. She'll be fine.

If she's got any sense at all after the lies she told,

she'll go home to her family and her parents.

As far as I can tell she doesn't have a home,

just the club and her flat.

I was hoping to draw a line under all this

for the sake of my professional life, to say nothing of my marriage.

Hector, what she did to you was appalling

but please, this is simply not a story we can afford to put down.

This is not a story. Certainly not for The Hour.

Not yet. But it might be.

A vice business left to flourish, the legitimisation of a known criminal

and a system that allows it to happen.

Well, at least let me read my own bloody police report.

What next?

Mr Hawtree. He might know where she is.

Yes.

Some of the very best radio men I ever knew often behaved as you do,

but then again they never got what you get.

What's that?

The peculiar adulation that attaches to a recognisable face.

Who would have thought the media would produce stars?

- It really is terribly... - Valuable.

To any broadcaster who wants to attract viewers.

Distracting. And disastrous to somebody of your disposition.

And what disposition is that?

It is not my primary consideration

whether or not you're going to defect, Mr Madden.

Recent pressures may have affected your focus

but you remain a first-rate journalist

and you must decide what is best for you.

A journalist? I thought you considered me a mere frontman.

No. That, I think, is what you consider yourself.

Hector Madden for you, sir.

Hello, Hector.

Hi, Laurie, look, I'm sorry to bring this business up again.

But the woman, the one who accused me, she's missing.

- Missing? What do you mean? - I've no idea.

Miss Rowley's conclusion. Mr Lyon's been looking into it

and no doubt he'll ferret out what's happened to her

but it's left me exposed.

An officer sold my team the police report

- and now they're asking questions. - What questions?

Well, perfectly good questions, truth be told.

The sort of questions any good journalist should be asking.

But the whole incident is throwing a light on El Paradis and its clientele

and now they're asking themselves, as am I,

if it wasn't me who attacked the girl, who the hell was it?

- Are you there? - Yes, yes, of course.

Whatever my feelings for that woman, I don't wish her any harm.

No, of course not.

Well, don't spare me the truth, Laurie. Is there anything I should be afraid of?

I hope not, Hector.

But as I explained to you before,

El Paradis, for all its allure, has its price.

My office has been watching Mr Cilenti for some time.

He is not a man to be toyed with.

The extent of his influence and criminal activity

should not be underestimated.

Leave it with me

and I advise you to tell Mr Lyon to do the same if he's got any sense.

Thanks, Laurie. As ever, I knew I could count on you.

Now, tell me, are you going to break away from the mundanity of your day

and sneak out for a drink this evening?

I have the invite here on my desk,

along with a pile of dire paperwork that needs to be signed.

You're not the only one whose autograph is revered, Hector.

Well, see you later. Don't be late.

I plan to start as early as I can. Goodbye.

Miss Rowley, Mr Kendall called, asking if you were going this afternoon?

Thank you, Isaac.

- Did you know Isaac was writing a play? - I did.

- Mr Mackie in drama has reported. - What's the verdict?

He said it was less kitchen sink, more fitted carpet.

- Pithy. That's good. - Yes, that's what I said.

Pith is the bit you spit out.

Mr Kendall called.

Whose move next? Yours or the merry widower?

Not biting.

Damn Wolfenden. I've asked everyone.

- The usual mavericks? - Everyone.

Um, I don't suppose you have a pair of stockings I could borrow?

Yes, you're welcome to any or all of these

but don't blame me if they end up rolling round your ankles.

I'm positively Amazonian compared to you.

How do you work with that looming over you?

We're all work with that looming over us.

Or have you forgotten there's a dead dog orbiting above our heads?

By this time next year, every one of those countries

will be committed to nuclear armament.

The repercussions will be felt by all our children.

We don't have children.

No, but I have a strong inkling that one day you might.

Enjoy the party.

Good afternoon, sir. I'm sorry to disturb you,

I'm looking for a Mr Hawtree.

I'm Hawtree. Does that help?

You did a lovely job on this, sir, if I may say so.

My goodness. I'm sure that's nothing to do with me.

No, no, I work for the client, sir. I'm here to pick up the next batch.

Usually he sends a coloured fellow. Do I know you?

Well, to tell the truth, sir,

I'm actually not here on behalf of the client.

I'm looking for one particular girl.

- Police? - No. No. No. She's my girlfriend.

We fought. I'm just trying to find her.

Her name's Kiki Delaine.

I don't suppose you've photographed her recently?

Not recently, no. But I'm more your portrait photographer.

Um, can I see her pictures?

I hope you're not the jealous sort.

These are very elegant.

Yes, though he prefers them less risqué.

- Who? - Mr Cilenti.

Red ticket, 95.

Lucky lady.

- Thank you. - Congratulations.

Well done.

Yellow ticket, 83.

- Hello. - Hello, Freddie.

Why do I never get asked to give out prizes?

- Better to collect them, I find. - Hmm.

Now, that is an exhilarating team,

- of which you own 50%. - With eyes on the other half.

And we were having such a nice time.

He'd be advertising Brylcreem in a week if he went to ITV.

Red ticket, 112.

Ladies and gentleman, don't be shy. Ah, Commander Stern.

Congratulations!

I am officially one of life's losers.

Don't despair. I've spent the last few years of my life

losing every tombola that my daughter's dragged me to.

- You've got children? - Singular. She's eight.

Delightful. Bel loves children!

- Bill. - Jonathan.

I haven't seen you for so long.

- He's obviously charming. - Very.

And a daughter!

Do you calculate in advance how to make me look a fool

or does inspiration strike you in the moment?

Oh, deflection, Moneypenny. Very, very revealing.

Ah!

And I said, "Alistair,

"I'm not going to serve fish roe masquerading as caviar

"to a man with a CBE."

- Darling, I thought I'd lost you. - Darling!

Oh, excuse us.

- You're drunk. - Who are they?

Sponsors. Advertisers. I was invited here by ITV.

The people I work for.

Now, why don't you go and do your job and let me go and do mine?

Hang on.

I've earned this, Hector. I'm here in my own right.

Not as your mannequin to be unveiled and put away at will.

Don't you dare spoil this for me.

Oh, aren't you pretty today? What's your name?

- It's Angela. - Angela.

- I stole it. - Yes.

- Returned now. - Thank you.

It is odd.

When we've known each other as long as you and I have...

I don't particularly want to...

It's a conversation. It's simply a conversation.

- The past... - Festers if it's never spoken of.

You see, I have lied to you.

In a way. Not lied, but there's a form of deceit in my return.

- Please... - Have you ever looked for her?

- I'm going now. - Because I have.

- I do not want to talk about... - I do.

There are practicalities. I don't have her birth certificate.

I presume you registered her in Spain.

So I started in Granada, then I moved to Madrid.

- There's a... - Barcelona.

I registered her in Barcelona after...

After that, I took her to Paris.

Right. Do you still have it?

- It would be a help to see it. - We did what we had to do.

Civil war is no place for...

After you left, what was I going to do with a baby, hmm?

Return to England, an unmarried woman with a child?

I did what I had to do. I live with it.

Do you ever wake up at 4:00 in the morning

and wonder if she thinks of us, wonder what our life was? I do.

That's what I live with.

Then it suddenly occurred to me, I don't have to.

So I am looking for her.

And I'm asking if you if you wish to look for her, too.

And if you don't, the least you could do, if you have the birth certificate...

- She'll make a wonderful mother. - Won't she?

Just not with me.

Oh, I bet you'll all look wonderful in the pictures.

Miss Rowley and Mr Lyon seem to be enjoying themselves.

They're both still preoccupied with that bloody girl.

I had to pull quite a few strings to get you off that sticky wicket.

It seems wholly unnecessary to open it all up again.

You know, the wonderful element to news is as important as it is in the moment,

it's just another story by the next day.

Interest always wanes.

Ease off the whisky, eh? You never learn.

There were more.

- When did he last see her? - Not recently.

This isn't a call girl. This is a girl keen to move up.

We're dealing with a gangster who could still hurt her.

If you knew she had more to say, you wouldn't want her running round town

bad-mouthing those she once worked for, would you?

I'm going to show it to Miss Ramirez. See if it prompts anything.

This seems a very serious conversation for a Christmas party.

And I thought it was an opportunity to, um, show the caring side of us all.

Hmm.

Yes, Hector tells me you're still

looking into that business with Miss Delaine.

It's a rather murky world, it's probably best left to the police.

Best for whom?

I'm sure Commander Stern imagined he was at a party.

No, I don't mind being candid with you, Mr Lyon.

Vice is the greatest challenge facing the Metropolitan Police today.

Our progress is somewhat disheartening but...

What do you know about El Paradis and its proprietor?

Raphael Cilenti is very charming, very successful and very discreet.

He undoubtedly has a chequered past

but he's not engaged in anything criminal at the moment. Excuse me.

Mr Stern, one more thing. And then I promise you can relax.

What's your position on Wolfenden?

Well, I happen to agree very strongly with the government's stance.

Homosexuality is of course a crime.

Vice is not something that can go unpunished.

It would be very useful to have your perspective on the programme.

If a man of your standing

could speak out with the passion you've just displayed, Mr Stern...

Appeal to my vanity?

You'd be surprised how often it works.

- Wouldn't have to wear makeup, would I? - You'd be fine just as you are.

Well, why not?

Oh! You won!

Yes. Lucky ticket.

It's a wonderful thing seeing the children enjoying themselves.

Hector. Good to see you.

"The great pity with London is that with all its vivid flavours,

"a man like Mr Madden can be so easily led astray."

Yes, don't quite follow you, brother.

Think you're on a frolic of your own there.

Don't mock me, Angus. And don't feign ignorance.

No, I assure you I never feign. My ignorance is 100% genuine.

I read the police report. You sold me down the river.

Would you excuse me just for a moment? Excuse me.

I merely declined to become involved in a mess

that had nothing to do with me.

We must all take responsibility for our actions.

Oh, must we? And what were you doing that night, McCain? Hmm?

Haven't you heard? The government rejected Wolfenden.

So if there's anyone the police might be taking an interest in

for that night, it was you.

Diabolical, Hector. Diabolical.

We're planning to discuss the subject on the programme tomorrow.

Will you oblige?

The government wants to keep the status quo

but I wonder whether you might have an alternate view?

- You are drunk... - And you are a bloody hypocrite!

Now, when I walk, I want you to walk with me.

- Come on, come on. - Splendid.

Leave it. Sleep it off.

You leaving?

- Delightful though it was. - Are you really leading with Wolfenden?

How did you know that?

From hearing phrases like "sexual intercourse" and "buggery"

coming from your general direction.

I know a chap who's been instrumental

in campaigning for civil rights for homosexuals.

I could... give you his details.

But if it's such a good contact, why don't you use it yourself?

Do you want it or not?

Think of it as payback, if we do get Mr Madden.

His contract's not up yet. And after his display tonight...

He'll sleep it off.

Well, thank you. For that act of self-sabotage.

I don't see it as that.

You see, I believe that journalists who share their contacts

are ultimately rewarded.

I think I'd like to call in my reward now,

if that's all right with you.

You need some coffee. Laurie, would you be so kind?

Yes, of course. Come on.

Let's get you to bed.

Come on, sailor.

- You're a good pal, Laurie. - Yeah, yeah.

You are.

Someone will be a very lucky woman when she reels you in.

Yes, well, I think that might be a matter of opinion.

No, I won't hear that!

You always lack confidence with women.

It's always the same.

Those God-awful brothels in Italy.

- Oh, I should never have left the army. - Don't be ridiculous.

If I'd had even the first idea what it was like on civvy street...

I'd give anything to go back, so would you. Admit it.

Well, there is no going back, there's only forwards.

You need to get yourself a girl.

You got a girl, Lieutenant?

Never know with you. You keep it all so closed up.

Locked.

Come on, you old drunk.

Love. You ever loved?

Yeah, once.

- She love you back? - No, I think not.

You can't let her go?

- No. That's it. - Locked.

Those girls in Trieste. Remember?

- Bernadetta. Juliana. - Come on.

- Lie on your side. - Evelina.

No, it wasn't Evelina.

- Go to sleep. - What was her name?

Juliana. Bernadetta. Eve...

Emeline.

I'm so lost, Laurie.

I'm so bloody lost.

You go to sleep.

Thank you.

- He is better than this. - Hmm.

He'll be fine in the morning.

- Coffee? - Better not.

Duty calls.

Something like that.

Miss Ramirez...

I've got a two-minute change. What do you want?

I don't know when it was taken but she obviously had ambitions.

Is there anywhere she could be?

Miss Ramirez, she could be dead.

She's here. She's more than fine.

You might catch her if you're quick enough. She's wearing a very nice mink.

- Miss Delaine! - Mr Lyon, this is a nice club.

You're very welcome here but I ask all my clientele,

please, leave your work elsewhere...

Sorry, but my work is everywhere but elsewhere.

This is neither the time nor the place. Good night for now, Mr Lyon.

But do become a frequent visitor.

I encourage you to make yourself at home.

Though a word of advice to you and your friends at The Hour.

You know, drink my champagne, eat my oysters.

Hey, here.

But don't think for a moment you won't pay.

Come on.

Sir, madam, very nice to meet you.

- You look extremely well. - Very well, thank you.

Enjoy yourself.

- Okay. - Thanks.

Good night.

- Ready? - Yeah.

Great.

Can you follow that car, please?

Um, can you take me to Notting Hill now, please?

- Bel! - Oh, sorry.

- No. Come in. - No. I don't want to disturb you.

- I was just looking for Freddie. - I don't know where he is.

- I thought he was with you. - No. Sorry, I'll go.

No. No, really. Please, come in.

Brandy?

It's... It's very nice.

Are you enjoying it? Casino Royale?

It's ridiculous. I can't understand any of it.

Really? I think it's one of his best.

I hate it. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

And so pointless.

Um... I think that's the point.

I'm home!

Freddie!

- Where have you been? - I've been at El Paradis.

- And? - What are you doing here?

I didn't want to be alone, I think someone's been in my flat.

It's from Cilenti.

- How do you know? - I just do.

I've found her. Miss Delaine.

- She's alive? - Very much so.

- Well, tell me. Tell all. - You're shivering.

I'm fine, go on.

Well, I followed her to a townhouse in Mayfair.

- I didn't wake you up? - No.

No.

- You smell of, um... - You bought it for me.

Nearly finished the bottle.

- You staying? - Um...

No. No, not tonight.

I just wanted to make sure you're safe and sound.

Always.

Oh!

- Merry Christmas. - Oh, I love it.

Really?

Come and lie with me.

All right.

Freddie? Here.

- Plenty of time to find another tenant. - Please reconsider.

It's not worth it, Freddie, not at our age.

We're joining the migration north.

- Where to? - Colindale.

It's deserted. Absolutely nothing there.

We can't give in to intimidation, Mrs Goldman.

Please take this back, come on.

- We can't let them win. - I'm sorry, Freddie.

Had some upsetting news, Mr Lyon?

I think you know my wife, Mr Pike. She'd like an apology.

What for, Mr Lyon?

I haven't laid a finger on her. Certain I'd remember if I had.

- You paid Trevor to assault her. - I wouldn't believe a boy like that.

- Well, we're not going anywhere. - He who resists change...

I was born here!

There's no such thing as birthright any more, Mr Lyon.

You should know that.

Not at all the place it once was.

The one in your memory, Mr Lyon, that's long gone.

It's just us and the money.

- I heard there was a scene. - Oh, no, no, nothing like that.

It was enough.

Mr Lyon will anchor this evening's programme on his own.

Are we agreed?

Won't viewers be surprised if Mr Madden is completely removed?

Like it or not, he is one of the main reasons that people watch The Hour.

It's a debate. We need sharpness of mind.

That does not go hand in hand

with dehydration, nausea and waves of self-loathing.

And Hector?

He should be shunted into the sidelines until...

Until?

Contracts are up at the start of the new year.

Miss Delaine, I...

- Miss Delaine! - Stop banging.

- Go away or I'll call the police. - What for, this time?

Come on, Miss Delaine.

Just five minutes, please!

Miss Delaine!

If Mr Madden didn't hurt you, why did you tell the police that he did?

Oh, it's done now, isn't it? And I can't take it back.

He's all right. I watch his wife on the TV.

I hate cooking but she's beautiful.

Is he your boyfriend?

- The man at the club? - They all think they're my boyfriend.

Well, you're someone's.

It's a pretty powerful clientele at El Paradis.

Mr. Cilenti's all about people.

I'm going out in a minute.

Do you know how worried Miss Ramirez was about you?

- Well, she can see I'm all right now. - Yes.

Yes, you are.

You're better-looking in real life.

- I'm here to help. - No, you're not.

You're here for some story, for your programme.

I don't really watch the news but I've seen you.

You're going round investigating me.

I could say you done something to me this second, if I wanted.

Why would you do that?

Anyone can say anything, can't they?

There's value in an important man like yourself, a famous face.

Value for who?

You're asking stupid questions and I can set you straight in one.

You do what you have to do in this world.

You make your move and you get where you want to go.

Even if you have to take a beating along the way?

He hurt me that day but it all healed up.

Look, can't see nothing.

Who? Who hurt you?

You think I'm stupid but I'm not.

Really I'm not.

Look where I am.

Why would I betray him for the sake of giving something to you?

That's very pretty.

- Present. - Really?

They look very much in love.

Can you go now, please?

I want you to go.

Glad to see you're walking straight today.

Just about.

Hello.

Well, well, this is suitably glamorous.

In here please, Mr Grey.

Who's that? An actor?

Peter Grey, co-founder of the League For Homosexual Law Reform.

- A homosexual? - Yes, Mr Wengrow.

- Remarkable. Looks just like you or I. - On the programme?

Mr Wengrow, if we're making a programme about birds,

who would we contact?

The Royal Society for the Protection of...

Birds. Exactly. But we would not go on to assume

that the spokesman they sent us was themselves feathered with a beak.

- Hector in? - On time for once.

Um, Sophie, could you...

Thank you.

How to get revenge against a man who beat you?

Accuse his best friend.

What's this? Shakespeare?

Don't tell me you're complicit. You can't be.

Otherwise he wouldn't have let you sit in that cell for so long.

What are you talking about?

I've just been with Miss Delaine.

She is being kept in some style. Who might that be by?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Think about it. You know the man. I want you to be honest with yourself.

A powerful man, a man with contacts,

a man with influence, a man who would use that influence.

- No, I won't hear it. - Come on.

- Laurie would never... - He would. He has.

The prize he won, remember? That bloody horrendous ornament?

Now in pride of place on Miss Delaine's mantelpiece, Hector.

How?

Fifteen minutes to air, everyone.

What do you want from me, Freddie?

Mr Stern is having an intimate relationship with a woman

who as good as belongs to Mr Cilenti.

Which can only mean your friend must be turning a blind eye

to the man's misdeeds.

- Must be? - It's organised crime, Hector.

Police corruption.

Cilenti's got a leading police commander in his pocket.

- On what evidence? - Oh!

He's a hero in your eyes so you don't want to believe it.

You know it's true.

A man errs, a man errs so badly

it's quite impossible to square it with the man you knew before.

But stupidity, reckless stupidity...

- No. - How do you know?

He helped me. I could have gone to prison.

He helped you to help himself.

I'm sorry, Hector, but it's true. You know it's true.

- Everything all right? - Yes.

So, Mr Lyon, I'd like you to lead with Wolfenden.

Pick up NATO.

And Mr Madden, you can have the Home Secretary round-up of the year.

Perhaps it's for the best.

Oh God, debating the rights and wrongs of the permissive society?

How can one trust him? How can one trust anything he says now?

- We can't have him on the programme. - We can and we will.

Fine, but I interview him.

Sorry.

- Hector should present Wolfenden. - What?

You'll have to trust me.

It's 12 minutes to air, Freddie. A live debate.

Even if I didn't trust you, Randall would never allow it.

- He wants Hector out. - But you don't. So defy Randall.

- Is he half-cut? - No.

He won't let us down.

Isaac, I need you to find the landlord of this address.

Who pays the rent, whether it's a freehold...

Soon as possible, please, thank you.

Ah, Randall. I, um...

I thought of translating it for you,

then I seemed to remember that your Spanish was pretty...

Appalling.

I'll muddle through.

Hmm. Let me know. I'd... I'd like to know.

Thank you.

Places, please.

- All right? - Come on, come on, come on.

Thank you.

What's going on?

Um, Mr Madden is presenting Wolfenden.

- I specifically said I want... - Mr Lyon is insistent.

You are overruled.

Which is my privilege as producer from time to time, is it not?

- Why is Mr Lyon throwing him a lifeline? - I don't know.

But let's give him the benefit of the doubt, shall we?

Overruled I am.

Stand by everyone, we're live in 20. Cue grams.

Mr Madden has rather a green pallor tonight,

wouldn't you say?

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Good evening and welcome to The Hour,

the most important 60 minutes in your week.

This week the government has rejected

the recommendations of the Wolfenden Committee

that acts of homosexuality between men

no longer be considered a criminal offence.

We ask, is this something that the government should have done?

Joining us for a debate in the studio we have Mr Peter Grey,

the co-founder of the newly established Homosexual Law Reform League.

Opposing him is the man charged with keeping our capital city

free from the scourge of vice,

Commander Laurence Stern of the Metropolitan Police.

- Good evening, Commander. - Good evening.

Mr Grey, your organisation must be disappointed

that the government has refused to relax the law.

The current law ruins lives.

You see, most arrests are got through blackmail.

One person threatens to report another for homosexual activities.

But rather than going after the blackmailer,

the police invariably pursue the man who has done nothing more

than engage in an act in private.

- Which causes no other person harm. - Well, society is harmed.

Homosexuality is a crime with no victim, Mr Stern.

It's blackmail that destroys lives.

Acts of unnatural vice are never victimless, Mr Grey.

Indeed.

But what of these people who live in fear of being accused, Mr Stern?

What do you imagine life is like for them?

Well, the morality of this is black and white.

The law cannot be altered to accommodate perversions.

- That way abuse lies. - Abuse, perversions.

Who is it that defines what these things are?

Parliament. That's what we're here to discuss.

- Where the hell is he going with this? - I don't know.

Is it not the case, Mr Stern, that individual police officers

have a great deal of discretion as to which perversions they pursue?

Well, officers do exercise a great deal of discretion, yes.

But in fact it's notorious in the police force.

This particular offence is seen an easy target,

one for the arrest record.

Yes, well, I've never seen evidence of that procedure.

Well, we have the evidence right here, in the Wolfenden Report.

Past five years has seen a surge in arrests for homosexual offences.

- Arguably a purge. - Well, there has been progress, yes.

But the police have not enjoyed similar success with other kinds of vice.

Can you offer an explanation for that, Mr Stern?

Well, as you know, the government is currently considering

legislation to take prostitutes off our streets,

so obviously that would have a major effect on vice numbers.

It's only a tip of the iceberg.

While vice is allowed to continue underground

with callgirls and club girls,

young women vulnerable to the sexual whims and abuse of men.

What's being done to police that crime?

How is it that the police enjoy a great deal of success...

Pull back on camera one, pull back on Mr Madden.

Um, there's something not right here.

No, he's never been so good. Tighter, go tighter on Commander Stern.

- Tighter on camera two. ...never a case of turning a blind eye.

Which would you consider the greater crime, Mr Stern,

the abuse of women within the vice industry

or the private acts that take place between consenting men?

We all have our weaknesses, Mr Madden,

most of us manage to keep them within the boundaries of the law.

And if that fails? Could you contain yourself?

It is not our failure that reveals us, Mr Madden,

it is the manner in which we pick ourselves up.

Thank you.

And now we go to Frederick Lyon,

with news on the aftermath of the NATO summit.

The Prime Minister has made no secret of his enthusiasm

for Mr Eisenhower's deal to house American missiles on British bases.

But at what cost to the nation?

Down the line now from Washington, our correspondent, Mr Barnaby McDonald.

Good evening, Barnaby.

Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.

- And a Happy Christmas. - Mr Lyon...

I've got your name for the landlord of that flat.

It's owned by a Mr Pike. A Mr Norman Pike.

Find out what else he owns, please. Quick as you can.