Original subtitles

CLOCK TICKS

TICKING STOPS

WHISPERS: George.

George!

FLOORBOARDS CREAK

SHE SCREAMS

Anne?

Anne.

Anne!

Wake up, Anne.

You missed breakfast.

- We've got class today.

- Are you all right?

- I had a really weird dream.

At least...

..I think it was a dream.

Is Mr Roland here?

- He'll be here in ten minutes so you'd better get up.

- Eurgh, another day listening to the most boring man on Earth

warbling on about some Victorian history.

- I thought he made some pretty stimulating points

on the division of labour. - This is ridiculous!

It's the summer holidays, you guys have been here three weeks,

and we haven't even gone camping yet.

Maybe we should just sneak off.

- We can't, George, your parents would kill us.

- They wouldn't even notice. And it's not like your parents

would care, they went on holiday without you.

- They work for the British Government.

They went to spy on the King of Egypt.

- They're not spies, Dick.

And we're not running away.

We're going to class.

- Ugh!

- The Corn Laws of 1815

proved to be deeply divisive.

Introduced by Lord Liverpool,

they placed tariffs on cereal grains from other countries

such as maize and wheat in favour of domestic agriculture.

These restrictions confirmed a deep division between

the land-owning class in the countryside

and the merchants and manufacturers based in the towns.

The effect was to hamper economic growth

and... - Hey! - ..to depress...

- What was that for?

- Subsequently...

..the cost of grain rose to 80 shillings a quarter.

This...

..is confiscated.

- Why?

- I will not have students wielding an offensive weapon in class.

- It's a ruler, sir.

Hardly an offensive weapon.

- That rather depends on who's wielding it.

- What do I do if I need to draw a straight line?

- You, you...

BARKING

Bad dog!

Sit, please.

- He isn't a bad dog, he just doesn't like your tone.

- That animal is evidently a disruptive influence. Please move

him to the other side of the room where he can't be a distraction.

Either that, or you can remove him from the classroom altogether.

- Mum said it was OK for Timmy to be here.

- On the proviso that he doesn't interfere with your studies.

I am the one who decides whether his presence is a distraction

and I would like you to move him to the other side of the room.

- Fine!

Come here, Timmy.

- Thank you.

- Come here, come here.

Good boy.

You shouldn't take it out on Timmy. He didn't do anything wrong.

- Maybe not, but now you're being impertinent.

Please return to your seat, Georgina.

- That's not my name.

- I said sit down!

- What on earth is going on in here?

I have a deadline and I can't concentrate with all this noise.

Are you OK? - She threw a rubber at Anne.

- I was trying to help! - That's not exactly true.

- I'm sorry, I can't be an accomplice in you disobeying your tutor.

The whole reason we enlisted

Mr Roland is to keep you kids out of trouble.

- CLOCK CHIMES

- Well, that's all for today.

- All right, children, tea is ready.

And after that, your uncle will be making a presentation.

- He's making progress then?

- Well, we live in hope.

- Now, essentially what you're looking at is a portable brain.

A machine that's capable of translating a problem -

potentially any problem - into a solution.

Now, its applications are limitless,

but for its maiden voyage

I'd like ask one of you to ask it a simple mathematical question.

- What's the square root of minus one?

- Good one.

Let's give it a try.

WHIRRING

- Is it supposed to...?

- Dad, I think you might want to...

- Er, I might, I might just erm...

- That's certainly not what I learnt in maths club.

- No, no!

No! No, no...

- I know it didn't work...

..but it almost did.

- It will, it will.

I think Uncle Quentin's gone back to the drawing board.

It's OK if you were scared.

I think we all were.

- I wasn't scared of that stupid machine.

- What's wrong then?

Are you missing Mum and Dad?

- It's not that.

- What is it then?

- You wouldn't believe me.

I think the house is haunted.

I never said it was definitely a ghost.

It could have been...a spectre.

Or...

..a ghoul?

- I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.

Most so-called paranormal activity can be explained by science.

- Maybe you should tell them what you saw.

- It wasn't just what I saw.

It was what I heard as well.

This kind of rattling, like chains.

And scraping.

Three nights in a row.

And then, last night...

..I was at the top of the stairs

and I saw this...

..thing.

- What kind of thing?

- It walked across the lower landing

and then it was gone.

- Things don't just vanish.

It's scientifically impossible.

- The point is...

..we don't know what it is that Anne saw.

And the only way we're going to figure it out

is by getting proof.

- And how are we going to do that?

- We're going to stay up.

All...

..night.

- If it was a ghost,

who do you think it might be?

- Maybe Granny or Grandpa?

- What about Auntie Annie?

- Or maybe the ghost of some pirates that lived here

hundreds of years ago.

- BARKING

- What is it, Timmy?

Is there something there?

- Rats maybe?

- That's not rats.

Hello?

Is anyone there?

- BARKING

- Hey, wait! Hey!

- TIMMY WHINES

What was that? - I don't know, but it was definitely human

and now it's in the living room.

- There's nobody here.

- Oh, that's not possible. People can't just walk through walls.

- You know who can walk through walls?

Ghosts.

- Anne. - It wasn't a ghost.

- It was a real person and they were standing right here.

- Well, they're not here now.

How does an intruder who's definitely not a ghost just vanish?

- TIMMY WHINES

The repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846 caused a major rift

within the Conservative Party

and ultimately led to the, er,

end of Robert Peel's tenure as Prime Minister.

It was a result of the pressure applied by the activities

of the Anti-Corn Law League that was...

QUENTIN: Yes! Yes!

BARKING

QUENTIN: It works, it works!

- He must have fixed it.

- I don't see why he's so excited about it.

It's only a machine.

- Television's a machine.

You like television.

- If he'd invented television, then I'd be excited.

- I think we might wrap things up a few minutes early today...

..since you've all been so attentive.

Have a pleasant afternoon, and I'll see you tomorrow.

DOOR CLOSES

- Mr Roland's definitely up to something.

- What are you talking about? He's our tutor.

- It's the perfect cover to try and steal the machine. My parents had

never met him a couple of weeks ago, he could be anyone.

- That's pure speculation.

You haven't got a single fact to back it up.

The last time we saw the intruder he stepped into this room.

We need to focus on where he went. - I say we start with the chimney.

- That's how Father Christmas does it.

But wouldn't we have seen soot?

- He probably entered and exited through one of these windows.

Simple.

- I thought they didn't open properly.

- Good boy.

- There's a gap. - I'm sorry, but there's no way

a non-ghost could fit through a gap that small.

- That's why I said the fireplace.

TIMMY WHINES

- Look at this.

I distinctly remember placing this basket right next to the clock,

but it's moved, which is weird enough...

..but look at these scuff marks...

- They seem to come from beneath the clock.

- Exactly.

As if the clock has been pushed aside perhaps.

Help me.

- How do we open it?

- Your uncle's had a bit of a breakthrough.

- After six years of false starts.

- I'm going to crack open some cider. - Oh, yes.

- Maybe a couple of bottles of ginger beer as well.

- Congratulations, Uncle Quentin.

- We'll join you in a bit.

- Thank you.

- We could try turning the hands back.

Maybe it only opens at midnight.

- Worth a try.

- Wait a minute.

Keep going.

Hmm.

The weights aren't moving.

- CLOCK TICKS

WHIRRING

Maybe we should tell your parents first.

- Not happening. Pass me a torch.

- TIMMY BARKS

- Are you guys coming?

We need to check this out.

- How long does it go on for?

- Let's find out.

- Does anyone know the fatality rate for mining accidents?

- Why would anyone know that?

- Don't know, just thought it'd be something useful to know.

- The less time we're down here,

the less time the roof has to fall on our heads.

- That's actually a pretty good point.

- Who would want to build this in the first place?

- My theory - it's an old smugglers' tunnel

from the 18th century, possibly earlier.

- How come no-one knew it was here?

- It's hardly something you put on the deeds of your house

when you come to sell it.

- Where do you think it's taking us?

- Looks like we're about to find out.

- Who lives down there?

- It's a local guesthouse.

It's just been taken over by Mrs Sassoon.

She rents them out to walkers and holiday-makers.

You'll never guess who's staying there.

That's the owner.

- She can't be the intruder, can she?

- She's not.

- How do you know?

- Because it's one of her guests.

- Mr Roland.

- I told you there was something funny about him.

- We have to tell your parents.

- What are we going to say?

- We show them the tunnel. Tell them about the intruder.

They'll have to believe us. - He'll talk his way out of it.

You've seen what he's like.

I say we confront him right here, right now.

- This is a really bad idea.

- We're on to you, Mr Roland.

- What on earth are you doing here?

- We know you've been trying to steal my father's machine.

We stopped you last night, and we'll stop you again if you try.

- I'm sorry. Is this some kind of joke?

- We found a tunnel.

We've been through it, and it led us straight here to you.

- Would anyone like a biscuit?

- You should be more careful about who you let into your house.

- Oh, I'm extremely careful, I assure you.

If you don't want a biscuit, perhaps you could leave my guest alone

so he can enjoy his tea.

- I'd like a biscuit.

- Sorry, Mrs Sassoon.

I seem to be the victim of some sort of prank.

Or is it a game, perhaps?

- It's no game, Mr Roland,

or whatever your real name is.

- Come on, George. We should go.

- Yes, that sounds like a sensible idea.

Perhaps I should telephone your mother and explain her

the misunderstanding.

- What about the biscuits?

- Of course. Take two.

- It's all true, Mum. You have to believe us.

Mr Roland's an impostor.

He's just pretending to be our tutor when all he really wants to do is do

is steal Dad's machine. Just come and look.

I'll show you the secret passage.... - Stop it, George!

I'm at a loss for words,

at you making up outlandish stories

to make excuses for your behaviour.

Insulting your tutor, breaking into people's homes.

- Technically, the door was open.

- And you know full well

that your actions reflect back on your father and me.

- I know, but if you just let... - And dragging your cousins into it, too.

Do you know how embarrassing it will be when I have to tell

Jack and Gillian?

- You're not listening to me!

- We were supposed to be celebrating your father, and you ruined it.

- We brought you some cake.

Can we come in?

- Fine.

- We were talking, and we agree.

Mr Roland seemed suspicious.

- But without any evidence, it's just that. A suspicion.

- What does he even want from Uncle Quentin's machine, anyway?

- If he's invented a machine that could do decimal arithmetic,

it could be worth a fortune.

- Isn't that just an electrical abacus?

- An abacus is for simple sums.

His machine looks for patterns in numbers.

It's a way to decode everything in existence.

If it fell into the wrong hands, it could change the world

as we know it. - I still don't get it.

- The point is, it's valuable.

And Mr Roland is clearly willing to go to great lengths

to get his hands on it.

But the only way we're going to stop him is by finding some evidence

so we can persuade the adults to listen.

- We need to catch him in the act.

Get proof. Undeniable proof.

- Looks like it's going to be another late one.

Treacle. - Check.

- Feathers. - Check.

- Marbles. - Got it.

- Torches off, Dick.

- How am I supposed to read?

- Maybe just...don't.

- But I'm at a really exciting bit.

- This is exciting.

- Well, what are we supposed to do now?

- Well, now we wait.

- BIRDS CHIRP

OWL HOOTS

CLOCK TICKS

SCRAPING

TIMMY SIGHS

WHISPERS: - Oh, no. How long have we been asleep?

- Dick, you were supposed to stay awake. - I AM awake.

- Good, cos he's here. - Did we...? - Shh.

That. That sounds like the front door.

- Quick, grab your things.

- PULLEY WHEELS SQUEAK

- Oh!

- Now! - Get him!

Keep going!

- Julian, get the net on! - I am!

TIMMY BARKS

- Get that animal away from me. - It IS Mr Roland!

- What on earth do you think you're doing? - Making citizen's arrests.

- We caught you red-handed. - You have no idea.

Julian, you're a sensible boy...

- Be warned, I am armed and I'm dangerous!

What on earth is going on here?

- Mr Roland? - Mrs Barnard, Professor, thank goodness.

There's been a terrible mistake.

- ANNE: - What?

- Come on, he's got the machine!

- What about Mr Roland? - Leave him!

Quick, come on!

- TIMMY BARKS

TIMMY BARKS

- This way, into the woods. - Who are we chasing? - The intruder.

- I thought that was Mr Roland. - So did we. - Come on, Julian!

- Wait! - Mr Roland?

Sorry about the feathers.

- The name's not Roland, it's Keats.

Agent Keats.

- Which way did he go? - This way.

TIMMY BARKS

- Wait, he's headed for the road. It's quicker this way.

- Agent Keats!

George knows a short cut.

ENGINE STARTS

- Down.

- GUNSHOTS

Ah!

- The British Government monitors all kinds of technological innovations,

particularly ones that could be dangerous

were they to fall into enemy hands.

- So, that means you're a spy? - Not exactly.

- You'd better have a very good reason for weaselling your way in here

and putting my family in danger.

- I've been sent here to keep an eye on your husband's progress

and requisition the device if and when it was completed.

- Steal it for yourself, you mean?

- We have reason to believe...

..well...

..that war is on the horizon.

A world war. And your contraption could be critical to the country's

counter-intelligence efforts.

Which means we must transport this to a military facility in Scotland.

- I'm sorry, "we"?

- Pack your things please, Professor. - You've got some nerve. - Excuse me?

- As if commandeering his life's work isn't bad enough, you want him

to show you Neanderthals how to warp it into some war machine?

And did you for one minute stop to think about what happens to us?

- She does make a good point.

- My instructions were to bring your husband and his device.

No provision was made for women and children.

- I don't care what your instructions were.

Whoever these criminals are, they're not going to just give up.

- That was another very good point.

What if they try again?

- You can't just leave us here like sitting ducks. No way.

Either we all go, or none of us do.

That's non-negotiable, I'm afraid.

- Fine.

- WHISPERS: - Does that mean we're going to Scotland?

- Maybe. - Yes!

- But let me make something absolutely clear -

we are dealing with a team of highly motivated,

ruthless enemy agents with international connections,

who will stop at nothing to get what they are after.

I may have wounded one of them, but they will strike again.

If it was my wife, and my children...

..I would definitely want them to stay here.

- We appreciate your concern, Agent Keats,

but if we're going to make that Highland Sleeper,

we should probably get packing.

- Very well.

- TRAIN WHISTLE

MAN: The train departing from platform two

is the sleeper train to Aberdeen.

DICK: - Do you know our father? - Excuse me?

- Jack Barnard. Special Intelligence.

Currently posted in Cairo, I think.

- Never heard of him. - Huh.

Fair enough.

- Quentin?

Quentin Barnard?

Well, I'll be da...

It IS you!

Huh, of all the trains in all the world, what are the chances

we'd be taking the same one?

- Do you know this man? - Err, well, I...

- Where are my manners? Name's Maxwell.

Maxwell Endicott Jr.

We met at your presentation at the Royal Society last year.

- Oh, I'm so sorry. - Not at all.

Caused quite a stir, if you don't mind me saying so.

Ruffled a few feathers.

But I, I was hooked from the get-go.

- Well, I'm sad to say that you were very much in the minority that day.

- We really must board this train.

- Is that it? The Algebra Engine?

Listen, I'd be keener than ketchup to talk to you about licensing...

- You've made a terrible mistake.

Come along, Professor. - Erm, excuse me.

- TIMMY BARKS

TRAIN HORN

WHISTLE

- All aboard!

- HORN

FANNY: - OK, great.

- OUTSIDE: All aboard!

- What do we think? Nice?

- Wood panelling. - Uh-huh.

- Ooh, nice pillows.

Tartan blankets.

So soft.

- Well, we're two doors along, so come through if you need anything.

- And try and stay out of trouble. - We will. - We promise. - Mmm.

- OUTSIDE: The train is ready to depart, all aboard!

- Excuse me, is this the direction for the restaurant?

- We booked a table, you see, only we don't know which way it is.

Is it fore or aft?

Thanks very much.

- Strange fellow.

- Can't be easy, delivering drinks when your arm's crook.

OUTSIDE: - The train is ready to depart!

- WHISTLE

- I'm pretty sure he works with Dad, by the way.

Agent Keats.

I had a word with him earlier.

- Dad isn't a spy, Dick. - He really is, Julian.

And the fact that you don't realise it just proves he's good at his job.

- Looks like he's going to stand guard out there all night.

- Do you really think they might try and steal it on the train?

- He pretty much said they would.

- Maybe we should have dinner in our compartment then. Just in case.

- But the a la carte menu's only available in the restaurant.

- It wouldn't hurt to have a bit of a snoop around.

We got a better view of the intruders than everyone else.

- Agent Keats told us to stay put.

- But Agent Keats also lied to us.

He let them slip right through his fingers.

Plus, he's not much use as a tutor either.

I don't see why we should do what he says.

- Your parents are hardly going to let us loose in the restaurant.

- Leave them to me.

First of all, dinner's included for first-class ticket holders,

so it would be a waste not to.

Secondly, I just found out that George hasn't been to

a restaurant for two years, which is unbelievable.

- We have fish and chips every Thursday night, doesn't that count?

- Fish and chips DEFINITELY does not count.

Third and finally, Julian left the picnic in the taxi.

- Julian?

- I'm sorry, Aunt Fanny.

Must have just...slipped my mind.

- Need I remind you of the severity of the situation?

- I'm sorry, what were your orders again?

- They made no provisions for women and children. Apparently.

- So maybe this doesn't concern you.

- We'll be impeccably behaved, I promise.

And it's a first-class establishment, after all.

- And if you want us to stay out of trouble then, technically,

the further we are from that machine the better, surely?

- What do you say, darling?

Might as well make the most of it.

- I strongly recommend that they stay put.

- Thankfully, there are limits to the reach of your authority, Mr Keats.

Now, whilst my wife and I will happily take dinner

in our compartment so that we can keep an eye on things here,

if your department is generous enough to provide a slap-up dinner

for the children, then I'm not going to stand in their way.

- Yes! - Thanks, Dad.

- TIMMY BARKS

- No dogs allowed.

- What's wrong?

- No dogs.

- Says who?

- Says me. I'm the head waiter and I say no animals in the dining car.

- Excuse me, waiter?

Vous peux faire une exception cette fois, non?

- Desole, madame, mais les regles sont les regles.

- What if the young lady

and her canine companion were to sit with me?

I'll take full responsibility for their behaviour.

- Bien sur.

The rest of you, follow me.

- Thank you very much.

- Sabrina Grover, pleased to make your acquaintance.

- George.

- George. I like it.

Do you think George is going to be all right?

- She'll be fine, she's got Timmy.

I wonder what the soup of the day is.

- I know you're getting handsomely paid for this assignment,

but it's daylight robbery if you ask me.

- If this machine is as revolutionary as it's purported to be,

it will pay for itself in a matter of months.

- Here you are, gentlemen.

You are extremely fortunate that you ran into me when you did.

The Featherington 3000.

Far and away the best type-writing machine in Europe.

Made out of lightweight, cold-rolled steel,

its compact design features the patent-pending soft space bar

and the smoothest carriage return on the market.

- Pretty nifty, isn't it?

- What a remarkable piece of engineering.

Can't you just imagine us sitting by the side of the loch?

You with your pipe, me drawing Nessie to the surface

with the gentle click-clack of the keys?

- Why would you go abroad when you've got Scotland on your doorstep?

That's why we're going Inverness, you see?

No messing around with ferries or anything like that.

You close your eyes, before you know it, bosh...

..you're in the Highlands.

- Barman. - Yes, sir?

- Can I get three Coca Colas, please?

Send them to those kids over there.

- What about you?

What brings you this side of the Atlantic?

Is it business or pleasure?

- Big business, my friend.

The biggest business there is.

- Ooh, tell me more. I love a bit of business, me.

- So...

The fish is supposed to be really good.

It's a Dover sole, imported fresh this morning.

- I'll have that then, thank you. - Yes, mademoiselle.

- What about your companion?

- Erm, Timmy will be fine with a couple of shortbread biscuits,

if you have them. - Very good. - I like his style.

So, where are your parents, George?

I mean, if you don't mind my asking.

- No, they decided to stay in their compartment.

They let me do pretty much whatever I want.

- Mmm, very sensible of them.

My parents, they were much more controlling.

That didn't end well.

Are you here on holiday?

- More like a work thing of my dad's.

Where are you going?

- Well, I'm a firm believer that the journey is more important

than the destination, so I'm going to spend some time in the Highlands,

then I might take a boat to the Hebrides.

Norway, Finland.

Who knows?

- Don't you ever go home?

- I don't have one.

Everything I own folds into two neat little suitcases.

- That's so cool.

So, what do you do for a living?

- It's the 20th century, George.

You can do anything you want and be whoever you want to be.

I think...

I think I like to consider myself an adventurer.

- That's what I want to be.

- Best job there is.

- Well, I must say it's remarkably quiet.

- You see? Look at the young man go.

At £87, it's a snip.

A snip, I tell you.

- Well, perhaps we can consider it an early birthday present.

- You won't regret it. It works like a dream.

- The little boy knows what he's talking about.

- £85, you say?

- £87.

- Hmm.

I suppose you take cheques?

- Certainly. I'll fetch you a receipt.

- Where did you learn to type like that?

- Self-taught. I'm trying to get my speed up to 50 words per minute

by the time I go to Oxford.

- Well, keep it up and you can make a good journalist,

like this venerable old hack.

- I don't want to be a journalist.

I want to be a secret agent, like my father. No offence.

- Oh, I'm sorry, but we didn't order these.

- They were sent over by the American gentleman at the bar.

- I thought you might enjoy a taste of the land of opportunity.

- That's very kind of you, but we couldn't possibly accept.

SLURP!

- Sorry. It's really yummy.

Thanks.

- I can understand your reluctance to trust a stranger bearing gifts.

But I already met your dad, so, technically, I'm not a stranger.

And the truth is, it all depends on what type of gifts are on offer.

- Professor Barnard isn't our father, he's our uncle.

- Uncle, father - you'd still benefit though, wouldn't you,

if he suddenly became a very wealthy man?

You see, I'm prepared to offer him a life-changing amount of money.

- I think our uncle made it pretty clear he wasn't interested.

- Yeah, but he didn't give me a chance to hear my pitch

before his minder got in the way.

All I'm looking for is the opportunity to have a word with him.

- Just cos you bought us drinks,

it doesn't mean we're going to tell you which compartment he's in.

- Mmm-hm.

Garcon!

You're young, I get that.

When you're a little older, you'll realise...

..everyone has a price.

Take this note to Professor Barnard.

I'm not sure what cabin he's in

but I'm pretty sure you can find out. - Very well, sir.

Much obliged.

- Well, enjoy your drinks, kids.

I'll be sure to catch up with your uncle soon, huh?

- At the risk of stating the obvious,

that American seemed deeply suspicious.

- He's certainly got motive and means.

- And he's about to have an opportunity.

- Not as suspicious as that waiter, though.

- What waiter?

- The one with the bandaged arm that the American just handed a note to.

- What?

- He's got an injury in the exact spot that Agent Keats shot the intruder.

- Why didn't you tell us?

- I just did.

- LAUGHING: - And that's how I learned never to leave home

without a good length of rope and a half dozen hairpins.

- Sorry to interrupt. We just need to discuss something with George.

Urgently. - Of course.

- The intruder's on the train, Anne saw him.

And he's headed for the machine right now.

TIMMY BARKS

WOMAN: - Next time you want to talk to that ghastly American,

I'll bring a book.

- Impressive man, very impressive.

- Excuse me, sir, can I get through please? - Hold your horses.

- I'm sorry, sir, I just need to get past.

- Hey, you don't want to start ordering me about.

You want to respect your elders.

- Let them through, Roger, they're only kids.

- Thank you very much.

TIMMY BARKS

- Is that the...? - Shh.

SNORING

- Mama?

Mama, wake up.

- What's wrong with them? - Drugged, probably.

Some kind of sedative maybe? Barbiturates?

They'll be fine, just, you know, unconscious for bit.

- It must have been that waiter.

- MEN STRUGGLE

GUNSHOT

- That sounded like...

- GUNSHOT

Agent Keats!

- It's him!

- Can't get the staff these days.

- HE CHUCKLES

- I just hope his drinks are better than his skills in unarmed combat.

- Stop! - Wait! - Don't do it! - No!

- Your drink, it's been tampered with.

- I suddenly feel terribly light-headed.

Oh, I am sorry.

- We should call the guard. - No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no...

Trust no-one...

- But, sir, you're... - You're good kids.

Protect the device...

The trolley!

- We have a problem here.

It's gone. The machine, it's been... - Stolen.

- TIMMY WHIMPERS

TRAIN HORN

This is not good.

They're out for the count, we're all on our own

and the device is missing. A device that can apparently

threaten the security of the whole country.

- So what do we do now?

- We do what Keats said.

We stay put and we wait until one of the grown-ups wake up.

- Except he didn't say that.

He told you to trust no-one and to protect the device.

- It's already been stolen! - So we get it back.

You said it yourself, we're all that's left.

And in the wrong hands, Dad's device is dangerous,

so we have to get it back.

- Well, what do we do?

Run around and knock on everyone's door and accuse them of theft?

- We only need to knock on one door.

- The American?

- I found this.

- It's the note he gave to the waiter.

- "I insist you meet me tonight.

"Coach C, compartment six.

"If you don't come, you'll regret it."

- So, the waiter was following Maxwell's orders?

- They've probably been working together this whole time.

- He's definitely rich enough to have set up the whole thing.

- And clearly obsessed with the machine. - Maybe, but...

- Whatever we do, we need to do it quickly.

Next stop is Hebburndale, at 11:24.

If the American gets off, the device could disappear forever.

- We're not going to let that happen.

- Do we knock? - No way.

- Daddy? Is that you?

- No.

We know you've got the machine.

- What are you talking about?

- You stole it.

- The Algebra Engine's been stolen?

- Just give it back to us and there won't be any trouble.

- You think...?

Ha, you think I'd be here licking my wounds

if I had Barnard's machine?

Ha!

I am a man of good standing,

not a thief.

- Maybe he's telling the truth. - He's lying.

We saw the note you sent with that waiter.

- The one threatening Uncle Quentin if he didn't sell.

- Threatening? - You said if he didn't come and see you, he'd regret it.

- Well, of course he'll regret it,

I could make us both obscenely wealthy.

It wasn't meant as a threat though.

In any case, I came straight here after dinner to smoke my cigar.

And it's just been me and this Casa San Coba Numero Four ever since.

Just look at this if you don't believe me.

- Excuse me? - This ain't no walking-around cigar.

Look at that ash - a sign of premium, Cuban quality, that is.

Takes time to build it up.

Burns slow, holds the flavour.

Look here.

Took me the best part of the past half-hour to build this up.

I wouldn't be able to leave the compartment without dislodging it.

Much less steal a ground-breaking piece of technology.

- TRAIN LURCHES

- Hebburndale. - The station.

HORN

WOMAN: - What we getting off here for? It isn't our stop.

- That's it, he's got it!

- What about the rest of my things? - Petula, please! Can we just...?

- Excuse me, that case.

It looks just like one we're missing. - No, it doesn't.

What you doing? Get off.

- Little girl, you can't just take... - This belongs to my father.

Give it back!

Julian! - Sorry about this.

- Get off! I found it first!

Finders keepers, it's mine!

Why don't you get back on the train?

Go on!

- What you doing, Roger?

- You heard that American.

This thing's worth a fortune.

- Yeah, but it isn't ours, is it?

- Don't you know what this is?

This is the first piece of good luck I've had my whole life.

- What about me?

- Give the suitcase back, sir.

GUN COCKS

Don't let its compact size mislead you.

This is a .22 calibre Derringer and it packs quite a punch.

There's a good chap.

Children?

GUARD: - All aboard! - Go.

Next train will be along soon enough.

HORN

So, we're due to stop at Gleneagles at 5:25.

We should be able to get a couple of police officers

to board the train then,

so they can keep an eye on things for the rest of the journey.

- Could I have a look?

- Yes. - Thanks.

- Until then, would you like to return to your compartment

or would you rather stay here?

- Stay here. - JULIAN: We should go back.

SABRINA: How about a reviving cup of tea while you make up your mind?

- Tea would be great.

- Oh...

How did you know that calamity of a couple were the thieves?

- We didn't, really.

Not until we actually saw them getting off the train. - Oh.

- We thought whoever stole it might try to make a run for it

first chance they could get. - Smart girl.

- Finders keepers.

That's what the man said.

The thief, he said he found the Algebra Engine.

That's a weird thing for a mastermind thief to say.

- Well, it's certainly not evoking mastermind.

- He said something to his wife about the American telling him

that it'd make him rich, but that must mean that he found out

about Dad's device today, on this train.

- So, he couldn't have been working with the waiter from the start.

- The waiter had to be working with someone.

- So there must still be another thief on the train.

- Can I have a biscuit, please?

- Of course. Take two.

Of course, take two.

- CUP FALLS

Hey!

- No-one drink the tea. - What are you talking about?

- It's her. She's the thief.

And Mrs Sassoon, from the guesthouse.

- I knew I'd smelt that perfume before.

Vol de Nuit, by Jacques Guerlain.

I smelt it back in the guesthouse in Dorset

and I can smell it again now.

- You're quite the little detectives, aren't you, uh?

I spent weeks setting up that operation, researching the

smugglers' tunnel, purchasing the guesthouse, biding my time.

I thought the Algebra Engine was mine, but no.

I must admit, I was more than a little frustrated with

your interference.

Still, once my colleague managed to neutralise your parents

and the British agent, it wasn't too hard for me to get what I wanted.

- You're not keeping the device.

- I wouldn't do that if I were you.

- We're leaving and we're taking that with us.

- We can do this the easy way or the hard way.

- PERFUME SQUIRTS

- Ah!

Hard way it is, then.

- MAN CHATTING: - ..terrible trouble getting a man out...

- I hate to say it, but we're going to run out of train pretty quickly.

- Any better ideas? - Yeah, hide.

- George!

- George?

Are you here?

George?

Oh, hello, Timmy.

Who's a good boy, uh?

Who's a good boy?

I know you're in here, George.

You wouldn't leave Timmy behind.

Come out.

I just want to chat.

- You don't care about talking, you just want the Algebra Engine.

- Ooh, la, la, la, la.

Put it down.

- Why should I?

What do you even want it for?

- I'm not the villain here, George.

I'm a mere player in a much bigger game.

- You can't just run around lying

and stealing things that don't belong to you.

- Sweet boy, you just described the British Empire.

- TIMMY WHIMPERS

- Smart girl.

Thank you, George. This has been fun.

- METALLIC CLANKING

SHE LAUGHS

QUIET BIRDSONG

- Do you think anyone knows we're missing?

- Definitely.

The train will be in Edinburgh now.

Aunt Fanny and Uncle Quentin would have woken up.

- Maybe they'll speak to Agent Keats.

He knows what happened.

- How much further?

- Um, if we keep up our current speed, maybe...

..close on to five hours, give or take.

- I can't walk for five hours!

I'm tired and hungry.

And I'm eight years old.

- We're all tired and hungry.

- I'm not. I'm angry!

She thinks she's so important and different

and not exactly like every other adult

that underestimates us just cos we're not old.

We need a plan - something epic.

Something that will make her regret lying and stealing.

- And threatening Timmy.

- Oh, just stop already! Please!

- We can't just let her get away with it.

- Look around, George.

We're in the middle of nowhere.

She already has gotten away with it.

Maybe if you'd...

- What?

No, go on. Maybe if I'd...what?

- Listened to me.

To Keats.

Maybe if we left with the device when we had the chance,

we wouldn't be in this mess.

- So you think it's all my fault?

- See, why do you do that?

You act like you don't care what people think,

but you do, just like everyone else.

You want people to like you.

You wanted Sabrina to like you, so you trusted her -

even though Keats said not to trust anyone -

and she took the advice, and now I don't like you!

ENGINE APPROACHES - Look!

Are they goodies or baddies?

- Goodies. Definitely.

- Barnard children?

I'm Brigadier Hollingsbrooke.

Get in.

- Where are you taking us?

- To your parents at the new special ops training...

- No, that information is highly classified, Private.

- Yeah... Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

- All you need to know is that you'll be staying

at the Cairngorms Garrison at His Majesty's pleasure.

Come along.

- What's your name?

- Private Craig, miss.

- Can I ask, are our aunt and uncle all right?

- I'm not supposed to say, miss,

but, yes, they are.

- And is Agent Keats with them? - He certainly is.

- Private Craig, do not give her any more information.

- OFFICER BARKS ORDERS

- Right, follow me.

- TIMMY BARKS

- Timmy! Oh, thank God.

- Oh, Mum, stop!

- Thank goodness you're OK. - We lost the engine.

I'm sorry, Dad.

- Doesn't matter. So long as you're safe.

- Lina Martine. Is that her?

We've been monitoring her movements for years.

- Who have? - Special Intelligence.

- Well, not very successfully, it seems.

- What will she do with my machine?

- Sell it to the highest bidder, presumably.

Which could be any one of a number of hostile nations.

The Germans, most likely.

- We've got to stop her.

- I'm sorry, did you say something?

The only "we" here is the British Armed Forces.

We will be the ones to decide on the appropriate course of action.

If my men hadn't wasted so much time tracking you children down,

WE might have had a shot.

She'll be long gone by now.

- Which is why Special Intelligence have decided to concentrate

our efforts on helping you construct a duplicate machine.

- And by "Special Intelligence", you mean my brother Jack.

- I'm not at liberty to discuss the chain of command.

- Private Craig, can you please escort the children to the barracks?

Give them whatever they want - just keep them occupied and away.

- It's irrelevant anyway. The whole thing is impossible.

- You'll be given whatever resources you need

and, of course, free rein of the laboratory here.

- It would take months.

Even then, there's no guarantee.

- In all likelihood, your machine is halfway to Berlin by now.

A war is coming, Professor.

And we cannot allow the Germans any technological advantage.

So I'm sorry if it sounded like a request,

because it isn't.

You will build a new Algebra Engine and you will remain here,

under the supervision of Brigadier Hollingsbrooke,

until it's complete.

- You can do it, darling.

You've done it before...

..you can do it again.

- OFFICER BARKS ORDERS

- The Major said that we were "guests at His Majesty's pleasure".

But I doubt that His Majesty

would be particularly pleased with this slop.

- He's a Brigadier, not a Major.

- Even a Brigadier should be able to put together a meal

that comes with some kind of pudding.

- Whatever.

- No matter how bad things get,

they're always better with plum pudding.

- I'm sorry, George.

Obviously I do like you.

- I'm sorry too.

You were right - I should have listened to you.

Instead, I trusted Sabrina. Now we're stuck in this place.

And Dad has to build a whole new engine.

- It's not your fault.

You were right about a lot of things.

You're the reason we recovered the device twice before.

- And maybe you can do it again.

- We do make a pretty good team when we work together.

- We've got nothing to go on, though.

- We've got this -

Sabrina's timetable.

Look at the numbers scribbled on the corner.

- Maybe they're... measurements for her tailor?

- That doesn't make any sense. Maybe it's a telephone number.

- There are too many numbers.

- I know what it is - it's a short-wave radio frequency.

It's how I listen to the Test.

- Maybe...maybe that's how she receives her instructions.

- Only one way to find out.

Private Craig? - Er...

GARBLED RADIO CHATTER THROUGH HEADPHONES

MORSE CODE BEEPS

- Is it working? - Shh!

- MORSE CODE CONTINUES AND LOOPS

MORSE CODE PLAYS OVER SPEAKER

- What is that?

- It's Morse code recorded on a loop.

It says today's date...

..Loch Ness...

..goose and...

..cuckoo.

..1800.

- Loch Ness must be the meeting point.

- And 1800 is six o'clock this evening.

- What about the goose and the cuckoo?

What have they got to do with anything? - Don't know.

But we have less than two hours to find out.

- Loch Ness is miles away. We'd never make it, even if we ran.

- Private Craig...?

- PRIVATE CRAIG: Do you really think you'll catch a glimpse of Nessie?

- Almost certainly, Private Craig. - There's been a spate of sightings,

ever since that picture was published in the papers last week.

- That photograph has been widely discredited.

It could just as easily have been an upturned boat.

- JULIAN: But WE believe it's real, don't we?

Well, you won't get a better view of the Loch Ness Monster

than from up here.

- Thank you, Private Craig.

Can we borrow your binoculars, please?

- Yes, of course.

Less than an hour.

- Loch Ness, 1800.

- But no geese...or cuckoos.

- Wait a minute.

You can stay here, Private Craig -

keep your eyes peeled for the monster.

- We're going to the pub.

That's funn... Er...

Thank you. Um...

Er...fine. The pub.

- No kids allowed!

Unless you're looking to purchase a souvenir?

I've got Nessie hats, Nessie scarves,

Nessie doilies - very popular.

- No, thank you.

We're actually looking for one of your guests.

- Her name is Sabrina Grover.

Or Mrs Sassoon.

Possibly Lina Martine.

- Got a lot of names, this lady you're looking for.

- Well, I call her Mummy. I've lost her.

And if you don't help me find her, I'll scream.

- We'll happily buy a scarf.

Each?

Julian.

- COINS JINGLE

- I'm sorry,

but I can't possibly disclose the personal details of my guests,

whether close family members or not.

- Oh, come on. You've got time for one.

Something to warm us up.

- Fine. One pint of mild, and then I'm heading up to write.

- You're obsessed with that typewriter,

and you can't drink mild in the Highlands.

I'll get us a couple of whiskies.

Ah! Hello, young sirs.

Didn't expect to see you here.

- We're looking for the lady from the train.

- You know the one - walks into every room like she owns it.

- Extraordinarily well-dressed.

- Oh, you mean the one who was rather outlandishly dressed

in the periwinkle getup.

- It was peacock blue, as a matter of fact.

A wonderfully stylish woman like her

wouldn't be seen dead in an establishment like this.

- Now, that's how wrong you can be.

You see, while you've been bashing on that new typewriter of yours

morning, noon and night,

she was staying in the room next door to us all along.

Not that she's there any more.

- Do you have any idea where she's gone?

- Well, she was standing, looking rather forlorn,

at the end of the pier last time I saw her.

Probably looking out for Nessie, no doubt. Huh?

- Was she carrying anything, like a large case?

- I recall a fox-fur stole.

No case though. - Right.

Now, whisky.

- Well...

- And, no, no ice. It's insulting.

If you insist, you can have it with water.

- We haven't got long. How much money have you got?

- A couple of pounds. What do you want it for?

- Souvenirs. - But we've already got souvenirs.

- I'm aware of that. I'm going to need you to order some more.

- COINS CLINK

Thank you.

- You know, I really like my scarf. A lot.

But what I want more than anything is another one in mauve.

- Might have some purple wool in the back.

- Sounds perfect.

- All right. Stay there.

- SHE SIGHS

WATER RUSHES

That's not a monster.

- Your country's reputation for good timekeeping

is clearly well-deserved.

- I only hope you will be able to match such efficiency.

- Of course. I trust you had a pleasant trip.

- Ha! U-boat conditions are hardly pleasant,

and navigating our way from the Atlantic...

..was no small feat.

But I hope we will be able to provide you

with a level of...comfort on your trip back to Germany.

- Key?

Are we going to get away with this?

- Let's find out.

- TIMMY BARKS

- Something wrong?

- Nothing I can't handle.

- STAIRS CREAK

SHE CHUCKLES

- You really don't know when to give up, do you?

- HE TOASTS IN GERMAN

- Et voila.

The device, gentlemen.

Hand it over, George.

Allez.

- At least tell me why.

You said you could be anyone. Why be one of the bad guys?

- DOOR OPENS

Do you have a telephone?

I need to make a call most urgently.

- We have a telephone, yes, indeed.

- Can you tell the operator to put me through to Brigadier Hollingsbrooke

at the Cairngorm Garrison?

- Could I have a quiet word, Private?

- Not right now. I've just seen a U-boat in the middle of the loch.

GUN COCKS - Perhaps you could've been mistaken.

- Oh...

- Listen to the lady.

You've obviously made a mistake.

- Putting you through now.

- OVER PHONE: - Hello? - I suppose I... - Private Craig?

- It could have been a trick of the light or something.

- Speak up, for pity's sake!

- Is there some kind of problem here?

GENE: - Frank, for goodness' sake, be careful.

- I'll have you know that I'm a member of the Territorial Army.

And if you're taking this here private prisoner...

..then you're going to have to make a prisoner out of me, too.

- There'll be no shooting in my pub...

..unless I'm the one doin' it!

- TIMMY WHIMPERS

OVER PHONE: - Private Craig? What the devil's going on?

- Sorry to disturb you, sir.

We've got something of a situation. - A situation?

- Maybe you should put the phone down, Private Craig.

- What kind of situation?

Private Craig...!

- PHONE RECEIVER CLICKS

- Now, why doesn't everyone put their weapons down, too?

- She's right.

Maybe we should let them go before anyone gets hurt.

SABRINA LAUGHS

- Oh, you really are quite remarkable, George.

Why don't you come with us? - That wasn't part of the deal.

- Just to see us off at the end of the pier,

to make sure no-one here decides to do something they might regret.

- It's fine.

I'll go.

- TIMMY BARKS

WATER LAPS GENTLY

- You never answered my question.

What was so wrong with Lina Martine that you're choosing to be...this?

- SHE SCOFFS

- Lina Martine.

Lina Martine was trained by British Intelligence.

She was excited to work for an organisation who...who told her,

who tell themselves, that they're the good guys.

- What changed?

Why choose the bad side?

- I learned the truth.

It's not as simple as good guys and bad guys -

nobody is the villain of their own story, George.

Everyone has their reasons of great ideas, of self-importance...

..of righteousness.

The simple fact is everyone, every one of them,

is just in it for themselves.

I didn't pick a side.

I just realised that if I don't look out for me, who will?

- Seems like you did pick a side.

Helping bad people do bad things makes you bad, too.

It seems simple to me.

- If I didn't get them the device, they'd just send someone else,

and someone else after that.

You're an extraordinary person, George,

and I'm an extraordinary shot.

You will stay here until we're safely away...

..won't you?

- What the devil was all that about? - PRIVATE CRAIG: Sorry, sir.

- Where's my daughter? Where's George?

- TIMMY BARKS

- George! - Timmy!

- George!

- Who's a good boy?

About the device... - Never mind about the device.

- There's no U-boat. What are you talking about?

- You just missed it.

- Do you think this is some kind of joke, child?

- I thank you not to talk to my daughter that way.

- What happened to the engine?

- You mean this engine?

I thought... - You weren't the only one.

- I wasn't sure it was going to work.

- Neither was I.

- UNCLE QUENTIN CHUCKLES

- I'm not saying I condone taking those types of risks,

but swapping out the typewriter for the device,

deliberately getting caught to make her feel like she's in control?

It's a clever plan.

Dangerous, so don't you ever scare me like that again.

- LAUGHING: - But...clever!

- Oh.

- All's well that ends well, eh?

- Thanks to these remarkable children.

- I assume we're free to go, now that you have my machine.

- We could use a mind like yours in our division.

- Well, that's my brother's world, not mine.

I'd rather be home with my family.

- Suit yourself. Private Craig!

- Sir.

- Hmph. Hold this.

You understand that this is now

the government's proprietary technology, right?

You are not to make a replica of this device.

- Scout's honour.

- Very well.

- What exactly is "haggis, neeps and tatties"?

- Ah. Turnips is neeps,

and haggis is made from sh... Hmm.

- Sheep's stomachs with other sheep organs stuffed inside.

- Please tell me he's lying.

- BOTH: - He's not lying. - Hmm.

THEY LAUGH

- Why send a U-boat to steal a typewriter?

I mean, it was good, but it wasn't that good.

- The whole thing's absurd, if you ask me.

- By the way, Dad, you might owe that man some money for his typewriter.

- What?!

How much was it? - Only £87.

- Wha...? How much?!

- Hang on a second...

- THEY ALL TALK AT ONCE

WATER SPLASHES