Original subtitles

(light orchestral music)

(classical piano music)

(knocking on door)

- Come in.

- Oh Professor Sewell, sir.

- What is it, Arthur?

- [Arthur] Looking for Miss Byrne.

- What's the matter?

- I having a bit of trouble with Philips again, sir.

- Ah, damned, where is she?

- Well you won't find her here,

she is working with Marriott.

- Oh that's right, oh that's right, excuse me, sir.

Who's that again, sir?

- Marriott.

- Marriott, that's right, Marriott.

- 92.

- Miss Byrne, you'd have to come and deal with Philips.

- Not again'.

- I can't do nothing with him, he's got me cap this time.

- Oh, he mustn't eat it, he's on a diet.

I'd better go.

Philips, how could you, come on.

Come on, come on, give it back.

Come on, come on, come on,

(monkey screeching)

That was very naughty,

I shan't tell you again,

Better put it on Art, you might catch cold.

- Thank you Miss Byrne.

You little devil.

(monkey blows raspberry)

- 92 slight growth, 93 slight growth,

you know as chimps go, Philips is a white elephant,

- Philips is all right, the silly part is keeping

him in a cage and letting Arthur go loose.

- 94 slight, no, half a mil.

Yep, slight growth.

- I wish you wouldn't do that.

- 95.

Slight growth, what?

- When you hesitate like that it makes me think

something exciting is coming, like no growth

or strong growth.

- You want to live in a whirl,

you had a no growth two months ago.

96, slight growth.

- How many does the Prof want us to do?

- 97, slight growth.

5000, although he'd probably like us to do a million.

- There's a tree out there just beginning to bud,

put out it's leaves it'll be spring,

then when the leaves become dry and dusty they'll fall,

it'll be autumn, all through the winter to remain bare

and then just as it's beginning to bud again,

we're lucky, we'll finish messing about with this.

- My girl, you're being optimistic.

Now come on, 98, slight growth.

the Prof's just as likely to scrap the lot and start again.

He always does if there's the slightest excuse for it.

(book slams on counter)

- Well, how's it going?

- Still the same, all slight.

- That's what worried me, slight growth covers

too wide an area.

- Do you think it matters?

- Any inaccuracy matters.

- But isn't the point of the experiment to confirm

there's no change in the balance of infectivity?

- The point of the experiment, young lady,

is to get accurate information,

never mind what you want the answer to be.

- We've done over 1000, we know that the chances

are all against that-

- If you know all about it, why the hell

waste our time on it?

Go to a football match or something.

- No, we need a new method of measurement.

- Look let's try a dropping technique.

Plate, dilute our serum suspensions to a

theoretical number of bacilli, say, 100 to 200 per drop.

Place 10 drops on each plate, so, right?

- Yeah.

- You'll save on plates and it'll be far more accurate.

- It'll mean scrapping all we've done.

- [Professor] If they're no good, you'll had

to do that anyway.

- But are they no good?

We've spent two months without finding anything?

- Two months, only two months to learn

not to start too soon, that's cheap.

You don't want to start again?

- I only want to get on with what it is

we're supposed to be doing.

- All right then, try this, it may not work,

but it's worth having a go.

Come on, Don.

- November, December.

(plate bangs on floor)

- Lucy'.

- He's never damn well satisfied.

- Now look you've got the jumps,

you oughta relax you know, have some fun.

- What sort of fun?

Like holding hands in the pictures?

- Why not?

What's wrong with holding hands?

- Did I say there was anything wrong with it?

- You think we're ready to publish?

- Well you've been at it 20 years, and in every one

of those years about half a million people have died

of bubonic and typhus.

Give it to the world now and we might soon have enough

data to end these epidemics for good.

- Would it surprise you, Freddy, to learn that I wrote

to the Minister last Tuesday?

- You mean you are publishing?

- I hate publishing, it's so damn final,

but I suppose we'd better before I take to a wheelchair.

- I'm delighted.

- Of course, your name will be on it,

that should be enough to carry you into the Royal Society.

- Oh come now.

- I'm putting the names of all the team on the front,

just to cheer our disgruntled Miss Byrne.

- Lucille, she's all right.

I think she has a rather tough private life.

- All women have, they're either in love or not in love,

either way it interferes with their work.

- Well it's a dull job for a young girl,

and she's been on it a long time.

(scoffing)

- Women, all clock watchers, only 30 years

to have their babies in and anything which isn't to do

with having babies is a waste of time,

that's why they're no good to science.

Otherwise, she'd be out with a young man yet?

- I wouldn't think so.

- Hmmm.

(soft romantic music)

- [Narrator] Here in this romantic rural retreat,

amidst the majesty of nature, we can indeed

feel far removed from the trials and tribulations

of city life.

(rooster crowing)

- I must go.

- Why, it's only half past eight.

- I know but I really must.

- Lucy.

(horns honking)

What's the rush all of a sudden?

- I've a lot to do.

- You know you've always got a lot to do,

I suspect you're leading a double life.

- Oh no, barely a single one, I assure you.

- Tell me Miss Byrne, is there another?

- Up to a point, yes.

- Oh, what point?

- It's all rather complicated, I'm sorry,

I suppose I oughtn't go out with you really,

- Why not?

Look, you're not married, are you?

- Oh no, I'm not married.

- And you're living alone?

- No, I live with a man called Allen Andrews.

- Oh, I see.

- I doubt that you do.

I was engaged to him once but I'm not anymore.

- Are you still in love with him then?

- It isn't as simple as that,

and probably not a bit like you think.

Here's my bus, good night, thank you.

- Good night, Lucy.

(light piano music)

- Hello, darling,

- Hello, darling.

- Sorry I'm late.

You're sweating.

How are you getting on with the book?

- Well these two pages are admirable,

but it would be nice to go on,

I've been staring at these for about an hour now.

- You can turn over, Allen.

- No, I'm afraid I've lost both my arms.

The left as you can see is gone, and if you look closely

you'll see that the right is artificial.

- But you did it all right this morning, darling.

Here you are.

- I don't want it.

These people certainly believe in getting

their money's worth out of you.

- Oh, I went to a new thrill park when

I was with Bob Marriott.

I rather enjoyed it.

- Good, good, I wish you'd do that sort of thing

more often, darling.

- It's pure selfishness, just wanted to.

Now how about some food?

(train horn blowing)

- Of course you wanted to, and why shouldn't you?

You know, you take your responsibilities

too seriously, darling.

- Do I?

See, where did I put that opener?

- It's a great relief when you just go do something

you want to do, like going out with, what's his name?

- Bob Marriott, quite nice.

The sort of person who wants to hold hands in pictures.

- That's the sort of person we all are, darling.

What a pleasant change for you, to have a hand to hold.

(laughs)

I said, what a pleasant change for you to have

a hand to hold, when I make a joke as good as that,

darling, you might laugh.

- Alan, don't.

- Because, after all, a man who's got two hands,

real hands, can do such a lot of things with them,

besides just holding yours, and you want those things,

don't you, I mean, why not?

Why hang around here, being bored and disgusted?

- When I want to go, I'll tell you.

- That's right, the day you want to get rid

of me, just pack me up, stick a label on me,

and me to an institution, and until then, you stand

by my side, as noble, virtuous, self-sacrificing,

except when you feel like doing something else?

- Come on, food.

- I don't want the bloody stuff.

- Come on, darling.

- Temperature's 90 degrees, they'll do four hours

of a 100 revs, and when he's completely exhausted,

we'll clap on the kato-infected flies, and let them

take a good bite at him.

- Bring the towel over, will you?

It's pouring into my eyes.

- 90.

The towel, here you are.

- Thank you.

Lucy?

- Mm-hmm?

- I don't want to pry, but would you mind tell me a bit more

about your home life?

- What do you want to know?

- Well, I've been trying to work it out.

You're living with a man to whom you were once engaged,

you're no longer engaged, you don't love him anymore,

but you're still living with him, why?

(classical piano music)

- 'Cause he lost both his arms in Korea, which isn't

much use to someone who's hoping to be

a concert pianist.

We got engaged at Oxford.

I was 19, my mother just died.

I was lonely has hell.

The idea was that I should go on and get my degree,

then when he came back, we'd get married.

I got my degree, he came back.

First of all, they blew his arms off,

then he wouldn't marry me.

Apart from that, physically, he's a complete mess.

He can't live long, anyway.

So there we are.

- It isn't possible for him to go somewhere he'll

be looked after?

- Yes, but he'd hate it.

- It's all wrong, you know.

- Is it?

- You've had a scientific training, you know how

to think straight; it's inexcusable.

- Why?

- Because, a fit, useful member of society is being

sacrificed for a person of well, of no social value.

I know that sounds pretty foul.

- Hadn't you better get on with the job?

Whew, it's hot in here.

- You're indulging your emotions, you know?

It makes you feel good.

You don't realise it, but you are.

Why, you even scamp your work here, to get back to him.

- And can't go to the pictures, when you want me to.

- Is that so?

- I should pedal up if I were you, we're being watched.

- He could catch a real packet, you know.

- Not for chance, he did volunteer.

- Before you told them we were publishing?

- Well, I did mention this was probably the last test

you'd want before we put it out.

- The prospect of authorship might have gone to his head.

- Oh, I'd say it's a reasonable risk, we've tried it

on Philips the chimp, and he only showed slight

inflammation of the eyes.

- Maybe, but did you have the chimpanzee

on a bicycle beforehand?

- His legs were too short.

- Why does he, why does he keep his eyes shut, hmm?

- So that he can't see where he isn't going, I suppose.

(chuckling)

- Oh, by the way, I received a summons from the Minister.

What the devil do you think he wants?

Anyhow, I'll be back when the flies have had their lunch.

- Right so.

- Relax, lunch time.

I've never seen so many ravenous-looking flies.

They'll bite like fury.

Here.

- Thanks.

- Left arm, please.

- Ugh.

- Don't like this bit, do you?

- Makes me want to throw up.

You know, during the war, the contras used to volunteer

for this kind of job, sleeping in blankets

infected with scabies, ugh.

I don't don't know how they did it.

It takes real guts.

- If there was any justice, in peacetime, it'd ought

to be the ardent militarists, but I don't

suppose they'd volunteer.

Sit down.

- Ah, everyone quite happy?

- Oh, yes, quite.

- Very nice.

- You sadistic, where's the Prof?

He's usually in at the desk.

- The minister sent for him.

- Oh?

What does that mean?

- It could mean that 20 years devoted research is about

to be rewarded by a grateful country.

(intercom buzzing)

- [Secretary] Professor Sewell, Minister.

- Right, send him in.

I'll see you afterwards.

(bells ringing)

- And how do you do?

- Come in, Professor.

Make yourself comfortable.

- Thank you.

- Smoke if you want to, I'm going to.

- Thank you.

- You know, I've always wanted to meet you.

As a kid, I had to educate myself.

And I think the only book I ever read on biology,

was Sewell's Elements, do you remember it?

- Good heavens, that's a long time ago.

- Sewell's Elements for Biological Students,

I remember it well.

- The photographs were really good, I seem to remember.

- I don't think there were any, in my edition.

- Oh?

Oh no, there weren't, I was thinking of another book.

- I really did read it, you know.

- I'm very gratified.

- Well now, I'm told you're just finishing a wonderful

piece of work.

In fact, from our point of view, I'm afraid it's a

damn sight too wonderful, you've scared my people

out of their wits.

- Scared?

Well, I don't understand.

- Then let me put it to you in the language of the layman:

I'm advised that you've developed some particularly

virulent bugs, which you're going to use to stamp out

bubonic and typhus.

- [Professor Sewell] Well, that's roughly the idea.

- Wonderful.

But my advisors tell me that the whole thing

could be turned upside down, and that these same bugs

in the hands of say, a hostile power, could be used

to start of any epidemic you seek to prevent.

Do you agree?

- It's just possible, I suppose, but I dispute

whether it's at all likely.

- That of course, is a matter of judgment.

And matters of judgment are our business.

- Hadn't you better tell me why you called me here?

- It's simply this: that while everybody agrees you've

done a magnificent piece of work, they feel that

as things are, it's too dangerous to broadcast.

So I'm afraid, for the time being, we're going to

have to ask you not to publish.

Now, if you have any questions about that decision,

file a hearing.

- By whom was it made?

- By the cabinet.

- [Professor Sewell] On your advice?

- Yes.

- Isn't it difficult to advise on something you

know nothing about?

- The government employs a few biologists, you know.

- Ah, so in this case the cabinet has made it a

mouthpiece for a junior in my field.

- Ah, now wait a minute, they don't judge the work,

they merely advise on its use.

- And if I refuse to accept the decision?

- You mean publish?

- [Professor Sewell] I do.

- Well, in that case we should just have

to slap you in jail.

But look, Professor, all this is just theory.

You're not the type of man who commits treason,

just to have his own way?

- Treason?

- Well that's what it would amount to, isn't it?

- I'll be quite frank with you, Minister.

Although I know nothing about politics, I've never felt

that because I happened to be born in this country,

it was the only country that mattered.

I've tried to give it a fair return

for what it has given me,

and after that, my loyalty is to the world.

When you tell me it'll be treason to publish my work

because some lunatic might use it to kill Englishmen,

and I know that that stuff properly developed,

could save half a million lives outside this country,

then I say it'll be treason of those half million

if I don't.

- Professor Sewell, do you realise the present

state of the world?

- (scoffs) I know that we're told every day that

what's wrong is fear and suspicion and lack

of goodwill, and then you do things like this,

and make sure that everybody's got something

to be frightened and suspicious about.

- If I came and admitted that I knew nothing about biology,

and then lectured you on it, you'd be angry,

that's quite right.

But after 40 years in the laboratory you feel quite

capable of coming here and telling me my business.

- If a scientist has spent 40 years

learning to think properly and logically-

- I know, I know.

Only scientists know how to think, and it's high time

they took over the running of the world.

- (scoffs) They could hardly make a bigger mess of it.

- Maybe, although I don't share your confidence.

Now, let me tell you something.

These things that you have been saying, I thought and talked

about on street corners by the time I was 20.

Since then, while you've been studying biology,

I've been studying people.

Shall I tell you what I've learned?

That people want more money for less work.

They want justice without curtailing their liberty.

They want to spend more and reduce taxation.

They want to be strong if there's a war, but not to

prepare for it, mention it,

or even think about it beforehand.

You've talked to me about logical thinking, professor.

- I don't see what this has to do with my work.

- Simply this: you want to take a chance of that this

stuff of yours will not be used against us,

in order to give it to the world.

Fine, so we do that, and feel big, bold, and generous.

Then there's a war, and it I does come back at us,

and it kills us.

Well, that's all right, the gamble didn't come off.

But it also kills Mrs. Jones of Tooting,

and her cousin Harold, and they didn't feel

big, bold, and generous, they just got killed.

They elected me to see that they didn't get killed.

Every man's got a right to his own view of how

to run the world, but nobody's got a right to think himself

so superior that he can do it with one hand,

without knowledge, without experience,

without any damn thing, except plenty of confidence.

- I have no such illusions.

But if you expect me to abandon my own judgment if-

- I'm not talking about your judgment, we're talking

about your actions.

- You tell me to take 10 years of thought and 20 years

of work, and toss them down the drain, and I'm not

to be allowed to disagree?

- Of course you can.

It's a free country, anybody can disagree.

But if you want to do anything...

Now look, professor.

The system's all wrong, the world's all wrong,

the politicians are all wrong, but here they are,

and we've got to do the best that we can with them, now.

Bring your logical mind to bear on that one.

(knocking on door)

Come in.

- Oh, excuse me, the PM sent word across, Minister.

You're wanted in the house, Larkin's on his feet again.

- Well, there you are, you see.

I wish you had invented bugs that'd silence Larkin.

I'm afraid I must leave you.

Think it over, come see me again if you want to.

- Aren't you taking rather a risk, leaving me at large?

- Risk?

Oh that, oh no.

You couldn't publish.

That's to say, you couldn't get it printed.

We shall see to that.

- I see.

Very well.

- Well, how did he behave?

- He's not convinced, and as long as he's not convinced,

he's a risk.

He doesn't know it, but he's bogus.

- Bogus?

- Couldn't even sit down sincerely,

all that guff about humanity.

Wouldn't know humanity if he met it in the street.

- Shall we put the dogs on him?

- Yes, on him and the laboratory.

- Arthur Parking, nothing known.

Philip Doak, nothing known.

- No, they never know anything about anybody.

They do, it's always wrong.

Slater?

- Sir?

- Did you ever work in here?

- Yes sir, three years, sir.

- Thought you might have.

Have you got Henry Leavers, sir?

- [Mr. Prince] Who is that?

- [Slater] Henry Leavers, sir.

- No, and have you got Mrs. Bung the brewer's wife?

Oh, yes I have that, Leavers, member liberal party,

elected John, Labour Party, later still, communist,

then union of fascists.

After that, joined Commonwealth

and campaigned for Scottish nationalists.

Oh, he's had it all except the whooping cough, hasn't he?

- Check on him, sir?

- I suppose so.

Probably a zen Buddhist by now.

Who else have you got?

Robert Phelham Marriott, nothing known.

Dr. Frederick Sewell, ooh, go a lot on him, sir.

- Of course we have, I did that one myself.

- Lucy Byrne.

- Ah, now that's interesting, or could be.

Living with ex-pilot, 100% disability.

Oh yes, I think we'll waste a bit of time on this one.

I never mind the schilling on an outsider.

(humming)

- Good morning.

- Oh, good morning, sir.

- I'm looking for a Mr. Marriott.

- Marriott, I don't know, sir.

I think he's still in isolation.

Would you like to come and have a look and see with me?

- Thank you. - Come along this way.

Ah, you're in luck, sir.

Here he is.

- Thank you very much.

- Thank you, sir.

- My name's Andrews, Alan Andrews.

- Oh yes.

You're looking for Ms. Byrne?

- No, no, no.

- Oh.

Can I be of any help to you?

- Where is she?

- She's working in the animal room.

- Good, as a matter of fact, I came to see you,

can you spare me a moment?

- Oh yes, of course.

Let's see if I can find you a chair.

- No, no, no, this'll do me.

I'd have rung up for an appointment, only ringing up's

a bit too much.

- That's all right, would you like a cigarette?

- Oh, thank you very much, thank you.

You'll have to light it for me, I'm afraid.

In the corner, thank you.

- All right?

- Thank you.

Has Lucy told you about me?

- Yes.

- An attractive girl, isn't she?

- Yes.

- She'll make somebody a marvelous wife.

She has all the qualities, I think.

- I agree.

- Yes, I thought you would.

Did you have a good time the other night?

- When?

(laughing)

- Ah, you're not sure whether you she told me.

I wasn't trying to trap you, I'm all in

favour of it.

- No question if you're trapping me.

I did take Lucy out, I did enjoy myself,

and I'm glad you're in favour, but I shouldn't

care if you weren't.

- Excellent, excellent.

And so did she enjoy herself, hmm?

- Well, what about it?

- Would you mind throwing this cigarette away for me?

It's a wicked waste, but I can't manage more than

half a smoke, gets in my eyes.

I'm glad you're not worried about me.

People are usually incurably sentimental about the maimed,

it's quite illogical.

Trouble of course, is Lucy, she's my worry.

And yours.

- Meaning just what, exactly?

- Ah, it's been true that she's been trained

as a scientist.

- Well?

- She's still a woman, isn't she?

- I still don't see what you're driving at.

- How do you think she sees it?

You're young and fit and whole, I am as you see me.

If necessary, you can live your life by yourself,

I'm not quite in that position.

I have to be treated like a child, I'm armless,

my food cut up and fed into my mouth, my face washed,

my hair done, and dressed, and undressed.

Sometimes in bed, I can't turn over, and there's

a whole lot more to it.

- Look, don't think I don't realise-

- She does all that, every night, every moment

she isn't actually working here, and in return,

I give her hell.

I can't hurt her physically, but I make her feel

in other ways, by God I do.

So you see, when you take her out and make out,

and make love to her-

- 'Cause one takes a girl to the pictures-

- I'm not an idiot, she wants to be kissed and handled,

and all bloody like, but she'll

hate herself afterwards.

Shall I tell you why she stays and looks after me?

Because it makes her feel good, virtuous.

That's what I can do, you can only make her feel a bitch.

It's ludicrous, you can't compete, because you can't

make her feel good.

(crying) (gasping)

- [Bob] You can't, come on now.

Take it easy.

- Would you leave this to me, Bob?

- Are you sure?

- Ask for the taxi.

- Yes, of course.

- All right, darling.

It's all right, I've got you.

I've got you.

(sighing)

- Arthur? - Yes, sir?

- Arthur, quick, ring the rank and get a taxi, would you?

- What, now?

- Yeah, now.

- Oh, gee.

- Bob, Prof wants a word with all of us,

right away, where's Lucy?

- She's in there.

Wait, don't bother, Doc.

I'll get her.

- Oh, thanks.

- Sorry, Lucy, but the Prof wants us all

in his office, right away.

- Oh, damn.

- Don't worry, I can manage.

- Arthur is getting a taxi.

- Thank you.

You run along, go on, I'm all right.

- Quite sure?

- Hmm, quite sure.

- Take care.

- I, I,

I hope you'll let me apologise for that

deplorable exhibition, I can't imagine what

came over me.

- Forget it.

- No, but I'd hate you to think I was always like that.

Would you come have a drink with us one evening?

- Yes, yes, thanks, I'd like that.

- Tomorrow night?

- Well, I don't know about tomorrow night.

- Oh, please, I'd like Lucy to feel that I hadn't

completely blotted my copybook, with you.

- Yes, all right, thank you.

- Okay.

6:30, then.

Four Feathers, Lucy'll show you the way.

- All right.

- Goodbye.

- But what's it got to do with defense?

This is a Ministry of Health matter.

- Just the trouble, in their view, everything has to

do with defense.

Come in, Bob.

I've just been telling the others, we can't publish.

Our work’s been put on the official secrets list.

Sit down.

- Can't publish?

Well why not?

They must be crazy.

(all chattering)

- Now wait a moment, what's gonna happen

to the work, sir?

- I have no idea.

- But don't we go on?

- They want us to.

Whether we’ll want to is another matter.

But in the meantime, all of us here

are subject to security.

- Back to the good old top secret racket, eh?

Carrying passes, bobbies on the door, scramble the phones,

each taking turns at night duty,

and never take sweets from a stranger.

- It's so utterly ridiculous.

- [Lucy] If we hadn't heard enough of that already.

- All right, all right, I know exactly how you feel.

Personally, I've never felt more angry or more frustrated

in my life, or more ashamed of the crowd that was

supposed to govern us.

But what to do about it, I just don't know.

Very dismal, sorry everyone.

Doc, you carry on, and tell them what's got to

be done, will you?

- Brilliant young scientist seeks post in comparatively sane

and civilized society, hot and tots preferred.

- Well, I'd say the only thing is to be fairly

grown up, to take it seriously.

- Oh, I take it seriously, Doc.

In fact, it terrifies me.

- We don't know all the facts, they do.

In the meantime, it's up to us to

show a little responsibility.

- Responsibility?

- Well, not you, Bob.

You know it all, but the rest of us who aren't so gifted.

Let's keep calm about it, shall we?

Until we see how it's all going to work out.

(all chattering)

- It's an absolute scandal.

If I'd been Professor Sewell, I'd have told them

to go to the devil.

How can a scientist work with the government interfering

all the time?

- Mention the word scientist again, and I'll scream.

Come on, Bob, we are off-duty.

- Oh, shut up Lucy, it's darned interesting.

Shows how's me what a Joe muggins I was, getting blown

to bits for this kind of brave new world.

- Sick.

- You don't the half of it.

You know how I got this lot?

Wasn't the enemy, you know.

No, a slight mistake over the target area.

And how do they compensate the gallant

acting squadron leader?

With a pilot officer's pension.

Ah, jubilation in the treasury, when they

found out they could do that.

Ah, I have every reason to be grateful to my county.

Come on, Phil.

More drinks.

- Oh, I think I owe you one now.

- Nonsense.

- There we go.

- Yeah, will this cover it?

- Yeah.

Mr. Brown's here, that'll more to than triple.

- Oh, hello Bill.

Lucy, you know Bill Bowen, don't you?

- Yes, hello.

- Meet Bob Marriott, the distinguished scientist.

At least he tries to be, but they won't let him.

Meet Bill Brown, the well-known drunk.

(laughs)

- How do you do, Bill, sit down Bill,

grab a seat.

- Who won't let him, I thought this was supposed

to be the age of science?

- Ah, that's the laugh, it's the age of ignorance.

- Look, it's nearly 7:15.

- If you're hungry, get a sausage roll.

- Tell him, Bob.

- There's not much to tell, really.

Just years of research down the drain, that's all.

- How come?

- They put us on the secret list-

- Bob.

- It's a damn scandal, thousands of Chinese and Indians

dying like flies, and what we're doing might save them,

but oh, no.

- Look, let's drop it.

- I'd like to see somebody stop me publishing,

if I knew it was the right thing to do, eh?

- Well sort of work is it?

- Just work, look, we really must be moving.

- Why has it been stopped?

- Defense.

But really, it's lunacy and high places.

- Ah, I see, it's their old hush, hush, atoms and all that.

- It's fantastic to treat stuff like this a secret.

- Well, it's secret enough not to be talked about

in pubs, come on.

- Don't bully, Lucy, let him finish his drink.

- No, it's all right, I'm coming.

- Change your minds, eh?

- Yes sir.

- Another time, Phil, another time.

- Well, I hope it all turns out all right for you.

- Thank you very much, good night.

- Good night.

- Good night, all.

- So long. - So long.

Oh Phil, give me a large scotch now.

- [Phil] Coming up.

(dog barking)

- Excuse me, sir.

- Yes?

- It is Doctor Shole, it's it?

- Yes.

- Professor Sewell has been called to the Ministry,

he hadn't time to let you know, but he wants you there,

and I've been sent to collect you.

- Really?

Well could we call at the lab first?

- It's really very urgent, sir.

Perhaps you could phone when we get there.

- Oh, very well.

- Haven't forgotten it's my duty dinner with Doc Shole

and his wife tonight, have you?

(classical piano music)

- My Lord, has that come around again already?

- Yes.

Who should I get in for you, Sam?

- I suppose so.

- No, how about Bob?

- Marriott?

- Yes.

- Why?

- Why not?

I'd like to meet him again, I daresay he'd like to meet me.

Would you ask him this evening?

- I certainly shan't.

- What's the objection to my liking somebody

who happens to like you?

- Sam's used to doing things for you.

- Even a scientist can be taught to give

a man his food, then.

- Forget it, Allen.

You just enjoy leading him on.

You'll encourage him in a lot of silly talk,

and it's bad for both of you.

- Darling, he must have something apart from two arms,

I'd like to find out what it is.

A man can't help being interested in his rival, darling.

- Stop fooling, who's it to be?

- I told you, I want Bob.

- Well you can't have him.

- If I had the use of my arms, you'd think twice before

talking to me like that.

(laughing)

All right, darling.

You win.

- Well, who?

You can't stay here alone.

- I shan't.

- Not in here?

- Yes, that's right, sir.

- But you said the Ministry.

- Well you could call it a sort of branch of the Ministry.

- Look, I don't know what your game is.

Officer?

(door slamming)

Would you let me go?

How dare you?

- No offense intended, sir.

- Oh, Slater, you haven't been rough again?

- Not exactly rough, sir, but the Doc-

- All right, all right, get out.

- Awful chap, isn't he?

Makes my job practically impossible, you know.

Have a seat, Doctor.

- Before that, I'd like to know where I am,

where Professor Sewell is, and you are?

- Well, my name is Prince, not that that matters.

I'm sorry about the cloak and dagger stuff,

Slater loves it, he reads too many thrillers, you know.

Always upsets people.

Now then, where the devil are my notes?

- Will you please tell me where I am

and why you brought me here?

- Well, I suppose you could call us a small cog

in the security machine.

Ah, yeah, here we are.

Sit down, Doctor.

Now then, it's about this fellow you look after.

What's his name, Sewell.

- I'm Professor Sewell's assistant, not his nurse.

- Yes, yes, that's right.

Well, but we're supposed to stop him making

a fool of himself.

- I don't know what on earth you're talking about.

- Well, we don't know much either, you know.

We didn't come into this until the Minister told him

he couldn't publish.

After that, he must have written to the President

of The Royal Society, who replies, "You give no details,

but I don't think the society could possibly intervene,"

and so on, and so on.

(clicking tongue)

Very naughty, you know.

- He was simply consulting the head of his profession

on a question of principals.

- Ah, but he'd been told to keep his trap shut.

Then he tromps off to his lawyers, and they tell him

not to be a fool.

- Hmm, I suppose your Mr. Slater was hiding

behind the desk.

- Yes, probably disguised as a window cleaner.

(chuckles)

Damn fool.

Apart from that, you Professor's been shooting

his mouth off in his club, you know.

Nothing much, mark you, just dirty cracks about

bureaucratic interference with science,

when's it gonna stop?

And he's talked to his staff.

(dog barking)

That is right, isn't it?

- Look here, if you brought me here

because you imagine I'm going to inform

on Professor Sewell-

- Oh dear, oh dear, Doctor.

Now don't you go up in the air.

You're getting it all wrong.

I'll tell you why we brought you here.

Now where did I put that?

Oh yes.

Yes, here we are now.

Now then, you left school, Cardiff Tech,

and you became the professor's lab boy.

Under him you've learned enough

to become his principal assistant.

In Evans Reed, in the Franklin Evans wing

of the Haughton Lab.

Well, in other words, we know you're devoted to him.

It's exactly why we want you to help us

to help him.

- Very well, how?

- Well, now, let's get back to where we were.

He has told his staff. - Yes.

- And told them he disagreed?

- Yes, but he's done nothing illegal.

- Well, if he has, I don't see how I'm supposed to know.

No, they expect you to stop a man from doing something,

but they won't let you touch him till he does.

Then they say you're slow.

Does he get drunk?

- No, and he doesn't go about in a false beard, either.

- Oh, he doesn't?

In that case, he might be all right.

- What exactly do you expect me to do?

- You tell him not to be a fool, or you'll

smack his backside.

- We're not quite on those terms.

- Morning, Arthur.

- Top of the morning to you, Mr. Marriott.

Oh, Mr. Marriott, have you got your pass?

- Yes.

- Good, good, good.

Here, pass it over, I'm supposed to look at it.

- Arthur, you're getting fanatical.

- No, I'm not, but I'm just doing a job of work,

sir, that's all I'm doing.

- Okay?

- Fine, sir.

- Arthur?

- Have they given Philips a pass, do you know?

- Philips the chimpanzee?

- Oh, I don't think so, Mr. Marriot.

- Well you better check, he's a secret agent.

- Oh, Bob.

Just the man, have you got a key for this damn thing?

- What's that, sir?

- Our so-called top secret cabinet.

- No, I haven't got one, but I think I know

where Mary keeps the office one.

- There you are, Doc.

Shows how much all this security nonsense is worth.

Whenever I want anything, I the damn thing's locked,

and everybody knows where the key is, except me.

- Thanks, might as well leave it open.

- [Bob] Hear, hear.

- [Doctor Shole] Have you lost your key?

- I think it's gone to the cleaner's.

Anyhow, it's the same with with passes.

Haven't had mine for days, but Arthur never stops me.

- Well I can arrange for him to keep you out

when you haven't go it, if you like.

- The day I'm kept out of my own laboratory because

of this nonsense, I shall resign my chair,

right, thanks, Bob.

And by the way, this infection test you did,

good job of work.

But why you or any other should waste our time trying

to do good work, I really don't know.

Anybody with two pennies of guts would.

- Well, if we've two pennies of guts with what?

- They'd shut the place down.

- But until then, the team's got to go on working

and wouldn't it be better not to discourage

them too much?

(sighing)

- You're quite right, Doctor, as always.

- Aha, that's fine, I shall look forward to seeing you.

Goodbye.

That was very kind, thank you very much.

- Quite all right, mate.

Here, half a minute.

(change clattering)

Have it on the house, chum.

So long.

- It was Allan.

- Oh?

- Wants me to spend the evening with him.

- Are you going?

- Yup.

- Why do you want to see Allan again?

- I suppose because I admire him.

- Why?

- Oh, I don't know, the other day when he came here,

the he talked about you and himself.

He tried to be fairer than any man could be in his position.

Probably the effort was a bit too much for him

in the end.

It was a fine effort, just the same.

- But Bob, surely you realise?

- What?

- Well, they blew his arms off, but his brains

weren't blown out.

- I don't see what you're getting at.

- Look, I want to tell you something.

Everything Alan does is done deliberately.

It's an act, sometimes to somebody else's benefit,

but more often for his own.

- Meaning he's insincere?

- No.

Insincerity's saying what you don't mean it.

He does mean it, at the time.

And he knows the effect it's gonna have.

- Well, the other day was no act, I can assure you.

- But of course there was.

- My dear girl, as you weren't here, I don't

see how you could-

- All right, all right.

Have it your own way.

- And the scientists just accept it, that's what beats me.

- [Bob] They don't accept it, at least I don't.

Nor do plenty of others.

- Then why hasn't someone had the guts to tell

the government to go to hell, then?

- What would be the use?

It would never get printed or distributed.

- Laddie, I'm in the publishing business.

And I can't tell you, there isn't a damn thing you can't.

Look, let's go around the corner to my place,

it's only a few yards, have a bite to eat.

- That's very kind of you, I'm not hungry,

but I don't want to stop you.

- I'm quite happy.

I could listen to Bob all night.

(all chattering)

Try to imagine what sort of appetite you'd have,

if you had the lives of half a million people in your hands.

- They're not in my hands.

I only wish to heaven they were.

- You sound to me as if you would publish,

given half the chance.

- Of course I would, if I were in Sewell's place.

- Suppose if I were to tell you this could be put in

the hands of research workers in every country

in the world, would you be interested?

- Yes, but-

- But what?

- Well, how?

- Well, this isn't line of country, of course,

but I do happen to know that some sort of organization

does exist, for coping with your particular problem.

- What sort of organization, Bill?

- Some name like the International Scientific Exchange,

something like that.

- I've never heard of it.

- Nor have a lot of other people.

- You know, Bill, this is one of the most cheering things

I've heard for a long time.

Scientific boys are just refusing to be muddled, eh?

- Something like that.

- But how the devil do they get away with it?

- Oh, stuff isn't signed, there's no printer's name

on it, it's just information.

- Thank heaven for a few sane people in the world

of insane regulations, eh?

- I thought you'd know all about it.

- No, I haven't heard of it.

(all chattering)

- This statue, then, honors the memory

of the research workers of this and other laboratories,

who in 50 years,

have given their lives that others may live.

For peace too, has its battlefields, and the armies

of progress are ever on the march.

- When he doesn't stop 'em.

- How proudly today, we acknowledge a sacrifice

that has been offered not merely for ourselves,

but for all humanity.

- What a humbug.

- What an example, for those of us to whom they

have bequeathed the torch.

- That's you, chum.

- An example that to each and every one of you,

must represent a most sacred trust.

Here inspiration is now your duty to build a better,

a healthier, and a happier world.

(sombre marching band music)

Very pleasant luncheon.

- This is the Franklin Evans wing.

- Can I see your passes, please gentlemen?

- Oh, that's all right, I'm the director of Haughton,

this is the Minister.

- But I don't know nothing about that, sir.

I got to see all passes.

- Mister, but you were at the stand at the ceremony,

you saw us outside.

- Ha, but this is inside, sir.

- Well done, quite right.

But I'm the man who made this rule, you know?

- Well I did know it, sir, but if you made it,

you ought to stick to it.

- Sewell, what is all this damn nonsense?

- Wasn't my idea, you know.

All right, Arthur.

- This is the head of our wing, Minister.

- Oh, Professor and I are old friends, how are you, Sewell?

- Still recovering from the impact of those few

well-chosen words.

- You have to lay it on a bit on these occasions, you know.

Childs, I promised you should meet the greatest man

in your field.

Professor Sewell, Doctor Childs.

- How do you do? - How do you do?

- Well I'll leave you in Sewell's hands.

- Splendid, I'll see you later.

Thought this might be an opportunity to meet

your little team, and thank them for what they've done.

- That's very good of you.

If you'll follow me?

This is the backbone of the little team.

Dr. Shole, the Evans leader.

- How do you do?

- And his assistants, Mr. Marriott and Ms. Byrne.

- How do you do?

- The Minister, and Doctor Childs.

- How do you do?

Ah, now I see the attraction of laboratory work.

Childs, why can't we collar a few pretty girls

for the Ministry, eh?

(chuckles)

(water dripping)

I asked to meet you so that I could thank you personally,

for the magnificent job you've been doing

under your great team here.

I'm well aware there's been some disappointment,

but it occurred to me on here, didn't it Childs,

that we might be able to make some amends.

Sewell, now that you're more or less at a standstill here,

would you be murdering me if I wanted to

borrow these three and put them at Dr. Childs a short while?

He has a little group doing similar work to your own,

breeding super virulence and so forth.

- That would be entirely up to them.

- But you'd keep their jobs open?

- Of course.

- You'd be advising some of the best scientists

in the country, you know?

Isn't that right, Childs?

- Yes sir.

You're a long way ahead, you could show us

how the strain should be handled.

- Could you tell us what your group is

breeding bacteria for?

- Defense.

Yes, well, military work isn't much in my line, I'm afraid.

- You, young people have all got a bee in your bonnet.

It's all science, nothing wrong with a scientist

thinking about the defense of his country, is there?

- Well, what do you say?

- I'd say it requires some careful thought, sir.

- Of course, there'll be very little difficulty

about moving, your homes I mean, we'd take care of that.

Money, that sort of thing.

Which reminds me, you've not discussed salary yet.

Now, if Mr. Marriott, for example, were to be teaching

your people, Childs, I suppose you'd want to grade

him up to senior scientific officer, wouldn't you?

- Certainly, only fair.

- And that would mean another 10 pounds a week, wouldn't it?

- At least.

- Which'd be all right, you know.

(all chattering)

- That was the bribe he offered, 10 lousy pounds.

Why, Judas was paid more.

And they stood grinning, quite sure that I'd jump at it.

- Perhaps I should try and stop you for your own sake,

but when a man has the courage to do what he

believes to be right instead of following the herd-

- Hello.

- Oh, hello, Bill.

- Oh, hello.

- It's yours.

- Thanks.

Well, here I am, what's it all about?

- Something you said the other night.

- Yeah?

- About this International Scientific Exchange.

- Look, I've got to get home.

You can walk with me if you like.

- All right.

- Ciao. - Ciao.

- Well, thanks Alan.

- No need to thank me for.

- Don't say anything to Lucy about this, will you?

- Oh devil no, don't worry, don't worry.

- Look, you're asking a bit much, aren't you?

After all, it's nothing to do with me.

- The other night, you asked me if I was interested.

Well, I am.

- Ah, it's a bit difficult, I'd have to think about it.

- Then why did you suggest it?

- I didn't suggest anything, I just happened to mention it.

- Look here, I don't know what your game is,

can you or can't you put me in touch with them?

- I might, you'd have to keep me out of it.

- Oh yes, we'll keep you out if it-

- That's a thing where we've all got to be pretty careful.

- When can you fix it?

- It might take a bit of time.

Ring me at this number tomorrow, lunch time.

Okay?

Good night.

- Dr. Shole.

- Oh, I shan't keep you a moment, make yourself comfortable.

Now then, let me see now.

Who sent you?

- No one.

- Huh?

- The name's Shole.

- Oh yes, of course it is.

Hah, yes, you look after our keen Professor, don't you?

Now, I tell you why we asked you to call.

I'm afraid he's been a bit naughty, you know.

Nothing much, mark you, but he wrote the President

of the Royal Society.

- Wait a moment, this is where I came in.

- Came in, when?

- You told me about it last time.

- I did?

Oh, must been something else, then.

I remember.

Yes, you've got a girl named Byrne.

Do you know her friend, Andrews?

- No.

- You've got a boy named Marriott.

- Yes.

- How'd you rate him?

- As a scientist, first class.

- As a man?

- Perhaps slightly immature.

- But honest?

- Absolutely, I should say.

- Oh,

(clicking tongue)

don't like the sound of that.

The slippery ones are easy, but these honest chaps

turn you Grey.

Sewell and he pretty close?

- He's one of the team.

- Do they get on all right together?

- Certainly, he's been with us since he was a student.

- How about Marriott and the girl?

Any hanky panky there?

- They only work at the lab, I really don't know.

- Ah, no.

It's the devil of these jobs.

(sighs)

No one ever knows anything, you know.

Oh well, thanks for coming in.

- Is everything all right so far?

- Oh, so-so, if you have to say so.

- More so-so than it was?

- Oh, I'd be the last to know.

Oh yes, there was another fellow.

Now what's his name, Shole.

What's he like?

- That's hardly for me to say.

- Oh, of course, you are Shole.

(laughs)

Oh yes.

Oh, something else I wanted to ask you.

Just go on, a moment.

Oh never mind, some other time.

Oh, yes, I remember.

Don't shut the outer door, the lock sticks.

Yesterday, we couldn't get out for three hours.

- I'll try to remember.

Thank you, driver.

Hello, Bob, where you off to?

- I need a spot of fresh air.

- Shall I tell them to keep something hot?

- No thanks, Doc, don't bother.

I'll get a sandwich.

Hello?

I'm ringing as arranged.

- Oh yes, I've spoken to my client, and they're interested,

and could view the property tomorrow night.

- Oh, well what should I do?

- Could you bring the plans along at nine p.m.?

- Yes, but I'd have to get them back

before tomorrow morning.

It would take rather a long time to copy them, won't it?

- That's all right.

I suppose I'll just take a few snap shots.

- Oh yes, yes, of course.

Where should I go?

- [Bill] Take this down.

(dog barking)

- Oh really, not again.

- Mr. Prince would like to see you, sir.

- Well he can't, I have my work to do.

- It's very urgent, sir.

- It's always urgent, and he never knows me

when he sees me.

Anyway, I'm sick of that letter,

I've heard it twice already.

- It's not that this time, sir.

Could be serious.

- All right, but if it isn't, I promise you,

it's going to be serious for your Mr. Prince.

- Yes, sir.

(engine rumbling)

(classical piano music)

- Just time to tidy up.

(sighing)

- I wish I'd learned to write with my toes.

They offered to teach me, and I wouldn't let them.

- What do you want to write, darling?

- A letter.

- [Lucy] I'll write it for you.

- It's to you.

- A nice letter, one I'd like to get?

- I don't know, you might like it, you might not.

- There.

- You know, I don't think you've ever really

understood our relationship.

- Is that what you want to write to me about?

- Partly, you think I'm grateful for all you've

done for me, but that I don't love you.

Both wrong, as it happens.

I'm not grateful, and I do love you.

- I may understand more than you think.

- Anyhow, kiss me.

- No, not like that.

Properly, with your arms around my neck.

(classical piano music)

Thank you.

Oh God, won't this spoil things for you,

they'll spoil them good and proper.

It's not fair, not being able to write that letter to you.

- You tell me sometime.

- (laughs) All you'll hear you'll know, and the rest

you'll have to guess.

There's no need to fetch me tonight,

just come straight home, somebody's coming my way.

- It's all right, darling.

Be all right once you get inside.

- That's right.

It'll be all right once I'm inside.

(classical piano music)

- Now, Dr. Shole, you're a scientist,

so I'd hate going and jumping to conclusions,

and having you laughing at me.

So let's take this step by step, shall we,

and you tell me where I go wrong, hmm?

- Go ahead.

- Fine.

Now, it all starts with your Professor

being rather naughty, you know.

- Now, we had this once already-

- No, no, no, not this time.

As a result, we agreed to keep an eye

on the Franklin Evans wing of the lab.

Nothing must be allowed to escape from the place

that isn't under proper security control,

is part of another building, and is properly opened,

or after day or night.

And where, just between ourselves,

any chance of cooperation

for the inmates is blown to smithereens

by a little speech the Minister sees fit to toss

at them at the unveiling.

There's been no trouble of course, then we are to

do absolutely nothing.

Well, it's just one of those jobs that makes us want

to go away and shoot ourselves.

Of course, don't shoot ourselves, so what do we do?

We make a little check of the staff, now,

let's be fair, there's nothing wrong there,

everything ship-shape, except one small point,

your Miss Byrne.

- Lucy Byrne?

- Now, she's with a fellow named Andrews,

that's her own business.

But Andrews is on some sort of terms with a man

named Evans, who sometimes is Evans, sometimes he's Brown,

his real name may be Parsons.

At the moment, he calls himself Brown,

so we'll stick to that.

Now, we don't like Brown, we don't like him at all.

- Does Lucy know him?

- Maybe yes, maybe no.

She's certainly met him.

And that brings us to your Mr. Marriott.

Last week, this girl takes him to a pub,

where they meet Andrews.

And who turns up and joins them, but our Mr. Brown.

Now, let's be fair, a likely affair

that could be pure chance.

But now what happens?

A night or two later, Marriott drops off to see Andrews

again, and again, Brown turns up.

This time, Marriott and Brown leave Andrews

in a nice cosy pub, and go an converse in a biting

northeast wind outside.

Before they part, Brown hands Marriott a slip of paper,

on which he's written something.

Now, let me ask you a question.

- Yes?

- Does Marriott follow the judies?

- No, not the slightest interest.

- Ah, then we can dismiss the possibility

of it being a tip for the selling plate

for the following day.

It could of course, be the phone number of one of those

young ladies who specialize in artistic poses

for old gentlemen with box brownies.

On the other hand, it may well be something more

interesting to us.

Or would that, in your opinion, be going to far?

- Well, if Brown is the man you say he is,

not a bit too far.

- Thank you, doctor.

Now, let's still be fair, all this could have a

perfectly normal explanation.

In fact I thought there probably wasn't anything

in it until this morning, when we go this.

It's something quite outside the Houghton job.

It tells us that certain people we are very interested in

expect to receive some information, scientific information,

within the next 24 hours.

These people know Brown, Brown knows two of your staff,

and at that point, I begin to wonder whether one

can be just a little bit too fair.

What do you think?

- It's most alarming.

But I find it hard to believe that Lucy and Marriott-

- You can't shed any light upon it?

- Sorry, none at all.

(clicking tongue)

- Oh dear, no dear.

Then I shall have to start asking questions.

Don't like it, you know.

But then we don't like Brown, do we?

We don't like him at all.

Get me the Houghton Lab for Dr. Shole, please.

- Yes, what's the address?

It's the Doc, he wants me to take round our stuff

on the growth checks.

Can you spare me for an hour or two?

- Yes, yes, you go on.

- All right Doc, be with you as soon as I can, okay.

What do you want those for?

And who are Harmony General Holdings?

- Oh Lucy?

- Hmmm?

- I shouldn't bother to come back if I were you.

There's not much point.

And I'll see you in the morning, hmm?

- Okay.

Bye.

- Bye.

(classical piano music)

(clock ticking)

(children yelling)

- Dear Lucy, not my dear Lucy, or darling,

just dear Lucy.

They say sounds go on, so maybe you'll catch

some of this hanging about the place.

If not, it doesn't matter.

I want to thank you for looking after me.

For dressing me, and opening the doors,

and buying the tickets, hope you made a profit out of it.

You can go now, go on, go on, get married,

you think I don't know?

I've scuppered him, scuppered your pink and white boy,

and you put him right in my lap.

No need to tip the police off, he's such a fool,

he's bound to give himself away, but why did you do it?

Oh, you just been denser than usual.

What do I care about this country?

What's it done for me?

Look at me, look at me, look at me.

It's bloody unfair, I wanted to write to you,

I wanted to tell you, but it wasn't possible,

it wasn't decent, and you knew it.

If you want a pick, keep a dog and his lubber over that.

Why haven't you come back early?

You're never here when you're wanted.

I've scuppered him.

(classical piano music)

Goodbye, darling.

Dictated, but not signed, by Mister Andrews.

- Look, if only you'll tell me what this is all about,

what it is you want to know about,

perhaps I can be more help.

- May I?

- Yes, go ahead, Doc.

- Lucy, there's some question of a security leak.

- Oh, on the work?

- Yes.

- I see.

- Now Ms. Byrne, have you ever said or done anything

that could lead to a leak?

- No, of course not.

How about Marriott?

Ever heard him talking out of turn?

- No.

- [Mr. Prince] You're quite sure?

- Yes.

- Lucy, don't get this wrong, the leak hasn't

happened yet; if we know where to look,

we may be able to stop it, and nobody gets hurt.

Now, can you help us?

- No.

- All right, never mind it then.

I think we better toddle along and have a word

with our friend Andrews.

You stay here, and have a nice cup of tea.

- Oh no, please, can I come?

He's not well, it might upset him.

- All right, come along then.

(classical piano music)

- [Slater] There's an awful smell of gas coming

from somewhere down there.

- Wait a minute'.

(gas hissing)

(coughing)

Get that window open'.

Smash it, man'.

Smash it'.

(glass breaking)

- He's dead, isn't he?

I always knew it would happen.

Turn it on with his foot.

He could turn it on with his foot.

- [Dr. Shole] Let me have a look at him.

- Any brandy?

- No.

- Better get some, just in case.

- No, I'll go.

I know where.

- Well, Doc?

- Oh for sake, where's that girl gone?

Slater, better get after her and see.

- [Man] Night, Arthur.

- [Man] Goodnight, Arthur.

- Good night, sir.

Ah, I thought perhaps you'd be working late

tonight, sir.

- No thanks.

Goodnight, Arthur.

- [Arthur] Goodnight, Mr. Marriott.

- Some brandy, please.

Philip, can I use your phone real quick?

- Sure, help yourself.

Is there anything I can do?

- No, just the brandy.

- [Woman] Hello?

- Mr. Marriott, please.

- [Woman] I'm afraid Mr. Marriott hasn't come in yet.

- What time does he usually get in?

- [Woman] Well, he's normally in before now,

but he's probably been out.

- Thank you.

- [Woman] Goodbye.

(phone ringing)

- Looking for something?

Hello?

We better talk about this, Bob.

Bob.

- C.O.D inquest.

- Yes, yes, goodnight.

- Goodnight.

- Now, Ms. Byrne.

You're playing games with us, aren't you?

When you left here, who did you phone?

- It never got through.

- But who were you trying to phone?

- Bob Marriott.

- Why, what's Marriott to you?

- He's the man I work with.

- Well then, why phone him?

- I thought perhaps he should know about this.

- Why, were they close friends?

- Yes.

- Well, you forget they only met two or three times.

They were bad for each other, you said so.

Now what's Marriott to do with Andrews's death,

where does Brown come into this?

- Please, what do you want me to answer?

- Just the truth, Ms. Byrne, and we haven't

much time now.

Now come along, now, why did you try to phone Marriott?

- I thought, I thought if I could speak to him,

I could prevent him from doing something silly.

- Ah, well that wasn't very fair, was it?

You'll have put him on his guard.

Then when we get there, the cupboard is bare,

(clicking tongue)

very naughty.

But you didn't get through, so the cupboard may

still be locked.

We better go and see.

Come on.

My hat.

- Were you taking it, or bringing it back?

- Taking it.

- You swear that no one has seen it?

- Yes.

- Who were you taking it to?

- I was meeting someone.

- When?

- Tonight.

- Why?

Whatever persists you to do a thing like that?

- Somebody had to do something about it, haven't they?

Whose responsibility is it, if it isn't ours?

Or do we just let them go on, dying?

It was you yourself, who said that you'd never

felt so ashamed or frustrated.

It was you who said that if we got two pennies

of guts, we'd do something about it.

Well, what did you do about it?

Or Dr. Shole, nothing.

Well, all right, you can't be bothered,

you settle for comfort.

Well I haven't.

I'm still young enough to care what happens.

- You're young enough, Bobby, to be sure you're right.

I'm old enough to be sure of only one thing,

that I can be wrong.

- So because you don't know, you let them snatch

it out of your hands?

And what you meant to be a help to people,

becomes a threat.

- And can you guarantee that these people you want

to give it to won't use it as a threat?

And as a threat to us?

- No, I can't.

You know I can't.

- Don't you see, Bob?

Without that guarantee, you can't do a thing like this.

You can't place yourself above the law.

- [Bob] Oh, God.

What a mess.

(bell ringing)

- See now, what happens next?

I ring Shole, he isn't there.

So I leave message his wife to ring me, directly he gets in.

- I only hope they're going to believe all this.

- They'll have to, won't they.

- Not necessarily.

Oh dear, Professor Sewell, you're back in it again.

- Who the blazes are you?

Shole, who is this man?

- Mr. Prince is our chief security officer.

- Lucy.

- Bob.

- No, at the moment, Ms. Byrne.

- Well, I don't know why you're all here,

but as it happens, you've come at just the right moment.

- Oh, I hoped it might be.

- As a matter of fact, we've been trying to get you.

- [Mr. Prince] Oh yes?

- I wanted to tell you that one of my staff,

Bob Marriott here, was recently approached by someone

from outside the lab.

- His name is Brown?

- [Professor Sewell] Oh, oh you know all about Brown?

- Well not all, perhaps.

- Suppose you tell me what you know about him.

- Nothing, personally.

It's Marriott, here.

Let's see now, quite by chance, he met him in a pub.

Brown started to pump him about his work here,

but fortunately, Bob saw through him right away,

but just to make sure he wasn't on the wrong track,

he arranged to meet him again.

This right, Bob?

- Yes.

- This time, Brown pitched him some yarn

about a international scientific exchange,

then this afternoon over the phone, he asked Bob

to meet him tonight, and to bring the secret report

on our work here.

Bob, having got him to commit himself,

immediately reported the matter to me.

- Ah.

- It was clearly a matter for you people.

I didn't know where to get a hold of you,

so I rang Shole.

He wasn't there, so I left a message with his wife.

Asking him to ring directly came in, and that of course,

is where I came in?

- Oh well, fair enough.

In fact, absolutely water-tight.

And there we were, scaring ourselves to death,

thinking you had half a mind to publish, Professor.

And Mr. Marriott had decided to go the whole hog.

Oh well, really does how how completely mistaken

one can be.

You see, Slater?

Never trust your intuition.

Oh, and talk about not trusting things, Brown,

we don't like him, do we?

Don't like him at all.

Now, what time did you say you were meeting him?

- Nine o'clock.

(bells ringing)

- Thank you, driver.

- Bang on time, eh?

- Yes, yes I just made it.

- All right?

- Yes.

- Let me have it, have it back here before midnight.

- No, I don't let it out of my hands.

It's got to be back in the lab before anybody gets there.

- You'll get it back.

- No, I'm sorry, I can't take the chance.

- All right, come on.

(knocking on door)

- Oh.

- Hello.

Who is this?

- I had to bring him with me, he can't let

the stuff out of his hands.

- Right, you can't be too careful, I suppose.

Let's have 'em.

Good.

Well, make yourselves comfortable.

I'll be as quick as I can.

I'm sorry about the mess,

but there isn't much money in this job, you know.

Sorry, no smoking.

Got to keep the air clear.

You'll find a bottle of whiskey, if you look

in the sideboard.

Think you could do with a drink.

- No thanks, I'm fine.

- Good evening.

How does it go?

- Shan't be long.

- Good, good.

Stop.

- What is it, Dr.?

- What have you brought, my friend?

- What you asked for.

- Watch him.

- [Man] Stay where you are.

- Whose idea is this?

- What?

- Quick, whose idea?

- I don't know what you mean.

- It's rubbish.

(glass shattering)

Sewell.

- It's nothing to do with me.

Getting out.

- Stand still.

(knocking on door)

- [Policeman] This one's locked, sir.

- [Policeman] Open up, it's the police.

- [Mr. Prince] Come along now, we know you're there.

You're completely surrounded.

There's no point in making trouble, we'd rather not

have any trouble.

(knocking on door)

Can't you persuade your friends to open the door, Mr. Brown?

(glass shattering)

(gun firing)

- [Policeman] Break it up, in there'.

Open this door'.

(grunting)

- Get 'em.

Ah, Mr. Brown.

I always wanted to meet you.

And looking exactly as I pictured you.

- 152 colonies.

- How many more does the Prof want?

- Another 3,000.

- And 24, now.

Well, if that's what the Prof wants,

that's what the Prof's gonna get.

- He certainly is.

- Lucy, quick, you're wanted.

- What happened?

- It's Philips, he's got Arthur at last, in the cage.

- But he mustn't he's on a diet.

- Ms. Byrne'.

Look here, Philips, if don't give me the key,

I'll be forced to report you to Professor Sewell.

That'll mean the same.

Come on, now.

Be a good Catholic chimpanzee, and give me the key.

Here, Philips.

Philips, listen, the key, man.

Look here, if you wanna stay in this place,

you've got to give me the key to get out of this place.

Oh, it's over here, look, over here, come on, then.

Come on, come on, lad.

That's it.

(classical piano music)