Original subtitles

(music)

(theme music)

Now keep watch.

Kirby?

This is collection day.

You got the money?

Who are you?

I collect for your bookmakers.

I told your people I can't pay.

Not for another month yet.

Well, that's too bad!

(grunts)

Stop it!

- Get out of it! - You've done enough!

He's not moving!

What? Let's have a look.

He's dead.

- We've killed him. - Are you sure?

Yeah. Come on. Let's get out of here.

But we can't leave him here!

We'll send someone down to move him.

Come on! Let's get out of here!

(sighs)

(theme music)

What about Silver Boy?

It's a filly.

Oh, yes, yes, of course.

Tax Collector out of Silver Virgin.

How's that?

Hmm? I was just reposing the problem.

I've got it.

Shining Money.

Tax Collector money, Silver Shining.

Revenue Girl.

Tax, money, virgin, girl, hmm?

Yeah. Sounds all right.

Let's see if it's been used.

Ah!

Revenue Girl won a handicap in 1959.

And lost the St. Michael Stakes in '51.

And my shirt along with it.

(laughs) Good morning, sir. Can I help you?

How do you do. Mr. Meadows?

No. Pantling, Major Pantling.

Oh, Steward of the Jockey Club.

That's right, yes. This is Mr. Meadows.

I'm terribly sorry. My name is Steed.

One of your stablemen told me I'd find you here.

What can we do for you, Mr. Steed?

Well, I'm here about the new four-year-old

you're stabling, Sebastian II?

Are you from the press?

No, no. I'm from the Foreign Office.

Oh.

We're concerned about Sebastian, you know.

Cigar?

Oh, that's extremely good of you.

Comes from a very good home.

You know... Oh, thank you.

A horse belonging to a Sultan

is a little like a VIP visiting the country.

Well, you might have given him some VIP treatment, mightn't you?

Waived your silly quarantine rules.

I'm very sorry. Has there been some trouble?

Sebastian's become very attached to one of the Sultan's spaniels.

Normally, they travel together.

Otherwise, he gets very nervous.

There's no other country but Britain refuses to let a dog enter, you know.

It's a crying shame.

No trouble about a racehorse, though,

so long as he's to race.

Well, you're not suggesting there should be quarantine for thoroughbreds, are you?

Oh, no, certainly not, Major.

I should think not indeed.

Like some sherry?

Thank you very much.

What exactly do you want to know, Steed?

Well, this is the first time a Sultan's entered a horse in this country.

It wouldn't help with some rather delicate negotiations

going on at this moment if anything were to happen to Sebastian.

What do they think might happen?

Well, the recent doping scandals, you know, in the country.

Frightful business. Absolutely frightful.

Thank you.

I take it your people think I don't know

how to look after a horse!

No, no, no. Of course not.

If you prefer, you could stable him in Number 10 Downing Street.

I don't think that the Prime Minister would like that too much.

A rather small house.

No, I think that this letter will explain everything.

Probably want to take him away, you know.

Just keep an eye on him.

This Sultan fellow, we want his oil, don't we?

That amongst other things.

Any unfortunate incident might sever what otherwise

could be a very beautiful friendship.

Hmm.

Well, I think this is an impertinence.

But it seems to be in order.

What exactly do you want to do?

Oh, just be around, you know.

Now look here.

I've never had any trouble with doping,

if that's what you're worried about.

Oh, of course not.

My stables are more difficult to get into than most banks.

I suppose you'll want to drop by now and then.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

And thank you, Major, for the sherry.

Morning, everyone.

Oh, this is Mr. Steed. My daughter, Ann.

How do you do?

Oh, hello.

Perhaps you could show him over to the stables, Ann?

Yes, of course.

By the way, have you found a name for the new filly?

No, no, no, not yet.

Awful problem, you know.

You can't use a name that's been used before.

And the name must have some connection with its sire and dam.

Yes.

Tax Collector out of Silver Virgin.

Tax Collector out of Silver Virgin.

Yes. Though we don't want to bother you with that now.

Perhaps you'd give it a thought, Ann.

I've done nothing else all morning.

Would you like to come with me, Mr. Steed?

Delighted, yes.

Tax Collector out of Silver Virgin.

That's right.

How about Impossible?

Well, goodbye. See you later, gentlemen.

This place is a mess, Brown.

I want you to clean it up when you get back.

You ready to go?

- Yeah. - Right.

Morning, ma'am.

Morning, Johnson. How's Sebastian?

Well, he's a bit jumpy after this morning's gallop.

Hasn't settled down yet.

Anything special you want to know?

No. We just want to look at him.

- Thank you, Johnson. - Yes, ma'am.

- Morning, sir. - Afternoon.

Well, come on out, you old devil.

Well, he is a fine fellow, isn't he? How are you?

Well, if you want to make yourself known to Sebastian,

you'd better be properly introduced.

Here, give him some sugar.

With the Sultan's compliments.

I'm very sorry it isn't Turkish Delight.

Oh, really.

Why are you so interested in Sebastian?

Well, there are certain people, you know, in Whitehall

that wouldn't like anything to happen to Sebastian.

Would they, old boy? You have a good nibble there.

On the other hand, I don't think they need worry.

I've never seen such security arrangements.

Do they always have these electrified fences

around training establishments?

Mr. Steed, we don't just let any Tom, Dick or Harry in here, you know.

Oh, no. I was very impressed.

Do you know anything about horses, Mr. Steed?

Yes. I know which end is which.

Well, thank goodness for that.

I thought you might be one of those terribly dull civil servants.

Oh.

Have you ever heard of a horse that was kinky about a spaniel?

I think I'll have a little more sugar, young lady, if you don't mind.

Oh, mind your fingers.

Oops. Ooh, he nearly got me the first time.

Perhaps we could go riding together one day.

My dear young lady, that would be a pleasure.

Well, that could be fun, couldn't it, Sebastian?

We'll all do that.

You ever find anybody trying to get at your horses?

No, and we don't intend to, either.

No one could get in here.

Not even the police if they wanted to.

Well, what about the stablemen?

Oh, well, most of the men working here started as boy apprentices.

I know them all.

Oh, really?

I can assure you they're absolutely loyal to my father.

(bookies chatter)

Right, well, I think that settles

your next assignment, Brown.

Oh, by the way,

you'll find a gentleman waiting outside.

Would you send him in, please?

Thank you.

There was a bloke down at the stables this morning.

Wanted to look at the Sultan's horse.

Oh, do you know who he was?

Never seen him before.

From the Foreign Office or something.

Really?

Oh, it's probably nothing to worry about.

Well, well.

Come on in.

(chatter silenced)

Sit down. There's no charge.

Get him a brandy.

I believe you wanted to see me.

Yes, I always like to see people

after they've done the job for me.

Didn't you know the man had a weak heart?

Mr. Ffordsham,

or should I say, The Honorable,

when a client opens a turf account with me,

I don't demand to see a medical certificate.

Everyone knows that if they try to take a bookmaker for a ride,

like Kirby did or like you tried to do,

they've got to face the consequences.

I don't think I wish to accept your hospitality.

Let's see.

How much did you owe me?

1,000 pounds.

You placed bets on credit

knowing you didn't have that kind of money

in the bank?

It's not against the law!

Ah, a lot of people think that.

But they're wrong.

It's as much a crime to defraud a bookmaker

as it is to defraud a tailor.

Look, the debt was canceled out last night, wasn't it?

I accepted your third alternative.

Yes, alternative one, to pay up,

which in your case was impossible.

Alternative two, to get beaten up, very painful.

Alternative three, to help beat up someone else

who owed me money.

- So now we're quits! - Not quite.

I want to know what you intend to do next.

Well, that's my business.

Perhaps, but I'd like to hear about it.

I intend to leave the country.

I see.

Well, I don't think we can really agree to that.

But it's got nothing to do with you!

I have my social conscience to consider.

You're a non-convicted murderer.

I never touched the man. Johnson did it.

I had to drag him off.

Is that so, Johnson?

No. He beat him up, not me.

But that's a lie!

Sure, sure.

We all know that.

But what Mr. Johnson and I want to impress on you

is how it could look to a judge and jury.

You see, Kirby's body was removed last night

by some other friends of mine.

I only have to lift one of these telephones.

This is really what you'd call...

checkmate, Mr. Honorable.

You're involved in this as well, Heuston.

Really?

You and Johnson came to me.

Offered your services as debt collectors.

I thought you were a genuine little two-man agency.

I wasn't to know anything about your methods.

And you'd betray Johnson?

If it came to the pinch, yes.

Except he's a friend of longstanding

and he'd be in South America

before anyone knew anything about it.

But you're not quite in that category... yet.

Are you suggesting that I could be?

You have two alternatives open to you now.

One, go to prison for manslaughter.

That's if they're lenient and don't press for murder.

Two, that you become another of my...

longstanding friends.

And collect more debts for you!

No, no, no, nothing so crude.

I run another business far more refined.

We need men like you, strong in lineage,

and a little light on principle.

I don't think I'm interested.

I'm afraid you have no choice.

You see, we kill people to order.

A man like you will be useful.

Good manners, public school accent, acceptable anywhere.

You'd be highly trained and grossly overpaid.

Now go away and think about it.

Come on.

And before you get any high-minded ideas

about running to the police, remember Kirby.

I'll give you until tomorrow morning

to, uh, make up your mind.

(bookies chatter)

Steed: a very powerful...

Well, I apologize for earlier remarks.

You ride very well.

Thank you very much.

I didn't expect racehorses to be...

Well, to change direction quite so sharply.

Oh, did you want something, Smith?

Beg pardon, miss.

But I was waiting to see your father.

I'm afraid he's not here.

Is there anything I can do?

No. It was your father I wanted to see.

It's just this murder charge they've got me brother on

comes up next week.

Oh, when did you hear this?

It's in the paper, miss.

Where? Show me.

See there?

Oh, Smith, this is terrible!

Oh, hello, Ann. Your father around?

No, he's out.

Oh, pity. I wanted to see him.

I'm sure Griggs is charging too much

for those moth-eaten carrots of his.

Am I butting in?

It's about Smith's brother. He's coming up on trial.

Oh, let me see.

What happened exactly?

Well, amazing story.

Apprentice jockey disappears.

A month later, turns up in South America, of all places.

Takes a potshot at a plantation tycoon

he's never seen before, misses and gets caught.

Amazing.

You mean, he disappeared from here?

From these very stables.

Reliable lad, keen, good rider.

Been with Mr. Meadows since he was 15.

What about the British Embassy out there?

Can't they help your brother?

Well, there's nothing much they can do.

Evidence damning, caught red-handed.

If you beg pardon, sir, I found something out that might help.

Jerry was in debt.

He was gambling heavy.

- Not Jerry! - Betting horses?

I'm afraid so, sir.

Well, didn't he know the rules of the stable?

Well, of course, sir.

But I suppose he was tempted.

Anyhow, I found this old notebook among his things

where he put down which horses he was backing

and how much he was losing.

I think maybe that's why he went away.

No reason to try and commit a murder.

I was thinking,

if I could get out there, I could talk to him.

Do you know who he owed money to?

No, sir. That's what I'd like to find out.

All right. You have a bank account?

No, sir.

Then I'll make it out to cash.

Enough to cover your fare and moderate expenses.

I'll speak to Mr. Meadows

and get him to give you a week off.

Thank you. Thank you very much, sir...

That's all right. Don't you worry.

I'll fix it with Mr. Meadows.

But don't forget there's the Credeton Cup tomorrow.

You're riding in that.

I won't go before then, miss.

I wouldn't let Mr. Meadows down or the Major.

Good. Then that's settled.

Thank you very much, Major.

Thank you, miss.

Thank you, sir.

Good luck to you tomorrow.

That was very kind of you, Major.

Oh, we must look after the troops, you know.

Anyway, if he rides me a winner tomorrow,

I shall be amply repaid.

I must be getting along. Goodbye.

Let's hope he will, eh?

He's a very generous man, the Major.

When did he start owning horses?

Only the last few years, I think.

I remember he used to say how poor he was after

he came out of the Army.

Living on his pension, you know.

He was quite bitter about it.

I suppose he must have been lucky on the horses.

Yes, I suppose he must have.

Track announcer: They're under starter's orders now,

but Green Fingers has turned around.

Oh, an now Transfer Supervisor has broken the tape.

They're all in line now

and soon they'll be off at any moment

just as soon as they've got that tape across again.

4 pounds to win on number four, please.

Thank you, madam.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

Time to get to work, hmm?

Hey?

Oh, I want to get something on Transfer Supervisor, number five.

Oh, you've plenty of time, sir.

Good. I have five pounds each way on Transfer Supervisor.

Haven't seen you here before.

Probably not, sir.

This happens to be my first day.

Let's hope it's your lucky window.

10 pounds, please, sir.

Look, you don't want to stay in there.

You can't see the racing.

Come out and enjoy the sunshine, eh?

That's against the rules.

Besides, I wouldn't get much work done, would I?

Who wants to work?

Well, aren't you here to play the field?

Huh, I suppose you could say that.

How about 6:30?

There is no 6:30, sir.

The last race is at 5:30.

Oh, 5:30.

Perhaps you could give me the benefit

of your professional experience.

Now there we are. There are the runners.

Which one?

What about number two, Fifth Symphony?

No, no.

Number three, Lower Depths.

(chuckles)

Shop Window.

Shop Window.

Look, I do have other customers besides you, sir.

I'm terribly sorry. I suppose you have.

Look, I'll have five pounds each way on Sharp Window.

I'll be at the Member's Exclosure at 5:45 for a drink.

You join me there, eh?

I'll see what I can do.

And that will cost you 20 pounds, sir.

And 20 pounds coming up.

And we'll celebrate at 5:45.

Well, I hope you win.

Okay, fine. Thanks a lot.

Announcer: but they're off, all off to a fine start

except Transfer Supervisor who's been left at the post.

Now first one to show is Cancer Major...

- Win? - Thank you.

And Hold the Line it is, the leader...

Do people come all this way just to watch the television?

More realistic in the end.

Anyway, the atmosphere's more important.

Want to find somewhere quiet with a stool?

My horse is still running. And I'm watching the race.

Of course.

- Come on, Scavenger! - Come on, Scavenger.

(crowd cheering)

Come on, Scavenger!

Come on, Scavenger!

Scavenger!

- He's gonna make it. - He is.

I can't see him.

Can't you?

There he comes.

- Come on, Scavenger! - Come on, that's right!

You encourage him!

Did he make it?

Hold the Line has it...

Oh!

Oh...

Oh, jolly bad.

It was nice of you to meet me at the station.

Terribly sorry.

I had to see a fellow about a horse.

What do you really want me down here for?

I'm a bit rusty on my tictacs.

(laughs)

Well, I hadn't thought of that one.

Now I got some press cuttings here. There you are.

Oh, hello, Smith. Hey, jolly good luck.

Thank you, sir.

Bet my shirt on you.

And most of my wardrobe, I might say.

- Who's that? - He's Lynton Smith.

He's the brother of the fellow that was accused

of taking a potshot

at a plantation millionaire in South America.

Yes, this is a very odd case.

He doesn't appear to have had any motive whatsoever.

Even odder thing is that he was an apprentice jockey

at the same stable as his brother.

Well, how did he get to South America?

Well, that does intrigue us.

Steed, what's your real interest in Meadows' stables,

that horse Sebastian

or the attempted killing of this millionaire?

Oh, hello, Mr. Meadows.

Sorry, Steed. Can't stop.

An unlikely stable with electrified fences around it.

Photoelectric cells, operating alarm bells, the lot.

The whole place is like a fortress.

They're very wise precautions

with all the doping going on these days.

Has it occurred to you that there could be

something going on inside?

I mean, someone the police are looking for

could be hidden in there.

Are you basing your suspicion

on the coincidence of this boy turning up in South America?

In the past 12 months,

there have been at least 12 unsolved murders of rich men.

Either important businessmen or political bigwigs.

You mean, like Luther Strissel, the West German banker?

Exactly, and not one single one of them has been found.

And in each case, someone stood to gain.

Either a political rival or a business competitor.

But now that the attempt has failed, well,

thank goodness, we've got someone in our hands.

If these stables are as security bound as you say,

how do you propose to get in there?

I mean, by yourself?

Well, there's one thing I've observed.

They got a procedure for checking you in.

But they don't seem to have one for checking out again.

Are you fond of bran mash?

Ah, come on. We got to hear the next race.

I have a small interest in it.

I'm more interested in...

ridden by Johnny Simpson.

Way down at the far end of the course,

they seem to be having a little bit of trouble

with Shop Steward, but I think they...

Yes, and they're off!

And already Shop Steward is well into the lead.

Second is Fifth Symphony ridden by Ted Hicks

who did a hat trick in Newbury last week.

He's closely followed now by Lower Depths, number 12,

breaking ground from Distant Point in 5th position.

But coming now to the second fence...

Want a refill?

Thanks.

Smith!

Tony!

Smith's fallen off!

You missed it!

You mean, the horse threw?

No. Smith just fell off!

Really? Was he hurt?

I don't know.

Well, it's probably nothing to worry about, huh?

Look, I think I ought to go home.

He could have been hurt.

But you're spending the day with me, remember?

I'm sorry, Tony, but I want to get back.

Oh, don't worry, darling.

You'll see. He'll be all right.

(murmuring)

(theme music)

What is it now, Johnson?

Well, it's the new stable hand, Mr. Meadows.

The Honorable Lucien Ffordsham.

The Honorable?

From now on, known as Ffordsham.

He wants to earn a living for a change,

learn a trade.

I see.

Hello, Mr. Meadows.

I'll be with you in a moment, Steed.

Ffordsham can have the room over number two stable.

Right, sir. This way.

Afternoon, sir.

Afternoon to you.

I suppose you've come to see

no one's ridden off with Sebastian.

First of all, I want to see you

about Mr. Smith's accident yesterday.

Now have you got any ideas?

Must have been half cut through before the race started.

Looks as though sliced with a razor.

I could have sworn everything was all right

when I gave Lynton Smith a leg up in the parade ring.

25 years as a trainer.

Nothing like this has ever happened before.

I see.

These dopers will stop at nothing.

They can't get at the horse, they'll get at the rider.

This time, they've gone too far.

It will be a charge of murder.

I'm going to call the police.

Are you sure they were horse dopers?

I mean, Lower Depths wasn't a hot favorite.

They couldn't have nobbled.

There would be no point in it,

in nobbling either the horse or the jockey.

I think there were more personal reasons.

What do you suggest we do?

Hold off calling the police until after the post mortem.

All right.

And in the meantime,

I'd like to have a small word

with Sebastian.

I'll get someone to take you...

Oh, don't worry. I know my way.

You just phone up and tell them I'm coming, okay?

Right.

Meadows here.

Mr. Steed wants to enter the stables.

Let him in, please, yeah?

What?

Well, that's your department. Deal with it.

Yes, I know, but we've no choice, have we?

Hello, Sebastian.

How's the climate suiting you then, old boy, eh?

I haven't got anything today.

I'm stingy.

Ahh.

Oh.

Very nice, too.

There.

This is the house.

Number 17, Avenue de la Grande Armée.

His car.

Registration number 8293-MY-75.

The man leaves this house in this car every morning at 10 past 8:00.

He's driven along the Champs-Elysees to Concorde,

Follows the same to Boulevard de Palais,

turns right and continues to Boulevard St. Michel.

He stops at number 29.

Excellent.

Now your assignment.

Ah, Patrice Dubois, age 54.

Major shareholder of the House of Souchais.

Good.

Here's your passport and money.

And you'll need these.

You'll fly with the horses and three other stablemen tonight.

It's a chartered aircraft departing at 7:25.

When you arrive at Chantilly,

rooms have been booked for all of you at the Pension Groujarde.

At exactly 11:00 tonight, a light blue car

will be parked outside the pension.

Here are the car keys.

You can be in Paris in 30 minutes.

You go to number 69, Avenue Emile Bonne.

Report to Monsieur Goldstein.

He'll put you up for the night.

Right.

Contact me when you get back tomorrow.

To your very good health.

I'll take any calls now.

Who?

Oh, send her in, will you?

Mrs. Gale.

Do come in. Won't you sit down?

Well, what can I do for you?

Your settler and I can't agree on a bet.

What's the problem?

I placed an each way Yankee with 10 pound stakes.

On the first, I put three to one.

Robin Hood, seven to two.

Wally Firms, 11 to 4.

And Reedy River at five to one.

Now that was a total investment of 220 pounds.

That checks.

They came up, so I should have got back 9,690 pounds,

18 shillings and tuppence.

What's the quibble, tuppence?

No, Mr. Heuston, a matter of 65 pounds, 12 and 7 pence short.

Your settler checked it once

but refuses to check it again.

See, I think he's reckoning the crack-off

at a quarter of the odds instead of a third.

You mean, there were less than eight runners a race.

Yes. Hold the Line was scratched.

You see, even reckoning at a quarter,

that would make the place double come to...

15 pounds, 2 and a penny less.

The place trebled 30 pounds, 6 and thruppence less.

And the place accumulated 20 pounds, 4 and thruppence less.

That's a total discrepancy of 65 pounds, 12 and 7 pence.

Tell me, how do you calculate it?

Well, I take the place odds,

add one unit to each,

multiply them together,

and subtract one unit at the end.

Then I know the odds against the doubles and trebles.

Incidentally,

your settler got it right with Wallop Home.

He took into account there were less than eight runners in that race.

Mrs. Gale, have you ever worked for a turf accountant?

No.

But I've been a race girl for a long time.

Well, I'm very glad there aren't any more like you about.

We'd be out of business.

Tell me, do you know this one?

When would a punter definitely win

by backing every horse in a race?

Well, say there were 10 horses.

You add one to the odds of each of those 10 horses.

Then you take the reciprocal of those 10 numbers.

And if the sum of the reciprocal is less than one, you must win.

You're very talented, Mrs. Gale.

I'm glad you think so.

Because there's something I wanted to ask you.

Oh? You want to extend your credit?

No. I'm looking for a job.

Well, but the money you've just won, why work?

Winnings don't last forever.

You should know that, Mr. Heuston.

True.

Yes, well, this business of mine

is certainly expanding.

Okay, you're on.

And what are the terms?

70 pounds a week, mostly tax-free.

You'll be this side of the glass wall.

A lot of the time,

you'll be completely in charge of the place.

I have another enterprise

which is taking up more and more of my time.

Anyone with your head for figures would be,

well, pretty useful about the place.

Useful enough, would you say, to be worth 100?

You drive a hard bargain.

Okay, 100 pounds.

When do I start?

You've already started.

Then perhaps you'd show me the office routine?

With pleasure.

Outside phone, internal phone.

That one's direct to my London office.

Now over here we have, in these cabinets,

we have client's references in here.

Now our credit clients in here.

And what's in there?

Oh, you could call those the dead files in there.

Dead or... about to be dead.

Where did you get it?

It was picked up on the course.

You can see it's been deliberately cut.

Well, I pointed it out to Steed.

And he didn't want to take it to the police, heh?

No. Strange, isn't it?

I'm beginning to wonder about Mr. Steed.

And where he is.

When did you last see him?

He wanted to see Sebastian again.

He has a letter of authority.

What else could I do?

I'll tell you, Major, I'll be darn glad

when that horse is out of here.

And Steed too.

I don't trust that fellow.

I don't trust him.

Ahh.

(clatter)

(banging)

Caviar?

Aah! Oof!

All right, now hurry up and settle down.

Right, before we start this evening,

I want to introduce you to Ffordsham

spelled with two small Fs.

How do you do?

Take a pew.

Now I want to devote the first half

of this evening to poisons.

Now poisons come in two main categories:

irritant and corrosive.

In nature

and in man's historical applications of poisons,

both categories have but one purpose: to kill.

And it was a lovely meal.

Oh, it's my pleasure.

By the way, do you mind if I smoke?

No, not at all.

Thank you.

What made you give up mathematics and take to bookmaking?

Well, there's more money in bookmaking.

That the only reason?

Well, I've always been a greedy man, Cathy.

At university, my mathematics tutor said to me,

"Mathematicians could rule the world".

So this gave me a big idea.

And I calculated that, with my knowledge,

I could just about ruin

any of the local professional gamblers.

I started with poker, won hands down.

Then on to roulette, but small fry.

So I set about to bookmaking.

That's where I came unstuck.

Because horses aren't just figures to juggle with.

They're living creatures.

So are the people who handle them.

And you dope them?

Well, you know the old saying on the race course, Cathy.

The punter who hasn't got a horse in his family tree

stays a punter forever.

No, the only way to win at this game

is to know who's been given orders to lose.

So, you got into debt with a bookmaker.

That's right and instead of kicking my teeth in,

he asked me to go and work for him.

I reminded him that I'm still working for a degree.

His words were, "Stop being a high-minded idiot."

Sell out and grow up."

So you sold out.

No, not immediately.

I worked for that man for about three years.

Then I opened up my own account.

So really one could say you were trapped into bookmaking.

But grew to like it afterwards?

You could say that.

I've been trapped into other things as well since then.

But I wouldn't say I enjoy them.

I can't see you doing anything you didn't want to.

Well, there are those occasions

when one has no alternative.

It's either that or...

Or what?

Take now, for instance.

I have to leave you.

Must you?

I have no alternative.

(snaps fingers)

Waiter? Check, please.

Now the next bit's rather complicated,

so I want you to pay attention.

Now the spring loading is operated by this trigger here.

Now as you've just seen, it takes considerable pressure

to force the spring back.

So that'll have to be done

before you reach the actual site of operation.

I mean, anyone seeing you trying to get that spring back

in the Royal Enclosure would likely to get

a bit suspicious, aren't they?

(laughter)

Well, once you've got this spring back into position,

you are now equipped with one of the deadliest

short-range weapons ever invented.

To complete its deadliness, the dart is inserted here.

Now the poison on the tip of the dart

will remain potent for a good four hours.

Now the great advantage of this weapon

is that it can be used in a seemingly innocent way.

As the race is in progress,

preferably at the height of excitement,

you turn your binoculars away from the horses

and take aim at the subject.

Now with the built-in rangefinder, which is there...

Pass it along...

Accuracy up to 10 yards is guaranteed.

Now take a good look 'cause you can't afford to make mistakes.

Now, ejection of the dart is achieved by pressing this button here.

And as you've seen tonight,

the mechanism operates without any sound at all.

(door opens)

Well, here's the man you've all been waiting for.

Right, that'll be the lot for tonight.

Good evening, gentlemen.

Four weeks' pay for only three days' work.

Do you understand?

Right. You're up at dawn. You better turn in now.

- Here's yours. - Thanks.

Tell me, how's Ffordsham making out?

Oh, he'll be all right.

You know, I think it's time we used him.

Well, name the job and I'll set it up for him.

Okay. Let's go.

I want to know who he is.

He came here with a letter from the government

requiring me to allow him into the stables

to watch over Sebastian II.

I don't think we've anything to worry about.

Steed was in the harness room last night.

He beat up Brown.

Likely he saw everything.

What's that got to do with me?

Are you still pretending you don't know

what goes on in your own stables?

What you and Johnson do, I don't want to know about.

- Well, let me remind you... - I don't want to hear!

We train killers, highly professional murderers.

And you're part of the organization,

whether you like it or not.

Now I want you to get that horse Sebastian out of there.

Can't do that. The Sultan is my friend.

Just because you hobnob with aristocracy means nothing to me.

Look, I've told you what you want to know.

Steed's interest is solely confined to the welfare of one horse.

I'm sure of that.

Well, I'm not.

I thought we agreed that you'd keep away from here.

I'd look after this end of the business!

We also agreed that you be careful

whom you let into the stables.

They're still mine, you know.

Are they?

With 10,000 pounds outstanding gambling debt?

I've only got to breathe the word

that you're in debt to a bookmaker

and your stables will be worth nothing.

Big decisions, little man.

You did say Pantling?

That's right. Ronald Pantling.

Actually, Major Ronald Pantling.

Oh, yes, I've got it here.

I'm afraid I can't raise your credit without...

Hello, Major.

Ah, good to see you, Heuston.

Your delightful young lady is being very patient with me.

Says you're increasing my maximum credit.

Oh, that'll be all right, Catherine.

By the way, I've got some rather private business to attend to.

I wonder if you could sort this out

with the Major in the outer office?

Yes, of course.

Thank you.

- This way, Major. - Thank you.

Very good of you, old chap.

Not at all.

(bookies chatter)

Send him in now.

Thank you.

Heuston: Come in.

Sit down.

I have an assignment for you.

This is where he lives.

This is his car.

This is the man you have to kill.

(theme music)

Ronald Pantling.

Is he at the club now?

No, I don't want to hold on.

Look, surely you must know if he's there or not.

Hello, Ann.

Major, I've been phoning everywhere

to try and find you.

Why? What's the trouble?

I wondered if you knew where my father was.

No.

You see, he didn't come in to breakfast this morning.

And no one's seen him.

Well, perhaps he had to go up to London.

I'm sure he would have told me.

Well, have you tried the police?

Oh, no, of course not.

One of their jobs, you know,

tracing missing people.

Then maybe I should phone them.

Well, let's not do anything too drastic for the moment.

You leave it to me.

I'm so worried. He's never done anything like this before.

No, but you leave it to me.

I have an idea who may know something about this.

You can settle that by phone.

Can I see you?

Yes.

That'll be all for now, Catherine.

I'll be outside checking on the next race.

Well, who's the bird?

She's got brains.

Don't worry.

She doesn't know anything about us.

Yet.

But she could be trying to.

I want you to find out everything you can about her.

Okay.

All right. What was it you wanted?

Well, it's about that old fool, Meadows.

What about it?

Well, he came into the stables with a gun.

Had some idea about taking us down

to the police station.

- When was this? - Last night.

I tried to get you.

But I take it you were out on the town.

I see.

Well, what did you do?

I took the gun off him, of course.

Suppose he expected us to touch our caps to him,

call him sir and go along like good little boys.

Where is he now?

Well, he got a bit rough. There was a fight.

Look, you're not gonna like this.

But there was an accident.

I mean, it was an accident.

You fool, Johnson.

I'm sick and tired of being treated like a serf!

They think they can treat me like an animal!

You're still a fool.

Where's the body?

Well, he's all set to go on a journey.

Don't worry, no one will find it.

It does rather change the situation, doesn't it?

I mean, now your girlfriend, Ann,

will have to be told the truth, won't she?

Hello, Miss Meadows.

I'm afraid my father isn't here.

It's just me.

I just wanted to give Sebastian some sugar.

Well, without my father's permission,

I can't have you admitted to the stables, Mr. Steed.

They know your voice on the phone.

You just pick it up and tell them I'm coming.

Not without my father's permission.

Oh!

Oh, let me help you. Oops!

Just for me?

Not even for you. Look, I must go.

Morning, Mr. Steed.

Good morning to you.

Holding the fort?

I was just admiring this fine old desk.

No value. Wood worms.

Oh.

You've seen Ann?

I was giving her a hand. She just went out.

She seemed a trifle upset.

Oh, I don't wonder. Meadows has disappeared.

- Oh? - I didn't like to tell her.

But I had a very odd letter in the post this morning.

I'll read some of it to you.

"My dear old friend, I've suddenly realized

"what a mess I'm making of my life.

But the facts have to be ..."

It's terrible handwriting.

Ah. "If anything happens to me",

"I want you to run the stables

until Ann is of age to take over."

No wonder she was upset.

I want to have a word with Sebastian.

Do you mind phoning up and saying I'm coming?

Delighted.

Thank you very much.

I don't think I'll ever make a stableman.

(chuckles)

Major Pantling here.

You're to admit Mr. Steed.

Yes, I'm acting on behalf of Mr. Meadows.

Hello, old boy. How are you?

Here you are.

That'll supplement your diet a bit.

By the way, keep your eye on the liability on 5th Symphony.

We don't make her a loser on the books.

Who?

Miss Meadows?

I see.

All right, send her in.

Ann, how nice to see you.

How are you, hmm?

Tony, have you seen my father?

No, not today. Isn't he at the stables?

No.

Will you have a drink?

I don't want anything. Tony, Dad's disappeared.

Well, do you know anything about it?

Why should I?

Because you've got some sort of hold over him.

That's why he's forbidden me to see you again, isn't it?

I thought it was because a bookmaker wasn't fit company

for a trainer's daughter.

Oh, you know that's not the reason.

Tell me something, Ann.

Why did you defy your father's wishes?

Because I wanted to know what was going on.

Is that the only reason for seeing me?

Well, no.

I'm glad. (kiss)

Come and sit down, hmm?

Ann, you've got to know sooner or later.

So I might as well tell you now.

Your father's had an accident.

- He's dead. - What?

You might as well know the rest too.

And please do me the favor of not passing judgment

till you've heard it all.

There's an organization that I'm in

and that your father was part of.

It all goes on in what are now your stables.

I don't believe you.

It all starts off with one man getting the edge somehow

on two other men who don't know each other.

He says to one man,

"Obey my orders

or my other man will kill you."

He says that to the other man, too.

So both of them are in terror of the unknown.

Then on, it's like building a pyramid

from the top downwards getting bigger and bigger.

What's an organization like that for?

To kill, to make money.

An organization based on terror

can be used for anything.

My father was living under this threat too?

We all are, but the pay is good.

Oh, shut up!

I'm sorry. I'll be serious.

You know, it was fun when it started,

because of the money. But after a time,

you know, anyone who steps through that door

may be my Trojan Horse.

Because just like the wooden horse

that the Greeks let the Trojans drag into their city,

the person coming through that door may look all right,

but they may have been ordered to kill me.

Then you're not the head of this organization.

No, Ann, I'm one step down the pyramid

and I never know who my killer will be

if ever I step out of line.

Such as planning to run away from it all.

That would be stepping out of line, wouldn't it?

You? Of course.

The most innocent-looking Trojan Horse there could be.

Oh, no. I'm not part of your racket.

The only reason I've been seeing you

is because I knew you had some hold over Dad.

I wanted to protect him.

Well, now you've told me what I've been trying to find out.

Ann? It won't solve anything.

Give it to me.

Oh!

(grunts)

Now phone the police.

Hello. Kirby here.

Assignment in Paris completed.

Request permission to enter stables.

Right. Thanks.

Mrs. Gale?

Yes?

You may remember me? Major Pantling?

I wonder if you'd come out to the stables with me.

Which stables?

Meadows.

Something I want to discuss

with you and your friend Steed.

He's out there now.

Car's outside, engine ticking over.

There in no time.

All right.

Yeah?

Yeah?

Well, what do you mean, he's not there?

Police?

Right.

What do you hope to get out of it?

This organization can't go on forever.

Be quiet.

Would 1,000 quid interest you, in cash?

I make that in a month now.

How about an Earldom? I could fix that for you.

What's he talking about?

He's trying to bribe me.

Well, you won't get far with that, mate.

You can't bribe people when they know they got

a gun in their own back.

And what did Heuston say?

He said to do away with him.

Well, go on, shoot.

I've just given you an order!

Heuston's just confirmed this over the telephone, has he?

I'm telling you, shoot him!

Anyone around?

- Keep out of here! - What's going on here?

Kirby!

You said he was dead!

Ffordsham!

- (gunshot) - Aah!

All right, now.

Who else is due for my execution?

Just himself, I believe.

Stand against the wall! Come on, help him up.

(gunshot)

Hold it!

Fetch the gun!

Thank you very much, Your Lordship.

Where was Mr. Steed when he asked you to fetch me?

He must have been here somewhere.

He spoke to me on the house phone from the stables.

Must be in there.

Not very bright for someone.

Bad management.

Not meant for your eyes at all.

Strange day all around, what?

Sorry, Mrs. Gale.

In there.

All right, Major.

I'll relieve you of your shooting stick.

Looks as if we need some more carrots.

You'd better order five tons.

Yes, and what about some hay?

Well, you can see about that too.

How are the new stable hands coming on?

Oh, they'll be all right.

And by the way, Five Acres has got a cough again.

Oh, he's just putting it on.

But Brandy Snaps is fit at as a fiddle.

- Good. - Hello, hello.

Oh, you just off?

- I'm afraid we must. - Oh.

What's it like running the stables on your own?

As you can see, I'm not completely on my own.

Lucien is helping me out.

Yes. So we'd better get those orders off.

Where do you keep the books?

They're in the office. Come on, I'll show you.

You haven't met Sebastian, have you, Mrs. Gale?

No, I haven't.

Sebastian, this is Mrs. Gale.

There you are.

Hello, Sebastian.

And we're off to a good relationship.

Is he ever going to run in a race?

Very shortly, and under my colors.

The Sultan's made me a present of him.

Hasn't he, Sebastian?

That's very generous of him.

Yeah. He's a four-year-old, you know.

Four-year-old?

You must be joking.

Eh?

(neighs)

(theme music)