Original subtitles

(deep rhythmic music)

(soft eerie music)

(fast tense music)

- [Man] For many months,

this city has been in a grip of a terrible fear.

For many months, no woman dare to walk the streets alone.

But now the reign of terror is over

and the murderer, dubbed by the popular press,

the Carnation Killer, has at last been brought to book

and stands before this court.

Author Steven Page, you have heard the verdict of

the court, a just and humane verdict.

(horn beeping)

(loud squealing)

(soft tense music)

- Or I can get the money today in cash.

Well yes, cash, pound sterling.

Well, of course English pounds.

Do you know of any other kind?

There is nothing wrong with the money.

It's mine, quite legal.

Okay, so I've changed.

We still have a deal, don't we?

Look, will you stop going on about the money?

I tell you it's mine, quite legal, couldn't be more so.

I'm getting it from a solicitor.

An attorney.

- The cab's here.

- What time is it?

- It's 9:45.

- It shouldn't take more than 10 minutes

to get to the station.

- Less than that.

- Depends on the traffic though.

- Even depending on that, 10 minutes at the most.

- What time is it?

- It's still 9:45.

Oh, well, 9:45 and 40 seconds.

- I don't want to be late.

- I know.

- Funny going to meet someone you've never seen before.

- A blind date.

- Well, not quite.

- No, after all you know quite a bit about Mr. Graham.

- Listen sweetheart, I have to leave town for a day or two

and I thought, mmm, Graham.

Michael Graham, yes, that one.

(buzzing)

Well, I didn't want you trying to reach me

and I wasn't here, get the picture.

Yes, yes indeed.

And you too.

(smooching)

- If I miss Graham or miss the train--

- You won't, there's plenty of time.

- But Peter, I might. (mumbles)

- Here we are, and here's the receipt.

You must get his signature, remember.

- Yes.

- And the key to the house.

Do you have the train tickets?

- Yes, Mr. Babblestock.

- I got them yesterday.

- Excellent, strange way of doing business.

The man couldn't come here.

- He's busy, that's what he said, sir.

A flying visit.

- Yes, I suppose so, but I'm sorry to put you

through all this trouble, my dear.

- Actually, I'm looking forward to it.

- Oh?

- Well, a day away from the office.

- All right, Mr. Graham will be at the station.

- I know.

- Outside the--

- Outside the third phone booth,

the one nearest the magazine store.

- Right.

And by giving you all this responsibility--

- But after all, it is the safest way, sir.

Nobody knows ulie's carrying that much cash except us.

- And Mr. Graham, of course.

You'll recognize him, I hope.

- I should hope so.

- Well, you better be going then.

- Yes.

I'll see you later then.

It's such a corny idea, how could I fail to recognize him?

- Graham, 208, I want a cab right away.

Oh yes, and tell the florist to stand by the red carnation.

Yes, that's right, a single red carnation.

(deep tense music)

(phone ringing)

- What?

Right, right, get going.

Operations room.

- WHat's up?

- Page is on the loose.

Page, the carnation killer, he's got away.

- Money.

- Morning.

- Thank you, sir, thank you kindly.

Hey, hey you!

- Mr. Graham, I'm Julie Marsh from Mr. Babblestock's office.

I recognized you straight away,

but I must say, I think it's a corny idea.

Are you ready?

- Ready?

- Our train leaves in about two minutes.

- Train?

Yes, of course, whatever you say.

- We have to hurry.

(deep dark music)

- And for pity sake, be careful.

Remember he's dangerous, very dangerous.

- Dangerous?

- Killed nine times.

- Always women?

- You weren't there when he was picked up, were you?

- No, but--

- Well, I was, it took four of us to hold him down.

Page is a killer, man or woman, he's a killer.

- That's lucky.

Compartment to ourselves.

- Very lucky.

- Where do you like to sit, Mr. Graham,

facing front or back?

- Facing you.

- If that's what you want.

- Oh yes, definitely.

- Thank you.

- My pleasure, Ms. Marsh.

(knocking)

- [Mr. Babblestock] Come in.

- Sorry to disturb you, sir.

- Then don't be (mumbles).

- Well, I wouldn't, sir, but these do need your signature.

Just there.

If you remember, sir,

you did say I could have some time off today.

- Oh yeah, so I did, Peter.

(phone ringing)

Hello?

Oh yes, put him through.

Hello, George, how are you?

Good (mumbles).

And Emily?

Yeah.

What can I do for you?

Oh, mmm.

Well, give me...

Give me the details.

I see.

- The van crashed here.

We put units into this surrounding area here

within a few minutes, no sight of him.

So, he could be anywhere in this area.

- Suppose he took this route.

- All right, suppose he did, where's it leading?

- Right to the mainline station.

(mumbles)

That's my point.

- Corbin, is any authority alive

but no train leaves the station until it's been searched.

Paul, get over there.

- Yes, sir.

- And see that they're thoroughly searched.

- Dead on time.

Do you believe in coincidence, Ms. Marsh?

- What?

- You remind me of a girl I once knew.

She's gone now.

They all are.

- Thank you, sir.

- [Mr. Babblestock] Peter?

- Sir?

- Whoever she is, good luck.

- Thank you, sir.

- Well, I suppose I better start behaving

like the personal assistant to a London solicitor.

You're Michael Charles Graham?

- Michael Charles Graham.

- Well, Mr. Graham, your great uncle,

Edward Francis Graham, has died and

left you 40,422 pounds.

At your request, I now hand over to you in cash,

which no doubt you will count, check, and verify later.

And together with that cash sum,

he also bequeathed you his house,

Westerling in the county of Hampshire,

together with the contents there of.

I now hand you the key to the said property.

And I'm empowered by JP Babblestock,

attorney to the afore said, Edward Francis Graham,

to escort you to the property and remain

while you take inventory of all the goods and

chattel therein.

- You're going...

(laughing)

- You seem to be taking your great uncle's death very badly.

- Oh yes, poor great uncle Edward Francis.

This house, Westerling, in Hampshire?

- THat's right.

- Have you been to inspect the property before?

- No.

- But you know exactly where it is?

- Outside a village, about 15 miles from Winchester.

- Far from the village?

- Afraid so, your nearest neighbor is, well,

a long way away.

- Sounds like a lonely place.

- [Ms. Marsh] It is.

- But you're going to take me there?

- Of course, that's what you wanted, wasn't it?

- That's exactly what I wanted.

Money, a lonely place, you.

(eerie dark music)

- Hey, just a moment, I was here first.

- I'm sorry, sir, emergency.

- [Man] I'm at the station now, sir.

- And?

- [Man] We slapped a delay on all trains.

- How many left before you got there?

- [Man] About five in all, sir, I've got the details here.

- I'm sorry, I was miles away.

- So must I be, all that cash and

I forgot to get you to sign for it.

Here.

Now I'm covered for every eventuality legally.

The money is all yours, Mr. Graham, your responsibility.

- I'm surprised your boss entrusted you with it.

Oh, I don't mean to say you're not to be trusted,

but a girl like you.

- Fair game for anyone who wanted to rap me over the head,

grab the case and run.

Mr. Babblestock thought it was the best security.

After all, who'd suspect I was carrying over 40,000 in cash?

Anyway, it was your idea.

I must say, I was a bit puzzled when you wrote in

and assisted on ready cash.

- It's a business deal.

- That's what I said to Mr. Babblestock,

a deal that's only just legitimate, Mr. Graham.

Cash, a quick turnover, and no questions asked.

- Something like that.

- I thought that was what you must have in mind.

- Oh, I have lots of things in mind, Ms. Marsh.

- About time.

- I'm sorry, sir, it couldn't be held.

Just a moment, sir, outside.

- What do you think you're doing?

- I'm arresting you on suspicion.

- Of what?

- That you are Antony Steven Page.

- For pity sake, my name is Graham, Michael Graham.

I can prove it.

- I'm still taking you in, sir.

You can prove it when we get down to the station.

- Take your hands off me.

- They say you never see what's under your nose.

Come on.

- Let go of me, do you hear?

- It's fate, it has to be fate.

This house, Westerling, lonely, out of time.

The perfect hideaway.

There's no scent on earth like the carnation.

Try.

It's heavy, not too heavy, not too (mumbles), perfect.

And the color, it's so red.

So very red.

- I tell you this is utterly ridiculous!

- You can explain all to the superintendent.

He'll be through in a minute.

Ah, found him at the station, sir.

Page, sir.

It is, Page.

- You tell me.

- Do you know, I feel curious at ease with you.

Or maybe it's just trains, rattling along,

taking one far, far away to somewhere secret,

somewhere safe.

- Safe?

- From the madding crowd.

I bet you're very efficient at what you do.

- Well, I try to be.

- Never make mistakes?

- [Ms. Marsh] I try not to.

- Well, there's always a first time for everything.

- I'm sure you understand, Mr. Graham.

- I do not understand.

- We have an emergency, a panic.

- Do the police run around arresting everyone in sight, huh?

- As I explained, sir, this man Page is very dangerous.

- Do I look like him in the slightest way?

- Well, no sir--

- [Mr. Graham] Well then.

- You were wearing a red carnation, sir.

- Oh, so you're arresting everyone with a carnation now,

are you?

- Page has a liking, a reputation,

for wearing red carnations.

Naturally, a young officer with a little too much zen,

perhaps not quite enough sense.

I hope you'll accept our apology, sir.

- I have no alternative.

- You could bring a charge of false arrest.

- For Pete sakes, just let me get to a phone.

- Of course.

- Sir.

- Sir, Page has been sighted in 15 different places so far.

- Well, check them all out and keep looking.

- Babblestock, it's Graham, Michael Graham.

I'm not at the railroad station, I'm at the police station.

I can't explain it now, it's the darn carnation,

I wish I never thought of the idea.

- Mr. Graham, I'm confused.

The train left over 25 minutes ago.

Why aren't you on it with Ms. Marsh?

Marsh, the young lady I sent to meet you,

exactly as you requested.

- I was delayed at a business meeting,

I thought she would have enough sense to wait.

After all, there is another train.

Of course she wasn't there, but I was,

red carnation and all, outside the third phone booth.

There was no sight of her.

Of course she couldn't have missed me.

Too darn conspicuous.

Well, the police didn't miss me.

Oh no, I'll explain later.

- Well, I can only assume that when you didn't

turn up on time, she decided to make her way back here.

Would be the only sensible thing.

No, no, she isn't here yet.

But she should be any moment.

- I think the best thing I can do is

come over there too and wait for her with you.

Here, I (mumbles) I'll let you have this.

- I think Page may have jumped the boat to France.

(deep tense music)

(mumbles)

- (mumbles) the train was due to leave 10 minutes ago.

- Police are on the trains.

- The police, what for?

- Oh, didn't you know?

There's a killer on the loose.

(soft rhythmic music)

- How much longer is this going to take?

- Not long, sir.

- What does that mean?

- Not long, sir.

As soon as we finish searching the train.

- That could take a quarter of an hour or more.

We'll never make it up.

- It might take even longer if I stay chatting, sir.

- I see, well, I know my rights.

I want to protest to this delay.

I'm all ready late for a very important appointment.

- Well, if you must, you must.

(mumbles) must make a note of it.

Could I have your name, sir?

- My name?

- To put on the official complaint.

- Forget it.

Just get a move on, will you?

- Won't be long now, sir.

They haven't found a single murderer yet.

- Well, are you gonna phone them or shall I?

Look, your girls been gone nearly an hour.

If she were coming back, she'd be here by now, wouldn't she?

- Yes, but you don't know Julie.

She's, she's a good girl.

There must be some mistake.

An accident, perhaps.

- A good girl with a briefcase full of money!

- This is your fault, you know?

- Mine?

- Yes, yours.

If you conducted a business in a normal manner,

come here to collect it.

- Look, I'm a busy man.

All I wanted was the money, a quick look at the house,

see what was salable, and I'm off again.

Don't you realize, I have been on a plane

for Canada at 7:30?

Your girl's run off Babblestock,

taken off with 40,000 in cash.

Your girl Julie's having herself an easy ride, Babblestock.

An easy ride, on my money!

(eerie dark music)

- Count and verify, that's what you said, wasn't it?

- Yes.

- After all, it's mine now.

You dozed off.

Late night?

- [Ms. Marsh] No, just the train, I suppose.

- Or perhaps I bore you.

- [Ms. Marsh] No, of course not.

- It might be neither of those things.

Psychologically, sleep can be a suppressant,

a manifestation of inattention.

At the moment of supreme excitement,

the mind just switches off.

- Do you know much about psychology?

- I've had dealings with psychologists.

They're amusing fellows.

A suppressant to curb the anticipation of things to come.

Anticipation can be much better than the event, Ms. Marsh.

Much better.

- Nope.

It isn't pretty what he does to them, is it?

That's why we have to find him, and very quickly.

There's no pattern to them either.

Not once a year, a half year, or even once a month.

Page kills when he wants to.

Killed twice in one day.

(phone ringing)

- Yes?

- Yes, sir.

- What was that name again?

- Well, we've cornered off the immediate areas, sir.

- Yes.

- [Man] And there's a general alert.

- And the gentleman's name is?

- [Man] No, sir, I hope he hasn't got further.

- Graham, Michael Graham.

I see, can I have a description of Ms. Marsh?

Ms. Julie Marsh, yes, sir, I have that.

- But I still feel, well, I hope there's been

some dreadful mistake.

Look, has a Ms. Marsh been involved in any accident?

- Well, it may take a while to check, Mr. Babblestock.

In the meantime, we'll send someone over

to take a statement.

Yes sir, goodbye.

- What was that about?

- Oh, nothing to do with Page.

Suspected theft.

- That'll be nice.

To get this Page business off my back

and get back to simple theft.

Who was it?

- Oh, a solicitor, name of Babblestock.

- It's in the hands of the police now.

They'll be sending someone over to take a statement.

- Don't involve me.

- Well, Mr. Graham, as you keep pointing out,

it is your money.

How can I not involve you?

My surmise was right then.

This need for the money right away in cash, odd.

- What do you mean odd?

- Just odd, odd.

- Look, I'm a business man, I make a lot of deals,

a lot of deals, some of them require immediate cash.

- [Mr. Babblestock] They're all perfectly legal?

- Of course.

- All the same, you said you didn't want to be involved.

- The reason is I don't like too many questions,

the wrong kind of questions.

- Police are bound to want--

- Look, you're a solicitor, I'm a client, right!

Just steer them away from the wrong kind of questions,

that's all!

It will be worth your while.

- Money isn't always the paramount consideration,

Mr. Graham, not to us all.

- Phillips, job for you.

Go through this request.

(phone ringing) Hello.

And get the fax.

- Yes.

- Yes, madam.

- Uh, I won't--

- Just get the fax (mumbles).

Yes, but where do you think you saw him?

- Handle the press okay?

- Yes, sir, they got the full story.

- Picture, big pictures.

- Big pictures, sir.

- Helping are the best police we have one of them now.

If one of them spot him.

(whistling)

- Not too bad, sir.

Only half an hour then.

- Will we make it up?

- Mmm, ooh, some, not all of it.

Well, don't blame me.

Blame him.

- Oh, no.

- Mr. Babblestock.

- Yes, you two met before?

- This is the idiot who arrested me.

- Detective Constable Forbes, sir.

You called a little while ago?

- That's right, it's about my assistant, Julie,

Ms. Julie Marsh.

- Do you mind if I take some notes?

- There's been no one of that name involved

in any accident then?

- No, sir.

- I told you, Babblestock, she's run off with the money.

- How much money, sir?

- [Mr. Babblestock] More than 40,000 in cash.

- [Officer Forbes] In cash?

- [Mr. Babblestock] Yes, and unfortunately,

(mumbles) notes of low denomination.

- It's sort of unusual, isn't it, sir,

to carry that sort of money about?

May I ask why?

- No, I'm afraid you may not.

- It's all right--

- You should know better, officer,

than to ask someone in my position to betray

a client's confidence.

Suffice to say, the money, the whole transaction,

was perfectly legal.

- Ms. Marsh was carrying the money?

- To hand over to my client, yes.

- [Officer Forbes] Fine, well, I better have a description

of her so we'll put it out right away.

- Yes, of course.

Well, Julie is 27, tall, blonde.

- Now, you'll go out and arrest every tall blonde.

- What kind of girl is she, sir?

- She's worked for me for five years,

completely trustworthy.

A nice, gentle girl, (mumbles).

- The next stop's ours.

Oh, we're going to have company.

- Allow me.

- Thank you.

- My pleasure.

(eerie high pitched music)

(horn beeping)

Your coat.

- Thank you.

- Well, thank you very much indeed, sir.

We'll put this on the air right away.

We'll find her.

- Nevermind her, find the money.

- What do you suggest I do, sir?

Broadcast a description of 40,000 bank notes?

- You impotent--

- Mr. Graham, please!

This way, officer.

You'll be in touch?

- As soon as we hear something, sir.

You don't want to think she's taken the money, do you?

- I can't bring myself to believe it.

- Well, maybe she hasn't.

A lone girl with 40,000, she's a fair target for anyone.

- We're there.

Are you ready?

(eerie dark music)

- Wait a minute, I've left something behind.

(deep tense music)

Recognize me, didn't you?

- You don't need that now, I recognized you, remember?

- Oh, I always wear one.

(mumbles)

- The train will be moving soon,

I don't wanna be carried down another 15 miles.

(deep dark music)

(buzzing)

- Is something important?

- Oh, it doesn't matter now.

I'll go in the morning, I suppose.

- Well.

- (mumbles) Uncle Edward's face.

I never knew him.

- Well, he was a good man.

- He was a fool sitting on all that money,

putting it to no use.

If he built it up, he could've been rich.

I mean really rich.

- Are you rich, really rich?

- I will be.

I will be.

- It's very nice, I believe, quiet.

The kind of place where a man could take time,

reassess himself.

The house you've inherited, Westerling.

(deep tense music)

- After you.

- And here we are, Mr. Graham.

I'm afraid it's a bit dusty.

- No matter.

I don't mind walking.

- What?

Oh well, I promise you, I did arrange for a car to meet us.

I did it myself over a week ago.

- I told you, I didn't mind.

I enjoyed it, as a matter of fact.

To be out in the open with such charming company.

This is magnificent, splendid.

- Splendid.

- For my purposes.

It's so very, very quiet.

Nice room.

Ooh, you are on edge.

- On edge?

- As if you're expecting someone.

- What?

- To jump out on you at any moment.

Have you any idea where the kitchen might be?

- Down beyond the stairs, I should think.

- Well, there won't be any milk but

there might be coffee and sugar.

Will that do?

- Yes, yes, thank you.

(deep dark music)

- You are expecting someone.

- No, no, of course not.

- Sister Anne, Sister Anne, see is thou anyone coming.

The kettle's on, we'll hear it whistle.

Ah, there's plenty of (mumbles) too.

Enough for a month, certainly enough for dinner tonight.

- Dinner?

- You're supposed to help me make an inventory, aren't you?

This place is packed from top to bottom.

It will be a long job.

You may have to stay the night.

- Well, I can't do that!

Besides, aren't you supposed to be rushing on

somewhere from here?

- I changed my mind.

I'm a creature of sudden impulses.

Well, we'll talk about that later.

Do you want to show me the rest of the house?

- All right.

Where shall we start, in the kitchen?

- No, I've seen it.

Upstairs, the bedroom.

Best place to judge the character of whoever

occupied the house before.

- But you know who occupied the house before,

your great uncle.

Besides, we're supposed to be taking an inventory,

not judging characters.

- Well, indulge me.

I hardly knew the old boy, you know?

And in a bedroom, everything is laid bare.

After you.

- (speaking in French), Sergeant.

It's French for getting no where fast.

- Page will turn up.

- No, oh, I don't mean we won't find him, not ever.

It's how we'll find him.

When he kills again, that will lead us to him.

(mumbles) coppers standing here waiting,

hoping, yes, hoping for a corpse to turn up.

(screaming)

- It was ridiculous, quite ridiculous!

- I can't bare them.

- Such a tiny rodent.

- Rats (mumbles).

- One rat and a small one.

You'll agree it was a small one.

- I don't know, I didn't stop to see!

- It was a very tiny one, that's what's so peculiar.

You run from a creature probably more frightened of you,

a creature too small to present any threat to you.

And yet, you don't run from me.

- You, why should I?

- Well, I'm bigger than a rat.

It was nice upstairs.

I liked it.

Especially the bedroom, big and somber.

- And damp.

- Only needs to be slept in, Julie.

- Slept in with rats running over you?

- It'll be quite easy to dispose of them, to kill them.

Quite humanely, of course, I shall assist upon that.

I shall probably do it myself.

- It sounds as though you're intending to say on here then.

- I think I might, for a while.

After all, why not?

I have everything I need here.

Everything I want.

(whistling)

Coffee.

(screeching)

- It's as though he fell off here to the world.

- Don't understand it.

After all, Page is a loner, no friends, no contacts.

Anyone would be a fool who took Page under his roof.

- A dead fool.

It's a woman.

- Huh?

- If you don't know Page,

most of the time he's as calm and sane as you are.

Handsome too, a big hunk with a charm to match.

He's conned some woman that doesn't know yet.

- But tomorrow, she may be dead.

Well, how did you get on?

- I don't know whether to file it under larseny

or missing person.

- Well, who's missing?

- This girl that works for Babblestock,

and the damn fool trusted her with 40,000 pounds in cash.

Supposed to hand it over to the chap at Waterloo Station.

What an awful coincidence.

This chap, the one I pulled in today,

the chap with the carnation.

Well, that was how they were going to meet, you see.

- [Man] Who was going to meet?

- [Officer Forbes] The girl, the one with the money,

it's all in the report.

- Graham!

- Yes, sir, the chap who raised hell with me today.

I pulled him into the station.

- Give it to me again.

This girl carrying 40,000 was going to meet

Graham at Waterloo Station?

- Yes.

- The station we're covering for Page.

- Oh yes, sir, that's why I pulled Graham in by mistake.

He was there at Waterloo Station wearing this.

- That's how the girl would know him!

- Yes, sir.

- [Sergeant] Who's the lawyer?

- Babblestock.

- Call (mumbles).

- It gets dark early this time of year.

- [Ms. Marsh] Yes.

- No, don't draw them.

Close them.

- Don't you want to start taking that inventory now?

- Later.

When I finish my coffee.

(soft humming)

Much cozier.

Well, do sit down, Julie.

Take your coat off.

I do wish you'd relax.

I can be very good company if you relax.

Sit down.

You're very accurate about this place, it is very lonely.

When I stood and looked outside the window just now,

I couldn't see another place or a building.

Not another person within miles.

I think I may plant carnations.

All around the house, red carnations.

A sea of them.

Like the Red Sea.

The blood Red Sea.

- But I don't understand.

- Quite simple, Mr. Babblestock,

simple enough for us to overlook,

even though it was staring us in the face.

Ms. Marsh was going to meet Mr. Graham here,

wearing a red carnation.

Page likes to wear a red carnation.

- Coincidence like that, no, it's impossible.

- The stupid things in life are all possible, believe me.

What were the exact arrangements?

- Mr. Graham was to stand outside the third phone booth

wearing a carnation.

- Then it is possible.

Page escaped less than a mile from the station.

He might easily have made his way there.

- And your girl picked him up by mistake?

- No, it's true she never seen Mr. Graham before.

I was worried about it, none of us in the office had.

- So, the carnation could be the clincher.

She'd go up to a man wearing it and say, "Mr. Graham."

- And Page is smooth enough to say, yes.

- And she was to hand over 40,000 in notes?

- Yes.

- And the house.

- When Ms. Marsh left here with train tickets

and keys to a house Mr. Graham had inherited.

She was to take him there.

- Money, an escape route, a house to hide in.

- And a pretty girl to go along.

What else could Page ask for?

Where is this house, Mr. Babblestock?

- It's called Westerling.

That's the full address.

And I'll say in one respect, this is encouraging.

- Encouraging?

- Well, the idea of Julie being a thief's been killing me.

- Well, I wouldn't get too encouraged.

Page may be killing her.

- Get through to the Hampshire County Police, hurry!

- Do you know we know nothing about each other, you and I?

We've been together for some time now,

yet I know nothing about you.

I'd like to.

- I'm just a girl who works in an office.

- Incorrect, you are a pretty girl who works in an office

and now you're here with me.

Makes a difference.

- Why do you keep staring like that?

- I like to look at you.

I'm sorry I'm disturbing you.

I didn't mean to.

I spend too much time alone.

- Alone, but I thought you told Mr. Babblestock

you run nine companies, always on the move.

- Yes, that's why I'm alone, I suppose.

Too much time for business and

not enough for personal relationships.

But now we're talking about me and

I wanted to talk about you.

You're not married, no engagement ring.

But you must have boyfriends or a boyfriend.

- A boyfriend, yes.

We really ought to make a start on that inventory.

- All right.

- You do upstairs and I'll stay down here.

- We'll do it together.

- All right.

- After we've eaten.

- Eaten?

- Those are my terms, dine with me and

then we'll get right down to it.

- All right, agreed.

I'll go and see--

- No, no, the meal's my idea, my responsibility.

You stay here and relax.

I'll go and prepare it.

- Whatever you say.

- And then, we'll get to know each other better.

(light tapping)

- Perhaps you need a drink, Mr. Babblestock.

- No, no, no thanks.

Oh, but perhaps you would like one.

- That's very kind of you, sir, but I'm on duty.

My superior officer is standing nearby too and--

- Scotch if you have it.

- Soda?

- Please.

- Mr. Graham?

- Yes, I'll have one.

One glass of scotch.

(mumbles) the 40,000 pounds.

- Why don't you shut up?

Yes, you, Mr. Graham, there's a girl out there somewhere,

perhaps with a homicidal maniac,

perhaps fighting for her very life

and all you can think about is a case full of

(mumbles) money.

(mumbles)

I said shut up and I meant it!

Either keep quiet or leave this office.

I think perhaps I will.

- Your house, Mr. Babblestock.

(ringing)

- [Man] I have Sergeant (mumbles) here.

Hampshire police.

- Let me speak to him, make it loud and clear.

- [Man] Yes, sir.

- You might as well hear this too, she's your girl.

- [Hampshire Police] Superintendent?

- [Superintendent] Yes?

- [Hampshire Police] Sergeant Fowl, Hampshire Police, sir.

- Have you checked the house?

- [Sergeant Fowl] Westerling, you did say Westlerling, sir?

- Yes, what have you found?

- Well, I'm here now and I've been over the place

from top to bottom, grounds and all.

There's no one here, sir.

In fact, it looks as though there hasn't been

anybody here for months.

Superintendent?

- Yes, I'm here.

- [Sergeant Fowl] Any further instructions, sir?

- No, thank you, Sergeant.

(deep tense music)

- Tin beans or peas, any preference?

Right!

Anything happening out there?

Big parade passing by, circus?

- There's no one.

- Right.

- No one at all.

- Sorry it didn't lead anywhere.

- Superintendent, no one at the house means--

- There's no point in jumping to conclusions.

We all ready did that and where did it get us?

Probably she didn't meet Page after all.

- Then she did run off with the money.

- Perhaps not that either.

She may turn up with the money and a reasonable explanation.

Stranger things happen all the time.

The minute I hear anything, I'll let you know.

- There's no point in your staying any longer, Mr. Graham.

Your (mumbles).

- I suppose, sir, I still have to see the house.

- If there's any further, I'll let you know.

- Yes.

Place for a man to reassess, right, Westerling?

(eerie dark music)

- That's not relaxing.

I thought I told you to relax.

We agreed, didn't we?

I'll tell you what, why don't you hunt around in there

and see if you can come up with some wine for us.

- All right.

- You're not going back on your agreement, are you?

- No, no, of course not.

- Good, a deal's a deal.

Off you go then.

(deep tense music)

(screaming)

- Peter, for god's sake, what kept you?

- Where is he?

- In the kitchen.

You should've been here nearly an hour ago!

- I would've been, the train was delayed.

There's a mad man on the loose.

How long have we got?

What's he doing in there?

- Preparing a meal.

When I got here (mumbles).

I thought you'd gone back.

- Hey, it was my idea, remember.

- But you should've been here.

We worked it out together down to the last minute.

Me on the slow train, you on the express,

and a taxi to make up the difference.

You should've been here!

- I told you, the train was--

- It isn't going to work, I know it isn't going to work.

- It is going to work perfectly.

Now get ahold of yourself.

Julie, Julie, you've got to keep calm.

You must be brave.

- He's, he's much bigger than we imagined.

He's stronger.

- We're not dealing in brute strength.

- Did anybody see you on the train?

- There was a woman, but she won't remember us.

- And when you left the station?

- I pretended the car hadn't turned up

and persuaded him to walk, just as we'd planned.

- Have we got anybody on the way?

- No one.

- Perfect.

You got his signature on the receipt?

- Yes.

- Good.

- It isn't going to work.

- I keep telling you it is.

You trust me, don't you?

- Yes, but--

- Well, what could go wrong now?

- But it's all ready started to go wrong,

don't you see that?

The train was late, that was something we hadn't

thought of, wasn't it?

What's gonna go wrong next?

- All right, let's just look at this with a legal,

incisive mind, take it step by step

and if you can find one loophole, just one,

we'll call it off.

- Please, Peter!

- Now, now, step by step.

You met Michael Graham as arranged,

and he signed for it, as arranged,

you gave him his money, as remained, right?

- Yes.

- Then you took him on a train,

you brought him to this house, Westerling.

You let him into the house, you gave him his door key,

and you left him.

You never saw him again, never!

All right.

Go back to Mr. Babblestock, you hand him the receipt

signed by Graham and you're clear, we're both clear.

- There'll be an inquiry.

- Eventually, yes, there's bound to be.

And we'll tell exactly that story!

The police will check out the real Westerling

from top to bottom and find nothing.

It will become one of those unsolved puzzles.

Graham is a mysterious man.

Why else did he want all this money in cash anyway?

And the police will check and check,

and eventually come to a dead end

and you and I will have 40,000 pounds to play with,

my darling.

- But this house.

- This house was a possession of a man who died

without heirs (mumbles).

You know we've been trying to chase his relatives

for months.

Well, not anymore, Julie.

That's something I haven't told you.

You see, I put the file among the closed cases in the vault

and it may never come to light again.

- But if it does.

- If it does, I made a regrettable mistake

but not a criminal one.

- SO you see, Julie, legally this house doesn't

exist anymore.

It'll likely remain locked up, forgotten for years.

Until maybe vandals break in or the local authority

gets curious, and what will they find?

An unexplained skeleton.

The rats will have taken care of everything else.

- Rats?

- You probably scared them away.

- I saw one upstairs in the bedroom.

- Only one?

I told you, I checked this place thoroughly,

it's alive with rats.

Just a few bones, Julie.

There'll be nothing left to connect with Graham or us!

You just have to brave just a little longer,

just a little--

- Julie!

It's supposed to be lucky, try it?

All of it.

How is it?

- It's fine.

- Not too salty?

- No.

- A little sherry improves everything, don't you think?

I'll surprise you in a little while.

I really will surprise you.

And the feast will soon commence!

- But Peter, he looks so strong.

- I told you, we're not dealing in brute strength.

He'll be back in a minute with a meal,

you make sure you give him a drink with it

and just two of these.

Tasteless, painless, and quick.

- Humane.

Something he said.

- Julie.

Julie.

- I'll be outside, I'll give you 10 minutes.

(ringing)

- Hello, yes?

Where?

Right, keep me posted.

You might've been right about Page taking a train anyway.

Winchester, police there have just found a woman

dead on a train, strangled.

(deep tense music)

- Cuisine a la Graham.

- It looks marvelous.

(speaking in French)

- If mademoiselle would care to take a seat.

- It probably needs a good red wine to compliment it.

But all we seem to have is a bottle of white.

- That's better, you're much more relaxed.

It couldn't be that your coming to like me at last,

could it?

No, no, I'll do that, I'm much stronger.

One drives it in.

A moment.

- Glasses.

- It should breathe first.

Everything should be alive to breathe for a little while.

(knocking)

- [Mr. Babblestock] Come in.

- I'm just on my way down to Winchester.

- Yeah, what for?

- To look at a corpse.

Not a very pleasant task.

- It's not Julie, is it?

- No, Mr. Babblestock, a woman in her late 30's.

She's been positively identified and it isn't Ms. Marsh.

We're taking Ms. Marsh off the missing person's list, sir,

and putting her back under wanted.

- Surely there's some connection, this murder.

Winchester, you said, is the same general direction

as Westerling.

- Yes, and it is even possible that your Ms. Marsh

and Page traveled on the same train.

- Well then--

- But that's where the connection begins and ends, I think.

After all, sir, if Page had picked her up,

he wouldn't have missed a trick like that, would he?

Pretty girl, empty house.

No, I think Page and Ms. Marsh are two separate issues now.

- You're not gonna send your compliments to the chef then?

You've hardly touched the (mumbles).

- It's delicious, it's just that I'm not very hungry,

that's all.

- Got your minds set on other things, eh?

I don't blame you.

I've known it before.

I am very attractive to women.

I suppose that's why I hate them so much.

Well, love hate, always putting on a stare to snare

a man and then draw him back at the last moment.

It's frustrating.

But you're not like that, are you, Julie?

You mean it.

I sensed it right away.

- The wine must be ready by now.

- It's soft.

I knew it would be.

I imagined it to be soft.

I imagined lots of things.

Somehow a reality never measures up to the imagination,

to the woman!

It's the women who let you down!

Only way they could (mumbles).

Julie.

- The wine.

- It can wait.

Time for that later, Julie.

Later.

You're not going to disappoint me, are you?

(deep dark music)

- What happened?

Did he feel all groggy?

Go upstairs to lie down?

I told you those pills act fast.

We're clear now, Julie.

(mumbles)

Julie, come on.

Darling, I know what you had to do was a shock

but you'll get over it.

Come on, Julie.

(loud intense music)

- Pardon me, do you believe in coincidences?

You remind me of a girl I used to know.

- Hey, hey!

- Hello, Page.

- Hello.

- Been waiting for someone at the station, were you?

- Yes, a girl.

Any girl.

- You've been a bad boy, haven't you?

- Have I?

- I don't suppose you remember, do you?

- Remember what?

- No, that's what I thought.

Shall we go and talk now, somewhere quiet?

Though I don't suppose he'll ever be able to tell us

just what he did.

(deep dark music)

(slow eerie music)