Original subtitles

(bright electronic music)

(dramatic orchestral music)

(birds chirping)

(scraping)

(heavy breathing)

(rock music)

- I will never see it as decadent.

Western music, brash certainly, occasionally mindless.

But then it is not intended for the mind.

The heart, the emotion.

But certainly not decadent.

What are you looking at?

- Mister Gifford.

What's he doing?

- Doing?

Oh, he's digging a grave for you, my dear.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(light pop music)

(doorbell buzzing)

- Uh, Babs.

Hold on a minute, will ya?

Babs!

- Yes, what's the matter?

- The door, do you mind?

- Oh, okay.

- Look, why don't we make it Wednesday?

I'm through around 4:30, I could meet you.

Well, anywhere you say.

Okay, Shirley, fine.

- Hello beautiful.

- Oh, go away. - Well, listen,

why don't you call me when you're sure?

Tomorrow sometime.

Yes, I'll be here.

Ciao.

Hello darling, I didn't expect you till later.

- It wasn't you I came to see.

- Oh. - Babs?

- [Babs] What's the matter now?

What do you want?

- Aren't you looking for a job?

- Well yes, me and Wendy.

- Listen to this.

Do you have a sense of adventure?

Intelligent young woman required

for fascinating varied work.

Important, no ties.

Able to travel and work away from home.

Look it's there.

- Exceptional opportunity for right girl.

Good salary, prospects, phone for interview.

- That sounds terrific Babs.

- What do you think?

Hello Wendy.

- Hi.

- Go on, give 'em a ring.

- But I don't understand it.

I went right through the paper today.

I didn't see this.

Hang on.

There's a piece missing.

Wendy?

- Something really good.

The post is no longer vacant.

- What do you mean?

- I had an interview an hour ago.

- You got the job?

- I did, I start tomorrow.

(sinister jazz music)

(horn honking)

- That's him, he said he'd pick me up.

Helen, it's been fun sharing with you.

Give my love to Chuck.

- I will, you take care.

- No hard feelings?

- Of course not.

Good luck Wendy.

Hey, have you got everything?

- Yes, yes.

I'll write just as soon as I get settled

and find out what this job is all about, I'll write.

- Look after yourself now.

- All right, goodbye.

- Well, that's the last we'll see of her.

- What do you mean?

- You've never shared a flat before, have you?

You live out of each other's pockets for a few months,

then comes along a new job,

or a new boyfriend, and you never see them again.

Ships that pass in the night.

Yep, that's the last time we'll ever

see or hear of her again.

(ominous orchestral music)

- Mister Townsend will be here in a moment.

Why not take a seat?

- Good morning.

- [Woman] Oh hello, do sit down, won't you?

- Thank you.

I'm here to work for Mister Townsend,

his personal assistant.

- Yes, I know.

- Do you know him?

What's he like?

- Very pleasant, he's been very nice to work for.

- Goodness, I'm not taking your job am I?

- Oh no, I'm taking yours.

- What?

- Well, not so much your job really, as your place.

(gun firing)

(teapot whistling)

(upbeat jazz music)

- How are you this morning?

- [Babs] Okay, I guess.

There's a couple of letters for you.

Nothing from Wendy, though.

- Who?

- Wendy, oh come on, Wendy Phillips.

- Well it has been six weeks now.

- Seven.

- Well, seven then.

She won't write now.

- I thought she might,

especially if the job was going well,

to crow over us.

She was that kind of girl, wasn't she?

The way she got the job in the first place,

hiding it from me.

- Well, maybe the job didn't turn out as she'd hoped.

- Or she didn't last.

She got the sack, look.

Do you have a sense of adventure?

It's the same ad again.

- It certainly sounds like it.

- Oh it is, I know it is.

Precious Wendy Phillips didn't last the course,

so the job's wide open again.

Hey what time is it?

- Nearly nine.

- Do you think there's anyone there yet?

I could try anyway.

(phone ringing)

- Yes?

Yes, we did.

What about this morning?

Shall we say 10:30?

Yes, yes, come to Arundel Contacts.

That's right, 157 Marx Street, we're on the fourth floor.

Yes, look forward to meeting you, Miss Bryant.

- Thank you, goodbye.

10:30, I'm to be there at 10:30.

Oh my goodness, I'm going to have to move.

Oh cripes, Helen my best coat's in at the cleaners.

- Don't worry, you can borrow mine.

- Oh thanks.

- All right, here's the coat.

- Thanks.

- Listen, you'd better borrow the scarf, too.

You've gotta make a really good impression.

- Oh thanks Helen, I love you.

- Oh, that's Charley.

- Oh, okay.

- I brought the itinerary.

- Helen help, I'm stuck.

- Just a minute, I'll give you a hand.

- And the hotel reservations.

- The cup's on the hair spray, or my lipstick.

- All right, we'll find it.

- I'm sure my tights have got a run in them.

Hi Charley.

- Hi.

- Well, where are they?

- In the bathroom I think.

- Well, I'll check.

- Well, what's going on?

- Babs, she's got an interview for a job.

(knocking on door)

- Miss Bryant?

- Yes.

- You're punctual, I like that.

Please come in.

May I?

- Oh, of course.

- Do sit down.

You may smoke, if you wish.

- No, thank you.

I mean I don't.

- Barbara Bryant?

I should say perhaps 25 years old?

- Yes.

- British?

- That's right.

- Well Miss Bryant, so you wish to work for us?

- Well I need a job, yes.

- It's a very good job we're offering.

The personal assistant to Mister Townsend.

It does not require secretarial talents,

so much as intelligence,

initiative, and it is very highly paid.

But, and I deliberately stress this important but first,

it does require your absolute freedom to travel,

to move around, perhaps to turn your back

on friends and family for a long while.

- Well I'm not engaged, or anything like that,

if that's what you mean.

- Surely, such an attractive girl as you,

there must be a boyfriend.

- No one even half serious.

- Oh, and family?

- My father's dead.

- Oh I'm so sorry.

- But your mother is alive, yes?

- Yes, but she lives in Rhodesia.

- And brothers, sisters?

- One brother, but I don't know exactly where he is.

South America, last time I heard.

He's a journalist.

- I see.

So you have no ties at all.

No one to pine for you, if we should take you away

for a long while.

- Not really.

- Well Miss Bryant,

tell me all about yourself,

every little detail.

- Where shall I begin?

- The first place I want to take you to, is here,

Simmons Yacht.

Oh, it's fantastic,

it just nestles in the Forest of Dean,

and down below is the Wine River.

The salmon just come leaping out at you to take the hook.

In fact, we could hire a couple of rods.

I know a place below the Rapium.

- Charley,

you know this is as much my vacation as it is yours.

- Okay, so we fish for one day.

Just one.

The other 13 are all yours.

There's a great pub across the river,

now Saturday nights are fantastic.

Now we could stay there.

- Charley, you're doing it again.

- Well it's just that it's my country Helen,

I want to show you all the places

I think of as being mine.

- Yes I know, Charley, all the pubs.

- I got it, I got it!

- Is it catching?

Shall we have injections?

- The job, dopey.

It's mine, I start tomorrow.

- Barbara Bryant.

Babs.

Yes, best of the bunch.

No close ties.

Family abroad.

Only possible choice.

- It was terrible of me rushing off like this.

You'll have to find another girl to share now,

but I have paid until the end of the month.

- Oh please, don't worry.

- It sounds such an exciting job.

Travel abroad, meeting lots of people.

Oh Helen, your scarf.

I've lost your scarf.

- She forgot that.

- She won't be needing it anymore.

(phone ringing)

Sorry, job's been taken.

- Well it was ringing.

Now it's dead.

- Why don't you call again later?

I mean it's really not that important.

- But it is important.

It's your scarf and I lost it.

It was silk, too.

Hey, I could run over there and pick it up.

- Babs, you're leaving tomorrow,

you're not even half-packed yet.

I'll go over there later.

- Are you sure?

- Absolutely.

Now come on, let's get your things together.

You didn't tell me if you're going by train or what.

- No no, they're picking me up here, tomorrow, by car.

(ominous jazz music)

(horn honking)

- Here!

- City life, I'll try anything.

- Well then don't keep him waiting.

- I'm ready, I think.

Oh Helen, there's so many things.

- You can write me, later.

- I do feel bad about the scarf.

Oh my goodness, I haven't left you the address,

for you to go over there and pick it up.

I do hope it's still there.

157 Marx Street,

Arundel Contacts.

- Come on Babs.

- It's on the fourth floor.

- Okay.

- Now go over there today.

- I'll try.

- And if it's not there, be sure to let me know.

I'll buy you a new one out of my first month's wages.

(horn honking)

- I'm gonna miss you, Babs.

- Oh Helen, thanks for everything.

Give my love to Charley.

I'll be back to see you, as soon as I get a day off.

- Unless you're in Timbuktu or some place.

Do write, now do you hear?

Don't be a ship in the night.

- I won't, I promise.

Bye.

- Goodbye, good luck.

(dramatic orchestral music)

(door buzzing)

Charley, I'm so glad to see you.

- I'm glad to see you.

Nothing so sad as an empty nest.

- I'll soon fill it again.

Put an ad in tomorrow.

Want a cup of coffee?

- Yes yes, fine thank you.

Three can live as cheaply as one.

- Well that's a theory, split the rent.

- How's it work with two?

You can't live quite as cheaply as three perhaps but,

it could be more fun.

Helen,

how would you feel about becoming a British citizen?

- Charley,

that's the worst, most unromantic,

that's the most wonderful proposal I've every heard.

- Well it had to come,

and my swifter nature brought it about.

Now look, we're off on holiday tomorrow.

Now separate rooms are expensive,

so why not make the holiday a honeymoon?

- Why not?

Because it's ridiculous.

Charley I'm still studying.

- Helen, people do it all the time.

Now look, we want each other, so why wait?

Why not now?

- Because Charley--

- Because I hardly earn anything.

So we'll starve,

but together.

- Oh Charley, it's crazy, it's lovely but,

it's crazy, I mean,

I couldn't possibly arrange it all in time.

- I do have a special license.

- How long does it take to get one of those?

- About a week, it was a spur of the moment decision.

- But tomorrow, I mean there's so many things to do.

- Helen, there's just one thing to do,

just say yes.

- Yes.

But now listen Charley,

it's got to be at least half-right.

- It will be, will be.

- We could get um,

we could get Bob and Shirley as witnesses.

- Already arranged, and they are standing by.

- But I need a trousseau, something old.

- Something old, well that's me.

Why, I'm older than you.

And something new, you can go right out now and buy.

- Something borrowed?

- My watch.

But I want it back immediately after the ceremony,

you understand?

- Something blue?

- That's easy.

That scarf I gave you is bright blue.

- The scarf.

- You haven't lost it have you?

- Of course I haven't lost it.

Now, I'd better get moving, and so should you.

I mean, I want a groomed groom tomorrow.

- A groomed groom you shall have.

- Oh, I wish Babs was here.

- Oh Babs, quote.

Is that a ship who passed in the night?

Unquote.

- No Charley, Babs is different, she'll write.

- [Man] Help you Miss?

- Yes, do you know what time they get back?

Arundel Contacts?

Obviously, they're out to lunch.

- The office is empty, Miss.

Arundel Contacts, they rented this place,

oh let me see,

yes, I remember now, it was about this time last year.

Like I said, the place is all empty now, Miss.

There hasn't been anyone here for almost a year.

- That's ridiculous.

I friend of mine came here, yesterday.

- All right, you'll see for yourself, Miss.

Here we are.

You must have the wrong address, Miss.

No one been here in months.

(dissonant music)

- She's here.

- Yes, I know.

And you know what to do, don't you?

Not all at once, take your time.

It's better that way.

Less panicky.

And you seem panicky.

- I'm okay.

- Want me to do it for you?

- No.

Anyway, I have to do it.

- That's right.

As soon as you're bloodied,

you'll be part of the family, won't you?

Do it nicely.

- In here please.

Mister Townsend will be along directly.

Why not take a seat?

- Thank you.

Good morning.

- Morning.

- I hope he's not an ogre, Mister Townsend.

I haven't me him yet, have you?

This is some office, isn't it?

Well I expect this is where I'll be working.

I hope so, it's very nice.

Oh that's why I'm here, to work for Mister Townsend.

Exactly what sort of work, I have no idea.

I'm sorry, I'm talking too much.

Nervous I suppose.

Oh by the way, my name is Barbara.

- Yes, I know.

- Are you waiting for Mister Townsend, too?

- Not exactly.

Actually my name is Barbara, too.

- That's a coincidence.

- Yes, most people call me Babs.

- Me too.

- Yes, Babs.

Babs Bryant.

- That's fantastic.

I mean that's my name.

Bryant, Babs Bryant.

- I was born in York.

- York?

- My father's dead.

My mother lives in Rhodesia.

I've got one brother, Timothy.

- Timothy?

- He's a journalist.

I don't see very much of him.

I shared a flat with a couple of girls.

I suppose you'd call me a drifter.

I've got few friends.

- There, wasn't so bad was it?

Welcome to the family.

Do you feel like a drink, now?

- No, I don't need a drink.

- That's even better.

Even I sometimes feel a tension afterwards.

Even I sometimes need a drink.

Sometimes.

- Gifford,

speed it up.

- Speed it up.

He always needs a drink.

But you, now you're different.

One of the best they've sent us so far.

Yes, I should enjoy working with you.

Oh here, take this.

It was Babs' after all.

This has been a momentous day for you, hasn't it?

You'll need something to remember it by.

That is of course, unless you don't care to remember it.

- Come on, Helen.

It's bad luck to be late for your wedding.

You look beautiful.

- You've got to make

an honest woman out of me first, Charley.

- Then let's hurry.

- All right, well I've got something for you.

You know, she didn't call.

- Who?

- Babs.

- She said she'd write, didn't she?

- Charley it was so strange going to that place yesterday.

- Now look, we've been through all that.

Now, it had to be the wrong address.

- Yes, I guess so.

Another 20 seconds I go right out through that door

and ask the first female I see to marry me.

- And five seconds later, I'll murder her in cold blood.

- No you can't take that attitude with me.

Remember, mother's scarf.

- It was mislaid, or I thought it was.

- Okay.

I'll overlook it this time.

Let's go.

Helen!

- Yes.

- What have you got in here?

- Books.

- Books?

- Well I wondered--

- You know that too much reading can ruin your eyesight.

- All right.

- Yes

- We may have to find a house with bigger grounds.

- Don't joke, I hate it when you joke about such things.

They are human beings.

- On the wrong side.

You haven't forgotten that, have you Carter?

You can't have forgotten,

it's a lesson we learned very well.

The end justifies the means.

(belching)

- You're a pig, Gifford, just a pig.

- A very efficient pig, a very necessary pig.

You couldn't do it, could you?

- If I had to.

- Ah, but you don't have to,

not while the pig is here.

Funny they both came from the same address.

- What?

- This one and the other,

when was it?

Only two months ago.

Wendy Phillips, that's right, Wendy Phillips.

Funny they both came from the same address.

- You didn't tell me that.

- I didn't know myself until I saw this girl's papers.

I picked up the Phillips girl, you see,

and you picked up with one.

Does it matter?

- I don't know.

I don't suppose so.

- It's an error,

something overlooked.

He won't like that.

- Who will ever miss them?

- Now don't move.

Stay exactly where you are.

- Oh Charley!

- Home again, Missus Masters.

- Oh, what a mess.

I've forgotten what a mess it was.

- No way you and me together can be a mess.

- Now if you really believe that Charley,

you'll help me clean it up.

- It's terrible.

10 seconds home, and I'm being hen-pecked already.

You know, my mother warned me about dominant women like you.

Now I'll make the coffee,

and then the bed.

- Charley Masters, you've got a one-track mind.

- Missus Masters you do nothing but encourage it.

Hey, aren't you supposed to be giving me a hand?

- I'm just looking to see if there's a letter from Babs.

- [Charley] Is there?

- Well no.

- [Charley] There you are.

Out of sight, out of mind.

- Well she did promise to write.

- Promises promises.

Anyway, it's only been a couple of weeks.

A couple of beautiful weeks.

- But she did promise.

- And she will.

- You move like a cat, Gifford.

No sound at all.

- It's been useful a few times.

It's time we went to work again.

- What?

- He just called.

- You know I wish they didn't always have to be so young.

- Ah, getting sentimental?

- No, just older I suppose.

Tell him the ad will go in this week.

- Good morning.

I thought we might have dinner out tonight.

We could meet in town about 6:30,

and have a go to the Greek place.

Right Charley, fine Charley.

What a good idea, Charley.

Helen?

Now look, I know we've been married four whole months.

- Look at this.

It's the same ad isn't it?

Have you a sense of adventure?

The same ad that Babs answered, and Wendy.

Well it is the same.

- So it's the same.

They got rid of her too.

- Got rid of her?

- Fired her, dispensed with her services.

- [Helen] Well, we never did hear from her, did we?

- Now what about dinner?

Tonight, the Greek place.

- Yes, that'll be fine.

I mean I'll be in town anyway.

- Oh?

- I've been meaning to do it for ages,

go to the embassy and let them know

I have dual nationality.

- Will it matter?

- I don't know,

but my passport has to be changed from single to married.

I wouldn't want to suddenly find out

I couldn't get back into my own country

because of technicalities.

- I see.

So you're thinking of leaving me already?

- Can I help you, Miss?

- Yes, passport control.

- It's that way, Miss.

- Thank you.

Good morning.

- Hi.

- I'm Helen Tarrick,

or at least I was, I'm Missus Masters now,

I've brought my passport.

- So you got married, huh?

I'm not surprised,

if I was about 10 minutes younger,

I would have snapped you up myself.

- I married an Englishman.

- Oh dear, we may have to have you appear

before the Un-American Activities Committee.

You're right, it has to be changed.

Not my department though, just a stranger passing through.

Babs, Miss Bryant will attend to you.

Babs?

Customer for you.

- Oh yes, can I help you?

- Miss Bryant?

- Yes?

- Babs Bryant?

- That's right.

- You're not American, are you?

- No, I'm English.

I'm from York, actually.

Well we have quite a few

English people working here, you know.

Now, what's the problem, Miss?

- Masters, Missus Masters.

- Oh I see, change of status, single to married.

Well, we need a few details,

and a marriage certificate,

but it shouldn't take long.

- I'm sorry Charley, really.

- So you ought to be,

just a bit sorry.

Do you want a drink?

- No.

- You've done nothing all night,

but prattle on about this girl at the embassy.

- I know, but--

- It was a coincidence.

- Coincidence?

Babs Bryant, about 25, brunette from York?

- It was a coincidence.

It has to be.

There's no other possible explanation.

- It just hit me, hearing that name.

And not having heard from Babs.

- Now drop it, Helen.

(sinister orchestral music)

- No!

- But I saw her, with the same man that picked up Babs.

The real Babs.

- What do you mean, the real Babs?

Helen, you are losing your marbles.

- No I'm not.

There's something funny going on.

- Yes, up there.

Anyway, I told you to drop it.

- I do what I want, Charley.

- Here we go, now I suppose it's a women's lib bit.

- Don't mock me Charley, this is serious.

- Very serious.

This is the second row we've had in two days,

and all because of this stupid Babs business.

- It isn't stupid.

- No I take that back.

It's insane.

- If you would only listen, examine the facts.

- I'm going to bed.

- If I could only

convince you. - I said,

I'm going to bed.

- Here we are, Miss.

- Thank you.

- Looking for anything particular, Miss?

I've got a good memory, and I might save you some time.

- The want ads.

Jobs available,

over the past year.

- I hate to state the obvious Miss,

but over the past year all those jobs

would be taken by now.

- Yes.

And this one with uncanny frequency.

I didn't bother going back any further.

I thought one year would be enough.

- Oh, thank you.

Enough for what?

- To convince you.

- You're not eating.

- No.

The same ad, every time.

Have you a sense of adventure?

- Yes?

But each time a different telephone number to ring.

- Doesn't that make it more suspicious?

- Suspicious, in what way?

- I don't know,

but the way it's worded.

Important, no ties,

now what kind of a girl's gonna answer that?

- An ambitious one.

- No Charley, a lonely one.

What do you think?

- I think,

just a touch too much garlic.

(doorbell ringing)

- Yes?

- Hello, you must be Helen.

Yeah, slim, attractive,

very attractive.

Yes, the girl who has everything.

- Including a husband.

- Oh really?

Now that's a new development.

She didn't mention that.

- Who exactly are we talking about?

- Babs.

Barbara Bryant.

I'm her brother, Tim.

- Come in, won't you?

- Thanks.

Well, where is she?

- You don't know?

- No, I just flew in this morning.

A surprise visit.

Last I heard she was staying here.

- Well she hasn't been here for at least four months.

- Oh, oh well I move around a lot.

Mail chases me for weeks sometimes.

Where is she now?

- Well, we don't know.

(man's voice on TV)

- I've found an office for next week's interviews,

and the keys for the end of the corridor.

We should be able to move in fairly easily.

- Fine.

- You're becoming Anglicized.

- It's educational, the work of a fine writer.

His works are translated, for us.

- Bourgeoisie rubbish.

- You are here to obey orders.

- And observe, and report.

- I run the system, and the system functions perfectly.

- What do you think?

- I told you what I think.

It's crazy.

- Oh come on, I've been mixed up in stories,

that make this seem like common sense.

- That's what I thought.

There's something wrong, terribly wrong.

- Look, you followed this other girl home?

- Yes, and I saw her meet the same man.

- Where is this house?

- Saint Andrews Street.

- What number?

- I don't remember, but the house has a yellow door,

you can't miss it.

(dramatic orchestral music)

- She struck lucky, our embassy contact.

There was a fire drill.

The Undersecretary's office was empty for only 30 seconds,

but that was enough for her.

- Good girl.

- Of course, it may not mean much.

- Everything means something.

Isn't that what we were taught?

What the ambassador has for his lunch,

where the security guard buys his groceries,

or fragments of information to be stored

and used sometime.

- Of course, I know that.

But this may be better than usual.

Look here Gifford, here are appointments, memoranda,

and look, here's a note about--

- There's someone there.

- I didn't see.

- There's someone there.

- I thought so.

- Who are you?

What do you want?

- The point is, who are you?

I got a glimpse of you in town, but now, yeah.

I know that face.

- You know me?

- Shall I tell you where I last saw you?

Istanbul.

And before that, in the newsreel

of the big parade in Peking.

Oh it's my job, faces, knowing about them,

knowing where they are in the world.

I don't know what your name is now,

but before you used to be known--

- No!

- He knows.

His car will be near.

It's obvious he followed you from London.

We have to move fast.

- You're a fool,

a crazy, homicidal fool.

- He knew.

- And we don't.

We don't know why he came here, why he followed me.

If we'd questioned him.

- Bryant, Timothy Bryant.

We know what he was doing here.

We know who he was looking for.

- We can't bury him, like the others.

He may be missed.

- Who's going to bury him?

He drowned, didn't he?

Drowned in a fish pond.

- Timothy Bryant.

- Found drowned.

Now, I haven't made that up, have I Charley?

I haven't imagined that.

He was here, yesterday.

He was going to look for Babs, and now he's dead.

- It says they found an empty bottle in his car,

and suspected that he got drunk.

- Charley.

- I'll call the police.

- It's in the papers.

- I know.

It looks as though they accept it as an accident.

- Not that, I don't mean that.

I've forgotten about that.

I mean our ad.

Do you have a sense of adventure?

- Well, thank you very much Missus Masters.

It's a very interesting story.

- Story?

- Well naturally, as soon as you'd called

I had checked with my colleagues

investigating the Timothy Bryant case,

and they seem to be quite satisfied

that his death was accidental.

- Seen in isolation, yes.

But with this other business, Wendy, Babs,

the girl that's calling herself Babs Bryant.

- We're checking on her, too,

but so far everything seems to be quite normal.

- She is not Babs Bryant.

- Oh but she is, officially, bureaucratically.

It could be coincidence you know,

Bryant isn't such an unusual name.

- That's exactly what I said, Helen.

- Coincidence?

Babs Bryant, from York?

- It's perfectly possible.

York's a very big city,

there are 53 Bryants in the telephone directory.

Babs, Barbara?

Why haven't you noticed that certain names

have a habit of coming into fashion at the same time.

Queen gets crowned and suddenly

there are a million Elizabeths,

or a television series catches the fancy

of the name Emma and is attached to a thousand babies.

- Well, you haven't believed a word I've said.

- I believe you, I believe you think it's the truth.

It's just that I have to be more detached.

- So what are you going to do about it?

- Do?

Well, we will continue to pursue our inquiries,

and if anything comes of it, we'll let you know.

- Thank you very much.

- Don't worry, I'll see myself out.

- If anything comes of it,

pursue our inquiries.

- Now look,

you've done everything you can.

You've told the police.

Now you can forget the whole thing.

- Forget it?

- Yes.

- Wendy, Babs?

How can I forget that?

- You've no alternative.

There really is nothing else you can do.

- All right?

- Yes, I've plugged us into an old connection.

Given us a brand new number.

Clever little pig, aren't I?

Yes, that's working all right.

Well, that's my job over for the moment.

Till that starts ringing, that is.

(phone ringing)

- Good morning.

My name is Helen Masters,

and I'm replying to your ad in today's paper.

Yes.

A sense of adventure.

Come along this morning?

Yes, I think that's possible.

- A sense of adventure.

We framed the ad in that way,

to make it quite sure we found

the right kind of applicant, Miss Masters.

- Uh, Missus.

- Missus?

Oh in that case, I'm afraid we cannot possibly

consider you for this job.

- Oh well I'm a widow.

- Oh I'm so sorry.

Well then, in that case,

you are an American.

- Yes, with British citizenship.

- Oh, that could be useful.

- Oh?

- Yes, the job involves a great deal of traveling,

and dual nationality can be an advantage.

- Well you talk as though I've already got the job.

- Well, as a matter of fact, I rather think you have.

- That's wonderful, when do I start?

- Why not today?

- Today?

- You said, did you not, that you have no ties, whatsoever?

You are a completely free agent.

- Yes.

- You also intimated that you could use the money.

Well, why not come on the payroll

immediately, as from now.

It will be especially convenient

as I intend driving down to the country

to see Mister Townsend today,

and I could take you along with me.

What do you say?

- Well.

- Perhaps, you do have ties?

Things you have not told me about?

- Oh no, no no, I'm as free as a bird, and

well why not today?

Where should I meet you?

- Meet me?

- Well, I have to go back to my flat,

and pick up my things.

- I would be delighted to drop you off on the way.

So that's settled then, eh?

I'll just confirm that you're arriving today.

Gifford, would you tell Mister Townsend please,

that I've found a most suitable assistant for him?

Yes, a Missus Masters.

She has a British passport,

and an American accent.

- That was quick.

What does she look like?

- Oh, she's perhaps five foot six,

rather slender,

auburn-haired, most attractive.

Hmmm?

Oh.

Yes.

Brown.

Yes, I'll leave you to make

the necessary arrangements, shall I?

Fine.

Have no fear, Mister Townsend is most circumspect,

and certainly no lecher,

but he does require his assistant to be personable.

Well, shall we?

After you, Missus Masters.

Do you live here?

- Yes.

I won't be but a minute.

(phone ringing)

- Inspector Bruff?

Where can I reach him?

The embassy.

No, no, no message.

- [Carter] Missus Masters?

Oh, I thought perhaps I might give you a hand.

- No, I'm all through.

- Well then, shall we?

Have you forgotten something?

- Oh, no no.

- Shall we go?

- Babs Bryant?

No, she's on leave at the moment.

- How long for?

- Oh that's restricted information.

We don't give that sort of thing out on our people.

- All right, you should have said that before.

She'll be gone a couple of days, I guess.

Should have said before,

we're both on the same side of the fence.

- Not quite.

Your side is where the information is.

Like where she lives, Babs Bryant, her address.

- I'm not sure.

- But I bet you could find out?

- Yeah.

Yeah okay, hold on.

- Thank you very much.

Obviously chosen for his physique.

- Don't knock them too hard, our American friends,

in my experience, they tend to know what they're up to.

- Definitely.

They got rid of us, didn't they?

The War of Independence.

- Oh that.

- You'd think if it hadn't been for that,

they'd all be going about in blue, and funny helmets,

going up against killers with guns, unarmed.

- What's the trouble, gentlemen?

Can I help you?

- About five foot six, slender,

hair, auburn,

eyes, brown.

Yes, you'll do.

We don't normally work this fast,

but I suppose Carter knows what he's doing.

Mind you, if this time he's right,

the sooner we get them,

the less chance there is of them talking,

leaving a trail for someone else to follow.

Yes, you'll do.

- Helen?

You ready?

You know we're supposed to be seeing Tom and Sue.

(ominous orchestral music)

- Don't worry, the first time's always the worst.

Not loaded yet.

A gun should be an extension of the body,

a part, you mustn't be afraid of it.

You never know, it might be

the best friend you'll ever have.

(upbeat jazz music)

- Mister Masters?

Mister Masters.

- I'll load it for you.

A full chamber,

though one should be sufficient.

What marks did you get on the range?

- An A plus.

- Then one will certainly be sufficient.

Now, put it away.

Forget about it, until the time comes.

And let us talk of brighter things.

Would you care for a drink?

- Yes, please.

- Let us talk of home.

Almost five years since I was there.

- Nothing changes.

- But it does,

not tangibly, nothing you could put your finger on,

but every day we grow stronger.

I like to think that I,

our organization here, helps that growth.

I don't suppose you've heard anything along those lines?

- Only that they were satisfied.

- Satisfied?

Satisfied.

Yes, that's good enough for me.

I like to give satisfaction.

She'll sit in this chair, I expect.

Nerves, nothing to be afraid of.

Nerves are good.

Without nerves there is no edge,

no fine-honed edge.

Your hand shakes now,

but it won't when you need it to be still and steady.

It won't I promise you.

(dramatic orchestral music)

Care for another?

Simple idea isn't it?

Take a lonely girl,

disappear her,

substitute for one of our own agents.

- [Carter] This way please, Missus Masters.

- They're here.

You're calm, you know what to do?

Make it nice.

- Here we are.

Ah, Missus Masters isn't it?

How do you do, my name is Gifford.

I work for Mister Townsend, too.

I'm sure you'll be very happy with us.

- You can drop that.

- Hmm?

- There's something funny about this one.

Two girls from the same address,

that I can accept as a coincidence.

But three?

Don't worry, we weren't followed.

I made quite sure.

And she hasn't been out of my sight long enough

to make a contact.

- Contact?

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

- Oh, you know.

You know something, I'm not quite sure what.

But now you are going to tell us.

- You mean she comes from the same address

as Babs Bryant and Wendy Phillips.

- [Carter] It worried us then,

it should worry us even more now.

- Well, perhaps Babs, our Babs,

can throw some light on the matter.

- Yes, get her over here, call her.

No, not you.

You do it.

Gifford,

Missus Masters, Gifford here is our interrogator.

He's also a pig.

- She's our only chance,

our only lead.

You see Mister Masters,

contrary to whatever your wife may think,

we investigate every story,

however wild.

My first action was to contact Mister Hanley here.

He deals with embassy security.

- Been watching this house ever since.

Don't lose her.

- Well, everything seems all right down there.

Yes, I think the cellar is the quietest place,

most discreet,

of course it may take a little time,

but I won't mind that.

I could do with the practice,

workouts, you know.

- You make me sick.

- You won't have to be involved.

This is pig's work.

- She's here.

- Yes, I remember her.

Came in five, maybe six months ago,

to get her passport amended.

She'd just got married.

- Just?

She told me she'd been widowed for a year.

So I was right.

Well Missus Masters,

are you going to tell us, voluntarily?

- Babs is dead.

And Wendy, you killed Tim Bryant.

- If that is guesswork, it remarkably accurate.

But you see, don't you my dear,

you understand that we must know irrefutably

that it is only guesswork,

and where it has led, and whom you have told.

There are so many questions.

- Fine.

The cellar door is the second on the left, Missus Masters.

(screaming)

That's right, that's good, that's fine.

Put the hysteria behind you,

then we can get down to a nice, comfortable chat, can't we?

- You're gonna do everything you're told,

nice and quietly, because Mister Hanley's holding the gun.

- That's right, I am.

Would you step forward please, Inspector?

Gifford?

- Yes, sir.

- [Hanley] Check him out.

- Yes, sir.

- This isn't going to look good on report, Carter.

- No sir, I'm sorry.

- Shut up.

- A mistake Mister Hanley, please put that gun away.

- Stop taking me for a mug.

- I wouldn't, I'd just stay right where you are.

- Colonel Wescott, US Intelligence.

A big mistake, planting her in the embassy.

Security there is very tight.

To get her in, we could only figure

you already had somebody on the inside.

- I did tell you that we investigate

everything, didn't I?

By the way, what did you do with the real Hanley?

(dark orchestral music)