Original subtitles

And now, ladies and gentlemen, lot 29. A unique example in gold and ivory,

a 12th century icon of the Novgorod School.

Shall I say 10?

Thank you, sir. Ten thousand pounds. Fifteen. Fifteen.

Twenty.

Twenty-five.

Thirty.

Thirty-five.

Forty.

Forty-five. Fifty.

At £50,000, it's with you, sir. £54,000. The bid is on my left of £54,000.

At £54,000... £60,000.

I have a bid of £60,000.

Sixty-one.

Sixty-five.

At sixty-five, sixty-six.

Seventy.

Seventy-one.

Seventy-five.

At seventy-five thousand pounds.

So, sir.

The Contessa di Continuo.

It's beautiful.

Yes.

St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things.

There's hope for me yet.

No.

Where are you staying in London?

I'm not.

I'm going to Prague.

Prague?

Czechoslovakia.

So how were the customers?

Customers?

Oh, customs, so smooth as silk.

I imagine the wheels had been oiled a little, yes?

I mean, I think you had a little talk with the customers. Talk, yes, I talk.

How do you get on with government officials?

Oh, I think they like protectors, really. They frown a little,

but if you frown enough, the eye closes.

We would call it turning a blind eye. Yes.

Mmm, it's beautiful.

In fact, you have a beautiful city.

Ah, I recognize Irena's neighborhood.

Your friend is waiting.

Thank you. You Czech protectors have been very helpful.

Caroline, I can't believe it.

You really have the icon? I really have the icon.

How is Jan? He's fine. You haven't told him?

Of course not. Oh, I just don't know how to thank him. Oh, what are friends for?

But how did you get it back? I bought it. You bought it?

But I can't allow you to... Oh, please, please, no, no.

It won't cost me a penny.

You see the pavement cafe? Yes.

I'll meet you there in an hour. Right.

You've never considered marrying again? Oh, I have, but not too seriously.

It has its advantages.

And its problems.

Thank you.

Just one question, Irena.

Was that the man?

Yes.

You have welcomed Prague with the open arms.

I hope it will not be too long in the distant future that

I have the pleasure of meeting your company again.

I think you're wonderful.

And I think you're wonderful too, Emil.

He's almost as good-looking as I am, what's his name?

Alan Sutherland.

Gentleman confidence trickster.

Background?

And a very smooth operator.

Smooth as silk, unless you happen to be one of his victims.

Like Irene Bascot. Right, they met in Paris.

A month later, Irina was left broken-hearted, and he went back to England.

Well, Brokenheart's mad, and she's married now.

Yes, but valuable miniature paintings aren't as easily replaced.

She gave the icon to Sutler? Yeah. That's right.

With no strings attached. So, he was able to sell it. All very legal.

And Carol, hardly bothering to shine her halo, buys it back, flies to Prague,

and returns it to her friend.

Which leaves us with a score to settle.

Us?

Well, we aren't doing anything.

You are going to help, aren't you?

Well, I see no reason why I should get involved.

Is 75,000 pounds a good enough reason?

I see a reason.

Any ideas?

Yes.

I think I should become Mr. Alan Sutherland's next victim.

Oh, no.

It's much too expensive, if you ask me. It's got style, Cribs.

Style.

Good morning.

Contessa, it will be a privilege to try and help you.

Thank you.

You're not with me, Crimson.

Come on, get lost, get lost.

Was there anything in particular you wished to see?

Yes, the rose, I think.

Of course.

Ah, Contessa.

Yes?

You don't know me. My name is Sutherland.

If you remember, you bought one of my paintings.

Oh.

An icon.

I buy a lot of paintings.

Yes, of course. I understand. Now, this is something rather special.

If you'll notice the interior finished. It's fine.

Finished?

I believe so.

Very nice. I'll take it.

You'll take it?

Oh, yes.

We will take it. Oh.

Style, you see, Cribs?

Style.

I'd say she gave you the brush off.

What do you expect her to do, fall in a faint at my feet?

Give me credit for one thing, Cribs.

Oh, no women.

And that one's interested.

All we've got to do is break through the icy exterior.

Oh, good luck, but I'd say she was no pushover.

Mmm.

Contessati continui.

Beautiful, intelligent, rich. Very rich indeed.

You've checked, have you? What do you think?

Here she is.

Come on, we'll follow her. Find out where she goes.

Today, if possible. I'll get a taxi.

I'll certainly do something with eggs, Harry.

Yeah, I can crack them.

You got any news for me? Reviews? Scandal? Comments?

I am being followed.

By who?

By a nasty little man who works for Sutherland. I saw them together at the showroom.

Yeah, so Sutherland's sniffing the bait, then.

Oh, he's interested, all right.

So what's your next move?

Well, I've established, thank you,

I've established a routine which makes it easier for him to find out where I am.

What do you mean, routine?

I go to the races.

Why don't you join me?

Hey, you!

Didn't you see us coming?

Why didn't you stop?

Why didn't you wait until you got out? You could have caused an accident.

We were right away.

You coming out of a crossing? What should be possible?

Oh, Mr Sutherland, I feel blithe.

I think I'm going to faint.

It's all right.

It's all right.

You're in good hands now.

Rate that three. Oh, Ben, how wonderful to see you.

I'm so glad you could join us. How are you?

May I introduce Mr. Sutherland?

Hello. How do you do?

We met on the drive down. I had a slight accident. Anyone injured? Oh, no.

Just some fool who pulled his car out straight in front of mine, you know. Mr.

Sutherland has been very kind.

It was nothing.

Thank you, Chino.

Oh, thank you. Cheers. Cheers.

Well, this is how we lost the farm.

He inherited 15 million by the time he was 16. He's probably doubled it since.

Chino? Yes, sir.

Let's start out nice and slow. All right.

On the nose, Chino. Yes, sir.

Well, Southerner, what line you in?

Uh, General, you're in the army.

Fantastic, well done. That's the way I like to start the day.

Gino, go get the wings. Yes, sir.

What were the odds on the winner? Four to one.

Don't spend it all at once, huh?

You must be joking.

Yes.

Ah, good, good. Well, I'd say this calls for another bottle of champagne.

There you are. A little something for your hope chest.

Thank you, sir.

Yes, sir.

You seem to have hit a winning streak today.

Do you have some kind of system?

I tell you, my old grandpappy said to me once,

and he lost a quarter of a million at one poker game, he said to me,

ain't no system at all, man. How true.

Ah, yes, I think I got myself another one right here, yes.

I really bet.

You're a wise man.

But I thought I might just have a bet today. Oh,

you thought you might like to put a little something on my nag, is that right?

I just thought perhaps... Can't let you do that, no.

You're a friend of a friend of mine. Can't let you do that.

I don't mind taking... Chino, Chino, over here.

Look, let's go for broke on this one, all right? We'll shoot the whole wad.

That's it? Yeah.

Well, you can't win them all. Ah, too bad.

No idea you were such a good actor.

I'm a lawyer, aren't I?

Southerner, let me buy you a big drink.

Just happen to have a farthing left in my sock.

Not that much, huh?

Well, the original £75,000 plus £5,722 more for expenses

and entertainment for Sutherland for two weeks.

He doesn't exactly break his arm picking up the tabs.

How do I look?

Terrific.

Good. Tonight's a big night.

Listen, are you sure he's ready for that?

Mm-hmm.

We're going to the white cockatoo.

Ah, you'd better get out the spray for gray again, Paul. Van rides again.

Are you sure we're not overdoing this? I mean, Sutherland is no fool.

He lives for two things, money and money.

Well, he also has the two main weaknesses of a con man.

Greed and the sublime belief that he can never

be taken in himself. Right. I'll see you later.

Two short weeks.

Seems like a lifetime.

I know.

Seeing you, being with you, dreaming, thinking, breathing.

Alan, I... I can't explain.

I haven't felt like this. I understand.

Alan.

Van.

What?

It's Van.

Hello, Van.

Hi.

Won't you join us?

No, I don't want to drink anything.

Oh, Alan and I insist. Come on.

Waiter.

Of course.

Thank you.

An aperitif, sir? No, I want a bottle of scotch, a big one. Hi.

How are you, Ben?

Great. Wonderful.

Is something wrong?

No, there's nothing wrong. I'm just finished, that's all. I'm washed up. I'm pooped.

I'm dead.

Oh, now look, Van, I have known you for a very long

time. You must tell me, what is the trouble?

Trouble?

Well, I need 100,000 pounds by noon tomorrow.

Yeah.

Why?

I have a problem.

I gamble.

I lost.

You...

Thank you. You lost 100,000 pounds.

I don't know if I lost it, but I know I owe 100,000.

By 12 o'clock tomorrow. No, noon tomorrow.

Well, I have 15,000, possibly 20,000 here in England. I have more in Italy,

of course. This van has millions in America,

but it takes time to get it transferred here. Could you help him, Alan?

Oh, Alan, you got big money like that?

No, no.

That's too bad. Because if you did, I got a great piece of security here. Security?

Yeah.

See?

How's that?

That's good.

Blue-white.

Flawless.

Worth?

Oh, 200,000, maybe more.

You sure?

Yes.

Well, Mr. Mann, I think I can help you.

In this case is £85,000 in cash.

I understand the contest has already given you £15,000. Yes.

So it appears your problems are over. Oh, great.

How can I ever thank you? Oh, it's nothing, nothing. Oh,

perhaps you could just sign this. What do you say?

It's a bill of sale.

I think that's the easiest way.

You return the money, I return the gem. Oh.

Where, where?

Just there.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you. Oh, thank you, thank you, yes. There you are.

My predators will be waiting at high noon.

There's only one thing that worries me.

It's possible to transfer money at short notice.

Follow him, Cribs.

Yeah.

¶¶ I don't know.

He hasn't got it. He's dead. Leave him.

Murdered?

Shot dead.

In broad daylight.

Who did it?

I don't know. Couple of foreigners.

You know, Contessa, I think I'm in over my head.

What about the money?

Well, they took it.

You still have the diamond, haven't you?

Yes, yes.

They searched him.

Maybe they were looking for that.

Here. Get rid of it.

But I... Sell it!

But I... Van would want you to, really.

Yes, but where?

Well, there's only one place I know of in London. The House of Diamonds.

May I help you, sir? Ah, good morning.

Yes, we, that is, I would like to sell this diamond ring.

What sort of prize were you thinking of, sir?

Oh, around 200,000 pounds.

Hmm.

Mm-hmm. I'm in rather a hurry.

Shall we say 180?

It's a very fair price, sir. If it were real.

What?

What do you think, Harry? Oh, it's hard to say. This could be genuine.

Oh, I've got to catch this because I'm here.

Oh, this is nice, but this is that.

Caroline.

Mr. Sutherland. Why? Irena Glasgow.

She is a friend of mine.

I shall call the police. Go right ahead.

I'll deny everything.

The Contessa is a lady, and a personal friend of the Commissioner.

Who do you think they're going to believe?

85,000 exactly. That's 4,278 pounds profit. She now waits without. Without what?

Lock up the bread, Zuni.

What do you think, Harry?

Well, I think you look great, but... But what?

But, I don't know, there's something lacking.

Something kind of missing.

There's what?

I don't know, I can't put my finger on it.

Oh, my ring.

Oh, thank you.

This is the real one, isn't it?

Carol, how could you?

Oh, I'm sorry, Harry.

Come on.

It is, isn't it, Harry?

Harry?

Harry, is it?

In the avenues and alleyways