Original subtitles

This is the case.

I will show you.

Heat insulated, inside sterile.

And, of course, not to be touched, not to be opened, and not to be disturbed in

any way. Of course.

You have made your arrangements about this?

Yes. Please get on with it, Dr. Villner.

This tube will contain citrated blood, the best medium for transport of the

grafts. You understand?

Fascinating. You will ensure the case remains sealed during transit. Of

I'll be able to guard it for you, don't worry.

Now, what happens this end when these return from Switzerland?

Another operation.

Just as delicate.

We take these, which represent the tissue grafts of the cornea, and

them to another patient.

I wouldn't have thought that was possible.

Oh, it is.

Difficult, but not impossible.

With the right resources.

Nothing is impossible.

Well, that was lovely.

I really enjoyed that.

I suppose I shall dry out eventually.

I'm sorry you were disappointed.

I was trying to broaden your outlook.

The outlook at the moment is distinctly threatening.

I sat through that abstract lecture on pro -cognon or magnon art last week.

Complaining bitterly the whole time, yes.

Anyway, I thought stock car racing just up your street.

Not in a 4 .3 thunderstorm.

How about some coffee?

It's a marvellous sport, you know. I understand they're all bank managers and

stockbrokers getting rid of their frustrations. Have you ever heard of a

called the Mondblick Clinic?

Mond... Blick?

Mean anything to you?

No, should it?

I only wondered. Know a chap called Halverson?

How about you getting to the point?

As you're closer to the medical field than I am, I thought perhaps you might

know if Halverson's name had been mentioned in any of those depressing

professional journals.

Why? Who is he?

He's a millionaire.

It's a start.

And he owns up these rounds of place in Switzerland called the Mon Blick Clinic.

It's 7 ,000 feet up, and the staff outnumber the patients five to one.

Why should he be in the news?

He's sponsoring a rather unusual operation.

Eye surgery.

Oh?

Corneal grafting.

Do you know anything about it? A little, yes.

What's it got to do with you?

I'm representing your Majesty's government in the affair.

Does the government know?

In places, yes. No, the broad outline is this.

The grafts are taken from a donor in this Monblic clinic place.

Then it's flown over here by private plane.

Now, everything's supposed to be all sealed up.

And I, representing the government, and sterile as well, am supposed to give my

blessing on the affair.

Why you?

Oh, there's some rather odd people involved.

Sounds to me like an extremely odd operation altogether.

There's nothing very unusual about corneal grafting, but why all this

of flying from Switzerland?

What does Halverson have to say about it?

I don't know. I haven't seen him.

I've talked to all sorts of people, but not him.

Why not not?

Well, when you're rich, you know, one learns how not to be talked to.

I'm terribly glad you're taking such an interest.

I think that you'd have more success than I've had.

Oh, I'm not talking to him.

I'm going on holiday in three days' time, remember? Of course you are. All

expenses paid to Switzerland.

Mountain air and sunshine.

What airs do you suggest? The latest line in travel of Koreans?

I've got a much better setup than that.

Eve, come here a moment, would you?

These plane schedules take off and landing times.

I'll be there in a moment.

No, run along. He's waiting for you.

The plane schedules are Mr. Steed's concern, aren't they? We'd better send

copy. Also, Dr. Vilna.

It's a surprise.

I would like to speak to Mr. Halverson, please. Would you really?

He won't see anybody, you know that.

But she is always... If you're referring to Dr. Horne, I would remind you that

she and Mr. Halverson are shortly going to be married.

Now, what can I do for you, hmm?

I'm worried.

Is it a question of money? No, no, no. This whole thing is... It's very little

to do with you, Milner.

We're paying you to give an anesthetic.

An aesthetic?

You're paying me for my name, Dr. Vilna. That's what you're paying me for.

Precisely. And we're paying you awfully well.

So what are you worrying about?

Do you know who I've been speaking to?

Mr. Steed.

And do you know what he has done?

He wants us to meet a friend of his.

A doctor.

A doctor? That's what I said. What for?

How should I know? I thought she would be here already. She? What's her name?

Mrs. Gaylighting.

She is a doctor. Do you realize what this means?

In this circumstance, I cannot continue. You really mustn't get so excited.

We have to make the decisions, not you.

Now, when did you speak to Steed?

He telephoned me about 20 minutes ago, and I came straight around here.

He said she would be here right away.

Did you know about this?

No, I didn't. You see, I cannot continue. It would be too dangerous.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Mr. Halverson? No, my name is Amstead.

May I speak to Mr. Halverson? Can we help you? Mr. Halverson never sees

without an appointment.

I believe Mrs.

Gale has an introduction from our friend Mr. Steed, isn't that so? That's right.

Well, let me introduce you. This is Dr. Horne, and this is Dr. Villner of the

Monblic Clinic in Switzerland.

Now then, what...

Little tales, as Mr. Steed's been telling you about us. He told me you

about to undertake something rather special by way of experimental surgery.

that right? But I'm afraid he had no right to tell you anything of the kind.

right at all. Absolutely not.

I'm very sorry.

I didn't want to intrude in any way.

My interest is purely professional, I assure you. Please excuse us if we seem

upset, Mrs. Gale. You see, we had hoped to avoid publicity.

You were in the field of ophthalmic surgery yourself.

No, I've been in research for the last five years, biochemistry.

But I am interested in the whole field of tissue grafting. And this seems

something quite new.

That's why Mr. Thede told me about it.

In confidence, of course. Oh, of course.

I see. Well, I'm sorry to have bothered you.

What I totally fail to understand is why Steege had asked you to come and see us

at all.

After all, corneal grafting has been performed before.

Many times.

It was when he told me you'd arranged special transport for the grafts that I

became interested.

He said you'd designed a special container, Dr. Villeneuve, is it? Yes,

remember when he described it to me, it sounded like the sort of thing you'd use

for transporting live grafts. That is true, but...

You're very astute, Mrs. Gale. You're right, the

grafts are to be taken from a live donor.

A live do. Now you can see why we hope to avoid publicity.

Yes, I can indeed.

It's rather a long and involved story. I won't bother you with it just now, but

I must beg you to respect our confidence.

Dr. Villner believes we may lead the way to a far higher success rate. A new

technique, but one which for the moment must remain a most private and personal

matter. Do you understand?

Yes, of course I do.

I wouldn't dream of asking any more questions. Perhaps you'll contact me

on if anything comes of it. Oh, we will. And meanwhile, you'll keep it to

yourself. There was never any question of my not doing so.

Thank you. Well, goodbye, Mrs. Gale. Oh, and could you tell your friend, Mr.

Steed... To try and avoid publicity? Yes, I'm sure he will.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Mrs. Gale.

I told you. You talk too much, far too much. I think you'd better go back to

Switzerland. Steiner will help you with your luggage.

Couldn't I see him for just one moment?

He won't see anyone.

You shall have to be very careful, I think.

Everything will be all right.

The doctors.

They're skilled and learned surgeons.

What do you think of them, eh? Well, I know Bill now. At least I've heard of

him. He's Viennese.

Very good, I believe. Steve, they say they're going to use a live donor.

They can't be.

Why not? People get their kidneys, don't they?

Yes, but not their eyes.

I can't see how they'd get any advantage from taking the grafts live.

Normally they're taken from people who leave them in their wills. There's some

sort of central bank in Paris, I think.

So, on balance, you think the operation's

unlikely?

Yes, I do.

You sure?

Reasonably, yes.

Reasonably? It's not enough.

Look, I'm afraid you're going to have to watch it from start to finish.

Mean little homework, but never mind.

Look, Steve, I said I'd go and talk to these people, that's all. How on earth

you think I can go on pretending to be a budding -eyed surgeon?

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

At least two of those are phony surgeons.

I can't be sure of that.

I've got to be sure.

Now, look, if I interfere and it turns out to be a perfectly genuine operation,

there'd be such a scream from the Royal College of Surgeons that they'd spill

all their early morning coffee all over their lancet.

Then get a second opinion, somebody who knows more about it.

John.

Good idea.

Think, Charles, do that.

Why not have another try at Halbertson yourself?

Yeah, I'll do that too.

I didn't mean now. It's a bit late.

It'll help. Put your feet up and enjoy yourself. Turn the light out and we go.

It's Mr. Stead, isn't it?

Good evening, my name's Harbison.

Good evening, I'm terribly sorry.

There was nobody about, so I came in, and I'm afraid my curiosity got the

of me. What can I do for you? It's an unusual hour to call, open to

misinterpretation, I think.

But you're welcome.

Is the door open?

Yes, why?

I'm not often on my own. I must have forgotten to close out the house.

What did you want to see me about?

Well, mostly to find out if you actually existed. Up to now, there's been some

sort of doubt, you know.

Oh, I'm real.

You seem to have upset my colleagues, Mr. Steed. They objected rather strongly

to your sending Mrs. Gale here. But then perhaps she, too, wanted to know if I

really exist.

She's interested in tissue grafting, particularly taking from a live donor.

Taking site from there.

And giving it here.

It's disquieting thought.

So he grafts a few.

Quite right.

I wasn't too sure. Even after meeting you, I wasn't sure.

I expect the psychologists would call it overcompensating, wouldn't they?

The fact is, Steve, that I am a rich man.

And like all rich men, I am able to organize my life to suit my

Which we all have.

Isn't that so? Mm -hmm.

Here, look at this room. Other people stumble. They find it awkward. It is

designed for me. When did you lose your sight?

When I was young.

In no ways, matter of fact.

I expect I am, what do you say, bloody -minded.

There was no need for me to work.

I was a millionaire before I was born. My father owned sawmills.

That didn't affect you?

No, no.

I could not accept it.

I was already rich. Now I'm richer by far.

Banking.

I

didn't

realize you were anything of an expert, Mr. Steele.

Left over from my army days.

Target is defined by a different note, or should I say pitch.

The ear, therefore, must be trained to be as fast and as accurate as the eye.

That was quite an achievement. I congratulate you.

Achievement?

I have achieved enough.

I've built hospitals, bridges.

I was an architect when it happened.

Oh, that must have been during the war.

Yes, it was. Why?

I just wondered.

So now you're trying to have your sight restored by corneal graft, huh?

It was Eve's idea.

She's a wonderful woman. You have met her. Yes, I don't quite know why you

go to the Monblic Clinic in Switzerland yourself. I mean, why have the grass

flown over here?

Why not?

With your cooperation, Mr. Teat, for which we all thank you, it is a

comparatively simple business.

Simple to go to Switzerland yourself.

But out of the question, you see this sculpture here?

You look brawly.

It is her eyesight that I am accepting.

You, you know her?

Very well.

From a long time ago.

She is dying now.

So you will see, of course, that I cannot possibly go over there. Stay

same roof.

You do understand?

Anyway, yes, it's not my business.

You will also see why you and Mrs. Gayle upset my colleagues. This is a private

matter, very private. Yes, yes, it's coming quite clearly.

Good night.

It's been a pleasure to meet you, Mr.

Steele.

Steve, someone at the door.

Good morning. Morning.

Name's Spender. Came to see Mr. Steve. Dr.

Spender. It's terribly nice to see you. Look, there was no need to come like

this. You told me all I wanted to know over the phone.

This is Mrs. Gale.

How do you do? How do you do?

That cock and bull story you told me. A mongolic place.

Thought I'd go and see it for myself.

Thought I'd go and see it for myself.

Yes, sir, but I don't think there's any need to do that, you know. Never thought

you'd become a white hall man, Steed. Still, it doesn't surprise me.

Now, what about this half -baked operation in Switzerland?

Well, I need an opinion, sir, so naturally I thought of you first, you

I've given my opinion. Thought I'd see it for myself just to make sure. What's

the fellow's name?

Wilner, sir.

Oh, I know him.

Vienna. Talks a lot of rubbish half the time.

Can you get me there?

Well, sir, I don't... Well, if you can't, I can get myself out. They can

keep me out, can they?

Well... Is this the young woman that you told me about on the telephone?

Research?

Yes, I'm doing biochemistry. It's very good of you, sir, to take all this

trouble, but really, I don't think a busy man like yourself... You don't want

go toddling all the way off to Switzerland, keep an eye on things.

Mrs. Gale's going over there, aren't you?

That's right.

There's no need, you see, sir. Professional interest, Steve.

Professional interest. At least hold the fellow up. You owe me that much. Yes,

of course, of course.

Splendid. Well, let me know.

You can find me in the club any time this afternoon. In the club. Right, sir.

Glad to have met you, Mrs. Gale.

Goodbye.

Research, eh?

Well.

Let me know, Steve.

I will. Mind the map, will you, sir? Thank you.

Terrible.

Yeah, that's not going to be so easy, is it?

So now I suppose you expect me to cancel all my holiday bookings.

You asked me for a second opinion.

How was I to know he was going to go off his little nut like that?

So now I'm stuck with surgery and biochemistry. It's going to be difficult

enough getting you out there.

Well, why not just settle for him?

You're not going to be able to stop him.

If he didn't go toddling off on his own, he'd be like a schoolmaster in the long

vac.

Somebody's got to look after him.

I didn't expect that Steed would ask if Mrs. Gale could come to Switzerland, but

I never thought you'd agree.

As for Spender, we've never even seen him.

You really mustn't take things so seriously, Neil. Who does Steed think he

anyway? We rely on Mr.

Steed's cooperation, you know.

Perhaps we should sell tickets. We knew that we would never get away with this

thing without a certain amount of publicity.

We allowed for it. If we refuse all observers now, we run the risk of

more publicity than we want. Enough to get in our way.

I prefer Mrs. Gale and Dr. Spender.

You think they won't get in the way?

They needn't get in the way.

I'm sure we can find a way to distract them.

Calm down.

Calm down.

It's too late to do anything about it now.

Then we shall just have to wait till we get to Switzerland.

Spender and Mrs. Gale.

Shouldn't prove too difficult to deal with.

A mountain air, eh?

It's medieval for the modern treatment of TB.

Well, Mrs. Gale?

You might as well enjoy it while we're here.

I didn't come here to look at the view. I came to look at the patient.

I'd like to know your opinion of this proposed operation. You do have

I take it?

Or are those old -fashioned in the research world these days?

No, it isn't that. And another thing.

I know nothing about your background, Mrs. Gale.

And I know very little about yours, Dr. Spencer.

I think we'd better take each other on trust.

Yes, well, when you get to my age, you'll take very little on trust.

Oh, I suppose you're competent enough for a woman.

Thank you. Per se.

I don't know.

When did you last look at a patient? Make a diagnosis, hmm? Long time ago,

afraid. Well, there you are, you see.

Ah, this operation.

I gather you disapprove.

Lot of rubbish.

I'll tell them. Never had such nonsense in my life.

And don't look at me as if I've got one foot in the grave. A lot of people have

made that mistake before.

Well, I hope you're both comfortable.

Thank you.

I'd like to look at the graft donor, if I may. I'm afraid that would be

inconvenient just at this moment. Perhaps later. Oh, how much later? I've

here already nearly 24 hours. Get your own invitation.

May I ask when the patient's going to theatre?

Ten o 'clock tonight.

Ah. Well, that's the first straightforward bit of information I've

arrived. I'm sorry, Spender, but as I've already pointed out to you, we're

working to a very rigid schedule.

I can assure you that we'll do everything in our power to assist you.

I'll call for you both later.

Thank you.

I can't say he fills me with much confidence, either.

Ten o 'clock, eh?

Well, possess us those in patience, I suppose.

Will you excuse me if I have a look round?

Oh, what for?

You never know, I might even find our patient.

I don't know that I approve. I know these people aren't being very

but we are their guests.

Oh, don't worry, I'll try not to upset anyone.

But I would rather like to see the rest of the clinic. Look, it's quite

impressive. I won't be long.

Hmm.

Mrs. Gale!

What are you doing in here?

I just thought I'd come and have a word with the patient.

That's right, isn't it? Hilda Brower is to be the donor of the eye graft.

She is, but you had no right to be in here without one of us.

Dr. Anstis, there's a great air of secrecy about. Why?

Secrecy? It's not a question of secrecy.

It's just that in a case like this, the preoperative treatment is difficult and

delicate. There are special techniques.

A new form of sterile foam dressing, for one thing.

I see.

I'm sorry to have interrupted your routine.

I think you'd better come along with me, Mrs. Gale, please.

My dear young woman, I'm not responsible for the movements of Mrs. Gale.

Didn't she say where she was going?

No. I fancy she got as tired of sitting around and doing nothing as I have.

Excuse me. Dr. Horne.

You'll be assisting at this operation, I presume?

Yes. You're a practiced ophthalmic surgeon?

Of course.

In your own country?

That's right, yes.

In my country, women have a place in surgery.

You'll have come across Dr.

Overland, I expect?

Yes. He works in Denmark, I do not.

But I have read many of his papers.

I don't wish to be impolite, but I must remind you that you are our guests here.

I've just been pointing out to Mrs. Gale that we're working to a very rigid

schedule. It seems that she was impatient to see Hilda. I'm bound to say

I'm getting a little restive, too. Well, if you could contain yourself for a few

more minutes, I'll arrange for you to see her.

Well, you seem to have put everybody's backs up in spite of my warnings.

Yes, it looks like it.

I gather you didn't see the patient?

No. The room was empty.

There was a wheelchair and a painting.

Possibly a self -portrait.

But no patient?

No. Operation on a patient who doesn't seem to exist. Live grafts. There's not

an atom of sense in it. No theoretical background.

Nothing. Dr. Spender, will you listen to me?

I think we're the victims of some sort of academic hoax. It might be something

more than that.

What do you mean?

I can't explain the whole story to you, but I would be grateful if you'd help me

without making a fuss. Fuss? Fuss? I'm not making any fuss.

But if there's anything untoward going on, I'll soon put a stop to it. Believe

me. Dr. Spender. Now, now, now. You're a woman, after all. Please leave these

things to me.

Everything is ready for you now.

Will you both come this way, please?

I'm going to let them in now.

Is he prepared?

Yes, these are our new sterile foam dressings.

For operation in something over seven hours? That's right.

A bit early, I should have thought. But you know your own operative procedure?

There's no question of my being able to examine... I'm afraid not.

Is she under sedition?

Early sedition? Scopolamine. You can try to talk to her. Thank you. History?

Hilda Brower.

Adoptive nationality, Austrian.

Age not accurately known. Believed 36 to 38.

How old are you, Hilda?

How old are you?

Oh, I am sorry.

I had hoped that you might be able to answer a few of your questions. But the

less disturbance of the skin underneath the dressings, the better, so far as

we're concerned.

Thank you. Go on.

She has neoplasia of the right lower leg.

Confirmed at exploration.

Prognosis extremely poor.

She will die.

The patient may still be lucid, you know. It's unusual to be so definite.

knows already, Dr. Spender. This is why she has given us permission to take the

graft. I see.

There'll be no objection to my examining the leg. I'm sorry, but there would.

Oh, we've performed all our preoperative dressings most carefully, so as to

reduce the risk of cross -infection from the leg wound.

Mrs. Gale? Just one thing.

You said the graft.

Surely you can't mean both eyes.

Both. Why not only one? Yes, that's something I'd like to know. It's purely

question of success rate. As you know, the percentage at the moment is

around about one -third.

If we operate on both eyes, we increase our chance of success that much more.

Besides, it's something of a personal matter between Hildebrouwer and

You mean something of a personal debt?

Precisely so.

She feels she owes Halverson her son? Something that happened some time ago,

during the war, I think. None of us know the true facts, only the two of them,

but that's how it is. But it's... it's macabre. Is it? Remember that we don't

know all the facts.

Oh, one thing that we do know, Halverson saved her life.

Well, since there's no possibility of me conducting an examination, I've seen

and heard all I need to. Suspender, we look forward to seeing you in theatre.

Very well.

Until this evening, Mrs. Carroll.

Yes, I look forward to it with great interest.

In the meantime, would it be all right if I go into the village? There are one

or two things I need.

Would you like me to come with you? No, thank you.

I can manage.

I'm sure you're right. It's not as phony as anything I've ever come across.

Look, I've been checking up on Halverson's past.

He's a very interesting fellow. He lost his sight during the war.

Research patrol in Norway.

Then corneal grafting would be out of the question, surely.

That's right, yes.

You know this place is 7 ,000 feet up. You can only get there by chairlift.

Here, as a matter of fact, they thought of stopping it.

I'd be stuck down here for good.

That would solve a few of their problems.

We'd better get back up there.

They'd hardly carry the performances to perform the operation itself, would

they? You'd better hang around.

Oh, and do try and look after Dr. Spender, won't you?

Goodbye.

No pathology here.

We looked for metastases, of course, but there was no evidence. Agreed?

Agreed.

Have you performed angiograms? Naturally.

Here they are.

Yes?

Yes, this is Spender.

Now, I see.

Thank you very much.

In Miss Bower's room.

Yes, I can find my way there, thank you.

Yes, normal interval after injection.

These were taken a week ago.

Correct, Dr. Horne?

Yes.

And once again, no pathology.

So that's all right, as far as we're concerned.

Mrs. Gale, you seem rather worried about something.

I was just thinking of Dr. Spender. Surely he should be here by now.

As far as the anesthetic is concerned... Please get on with it, ma 'am.

As far as the anesthetic is concerned, we shall treat this as a minor

The patient will be under a light anesthetic by a penta, and we shall

local and retrobulbar infiltration. That is to say, behind the eyeball here, and

on the corneal surface.

Strictly speaking, this isn't necessary, but personally, I prefer it.

Here are these, Mrs. Cale.

As you know, the surface of the cornea that we'll be dealing with is only seven

-tenths of a millimetre thick.

In particular, I'd like to show you this one. You may not have seen it before.

Dr. Horne brought it over from Sweden only very recently.

Look at it closely. You'll see that the cutting edge is rather short and

slightly curved.

The rest are on the way. I'm glad to see you.

Officially, he fell over the balcony.

It was quite a drop.

I suppose it was really quite clever. Got rid of the foe. Spend a moment with

him. I had spent 24 hours in the valley with police inquiries. In that 24 hours,

they performed the operation, or they say they did.

I got back to the clinic just in time to join the flight home.

Together with a special container for transporting eye grafts or whatever it

What are you doing?

I don't know yet.

And all this is some sort of gala performance so that Halverson can

something into the country. Why not?

It's an adventure, a sense of achievement. He's built hospitals,

bridges, banks.

Now, he seems to get a kick out of other people's disabilities.

He means he's a blind man. He likes to see them stumble.

He's got a good feeling of adventure in the dark.

I hope not.

From what I saw of them, I like them.

Morning, Steve.

It's a pleasure.

Mrs. Gale has been telling me about Dr. Cranmer.

Oh, you'll need my signature, don't you, please? Yes.

It was most upsetting.

We don't yet know how it happened. He was an old friend of my family's.

I am sorry.

What about your patient, Mrs. Brower?

Oh, she's as well as can be expected in the circumstances.

Is everything all right, Steve? We must get on. It's all in order.

Go.

Oh, the pen.

Thank you.

I'm going to see him.

Who? Harrison.

Oh, what's the hurry? The wheels are turning and I need my breakfast.

And I need to know whether he's a murderer or not before that case,

turns out to be, arrives.

Before breakfast.

I'm sure the official rules will sort everything out eventually.

But I have my own reasons for wanting to find out now.

Well, I've got one or two things to sort out, and this will come in very handy.

Are you sure we can just carry on?

Has there nothing happened?

Yes, I'm quite sure. Why?

I didn't realise Spender would be killed.

Didn't you? What did you think we'd have to do?

I don't know.

Drag him, perhaps. Lock him in his room. Distract him?

That sort of thing may be all right for amateurs like Halverson, but not for me.

It's all so casual with you, isn't it? Casual?

You're beginning to sound more like Halverson every minute.

It was necessary.

You weren't so sensitive about Hildebrand.

I'm not sensitive.

Good. Then we'll just leave it as it is, shall we?

We don't even have to break the sad news to him.

He's bound to find out for himself sooner or later.

And by that time, you and I will be somewhere quite different.

Well, Neil, so everything went off smoothly, didn't it?

Perfect. Not a hitch.

And the case is still with Steed.

Yes, it's still with Steed at Customs, but I've arranged to pick it up this

evening and bring it here.

There are two observers.

Well?

They were no problem.

Splendid.

I knew you could organise everything perfectly well when it came to the

Neil. You've obviously done a good job, and I am grateful for your help.

Mrs. Gayle. Ah, Mrs.

Gayle. Yes.

They were just telling me how things went.

Yes. It was terrible, wasn't it?

Terrible? What was terrible?

Dr. Spender's accident.

Mrs. Gayle. Just a moment.

Mrs. Gayle, I'm very sorry, but I don't understand what you're talking about.

Maybe Dr.

Anstis hasn't told you that part of it yet.

Dr. Spender is dead.

He fell over a balcony. There was a sheer drop of 800 feet.

Why didn't you tell me this, Neil?

I was going to, of course, but at a suitable moment.

Nobody wanted to upset you.

I must thank you both for your considerations.

Yes. Now, Mrs. Gale, I'm truly sorry that this should have happened.

Believe me.

Now, if you wouldn't mind leaving us for a moment, I will try and get things

straightened out.

Yes, of course.

It's all right. I can see myself out. Not at all.

By the way, when is it you're going to get married?

We haven't decided this yet. Why?

I just wanted to offer you both my best wishes, that's all.

Mrs. Gale, I must make this quite clear to you. This affair's been most

unfortunate for us all, I know, but it's over now.

Don't come back to this house again.

It was an accident.

It couldn't have happened to anyone.

Dr. Spender wasn't anyone.

It was a very distinguished eye, Sergeant.

You'd better pick up the case as arranged.

Yes, I will.

Don't worry, nothing's going to go wrong with that side of the business.

That's it.

Hildebra equals Henrietta Miller.

She was an artist.

Quite a good one.

And she was at Mont Blanc. A few months ago, anyway.

That's her self -portrait.

He carries his sense of the dramatic to some lengths, doesn't he? He does

indeed. Now, there's just one question I want to ask you, and I want a straight

answer. Is he a murderer, or isn't he?

No, I don't believe he is. He had nothing to do with that part of it. No.

Right, then we can get everything wrapped up.

Now, Anstice, your friend.

Yes, what is he?

I'm going to have to describe him. He's a broker. He worked with agents,

undercover financier, one sort or another. He was always in need of money.

he needs money more than you.

You think he's double -crossing, Father? I wouldn't be surprised. Now, Hilda

Brower, she was a friend of Halverson's. At one time, I think 1942, 1943.

After that, she took out a little bit of forgery.

And after that, various other things.

She was quite a girl, by all accounts. She must have gone well.

Past tense.

I'm afraid so. She was fished out of the Rhine four days ago at the end.

Four days ago?

Ah. Maybe she got on with Halverson, not with Anstice. I don't know. The point

is... Whoever was underneath all those bandages, it wasn't Hilda Brower.

We've got to find out what's in that case.

What's so valuable in it?

So funny.

I'm sorry.

But it just struck me.

It's like taking pennies from a blind man.

And what about Dr. Spender?

Well, he shouldn't have come, should he? People tend to get a bit dizzy at 7

,000 feet, lack of oxygen or something. But I don't know very much about these

medical matters, as you well know.

So he overbalanced and fell 700 feet, is that it? That's it.

Answer this. I don't care so much about you.

But what about Eve?

Well, you should know more about her than I do.

You're going to marry her, I understand.

Look, why don't you just concentrate on your toys, hmm?

And what would you say these were worth, Anstis?

A quarter of a million.

But are they worth a man's life?

And what do they mean to me?

How do I put a value on these?

These hard bits of carbon that men have dug out of a clay pit in Africa. How

long ago?

I don't know.

They're known to have been in Peking, and they passed to India, and to Persia,

and then through to Lima, years before I was born.

Eighteen months ago, I heard of them, and I made them vanish.

Now the revenue departments of a dozen countries are still looking for them,

I hold them here.

They are a token to me. They're

a symbol

that I've won again.

In a world full of men who can't see what is going on in front of them.

Their achievement.

They've made a mistake.

Because I'm an amateur.

And even a talented amateur should not mix with a professional.

And you are professional, isn't that so?

So, professionally speaking, you say that these are worth a quarter of a

pounds. And I say that a man has been killed for them.

I mean, I went...

You're

worth nothing.

You're not moving. I take it that means you're armed.

Yes.

I'm armed.

Mrs. Gale, I told you not to come back to this house again. I'm not very good

taking advice.

It's something you may regret.

All right, amateurs should never mix with professionals.

For one thing, the professional is always so much better at killing people.

And cares less.

Good to have you with us, Mrs. Gale. Though I'm afraid you'll be longer

your research department now.

I'm sorry we couldn't have given you a nicer welcome, Mrs. Gill. Good evening.

Good evening.

What a shame you bought a ticket. We're just about to leave.

You've got quite a lot to attend to, haven't you? Most of it needs money. The

Daracot Spy Exchange in Yugoslavia. Oh, I'm relieved to hear that you've been

engaged on research, too.

Daracot and Exchange for George Kessleton, plus 5 ,000 quid at a guess.

Mr. Halbertson, it's rather like used car trading.

Most spying is a question of money, isn't it? It doesn't concern me. Money

no interest in me. I'm thrilled to hear you say it. In that case, we'll just

leave it as it is, shall we?

Meanwhile, we'll be getting along with Steed and Mrs. Gale, of course.

Very well. Just a minute, Mr. Halverson.

You're on the edge of a big decision.

Over the edge or not.

Now, I enjoyed your little joke about Monbleck. He was a little macabre, but

jolly. Trouble is...

When you start these sort of things, people get killed.

Like Dr. Spender.

And Hilda Brower. That's enough. No, it isn't, my long chalk.

Now, look. Are you in or out, Halderson?

You can choose. Hilda Brower and Spender can't. They're dead.

It's true.

As you can see, I'm at a slight disadvantage.

I've thought of that, too.

I think there's something we can do about it.

Perhaps we could have a little light.