Original subtitles

Come in.

Mr. Beardmore.

Yes? The Right Reverend, the Lord Bishop of Winnipeg.

My dear sir.

How very nice to see you again.

I received your medical notes only this morning. This is Sister Johnson, my

constant traveling companion these days.

I trust you had a comfortable journey, sir? Yes.

I must say I'm somewhat surprised that your medical advisors in Canada allowed

you to make such a long journey in view of what they've told me of your cardiac

condition. Well, I have an extremely important convocation here in England.

And, of course, I'm naturally delighted at the opportunity to consult you again

after all these years. I assure you, sir, it's my pleasure.

Well, what's your reading of those notes, Mr. Bidmore?

I'm told the flesh is weak, but just how weak?

Well, first of all, Bishop, I should like to examine you myself.

That is, of course, when you're sufficiently rested. Well, I have an

appointment in Lambeth in half an hour, and I feel quite rested. Oh, well, if

you care to step this way, sir, take off your top, um, vestment.

Ah, there we are.

Have a good trip, sir.

I haven't been away. I've been meeting someone off the plane.

Your Reverend Harbottle?

You know the vicar?

I don't think so. What are you doing with his luggage?

I thought you and I might have a look through it.

Won't the vicar have something to say about that? He's not in a position to.

He's been taken into custody.

The vicar?

The vicar.

He's apparently been rather a naughty boy.

What a lovely pair of boots. I wonder if they'd fit me.

Now, just a minute. Perhaps you'd like them. They're real leather.

I was called out of a hot bath and told you were held up at customs.

Is that what they said?

Oh, is that how they keep them stiff in transit? Isn't that clever?

Careful, it's heavy.

What on earth has he got in here as well?

Turn it upside down.

Hey, Ted.

All right, he won't be needing it again.

Hey, Bert.

He ate.

I don't suppose he wears it like that.

Oh, it cuts the Adam's apple. Something awful.

Where's the time to go to them?

The time I'm looking for.

Hymns, ancient and modern.

Look at this.

Must be another part that goes with it.

There we are. One long -nosed Luger, authorised version.

Who is he?

Reverend Harbuckle, well, according to my information, his name is Sax.

He's also known as the vicar of Pindola, and he runs the biggest protection and

extortionist racket in white Africa.

He's also reputed to be a member of Bibliotech. What's Bibliotech?

It's a kind of Commonwealth mafia, and it's run on exactly the same lines.

What a dirty cassock.

A dog.

Hey, Matthew.

Sir Simon and Holbeck. Eh?

Simon and Horvick, they're the makers. It's a German doll, about 1890, I'd say.

You're very knowledgeable, you know, Mrs. Gale. I used to collect them.

Head's a bit loose, though. Needs restringing. Oh, poor girl.

It's a tricky job. Not many people can do it these days.

I wonder what the Reverend Harbottle was doing with the doll.

Temporal comfort.

No, he's got his hot water bottle for that.

Hey, will you hang on to it? I don't think he'll be needing it for a while

we find out what he's coming to this country for.

Oh, and you might keep that at your flat for some time.

I've got an appointment in Harley Street.

What for?

I've got the most appalling dizzy spells.

Oh.

What are you, a portamist?

Ah.

Take in a deep breath.

Right in.

That's it.

Hold it.

Extend the diaphragm.

Now breathe out slowly.

Ah. Now slowly.

Ah. That's it.

Empty the lungs.

Fine. Now, tell me if you feel this.

Oh, good.

Well, your reactions are quite normal. Just slip your jacket on again, will

Dizzy spells, you say?

Sort of, yes, Doctor.

With no actual pain?

Well, a kind of vague, unrelated pain, yes.

Oh? Unrelated to what?

Unrelated to the... to the dizzy spells.

Yes,

well, I think we can put it down to overwork, Mr. Steed. What exercise do

take? Chemi -Bazique and a bit of baccarat.

It could also be lack of fresh air.

That'd be quite possible. Yes, the polo season's over, you see.

Well, I don't think you've anything to worry about. Your heart's perfectly

strong. Well, that's a great comfort to me.

Perhaps you'd care to come and see me again?

Oh, exactly a week's time?

Certainly. Right, get this made up for yourself at the camp. I know it's a

little unethical to inquire about a fellow patient, but how is his lordship?

His lordship?

The Bishop of Winnipeg. Oh, you know the Bishop. My aunt's first cousin. I

heard... You were treating him? Yes, he does consult me on the rare occasions

he's in this country.

I saw him only the other day, as a matter of fact. Yeah, when I was saying

Heart's a bit dicky, isn't it?

I'm treating him for a cardiac condition, yes. How long will he last?

I don't really want to see it. I can hardly discuss that with another patient

now, can I? Thank you very much.

No, it's just that I was going to be seeing him. I thought perhaps I might be

able to help.

Well, you might see that he doesn't overexert himself. He needs all the rest

can get. And if he doesn't rest, how long do you give him?

Well, Mr. Steed, since, as you say, you are a relative of his, I suppose it's my

duty to tell you the truth.

If he continues to ignore medical advice, he could be dead within a week.

Good morning.

I wonder if you could repair this for me. I'm sorry. At the moment, we can't

take any more repairs. We've got about three months' work in hand.

I'm sorry to hear that. There don't seem to be many dolls hospitals about these

days. No, there are not very many, but I have a list of them here somewhere.

Well, I expect I've been to most of them. They seem to handle only modern

I was told you were the best people for this one.

An old German doll.

Have you had this lot?

No, I only acquired it recently.

Just a moment, please.

A lady has brought this for repair.

A Simon and Holby.

Now, can you fix it? Yes, we think so.

This is a very interesting doll. It's nearly 80 years old.

Really? My husband was wondering how you managed to find one in such a good

condition. Only about 50 of this pattern were made.

Then it could be valuable.

It could be very valuable.

Can you mend it? Of course. Good.

If you will just give me your name.

Mrs. Gale.

So, uh, the doll actually belongs to a friend of mine.

The Reverend Harbuttle.

He entrusted such a valuable doll to a friend.

I'm afraid he couldn't call himself.

When will it be ready? You have a phone number, Mrs. Gale. Yes.

We will call you when it's ready.

Thank you.

We'll take good care of it.

Yes, I'm sure you will.

The Bible class.

Oh, yeah, you're in the entrance. That's straight through there.

Oh, thank you. Oh, yeah, I'd better give you the keys. You're having it all over

the Easter all day, ain't you?

Yes, that's right.

The rest of the school's shut down for a week, you see. I don't know if they

expect me to come in and clean out every morning. The principal never said

nothing about it. No, it's all right. We can manage ourselves.

Thanks.

What about the eating, then? Would you like me to come in and stoke the boiler?

No, that'll be all right.

Have a nice holiday.

Thank you very much, miss.

Please, charities.

They just chucked their money away.

Oh, you shouldn't have come by yourself, Bishop.

I was just going to drive over and get you.

I wish you wouldn't fuss, girl. I can manage.

But you heard what the specialist said.

And you have three very heavy days ahead of you.

Now. You sit down here, and I'll arrange everything.

It's been a long time since I attended a full assembly.

So you must try not to excite yourself.

Now, I've prepared a convocation agenda, and I want it strictly adhered to.

Wouldn't it be better as a free discussion group? The first couple of

mean. Certainly not.

There's far too much of that nonsense among the clergy these days.

When the old bishop of Cicero was in charge, it used to be a proper

occasion.

And I intend to keep up the tradition.

Now, after the collection, we shall open with my welcoming address and then a

report from each parish on the state of funds.

Are you listening?

Yes, Bishop, I'm listening.

On the second day in the afternoon, we shall make whatever readjustments are

necessary in diocesan boundaries.

And then, after the delegates have had an opportunity to assess one another's

capabilities, we shall have the election proper.

I was going to suggest that you retired on the final day, Bishop, to give the

delegates a chance of straightening out any misunderstanding that may have

occurred. I shall be here right the way through to the end.

Just as you wish, Bishop.

You're in charge.

That's right.

And I'm not going to let anyone forget it.

No, but you can help me clear it up.

Who's that character running down the hall there? Has he got something to do

with this?

Presumably. The friend from the Dolls Hospital.

Any idea what he was searching for?

The Reverend Harbottle's belongings, by the look of things.

How do you know where to find you, eh?

I left them my telephone number. I suppose they got my address from that

checked to see if I was out.

Anything missing apart from that dickie?

Not as far as I can see.

Well, actually, he was checking whether you and the Reverend Harbottle were

acquainted. Now that he's found that your belongings are here.

You'd be satisfied on that score, wouldn't you?

Is that why you wanted me to bring his case back to my place and not yours?

Of course not. No.

Just a matter of convenience.

I got the spring cleaners in. You can just move the Reverend Harbuttel

else.

Ah.

Why don't the bishop pull him up to it? What bishop?

The head bossman of Bibliotheque.

What is all this clerical business?

I find it easier for travelling. I see a customs officer doesn't look too

closely. And a very authoritative character in gaiters.

Well, they did when the Reverend Harbottle came in this town because we

expecting them.

What is he doing here?

That's what I'd like to know. It looks like a gathering of the clans. Three top

members of the organisation have come in from various parts of the country and

more are expected to be on their way.

Most of them with about, well, at least three murders to their credit and a

crime sheet as long as your arm.

Well, why are we letting them in?

Keep an eye on them, see what they're up to.

I wish you'd done that with the Reverend Harbuttle. The Reverend Harbuttle's a

very different case. Now, none of these people have committed a crime in this

country, but the Reverend Harbuttle, he's wanted for armed robbery from way

back. I'm surprised he came in at all. Must be a very important meeting.

What's this doll got to do with it all? Ah, thought you might manage that.

We can see where it's got me so far.

I must be on my way. I'll be out of town for a few days, but I'll keep in touch.

And what about all this?

Oh, I'll send my spring cleaners in.

Hello? Yes, it is.

It's the doll's hospital.

Yes.

Right, well, thank you for letting me know.

The doll will be ready for collection tomorrow morning. Good, you pick it up,

then. How much is it charging?

£20 ,000.

For restringing a doll?

That's what the lady said.

Nancy?

Harry. Archdeacon of Bangkok.

Right.

Name?

Fingers the Frog, Vicar of Toowoomba.

Right.

Sid, Dean of Rangoon.

Right.

How are we doing?

Oh, they're nearly all here. Good.

There's just the Dean of Wanganui and the Reverend Harbuttel to come. Ah,

I know about the Dean. He was delayed in Sydney two days ago for a funeral.

A funeral?

Unfortunately, it was his own.

Oh. But I don't know about Harbottle. He should have been here on Friday.

Do you want to wait for him? No, let's get started.

I must remember to tell that one to my verger.

Here, do you hear the one about the... Emerald!

No?

Odds. What a cannibal!

Please, be seated.

We shall open as usual with the collection.

You just will not understand, will you? It's an extremely delicate operation.

But you've done it before. Yes, of course I have, but it still takes time.

quite ludicrous to expect it to be ready for tomorrow morning. I warned you it

would be an emergency case. You said you'd be all set up for it. Yes, of

I am.

I still don't see what the hurry's for.

Look, I'm extremely busy.

You know the convocation doesn't last long, and that it must be done before

delegates go home.

You have got the medical notes?

Yes.

Yes, they arrived this afternoon.

I'll still have to take several X -ray photographs. I suppose you realize that.

You have all night. Yes, right.

Just leave it to me. I'll do my best. Now, please, go away and leave me to do

work.

Won't you need patience?

Oh, for heaven's sake. What the devil did you bring that here for?

You know that side of the business is usually done at the hospital. Yes, I

But Hazek's scared. He's afraid we might be being watched.

You did, yeah.

That's a very nasty compound fracture.

I have a replacement.

The lady will be calling up the shop to collect it. Oh, when?

In the morning.

So you've taken over the parish, have you?

Why wasn't I informed of this?

It all happened at the last minute, Your Lordship.

Reverend Harbattle received your summons, was all ready to come, and just

collapsed. Of course, he always was subject to malaria.

And he didn't give you any credentials, Reverend Steed?

Apart from that keepsake there.

We're pretty good friends, you know.

What's the serial number?

13874, Your Lordship.

It's Harbottle's gun.

And how are we to know it was malaria Harbottle died of, Steve?

I don't think it really much matters.

I've taken over the parish. I imagine I'm entitled to be here.

Yes, I suppose you are.

In any case, it shouldn't take us long to check your credentials with our

organization in Rhodesia. Please do.

Perhaps you'd see to that.

Now, I don't want to hold up the conference, so perhaps you'd like to

fellow brethren.

In the second row, in the rear, the Archdeacon of Bangkok, known to the

Harry. How do you do?

Morning. In the first row, in the center, Big Sid, Dean of Rangoon.

Still raining out there, eh?

On the left, Fingers the Frog, Vicar of Toowoomba.

Toowoomba? Yeah.

You know, the place with more pubs to the square inch than any other town in

world. In the rear, the Reverend Garfield Percival, known to his friends

Caribbean as the Coleman.

How do you do? How do you do?

On the right, Ricky.

Where are you from, Ricky?

Goose Bay. And Mel.

Aye. Aye.

Now, perhaps you'd like to find yourself a seat.

I now declare this assembly open.

What did you say your name was?

Steed? That's right.

Steed, eh?

You must work the Gee -Gees then.

Gee -Gees, get it?

To my close friends, I'm known as Johnny the Horse. Get away.

If I can have your attention.

It's R .A .O. Roger.

He's a pompous old nut, but you have to play along with him.

Are you with us, Archdeacon? Good.

Now, may I open by thanking you all for... the bottom of my heart for coming

here today.

You have crossed oceans, overcome great dangers, put aside all obstacles to

attend this conference.

You have answered the call, and you have answered it speedily.

Now, you may be asking yourselves why I have summoned you here with such

urgency. Yes, that's right, Peter, but I was wondering about that.

Well, we have, of course, some administrative problems to settle, but

you are here to resolve something far more critical.

According to my...

Medical advisors, I am not long for this world.

Thank you, gentlemen.

In the time -honored tradition of bibliotech, you are therefore summoned

try to find a successor to take my place.

My Lord Bishop, we're all deeply aggrieved at your unfortunate

However, in the light of the situation, I should like to nominate Big Sid.

A beautiful man. I'm not taking nominations now.

The new bishop will be elected by majority vote after you've had an

to discuss the matter amongst yourselves.

And what if we can't agree?

Then your personal property will be returned to you and you'll settle the

in the traditional way.

You have arrived early.

I thought I'd pay you a return visit. You could have rung the side bell

of forcing your way in. We live over the premises.

You're hardly in a position to complain after the mess your husband made of my

flat. I apologize for that. He's rather clumsy at times. But you do appreciate

that we had to make sure of you.

How's it?

Mrs. Gale has come for her dolls.

Now, if you would just like to settle your bill, Mrs. Gale.

I'd like to see what I'm getting for my money first.

Twenty thousand pounds, Mrs. Gale.

The very reverend gentleman thinks the price is a little high.

It was arranged beforehand. He knew that before he left Africa.

This is no time to bargain.

I would say it was just the right time. After all, you've done the repairs now.

At least I presume you have. I told you over the phone to bring the money with

you. Yes, but twenty thousand pounds in cash is a little bulky.

I'm not in the mood for joking, Mrs. Gale.

We've kept our side of the bargain. That remains to be seen.

You've done your checks, now I'll do mine.

When I'm satisfied, I promise you, you'll get the cash.

If we don't get that money by tonight, you can tell your reverend friend that

he'll be hearing from us.

I'll pass on your message.

Why do you think it takes a dollar?

I didn't want that doll found on the premises. It might have been a trap.

You'd better go and see Sister Johnson at the school and find out what's going

on.

But that's always been mine, bitch.

Harry'll tell you that. We used to share it, didn't we, Harry? That's right.

He used to control all that territory from Hong Kong to Madagascar. And I used

to get the rake off off the Chinese traders.

Rake off?

Oh, all right, then.

Missionary funds.

But it don't belong to Fingers.

How could it? These parish don't spread out that far. I run the girls, don't I?

What's that got to do with it? Well, if I run the girls, I must have some

control over the territory I ship them through. You can't operate it any other

way. You ain't going to operate at all round our way, mate.

The vicar must have access routes, Harry. Well, he's pulling in a cool two

million a year on it. By rights, that belongs to us.

I'm sorry, Sid, but he's going to be sorry, too, when I'm finished with his

boys. Well, if you don't like it, ask the others.

Do you want me to put it to the vote?

Now, what's a good?

He's got them all sewn up.

Let's ask the old C's now. Let's hear what he's got to say.

Hey, Johnny.

She's developing very nicely. Reverend C, you're being asked a question.

Oh, I'm very sorry, Your Lordship. Do you reckon fingers ought to have it?

No, I don't think so.

Who wants it? Big Sid.

Big Sid, definitely.

I'll say Big Sid.

Put it to the vote. No, gentlemen.

On second thought, this is a matter which the new bishop can settle when he

takes office.

Time is getting short and we have a number of...

Yes, Steve, you wanted to add something?

No, Your Lordship, I just wondered if I could be excused. You'll all be excused

in a moment. Oh, good.

I said in a moment.

Now that we've resolved all other matters of the state, you will go to

refreshment and communicate amongst yourselves before the voting procedures

begin tomorrow.

Now, go in peace.

You better make sure you keep your side of the pond.

I said...

Go in peace, Reverend.

And I mean it.

Come with me.

Playtime?

Time for tuck.

Ah, brandy balls, my favourite.

Have they got any sherbet?

Sherbet?

Dolly mixture, jelly babies, gobstoppers, under... Oh, sherbet.

Thanks. Say, you got that little girl back again.

Don't know what I'm supposed to do with her now.

She doesn't look much different from when she went in.

Noticed anything about her hair?

No, I don't think so.

It's parted on the other side.

Oh, yes, I suppose it is.

I'll take her apart when I get home.

Oh, by the way, I had a friend of yours on the phone from Rhodesia.

Oh, yes, he was ringing up a crime sheet for me in case of any questions.

I asked him to contact you for any little details.

Well, apparently Bibliotech has already been checking.

There's one little detail your friend would like to know.

Who's Johnny the Horse?

Me?

Steed. The derivation is a question.

I should have guessed.

Oh, they've done a pretty good job on her. But you know, I don't know how

worth 20 ,000 pounds.

Oh, don't worry, I didn't pay.

What did they say?

That you'd be hearing from them.

Thank you very much.

I didn't see any point in parting with all that money unless I had to. Look

here, I'm sitting in that classroom with seven gunmen.

All of whom put a bullet in me as soon as look at me. If they find out that I'm

tardy in paying my debts, that's just what they'll do.

What do you do with the money, anyway?

I deducted 200 pounds for the damage done to my flat, and I put the rest in

bank.

So I'm afraid if they push you, they'll have to wait till the bank's open

tomorrow morning. I certainly hope they're prepared to. Look, you go to

address this evening.

A .S. Beardmore, Harley Street.

Yeah. He gave me a bottle of jollop last time.

He might say I finished it and I want some more.

How are your disease, sir? A good deal worse.

Oh, and tell him I'm waiting for him to fix me up for some exercise.

Have you found him?

No, and I've searched the building.

And he's not in the playground with the others?

Nobody's seen him.

I don't like this, Bishop. I didn't trust Deed from the minute he arrived.

But he's been checked.

I got a telegram back from Africa an hour ago. He has a record going back to

when he was nine years old. In fact, he seems a better man than Harbottle.

I only wonder that he hasn't been brought to my attention before this.

But that's what I mean.

Well, you know what Harbottle was like.

Jealous of his position.

Typical of him to keep a good man like this down.

Well, I'd feel happier if I knew where he was.

He should know the rules, even if he is new.

I'll bring that to his attention very shortly.

And now I'm...

I'm tired. I'd like to get some rest before tomorrow.

Of course, Bishop.

Johnny.

You rotten cheat.

You were supposed to hand that in.

That's going to be a brandy ball.

Oh, no thanks. They give me horrible toothache.

Listen.

Sid and I want a quiet word with you.

They've gone.

Good. Come on.

Shut the door, Harry.

Well, what's it all about?

The new bishop.

Sid and I have got one or two ideas about the election.

Oh, you're thinking of forming a voting bloc, eh? It's quite usual.

Who's your candidate, Big Sid?

Well, it's not that we're trying to fix it to get Big Sid in. We just want to

make sure we keep fingers up. What's his voting strength?

Well, he's got a lot of the boys tied up with his bandit racket, but that don't

mean to say they're all going to vote for him when it comes to the crunk. You

reckon he'll pick up about half the votes as things stand now.

That's not counting you, Johnny. Anyone else likely to get in? No, it's either

got to be fingers or Big Sid. All right.

What's your proposition?

You know what the job is worth, don't you? I'm not to guess.

The bishop takes up a million a year in membership alone.

That's apart from his personal records.

Job's worth about three and a half.

What are you offering for my vote?

A hundred grand a year if I get in. All right, then. I'll give it a thought.

If you think about it the right way, Johnny.

We might throw in a few of Finger's clip joints in Singapore.

Thought you'd have to get rid of him first, but we'd give you end.

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just rub him out?

The bishop wouldn't like that. The bishop isn't end? Too well.

Even if he was on his last croak, he can still move his hands faster than you

could, old sport.

How do you think you got this job?

I'm glad to see you're back, Steve.

Maybe you'd like to tell me where you've been. Yes, sister, I had some business

to attend to.

There's a rule at all assemblies that nobody leaves the premises until the

election has been declared. Oh, hot. Very sorry, I just didn't know that.

You do now.

Where do we sleep, then?

Here, in this room.

What, all seven of us?

All seven of you.

Huh.

Sounds like fun.

It is.

Yeah.

Why didn't Mr. Steed come personally, Mrs. Gale?

I'm afraid he's not feeling too well. Oh, dear, I am sorry. If I'd known, I'd

have called on him.

I hope he's not doing too much running around.

No, somehow he manages to get me to do that for him.

Really?

I feel I must tell you, Mrs. Gale, I knew the Reverend Harbuckle.

I treated him the last time I was in Africa.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

Cigarette? No, no, thank you.

You were saying?

Ah,

yes, the Reverend Harbuckle.

He didn't have malaria.

That's interesting.

So you see, Mr. Steed's story wasn't strictly true.

Maybe malaria was a euphemism for something else.

I find that rather disturbing.

Why? I'm wondering whether Mr. Steed is going to prove a worthy successor to the

previous vicar.

I'm sure he'll do his best.

Yes, but he doesn't seem to have done too well so far, does he?

I mean, Harbuttle usually paid his debts.

So does Steed when he knows what he's paying for. And that's something else

disturbs me.

Steed doesn't seem to have been too well briefed before he left for London.

Maybe there wasn't time.

I hope that's the reason.

Mr. Beardmore, shall we come to the point?

What exactly is Steed's brief supposed to be?

Yes, well, now you see, you've put me in rather a difficult position.

Either Mr. Steed doesn't know what he's here for, in which case a lot of people

have been wasting time and trouble, or else he does know and hasn't confided in

you.

Well, while you're pondering on that, will you write the prescription?

After all, that is what I came for.

Yes.

I suppose I'll have to take a chance, won't I?

Unless you're prepared to be more specific.

I'm afraid you will.

All right. I have it made out for you.

You won't be able to obtain this at the normal chemist. I've put the name and

address of the special supplier at the bottom.

Steed will get his instructions from them.

Bromoacetate? Yes.

Do you know what it is?

Hmm.

Tear gas.

Flight, bonjour. Come on, get your guilt on.

That's it. What's that for?

Okay, then.

All right, then. Re -enter our plume. Ninety more bits and we're off.

Yes, it's Black 15.

Thank you.

Hey, wait. Is this wheel rigged? I hope not.

I don't like the way Sid keeps on winning. You two wouldn't be working it

between you, would you? Of course we ain't. Well, I'll go again.

Uh -uh.

I'll spin it this time. Keep your claws up.

Righto. Bet's on? Right.

I'll have about a 28 black.

Put a lot on. All on? Yeah. Okay, no more bets. Here we go.

Black 10!

If you don't mind, beginner's luck.

All right, boys, that'll be all. Thank you very much.

Oh, give us a chance to get even. I said lights out, fingers.

All right, turn in, boys.

We've got a busy day today.

Good night, me little bishop. Good night, your lordship. Yeah, good night.

I've got a proposition for you.

About Big Sid?

Yeah.

I want your vote.

What's it worth?

No.

And you're on.

Fair enough.

Sid! Father, that... Hang on.

I'm a friend of Johnny the horse.

What do you want here?

He forgot his toothbrush.

Well, fetch Johnny.

Tell him his bird is here.

I, uh, hope I didn't wake you.

Just so long as you didn't wake the bishop.

He found you here, there'll be trouble.

Hello, my dear.

Bad thought for me to come.

You must be off your rocker, Johnny. Birds ain't allowed.

Go on, Harry. You're just jealous.

Harry's right.

We ain't supposed to have nobody contact us while we're in session.

You won't report me, accounting on my support.

Fair enough.

But I wouldn't stop out here too long if I was you.

I'm very understanding, fellas, you know.

Get that medicine?

Yes, the prescription was marked urgent. Thank you very much.

This says I've got to take over. I've got very formidable competition in

Incidentally, I've had a closer look at that doll.

There was microfilm sealed in the head.

I've had it copied and blown up.

It appears to be yards and yards of top secret information.

I'm having it checked.

Better get back.

No talking in bed.

Now, try and relax, Mr. Steed.

Keep the leg out straight.

Will it have to come off, Doctor? Well, the leg? Oh, I very much doubt it. It's

only a flesh wound, you know. I'm very glad to hear that.

Now, this is only a temporary dressing. You'll need to get it changed in a

couple of days, but that will hardly take specialist treatment.

I thought it best to come to you after an ordinary doctor. I'd be a bit

surprised seeing her pull it in the shin, eh?

Very wise precaution. Are you going to x -ray it?

I don't think that's necessary.

Well, you've got all your equipment set up there. Well, thank you very much for

the medicine.

I gather you didn't have an opportunity to use it. I was all set up for the

takeover bid, and Sister Johnson with the banner beat me to it with a weapon

more lethal.

Well, just see how that feels.

All right?

Yeah, I can manage very well, thank you. Oh, you may need a stick for a couple

of weeks.

I'll borrow one from the bishop.

Yes. How is he, by the way? Well, you would have seen him last, you tell me. I

mean, it's hard.

Well, I must say I'm surprised he manages to keep going under the

Tell you what.

Try this for size. Thank you very much. He's a very tough old bird, of course.

Yes, he is. I think that's about all I can do for you at the moment, Mr. Steed.

You'll come and see me again before you leave for Africa, won't you? I will, and

thank you for doing a rash job on me. Oh, not at all.

You're lucky it wasn't something more serious. Yes, I suppose I was. Good

Good night.

Why did you let him go?

Well, what else could I do?

We still have to have proof.

I sent that cable off to our organization headquarters in Singapore.

check up on Steed for us.

Well, what if he's a phony and doesn't know that Harbuttel was playing a double

game? He's still got our microfilm of top -secret information, and we've got

keep it out of the hands of bibliotech. Yes, well, I'm not going to do anything

else until I get new instructions.

As it is, they'll likely be pretty upset about the way you took the law into

your own hands with that machine gun.

What difference does it make?

It's achieved the same object?

No, not quite.

It's still your boyfriend, the bishop.

Wait. I'll get him.

Oh, Bishop, you've settled your election problem very nicely. If you think I was

responsible for this, Reverend Steed, you're very much mistaken. I'm very

that I misjudged you.

Some of the deceased were my personal friends.

They were my flock.

And we are all diminished by their death.

Diminished is right.

But bibliotech will live on, Steed. It has survived for the past 300 years, and

the thread will not be broken by this butchery.

Butchery?

Look, you were perfectly prepared for them to bump each other off if you had

trouble with your election problems, eh?

Oh, that's entirely different.

The settling of internal differences is both traditional and honorable.

But I will not tolerate massacre from another gang.

You think Sister Johnson was working for another gang?

I had suspected it for some time.

I have to take special drugs, you see, for my heart.

I took the precaution to have them analyzed. She's trying to poison me.

They say the drugs were not designed to improve my health. Then why'd you keep

her around?

Our relationship was rather closer than it appeared.

Messalina. Well, if it was that close, she wouldn't have much trouble, would

she? She seems to be quite a dab hand with firearms.

She wouldn't have dared to use them on me.

Or my fellow prelates would soon have settled with her.

Well, they're bound to do that under the Constitution, as you must know. Oh, so

she settled the fellow prelates first.

Fortunately, not all of them, Steve.

I want her found.

And you'll find her for me. I'll do everything I can.

I'm sure you will.

You might also keep an eye out for fingers.

Fingers?

You're not the only candidate left for my position, Steve.

I don't care what Beardmore says. I want you to get that doll back.

You're so worried. Why don't you get it back?

There are reasons why I have to lie low.

And Hasek knows Mrs. Gale's flag. I will not go there again. Look, she knows the

doll's valuable, even if she doesn't know why. Do you think she'd leave it

around just for anyone to pick up?

We'll offer to buy it back. I'll arrange the finances. And if she won't sell?

Well, we'll have to find a way of making her.

Shop. You'd better get out of sight.

Anyone serving? What can I do for you?

Oh, what a beautiful ballerina.

Yes, it was made in Vienna in the 1880s.

What are you doing here?

What can I do for you? Oh, this is the most interesting part of the shop.

The failure, eh?

Oh.

I thought it was the dance of the automatons. It was not quite.

What can I do for you? Oh, yes, I brought this doll for repair. Here we

Careful now. It's very, very delicate.

But that is the same one that I gave to Mrs. Gaines. Yes, poor girl. She's been

in before.

What has happened to her head?

Oh, I stamped on it by accident. It was terribly clumsy. I may have tried to

stick her up a sticky place, but she's not the girl she was.

I thought perhaps you might be able to fix her for me.

Yes, I'm sure we can.

Right, I'll leave her with you.

Oh, and let me know, will you, when she's ready? Of course. Thank you very

Oh, that reminds me.

I think we owe you for the last time she came in, so we'll settle it all

together. That's all right?

Perfectly all right. Thank you.

We don't have to bother with Mrs. Gale after all.

I wouldn't be too sure of that.

Where's Johnny the horse?

He's out on business.

Uh -huh.

Then I'll wait for him.

You make yourself at home.

Would you like some coffee? I've got some going.

I can do with a drink.

How did you know where to find me?

Followed you home from school last night.

But didn't carry my books for me.

Whiskey? Straight.

And pour yourself one.

Oh, very kind.

Oh, and that one.

Suspicious, aren't you?

Just careful.

Cheers. Cheers.

A friend of yours has called to see you.

Hello, Vicar. I've been looking for you.

Oh, Johnny.

I wanted to talk to you.

Alone.

Excuse me. I'll get the coffee.

Very considerate of you, Mrs. Gale.

Listen, Johnny, I've got a proposition for you. What again?

Now, look.

With Big Sid and Harry out of the way, we could operate this lot between us,

and me.

The bishop's running it.

Oh, he can't last much longer.

I wouldn't count on it.

He seemed to be picking up when I last saw him. Well, then he'll have to be

fixed, won't he? That's strictly against the rules. Yeah, from now on we make

our own rules. Who's going to fix him, you? I thought we might arrange it

between us, take him from both sides at once.

Look, with the bishop out of the way, we could split this organisation right

down the middle. I don't know how it operates. Oh, it's dead simple, for

example. There's the refugee fund racket.

You just soak all these rich old girls for all they're worth, then feed it back

into the business.

Of course, you've got to keep this church stuff going, but it's well worth

Then secondly, you've got all... Just one snag, fingers.

Supposing I help you fix the bishop.

What happens when you take over the whole organization?

Well, that's a chance you'll have to take, isn't it?

Anyway, think about it.

If you don't come in on it, I'll fix the bishop myself.

Good luck.

But you'll be helping me all the same.

Whether you like it or not.

That's how you can come out now.

Aren't you worth staying for coffee?

Coffee?

No, thanks.

Don't forget, Johnny.

Think about it.

Charming friends you have. Take it back with fingers.

Vicar of Woomba.

What did he want?

He wanted me to split it down the middle with him.

What, bibliotech? That's right. You got that little list for me? Oh, yes.

It's quite a long list, as it turned out.

Bairdmore has a lot of patients.

By just looking at the first few, I can see that they have access to top -secret

information.

Where's the information going to?

Out east.

So how about I came here to collect microfilm?

Use bibliotech convocation as a cover.

The bishop certainly didn't know that. You know what's puzzling me?

If fingers left before the shooting, how did he know I was alive?

What's more, how did he know the others were dead?

Perhaps he went back there.

He wouldn't risk it.

The bishop hasn't left that classroom since it happened.

Sister Johnson?

Well, have you enlarged it?

Yes. Let me see.

What is this, two sheets, four pillowcases? It's a laundry list.

Steve has a very bizarre sense of humor.

Now do you believe me? What difference does it make? Even if he sent the right

film back, he could still have had it copied.

But he couldn't have proven anything. But now we've let him have that

he's got quite enough evidence.

Well, we can still leave the country.

No, we must get control of Bibliotech first.

All right, you do it by yourself.

Oh, you're far too involved to creep out now, Beardmore.

Mrs. Gale, your doll is ready for collection.

I've been expecting you for the past hour, Mrs. Gale.

Sorry you decided to take it by force.

I'd actually come to pay your bill. I find that rather difficult to believe.

Count it.

I'm prepared to pay for cooperation.

You can keep that if you tell me what I want to know.

We keep the money and go free?

That's up to you, but you'll have to move fast.

All right.

This time we keep all the money. We'll tell her what she wants to know and we

get out, right?

It's a deal.

So do not tell us much, you understand?

But we hear things.

Go on.

The arbitral was supposed to take over from the bishop.

Who was going to help him? Sister Jones.

Anyone else?

Fingers.

Right, that's yours.

You've come a gutter this time, Mrs. Gale.

Morning, sir.

Your worship.

Yes? About the Bible class, sir. I tried to get in the classroom just now to

empty the baskets, but it was locked.

Ah, yes. Well, I still have one short service to conduct.

Oh, I see.

I received you to be up by this morning.

The needlework people have got this evening, you see. Well, I'm sure you can

give us one more hour.

Oh, well, I can sweep out the gym first. Thank you.

Keep going and don't try nothing.

He must be conducting the traditional memorial service for the delegates.

Memorial service?

Oh, keep going.

You've come back for the service, have you?

Not quite, Bishop.

Here, boy.

Nice shooting, Rivers.

And you, too.

You'll prove a worthy successor for my office.

I'm afraid not, Bishop.

You're due for defrocking anyway.

What are you talking about, Steed?

You've nothing to fear from me. You're head of bibliotech now.

Bibliotech is finished.

Do you mean you're working for some other interest?

You might say that. But, Steed, bibliotech is worth millions.

Don't throw it away, man. You and your lady friend could live like kings for

rest of your life.

Thank you, but I prefer the simpler life.

After you, Bishop.

I'm the vicar of Toowoomba.