Original subtitles

It's the same in France.

As long as there are people willing to buy, there will be men willing to sell.

And the more difficult we make it for the supplier, the higher the price.

What about the one at the end of the needle? He hurt the most.

Oh, we all hurt.

The addict becomes desperate. He turns to crime to support his habit, and our

work is doubled.

In England, the recognized addiction is illegal sickness.

If England weren't our royal representative...

Has anyone seen Bill Walston?

Oh, he arrived yesterday. I spoke to him. He planned to attend this morning's

seminar. He was supposed to meet me for lunch. I'm afraid you'll have to forget

lunch, Chief. Sorry.

Excuse us, gentlemen.

Well, why do I have to forget lunch?

And when the clerk arrived this morning, there was I all trussed up like a

chicken with a spitting headache.

But no damage.

Hello, Bob.

Hello, Bill.

Good to see you again.

And you.

Sergeant Brown, this is Inspector Walsh.

Yes, of course. We spoke on the phone, didn't we?

That's right, sir.

Getting me down here was your idea?

Well, Mr. Doubleday knew I was in San Francisco.

And since the consulate is technically British territory, he called me.

And you called me.

Well, I know jurisdiction here. And the matter is rather delicate, so naturally

I'm... I'm it.

All right, Mr. Doubleday, what's missing?

The embassy codes.

The lab crew will be here in about ten minutes. We should have a report early

this afternoon.

Yes, it won't amount to much as I read it. S .O .P., Bill, and Ed will check

the staff.

Hi, Chief. What's going on?

Thinking of emigrating, Chief? Ah, good morning, gentlemen.

Well, how about it? Can you tell us that?

There's been a robbery.

This is Chief Inspector Walston.

Scott, when you heard?

Helping the chief out, Mr. Walston?

Well, consulting, if you like it.

Chief Onside doesn't need my help. Well, the people of San Francisco will be

delighted to hear that, sir.

What was told us?

The embassy code book.

Look, boys, any information you get will have to be at the discretion of the

council. Now, why don't you go see him? Putting the lid on, Chief. Won't stay on

long with you around, Roy.

That's a safe bet.

They're pushy a lot, aren't they? Yes, they are.

old friend, Chief Inspector Walston, New Scotland Yard. This is Officer Sanger.

How do you do, Inspector? And Officer Belding.

Very nice to meet you.

My pleasure.

Bill, you're spoiling things for the rest of us. I've always said this office

could use some class.

This office could use some work.

Has anything come for me from the Department of Building and Safety?

Yeah, 15 minutes ago.

Something like this.

Yeah, there was a break -in at the British consulate last night.

Where'd you pick it?

Embassy code book.

Heavy. This is where they came in through the skylight.

And they made straight for Doubleday's office along here, around here, and down

to the end.

These doors were all locked, and they didn't force them.

So they knew where the safe was, and the safe wasn't blown or forced.

Either expert safe -crackers, or they knew the combination.

One of the staff was knocked out.

But he came to in time to see two men leave.

Had a driver?

At least a three -man gang. With an M .O. I'll get with it.

It sounds like an inside job to me, Chief.

Ed's working on it.

Inside.

Four men at the consulate knew the combination of the safe.

Three plus Doubleday. You've talked to them? All except one. He's out of town.

It was supposed to be week -ending at Palm Springs.

I came out here to meet his plane.

However... He wasn't on it.

Right. I did some checking with the other airlines. He went to Las Vegas

instead. He's due back in about a half an hour.

What's his name?

Beamish. Henry Beamish. He's attached to the consulate as a senior clerk.

Henry Beamish. Thanks, Ed. Right.

What's that about Beamish? You know him?

Of him?

That's if it's the same man.

Well, unless Beamish is to the English what Smith is to us.

Well, the Beamish I know about was involved in something of a scandal a

of years back. Had a close brush with the law, as a matter of fact.

The second son of an old and proud family.

Black sheep?

Well, more grey than black, actually. He was suspected of stealing a painting

from his own family and trying to extort money from them.

Suspected? Well, the painting never showed up.

And the whole business was swept under the rug.

I'm convinced his family pulled some powerful strings to cover for him.

And help him keep his job.

I had no idea he wound up here.

And with a responsible job at the consulate.

Fran, see what you can find out about the inspector's grey sheep.

Mr. Beamish, to a white courtesy phone, please.

Mr. Beamish, to a white courtesy phone, please.

Uh, just a moment, darling. Be right there.

Be my share, you paid me.

Who?

Oh, oh.

Very well, I'll be right there.

Attention.

Lightning non -stop.

Now wait.

Something's come up, my dear.

Why don't you go to the bar and wait for me?

I won't be long.

Mr.

Beamish?

Yes. Now, what's all this about?

Well, I've been pressed.

So?

There was a break -in at the consulate last night.

How nice of you to come down to tell me.

Coincidence, you're being away at the time.

First weekend I've had off in months.

You were one of four people who knew the combination of the safe.

Oh, come now, Sergeant. You said it yourself.

I wasn't even in town.

You weren't in Palm Springs, either.

Uh... Tell me, Sergeant. Are you a married man?

No. Well, I am.

Come. I'd like to introduce you to someone.

Your wife?

The reason I chose the anonymity of Las Vegas over the tranquility of Palm

Springs. I called the hotel in Vegas. He did check in.

And I spoke to the girl.

She says they were together most of the time. So I believe Amy would have

actually participated in the robbery. But he could have planned.

Yes, we'll see what Fran turns up.

That's a couple of weeks old.

Catching up?

On the Robin Hood papers.

Any special reason?

Ed, if you wanted to steal a coat, how would you go about it?

I wouldn't steal it at all. I'd photograph it. Go on.

Well, if you stole it and the theft were discovered...

Code would probably be changed before you could do anything with it.

The trick would be to copy it without tipping anyone.

But someone went to a lot of trouble to break into the consulate and steal a

code book.

It's possible their deductive powers aren't as great as yours.

Bill?

Of course, I informed the embassy in Washington right away.

And they're withdrawing the codes and substituting new ones. As quickly as

can. It's rather complicated.

So for the moment, the old code is still operative? That's correct.

Tell me, Mr. Doubleday, was anything on your desk disturbed after the break -in?

No, I had papers all over the place. My own filing system. But I'm sure nothing

was touched.

I wonder if you'd mind checking the safe again.

Why? To see if there's something else missing.

Well, there's nothing else of any value.

Some forms, routine files.

How about the money?

Well, it's still here. You did see it yourself.

Did you count it?

Well, surely if anyone wanted money, they'd have stolen the whole lot.

Would you count it now, please?

Uh -huh.

You think the theft of the code book was a blind?

Yes, you're right, Mr. Ironside. There was $10 ,000 here.

Now there's three missing.

I feel sorry for Robert. He shouldn't be here with us.

Instead, he's chasing all over town, looking for a missing code book.

Well, wait till he finds it, too. He's a detective par excellence.

I sincerely hope so. For his sake.

For whose sake?

Oh, we missed you both.

Yes, you've hardly spent any time at all with us. Blame him.

Have you finished writing your closing speech for the conference yet? No, I

haven't.

Can we know what it is about?

As soon as I know.

How about missing code books, sir?

Have a drink with us.

No, thanks. I just thought I'd have word with Bill.

Of course, old man. Excuse us.

I have just been to see Doubleday again.

Don't tell me you found the code book.

Oh, something else.

$3 ,000 missing from the safe.

Perhaps Beamish needed the money to finance his Las Vegas trip.

This is a pattern crime, Bill.

There have been three others like it. A department store, a freight office, and

a credit card company.

$3 ,000 taken each time.

And substantial amounts left behind.

Gentleman thieves?

The press has been having a field day.

Police baffled by Robin Hood banned.

Your cases?

No, but thanks to you, I may inherit them.

I'm not sure I follow.

Total of 12 ,000 taken from four places when they could have had more than 50.

Why not 12 ,000 from one place?

Good question.

Well, perhaps 12 ,000 was all they needed.

Yeah. To finance something bigger.

Wouldn't be the first time.

I got a great train robbery.

Financed with an earlier job at the London airport.

What could they be planning?

That's what we have to find out.

Good morning.

Morning. Top of the morning.

Check out the envelope, Chief.

pretty thin, but there's one guy who's pretty classy at breaking in, Henry.

Barney Rollins.

Any line on him? We're looking. What about Beamish? Well, it's pretty much as

thought.

He's a ladies' man.

He's living well beyond his means.

If it wasn't for his diplomatic passport, he'd be in jail by now. All

stay with it, friend.

See if you can find out how the reporter's got the consulate breaking in

quickly yesterday morning.

I'd like two of you to find out if anyone's been doing any heavy shopping

lately. Easy, my wife.

Shopping for what? Anything that might be used to run a big caper. So you're

betting that's where the money was taken?

Well, it certainly wasn't the money itself.

Well, they've taken all of it.

Well, I'll see you chaps later.

Well, you're not coming to the conference this morning? Well, I've got

of errands, and I'm meeting Bob Ironside for lunch.

You've been out. I told you to stay put.

Well, I'm here now.

You do it tonight.

But we tonight.

Ah, Chief Wilson.

Inspector Wilson. Ah, sorry.

Newspaper chap, aren't you?

Roy Macon. We met at the consulate yesterday. How's the case going?

Case? Oh, you mean the code book?

You see, there's a fresh angle here for me. You and Chief Ironside working

together.

Off the record, I believe it's developed a bit more than that. At the moment,

he's concentrating on what you Japs call the Robin Hood band.

Oh? Yes, one of your local sensations, I understand.

In any case, Chief Ironside has a theory that the two are connected.

Will you excuse me?

Thank you, Morgan.

Sure.

You should have told me you weren't safe to be let out on your own.

Sorry about this.

Just remember, next time over here, we're driving the right side of the

Now, what happened?

I swerved to avoid a dog and lost control of the car.

What does the doctor say?

Nothing much.

He wants to take some x -rays.

Thinks I might have a spot of concussion.

I'll have a word with him.

Only if it's to get me out of here. I can't stand hospitals.

Anything you need?

No, I don't.

Oh, yes. Yes, there is.

Could you have my travel kit picked up from the hotel?

They've given me a razor here that wouldn't cut hot butter.

Will do.

Is that mine?

Mm -hmm.

Where are the onions?

I don't eat onions.

He doesn't eat onions, so I don't get onions.

Onions.

Any luck?

No. You? Only bad.

Gentleman thieves lure Chief Ironside.

Robin Hood, otherwise known as the Gentleman Thieves, is now leading the

of Nottingham.

Otherwise known as Robin Ironside on another Mary Chase.

This time in pursuit of a missing code book.

Now that's just great.

How'd he make the connection?

Power of the press.

Never underestimated.

Cheers.

Are you the manager?

I'm the owner. I took my own managing.

Speak to your mind, do you mind?

I've never seen one of those things before, except in the movies.

How about that?

Very interesting. You're Mr. Welch. Yes, I am. I'm inquiring about a customer

you might have had.

Well, you go ahead and inquire. I've got them in all shapes and sizes.

This one would have spent a lot of money, cash.

Well, that's a vanishing breed.

And he would have done it in the past couple of weeks.

Mr. Combs.

Who's he?

Well, that's the fellow you were asking about.

Combs. That's what he said his name was. And he spent close to $3 ,000.

Paid cash.

What'd he buy?

Well, you want to see the full list?

Yeah, please. Everything.

Okay. You got it over here.

I, uh, pretty sure I put it on the top of it.

Do you know what the equipment could be used for, Ed? Oh, he hasn't the faintest

idea. But he's no expert.

All right. See if you can locate Johnny Lewis.

He's in the cooler.

Then thaw him out.

Thanks, Duffy.

Thanks, Johnny.

Whatever it is, I didn't do it.

I got an alibi and the chief won't be able to break.

Still got another six more months to run.

Unless my appeal comes through. You've been behaving yourself?

That's the suite I have. Getting too old to do time.

I want out.

You know, the chief might be able to help you with your appeal.

Why should he do that?

Because you helped him.

I did?

When?

Right now.

So?

What would you do with that stuff?

I'd open up Fort Knox.

But then I'm ambitious.

You rig this gear upright, you can overwrite any timing mechanism in any

built before 1962.

How?

It's a professional secret.

Just have to take my word for it.

I've got the track report on Inspector Walton's accident.

The car was a rental.

Anything wrong with the steering brakes?

Oh, no.

What's bothering you?

He only arrived three days ago, right?

Right. This car was rented by him four weeks ago in Los Angeles.

Hello, Bob.

How are you feeling?

Fit to the fiddle.

You should keep him, Second Lord. Thank you.

Thanks again, Morgan.

Welcome as always, Pete.

Much obliged, Bob.

I'll get that, will you? It's probably for you anywhere.

Hello?

Yes, Ed.

All right, get the word out.

Yes, Arthur?

When did you arrive in the States?

You know when.

Yes, four weeks.

As you Americans used to say, it says who.

I checked out the car you rented.

Oh.

Yes, I... I haven't counted on the accident.

I suppose I do owe you some explanation.

See these?

Know what they are?

Quinodine.

Heart's no good.

No bloody good at all, as a matter of fact.

I... I came to the States four weeks ago to get a diagnosis.

A final diagnosis.

I got it all right in a few days.

My time's running out, so I spent the rest of the four weeks driving around

beautiful state of yours, sorting things out, trying to get the old head in

order.

What did the doctor say?

Take it easy, very easy.

And I can live till I'm 65.

There's the rub, Bob.

I'm still two years off my pension.

If they found out about this at home, they'd boot me out.

And there I'd be, a tired, old, over -the -hill policeman with no pension.

So, Bob, mum's the word, eh?

I promise, Bill.

And I want you to know that... Oh, forget it.

Don't like lying to an old friend like you.

Mary, rest her soul, used to say, every lie you tell a friend is another shovel

of earth on your own grave.

I'll pay.

I'm through with my list, Mark.

Every bank and store that has a pre -1962 vault in the premises has been

The ones we know about and could get to.

That's all we can do then.

If they're going into any of those places, they're in for a surprise.

Yeah, I got it.

Okay, thanks.

Smell the freshly brewed coffee is conspicuous by itself.

Yeah, no coffee this morning, Chief.

I presume we have a good reason. Yes, sir, we missed one last night.

Which one did we miss?

The Lombard Printing Company. There was nothing gentlemanly about this one. They

got away with eight million bolivars in various denominations. That's two

million dollars.

One million, nine hundred, four thousand. I'll take your word for it.

morning.

Did we run out of coffee or did the cook over sleep? This is not a short order

house. This is an office.

I'll run another check on Beamish.

See if he has any connections with either the Venezuelan embassy or the

printing company.

And what happened about the reporter?

Oh, you mean the council break -in? That is what I mean.

Roy Macon pulled the I've got to protect my sources routine.

And the others, just an anonymous tip.

Well, there'll be nothing anonymous about this. Let's go, Ed.

Well, good morning.

I can go without coffee, you can go without coffee. Let's go.

I've alerted customs. The serial number's being tabulated.

It's going to take time to get the list together and distribute it.

Time to launder the money. It's a big load to wash.

When was the printing run finished?

Yesterday. The money was due to be shipped out today. Check the shipping

arrangements. Get a list of everyone who knew about them.

Trucker, shipping agent, airport, docs, whoever.

In the works.

Anything on Barney Rollins yet?

No.

All right, keep after it.

Who would have believed it?

More money in here than half the banks in town.

Lombard has been printing foreign government banknotes for years.

How many people would know that?

Very few.

Well, they certainly knew it, whoever they are.

What about your man from the electronics shop? He come up with a face yet? He's

still going through the mugshots.

All right. Get over there and see if you can hurry him up apart from the elusive

Mr. Rollins. He's the only lead we've got. Right. Ironside.

There's no apparent connection between Beamish and the embassy or the printing

company, Chief.

I'm still digging, though. Oh, and Chief.

The newspapers are screaming for an official handout.

How'd they get on to it so quickly?

Another anonymous phone call.

All right, Fran.

If you want me, I'll be with Bill Walston at the hospital.

Two million dollars.

That's quite a lot of money, Bob.

In a good many currencies, yes.

Whoever breaks this one is going to get quite a feather in his cap. Just so long

as it's broken.

Anything I can do when I get out of here?

What do the doctors say?

No concussion.

A few more days for observation.

It's a lot of nonsense.

I'm not talking about that.

I haven't told them about the other thing. What they don't know won't hurt

Bob, maybe I could poke around Beamish's backyard for you. Unofficially, of

course. A fellow countryman, that sort of thing.

If there's a connection, we haven't found it yet.

Well, you'll break this.

You always do.

No, I don't.

But thank you for the vote of confidence.

That's him.

That's him.

Sergeant, I found him.

There he is. You sure?

Pardon?

Penny Wilson.

Checkmate. I should have seen that coming.

It's good to know I can still beat you occasionally.

Hello?

Yes, Ed.

Good. I'll meet you in half an hour.

Will something break?

Let me have a line on one of the thieves.

Have you picked him up yet?

Hidden marker on the way.

Well, where are you going?

I'm going to work.

Outside line, please.

Outside line, please.

Hello?

Rollins? Barney Rollins?

I'll meet you in a back.

Burke denies it, but he must have warned Wilson I was on my way up.

He didn't do him any favor.

Anything happen on the man who shot him? No.

Mark's out trying to get a line on the car.

Was he waiting for Kenny?

He drove up after Mark was in position.

Maybe Kenny was planning to split. And you surprised him and... He was shot to

keep him quiet, that's for sure.

God, his murderers showing up just at that moment.

Chief Ironside's office.

Hold on.

Kenny Wilson's known associates.

We've been working on it. It's Mark, Chief.

Yes, Mark.

The Oakland police think they found a getaway car.

I'm on my way there now.

All right. Keep me posted.

What you got?

Just the car.

Looks like it was abandoned here.

Who told them? Well, that's the big issue. Man, nobody saw anything, right?

Deaf, dumb, and blind.

Yeah.

See that car pulling?

No.

I'm sure of that.

Cost you five.

Is it worth five?

Don't make no difference. We don't cost.

Okay.

Here's two.

You got the other three? Yes, it's worth it.

Pardon me, Steve. The guy.

He gets out. Then he goes across the street and now he's talking to Chevy.

How do you know he was doing it?

Take my word for it. Jenny drove off.

That's all?

Sorry, I gave her two bucks.

Okay.

Yeah, it wasn't something you like to say. You know, words instead of numbers.

Like what?

Pass one.

A -A -X?

Then number.

Okay. Now, the guy.

Tell me, what did he look like?

Thanks. Keep digging.

Kenny Wilson sent some time in queue. He got out eight months ago.

Hung around for a while, then dropped out of sight. They think he was in

Checking now to see if England has anything on him.

Maybe we can tie him in there with Beamish.

Beamish wasn't in England six months ago.

He's been here for two years.

Let me go to Walston at the hospital.

See if I can get his office.

Got one.

Inspector Walston's room, please.

Okay.

Awesome. The man who shot Candy answers the description of Barney Rollins.

He ditched his car and stole another. There's an APB on it. Thank you.

Inspector Walston has checked out of the hospital.

They think that he's gone back to his hotel.

All right, get over there and talk to him, Fran.

If Candy Wilson was in England, he may have tangled with the law. See if Bill's

heard of him.

Maybe he'll buy you dinner while you're there.

If he does.

He'll be the first policeman who has.

Hey, Bill.

So I'm here.

Hello, chaps. You're better?

Fine, just fine.

We worried when we heard about your accident.

It was nothing serious.

Join us for dinner. I can't, I'm afraid. Working.

Here in San Francisco?

Ex officio, we might call it.

The court book?

Better than that.

I have a hunch on the big robbery.

I think it's a good one.

What does Bob Ironside say?

I haven't told him yet.

I want to make certain first.

Oh, that would be sensational to solve Bob's case right here on his own

doorstep. He'd never live it down. We wouldn't let him.

Now, not a word to anyone, right? Right.

You're right.

Thanks.

Hey, pick up Barney Rollins.

Chief Ironside, Barney and Rollins. You had a gun on when we picked them up?

Ballistics are checking against the gun to kill Danny Wilson.

You like talking, Mr. Rollins?

What's the talk about? The weather, providing ballistics doesn't come up for

match.

Can I make a deal?

No deal.

Then what difference does it make?

That's up to you.

What do you want to know?

All of it.

About a month ago, Kenny called me.

Told me this guy was in town and had contacted him. He wanted Kenny to put a

team together.

You, Kenny, and a driver.

Right. The driver's name.

Jimmy.

Jimmy Gable.

What did Kenny tell you about the man who contacted him?

That he called?

Kept calling.

Once a week, regular.

Tuesday nights.

He had the whole caper laid out every time.

Each joint we were going to knock over and how much we could lift.

$3 ,000.

Yeah.

Kenny never met this man.

Not as far as I know.

Anyway, we busted these places just like he said.

$12 ,000 bucks altogether.

Three of us split nine grand. The other three was used to buy the electrical

gear. What about the code book?

Don't ask me that, man. That's out of my line. What happened to the code book?

And he brought it to my place after the printing house job.

Told me this guy who was running the show wanted me to deliver it to a

address. Well, not deliver it exactly.

I was supposed to hide it in this guy's apartment.

If somebody wanted to set him up.

What address?

was there. He's the best actor I've ever come across.

He didn't know.

Yes, Mr. Doubleday.

Fine.

Thanks.

We can open it. The codes have been cleared.

What is it?

I'm very much mistaken.

It's a claim check for two million dollars.

Who'd want a frame, Beamish?

I don't think it was a frame.

Correction. Not just a frame.

What then?

Trail leading to the recovery of the money.

Trail? For whom?

Not for us, certainly.

Ironside. Mr. Walston was here.

Where is he now?

He had a heart attack about an hour or so ago.

They rushed him back to the hospital.

Chief, his condition is critical.

Weak as a kitten.

Can't function.

Can't function at all.

Bloody hospital.

You shouldn't have checked out.

I... I hate hospitals, you know that.

Full of sick people.

That's not why you left, is it?

And to get to Beamish's apartment, where you were going to discover the code

book. The baggage claim check.

We were going to solve both cases.

How did you find out?

No single thing.

Many things.

You were clever.

Was I?

Yes.

Didn't want a shooting, Bob.

Didn't want that.

Rollins must have panicked.

Know what?

Supposed to suffer.

Bill.

Bill.

No more chess games, old friend.

Maybe if you did pay that to me, Chief.

No, thank you.

What's it writing about anyway?

Speech from the closing session of the conference tonight. He's been at it

the crack of dawn.

Well, that Roy Macon just can't let up, Kenny.

Another zinger?

Right on the top spot.

We congratulate Chief Ironside on making it big with another important case. We

have vibes that Inspector Bill Walston of New Scotland Yard provided a healthy

assist.

It's a shame the inspector didn't live long enough to take a bow himself.

Take a bow?

Well, he finally got what he wanted, his name in the paper.

Poor man.

Was that what he really wanted?

Finish, Chief?

Just about.

You sure crowded your deadline.

What's it about?

Pride.

Pride in ourselves as human beings?

Pride in our work as policemen, regardless of whatever thanks or

think we deserve.

No one promised there would be glory. No one promised it would be easy.

Our gratification must come from the satisfaction of a job well done and the

pride of being a professional.