Original subtitles

Hello.

You're not going to be too long, are you?

What? It's after midnight.

I promise I won't stay up too late.

Good night.

Good night, then.

Whoop.

Now what do you do?

I often wonder if people really dig cut these things out. It's harder than you

might think, you know.

Oh, they do, but they usually wait until the packet's empty first.

Ah, well, these are for a friend of mine's kids.

They got one of those cork pop -gun things, you know.

Oh, I've got a present for you. You can take it in your bath with you.

They're tired of shooting at cut -out lions and tigers. They want to shoot at

cut -out people. Boom, boom.

Where's the morning paper?

Ah.

By the way, I couldn't find any butter.

In the front of the refrigerator.

I'll look for her.

I don't think we've got any, then.

You'll have to get some more.

And that was part of the bargain. You have this flat until you get a new one.

In return, you provide me with slap -up bumper meal.

I take my mind off my ice -cold hotel.

Hey, don't we run to cream? Oh, you dedicated people.

And look at this.

Found the bit I marked for you.

What, did you read it?

Intruder breaks into laboratory.

That's it.

Not very informative.

Laboratory was broken into the property of a Dr. Ash. Nothing was taken. No

damage was caused. Is that all?

Well, I want to find out.

This, um, Dr. Ash, what does he do?

Well, bacteriology, biochemistry, pathology.

He's an interesting chap, really.

He's a bit of a late Victorian tea cozy, though, you know. Long combs, carpet

slippers. He's got his own laboratory.

Hmm. That's unusual these days. Must have money of his own.

Oh, he does routine work for local doctors, hospitals, blood smears, that

of thing. What's your interest in him?

He's working on some rather odd things.

Viruses.

The trouble is, he never publishes his results.

Now his laboratory's been broken into, I suppose you've got to file a foot thick

on him, just because he doesn't work for some well -paid government research

unit. I thought you'd be interested in him. You might have a fellow feeling

him. After all, you don't work for anyone either.

What is it you want me to find out for the

file? Well, to find out if anything really was taken.

Don't believe all you read in the papers.

Oh, I've arranged an appointment for you. Look your intellectual best.

Yes, I think that should do.

48 hours ought to be long enough to get the place back to sterile again.

You still haven't told me how it happened.

Oh, just carelessness.

I was trying to carry too large a stack of dishes.

It was nothing dangerous, was it? No, no.

No, nothing like that.

Well, now.

What about this magazine woman?

Darrell. Is that his name?

Sounds rather improbable for a magazine.

It's half ten.

Yes, well, let's try and get the place back to normal, shall we?

Is anything the matter?

Have you hurt yourself?

A headache.

Can I get you something?

That's probably her now.

Let her in, would you?

Good morning.

I'm from Galileo. Oh, yes. The doctor's expecting you.

Thank you.

Good

morning.

Well, you didn't give me much notice.

You're very welcome. Thank you.

Galileo is a new magazine, Dr. Ash, with new ideas.

We're aiming to be a little more personal in our approach to science and

scientists. We want to find out what they're thinking, what their opinions

instead of just reporting what they're doing.

What a frightful idea.

Scientists, Mrs. Gale, are, as a group, boring, narrow -minded, and self

-opinionated.

Rather like everybody else, in fact.

Well, now, what would you like my opinions on?

Well, we have to start somewhere, and you're in the news at the moment.

Well, because the place was broken into a couple of nights ago, hardly news I

should have thought.

Nothing was taken? No damage was caused?

No.

Excuse me, I can't see 11 o 'clock post. This is my assistant, Elizabeth. She'll

confirm that.

There wasn't any damage, was there, Liz? What, on Tuesday night? No.

You weren't here, of course, when it happened.

No.

Mrs. Gayle, you can get all the facts from the local police station.

They think it was either a curious teenager or a tramp looking for a

sleep.

Well, now, you want to hear about some of the things I'm doing, don't you? Yes.

Oh, sorry, that's not... Oh!

Have you hurt yourself?

No, I have not hurt myself.

Sorry.

Yes, I have, as a matter of fact.

I straightened up under an open cupboard door yesterday morning.

It's not improved my temper, I'm afraid.

Now then, as you can see, I do quite a lot of routine pathology for local

doctors. Phage typing, that sort of thing, blood counts, sedimentation

Oh, Liz, deal with this, will you?

Oh, that's my cold story.

Yes, I have a combination lock on it because this is a private house.

I built the laboratory as an annex myself.

Anyone might stray in and tamper with things.

As a rule, there's nothing here worth stealing.

Oh, yes, I knocked a culture over there yesterday.

You sterilized it pretty thoroughly.

I have.

With a blowtorch, as a matter of fact.

It was a virus. I don't know all I'd like to about it yet.

So I took the view that it was better to be safe than sorry.

You know something, don't you?

Must have picked something up. You know, some bug out of that place that turned

over on Tuesday.

Phil, it's done now, isn't it? Done? No, it's not done. Not by a long chalk.

I bet your life on that.

Might be something dangerous. You've probably just got flu. Drink it. It's

like any kind of flu I ever had.

Tell her I don't like it.

Tell her to come out.

I have a few words to say to Redford next time I see him, too.

He never told me what sort of place it was.

Oh, this is muck.

You've got a temperature.

Yeah, die.

What am I getting for this job?

A hundred quid.

I'd have paid the rent.

Well... I'm sorry, girl.

I mean... Well, things aren't like they used to be, are they?

I'll tell you when I know.

I'm going to have a few answers out of Redfern before I hand that case over.

A few answers.

How did you get in? The door was open. I've come to collect the case. John

go out again. The door's still open. Hey, Dr.

Redfern ain't going to like that. 28 hours.

Hey.

I'm not handing anything over until I know what's the matter with me.

I need a doctor.

Nobody told me that place was full of germs.

Where is he?

Up that chimney, shove off. You've been in some place. How clever, haven't you?

All right.

Come back and have another look.

Later.

I'm sorry to bite in on you like this, but my magazine is very interested in

this article. They thought it must be a good idea. Your magazine doesn't exist,

Mrs. Gayle.

No.

I'm sorry about that.

But I'd still like to talk to you.

I'm sure you'd rather talk to me than to the police.

Oh, what about it?

Tuesday night, your laboratory was broken into.

It was.

You said you were away at the time.

Well? You weren't. You were here.

You said no damage was caused.

Whereas, in fact, you were attacked and quite possibly knocked out.

And finally you said that nothing was taken. Nothing was taken.

Nothing from here?

Nothing was taken at all.

Look, Dr. Ash.

You may not believe me, but I want help.

I think something was taken from here.

I don't know what it was, but I do know you want it back.

And quickly.

Am I right? No.

All right, Dr. Ash.

You've made your point.

I can't help. I'll go.

May I give you some advice?

I don't know who you are or what you're doing, but you are out of your depth.

So stay away, please. Nothing was taken from here.

By the way, where's your assistant today?

I don't know. She's got the day off.

I don't make it my business to inquire into other people's movements.

What do I pay you? Two thousand, isn't it? So far that represents about a

hundred pounds a week. About that.

And what do I pay you for? Information, that's all.

Nobody's ever asked you to take any action.

I've never asked you to kill anybody, for instance, have I? No.

Information. And now I want some more.

So you said.

But you can't have it if I don't possess it, can you?

I've told you.

Nobody knows what effect this stuff has.

On rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits, yes.

On human beings, no.

It's as easy as that. But you could make a guess, an educated guess. I wouldn't

care to.

Respiratory failure, I should think. Judging by rats, mice, guinea pigs and

rabbits? Yes.

I see.

So, if I were to tell you that our friend Leo was ill... He's not.

He can't be.

Didn't you tell him to be careful?

You would have no advice to offer on the subject. He must be isolated.

Just in case, is that it? All right, I think that's fair enough.

Elliot? I warned you.

I told you you didn't know what you were handling.

Oh, yes, you did. Yes, you did, Elizabeth. Thank you very much. You've

helpful. But you can go now.

For the present.

Hillier.

I wish I'd never got into this.

None of you know what you're doing.

Just kidding, sir, that I can't get a word in edgeways these days. Hillier,

expert advisor says that we ought not to leave Leo at home.

And I'm beginning to think that he might need a little more careful attention.

So I think what you'd better do is this.

Get hold of Campbell and Hall and an ambulance.

What are you doing? Get back to bed.

Nothing in life. I've had enough.

Look at me.

I'm ill.

I know you are, love. I've sent for the doctor, but... No, doctor. I'm praying

good to get to me till I got flu. That rest of me, leave me alone.

What are you trying to do?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Hospital, maybe.

Maybe I should go back to that place. No, you can't do that. Why not?

He's a bloke, you know. What's the matter with me?

I've got it in this place.

Look.

Now I've got you back to bed.

Stay there.

Sorry. Who you phoning? You know I'm calling Mr. Redford. Please, Leah, you

I'm calling.

Don't let me die. I need you.

I need it back.

Don't let me die. Die now.

Not now.

Die.

Die.

Die. Mrs. De Leon. Yes, that's right.

We've called to collect your husband.

They sent him up there.

Looks as if we've come just at the right time, hasn't it?

We had a call from Mr. Redfern about your husband. Would that be right, Mum?

I said, would that be right?

Oh, yes, I suppose so.

That's all right, old man. You'll be all right.

Keep her away.

I know you.

Die. I know them.

They're not... That's right, don't you think we are, eh? Lottle and Artie.

I know you. I don't know them anyway.

I don't know. I really don't.

Don't worry about me.

Get a call from the hospital. Don't you go worrying about a thing. Come on.

Careful with it now.

Careful with it.

Here we go.

You will let me know from the hospital, won't you? Don't you worry about a

thing. Don't you worry about a thing.

Have they got him?

Yes, they're a good man. I'm very pleased with them, Elizabeth.

All things considered.

And they're bringing him here?

No.

What are you going to do then?

They're on their way. They should be there in about five minutes, so you

have long to wait.

Understand?

Well, it must have been thermite. Keep right away. Don't come anywhere near.

Nothing else would have earned like that.

If you jog this table, I'll kill you.

Well, that's marvellous.

Look,

I'll let you have my flat.

You've turned it into something like a small factory.

I must return that to Mrs Pringle.

Look, what have you been doing with all my books?

I needed the shelves.

Oh,

jigsaw puzzles.

That's right.

Now, what was it you said?

I said they must have used thermite. What for? To burn out the ambulance.

Everything was completely gone except a small pool of molten metal.

Even a smaller pile of ashes.

Couldn't it just have crashed and caught fire? Of course it crashed. The skid

marks are 50 yards long. But after that, somebody really set fire to it. I

should think it was a thermite bomb.

Now, when I said there were three bodies burnt beyond recognition, that's what

the papers will say. This time I really mean it. And three bodies is a guess.

Teeth?

Teeth?

Now, that's an old fallacy.

Find a body, they say.

Doesn't matter what condition it's in. Take it along to the dentist.

And he'll identify it by its teeth.

Well, it's not so.

Do sit down. As long as you're standing up, I'm terrified you're going to shake

this table. In the first place, teeth aren't all that indestructible.

In the second place, not everyone's got them.

And in the third, most dentists wouldn't recognize their own teeth if you handed

them to them on a plate.

On a plate.

Look, something was taken from that safe, a refrigerated safe in Ash's

laboratory. That was four days ago. Since then, nobody's even admitted it

exists. Not even the man it was stolen from.

Well, whatever that something was, there's enough to get the person who

killed and his body completely destroyed.

How do you know?

I mean, how do you know the wreck you presumably spent a grisly morning

over contained the man who broke into Ash's laboratory? I don't know. I know

contained a man called Leon DeLeon. Now, he's... Oh, poor fellow.

He was Europe's number one expert in safe jobs.

I suppose you've got a file on him, too.

A file on him?

We used to use him once in a while. Well, before he went downhill, you know.

Now, how do you know it was him?

Leo's stock in trade.

Drill tips.

Now, those are tungsten carbide.

These three are diamond tip. They're used for drilling around armoured locks,

that sort of thing.

Now, the strange thing is, Leo used to wear them around his neck there.

In a locket, sort of a good luck charm.

Didn't bring him much luck this time, poor sir.

It helped me to identify him.

Of course, the locket was completely destroyed.

But these little things were almost indestructible.

Now what?

I think you should get back to Dr. Ash.

Under that pre -Raphaelite exterior.

I think he's very impressed with you.

All right.

This time I'll do it my way.

You can do what you like.

I shall have a look around.

Remember one thing.

What? Four days.

Whatever was taken was taken from a refrigerator.

It's either in another freezer or somebody's pretty worried about it by

I think I'll call on Mrs. Leo.

You?

You've got about as much tact as a rhinoceros. Oh, now look here. I resent

Catherine Gale. I want to talk to you. I'm not stopping you.

Who did all this?

Just leave things alone, will you?

Were they breaking the place up or were they looking for something?

Well? I don't know and I don't care.

If you've got something to say, say it.

I shan't be here very long, so say it and get out.

It had

just about enough, hadn't you?

The whole place like this? That's right.

Don't waste any sympathy on me, though, because I'm getting away from it as far

as I can.

Why? Because I'm scared.

Scared to death, that's why. What's it to you?

I suppose you know already your husband was killed.

Poor old Leo.

He was a good son.

Only don't think you have to be too delicate with my feelings on Leo's

After all, I just about pushed him over the edge, didn't I?

All right.

But he died because of something he stole.

I've got to know what that something was.

Oh, have you now?

Seems like a lot of other people have got the same idea, doesn't it?

Well, I don't know what it was, and I don't care.

I'm getting out.

If you want to have a good look around, see if they've missed anything, you go

ahead.

I may have to do just that. Good luck.

Look, I don't know who you are, but you might just as well get this.

If I'd have known what this was all about, I'd have told the people that did

this a long time ago.

But Leo didn't tell me.

And he didn't tell them.

It could be the Crown Jewels, and I still wouldn't care.

Is that all right?

Fair enough.

That's that, then.

That's that.

And good luck to you, too.

Well, what do you want now?

We didn't find it.

Hardly my fault.

Information's what you're paying me for. Remember?

There's no doubt that he did get it. No doubt at all.

Very well. I'm going to send Hillier to look for it this time.

Gray fiberglass case, handle on top, curved top, rather like a sewing machine

case. Two feet by eight inches by about a foot high.

Mains plug on one end.

And I hope when you find it that the plug's connected.

For everybody's sake. Thank you for your advice and information, Elizabeth.

Tell me, if you'd removed it, where would you have hidden it as an expert?

If I'd taken it, I can tell you what I'd have done.

Taken it out to the deepest stretch of water I could find and dropped it in.

Even that wouldn't be good enough.

I told you, you didn't know what you were playing with and you still don't.

fire, Elizabeth. Now, if Leo had been here, which he isn't.

He'd have been able to tell you all about that now, wouldn't he?

Run along, Elizabeth. We'll find it.

You'd better.

Ilya, we'd better watch Elizabeth. She's an irrational creature.

And, Ilya, I'm afraid we'll have to go back to Leah's tonight.

Okay. I'm afraid so. We didn't have time to search the yard, now, did we?

I know it's going to be a long job, but then you'll just have to persevere,

won't you?

Just persevere.

Well, you've got me here. Why did I touch you? Because you have to.

What is this place? A scrapyard?

Don't you think you'd better tell me what it is we're looking for? I shall

you nothing.

Isn't that rather childish?

After all, we're here. You've trusted me this far.

Oh, it's cold.

If I'd known you were bringing me out here, I'd have dressed a bit more

sensibly. Thank you.

All right.

I'm out of my own field as far as this sort of thing is concerned.

But I don't see how it could be here.

I don't see how.

It's got to be plugged into the mains, you see.

Well, they must have known it when they took it. If they didn't... Then what?

No.

There's a coil of cable missing with it. It must be all right.

It must be in the house.

Why look out here?

I've seen inside the house. Other people have looked there.

Other people? What other people? I don't know.

Can you see anywhere it might be?

Out here, there are a hundred or more places where there's room for it.

I still say that it must be inside.

Inside, and that is where I am going.

All right.

Now we're inside.

Yes.

Yes, I see what you mean.

This place belonged to the man who broke into my laboratory, you say?

Belonged. He's dead.

What did he die of? Tell me.

He died in a crash.

Well, we haven't found it.

And what is it?

Roughly speaking, it's a grey fibreglass case with a curved lid.

Rather like a sewing machine with a man's lead attached to it.

Thank you.

You told us that some days ago. We'd be a lot further on by now.

Well, it isn't here, is it?

I suggest we both go home and have a good night's sleep.

You what?

Look, Dr. Ash, you've seen this place. The rest of the house is in much the

state. But, my dear child, I've still got to find it.

Well, take a look. a squad of men to go over that yard, Farrelly. It'll have to

wait till morning. It cannot. Do you seriously think that anything the size

suitcase could possibly have been overlooked by whoever did all this? Of

not. I agree.

Look, you'll catch a bus or a taxi at the corner there by the milk bar.

The taxis run all night. I've been here before.

I am coming.

I think that case has warmed the interior slightly. Now do what I say.

Very gently close it again. Try not to waste any time.

Perhaps you're right.

Very nice.

A virus, I expect.

Quite right. I congratulate your friend, Mrs. Gale.

Virus Verity Prime.

The world's most recent killer.

From here on, it's simply a question of dissection.

Some of the viruses live in this yolk sac and some in the allantoic fluid. It

all depends.

Then you stick back the shell with collodion or tape and there you are.

You can grow any virus like that?

Oh, no. Some are a lot more complicated.

But not very deprived as it happens.

And its effects?

As far as one can tell, respiratory paralysis and death.

What it boils down to is that you let her get away with it.

She found it and she took it. Is that right?

Who is she?

Any idea?

What I mean is, Hillyard, did you get a good look at her?

Amateur or professional?

You see what I'm driving at?

I want to know if she's just a friend of the doctor's or if she's in it on her

own account.

Well? Was she... Was she caught by a professional?

Who else was at the yard?

Dr. Ash?

Yeah. Good.

Come here, Elizabeth.

Sounds like your girl from the magazine, wouldn't you say?

I suppose it could only happen in a place like this.

Private research worker with no interference from above.

You developed it by yourself, Dr. Ash?

Mostly. I got the original culture, it was just called verity then, from a

colleague of mine at a conference.

He died.

How? Oh, no, no, that was three years ago.

All right.

I've got her sorted out now.

She's a woman called Catherine Gale. She's an anthropologist.

Anything else?

No.

I only hope she knows what she's doing with that case.

She probably knows all about it by now. After all, she found it. You didn't.

Ah, now, I was getting much nearer, then.

It's closely related to influenza, in a way.

I suppose you always knew what you were doing.

Biological warfare.

All warfare is biological.

Very profound.

But you were never interested in the military side of the question?

Good gracious, no. Yellow fever is deadly, but it doesn't stop people

investigating it.

Yes, but why you?

I mean, why not turn the whole thing over to the government?

Oh, you're not serious.

You can't really... It isn't as though we had to lift it from a large

establishment. The doctor was working on his own.

I suppose the poor idiot didn't think anyone would get to know about it.

But you fixed that, didn't you?

Oh, guinea pigs.

I grew some of the earlier culture in guinea pigs.

Oddly enough, it didn't seem to do them any harm.

It was often like that.

Now, what about virus verity prime?

Ah. Now, there's our very remarkable virus.

It's highly infectious, resistant to almost everything, including chlorine,

which means it will spread in the water supply.

And it survives in dead tissue for up to four weeks.

Myxomatosis.

I beg your pardon?

I was just thinking.

Myxomatosis. Only half instead of rabbits.

I'm flying out of here in 24 hours, and I'm flying out with that case. Is that

quite clear? I suggest that you go back to work, Elizabeth, and that you find

out where they are. That's for a start. I want that case by tonight.

Do you know how much it's worth in the right quarter?

No.

Half a million.

Do you know what sickens me about this?

It's a cheap, mass -murdered bargain price.

Dr. Ash, I'd like to take over Virus Verity Prime.

Hillier?

You know what's so fascinating about clockwork?

It's predictable.

It works. You wind it up, turn it on, and it gives results.

If it doesn't, it's no more use.

Elia, try not to make any more mistakes.

What are you going to do with the case, eh?

Nothing at the moment. I'm going to stay right here.

You're invited.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Do you know what I'm going to do?

If they don't turn up here by tomorrow, I'll take it down to East Maxted myself,

and you can come along and see Fair Play.

Ah, but they will.

Unless I'm very much mistaken, they've got a contact in Ash's laboratory, and I

didn't leave with this until she arrived for work.

So right now, I should think there's a little war conference going on.

She's got the case with her, then.

She took it away this morning. It looked as though they'd been working most of

the night. Lydia, she drove straight back to the flat. She's got the case

her.

You're not going over there, are you? Why not? It's time I met Mrs. Gale.

It's a trap. That's obvious.

I doubt it.

It might be.

But I rather think Mrs. Gale wants to meet us.

You know, when a thing's to everyone's advantage, you should do it.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

It'll take them some time to find out the place isn't surrounded by militia.

They'll be here.

What are you doing?

I'm hungry.

So am I.

Look, when I was in command of this place, apple pie order. You've been here

couple of days, and what have we got? An empty carton of yogurt, a cream

cracker, and a couple of golden eggs. Now, I'm going to the delicatessen, and

I'll be five minutes.

Put the coffee on.

Mrs. Gale?

Yes, who are you?

Julius Redfern.

I deal in all sorts of unusual and expensive items, one of which I can see

you've taken from me.

You have been expecting us?

Yes, indeed.

Perhaps you had in mind some sort of a deal?

Something like that. Good, we'll discuss it elsewhere. Just unplug the case and

lift it up.

You'll find that a delightful handicap.

I'm very kind of you.

What do you get out of all this?

Money.

Scientific assistants aren't very well paid, and didn't you know that?

So you sold out. That's right.

Did you know what you were selling? Roughly.

I hope you got a good price for it.

I had personal reasons, too.

But you're a scientist.

Yes.

Still you sold that stuff?

What do I care who has it?

People are all the same.

Not Julius Redfern.

He's something quite exceptional.

He is.

Once you're in, you're in. Or dead.

Do you think we'll be offered the same choice?

It's as well to make sure, otherwise you feel such a fool. Hylia, we'll be

leaving in a couple of hours. I hope you like night flying. Much more restful, I

think. Oh, Elizabeth, you'll be coming with us as far as Valencia.

i hope that will suit you that'll do

Where's the case? Down there, in the room on the left. Where exactly? On the

sofa.

Back on down if I were you.

We don't want any more accidents.

I'm opening the case.

I don't believe you.

They're looming up.

They're dangerous.

I know.

If any of us are to get out of here alive, we've got to come to some kind of

agreement. Susanne, you don't know what you're handling.

Are you in the market for a handful of death?

All right.

A hundred thousand.

Scale, for heaven's sake, put them back in the case.

I said a hundred thousand, Mrs. Scale.

That's not enough.

All right. Two hundred thousand.

Did you hear?

Two hundred thousand.

That seems to me like a fair price.

Good.

What did you make them of?

Wood?

I didn't have to make them, as it happens.

They sell them class to pass, I think it is.

They put them in hen houses.

It, uh, encourages them to lay.

Of course, I painted them gold myself.

And what happened to the real eggs, the real golden eggs?

I left those with Dr. Ash.

I'm sorry there's so much mist.

This fire was really rather more my bargain for.

Quite a lot was destroyed.

Some things are quite irreplaceable.

I'm delighted to hear it.

I thought you would be.

Oh, Dr. Ashby, can't you return your case?

Oh, that's very kind of you.

Can't be needing this anymore.

Fire at the end of Varus Verity Prime.

Poor old Gabriel Rossetti, though. A couple of years' work gone up in flames.

What happened to you last night?

I got back from the delicatessen and you were gone. I was close behind you,

don't worry.

I didn't see you.

Well, of course not, my dear.

You fused the lights, remember?