All language subtitles for the_avengers_s03e06_november_five

Ladies and gentlemen.

Ladies and gentlemen, silence please.

Thank you.

I, Bertrand Willis -Cander, returning
officer for the Parliamentary Division

South East Anglia, do declare the
results of the election held this day to

follows.

William Arthur Frederick Briggs, 13
,847.

Michael Osborne Diter, 17 ,152.

I therefore declare Michael Osborne
Deiter to have been duly elected.

along, dear.

Now, don't lag behind.

We've a lot to see, and I don't think we
should go out very late at night.

Excuse me.

I'm the president of the Bentwood Ladies
Guild. You may remember I wrote to you

about the guide hall.

Guide hall, madam?

Yes. And it's happening every Saturday
night now.

The police seem quite unable to stop
these young girls. I think we should see

your local MP.

That's why we've come to the house. You
are so gentle. I'm afraid I can't claim

that honour. Excuse me, lady. Oh, dear,
I do hope this isn't the opposition.

You can never tell these days. Oh, Mr
Swinburne. My name is Steve.

I'm one of your constituents.

Delighted to meet you. I thought we
might have a small chat.

Well, I'm terribly sorry, but I've got a
committee meeting in a few minutes. But

I shall be seeing constituents at three
o 'clock this afternoon.

Is it about the fat stock subsidies?
It's about Michael Diter.

Diter? I'm a very old friend of his.

I'm making inquiries on behalf of a
relative about his death. I thought you

might be able to help. I should have
thought your best course would have been

go to the police, Mr. Steed. They
haven't been very helpful.

Well, I'm sure they know more about his
death than I do. But he was your private

secretary. Up until three months ago,
yes, then he resigned to fight this by

-election. So you would know something
about the political motives behind his

death? My dear chap, you're surely not
suggesting that this was a political

assassination. That sort of thing
doesn't happen in this country. All the

someone did shoot him. I understand it
was an overexcited heckler who fired off

a sporting gun by accident. We at least
haven't found him yet. I've read the

official report, too. I'm afraid it's
the one we all have to accept for the

being. Now, if you'll excuse me, Mr.
Seed.

Oh, mate, uh...

This political scandal that Dieter was
threatening to expose, do you think that

could have anything to do with his
death? I'm afraid I can hardly discuss

with a stranger. But you are my MP,
Major, so democratically speaking, I'm

entitled to your political opinion.

I'll give you that with a pleasure. In
my opinion, the so -called scandal was a

lot of electioneering eyewash. A
campaign gimmick to win votes.

Exactly. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm
sorry I can't be more helpful. Perhaps

can have a longer talk some other time.
I'll keep you to that, Major.

Oh, ladies, I'm extremely sorry. Sir
Gerald doesn't seem to be in the house.

how annoying. How kind of you to ask.
Not at all.

Follow the Major, please. Of course, Mr.
Stephen.

Come along, dear.

Not bad.

Not bad.

That studio certainly takes a good
photo, I'll say that for them.

Even if they do overcharge a bit.
Probably because he pays dividends,

they? Yes.

Yes, that's what he keeps on telling me.

although I worked my way up from the
factory floor without it. Things have

changed. Politicians have to create an
image. These days, that's a professional

job. Well, since you're paid by results,
I can't argue with you.

Anyway, that's not what I'm here to
discuss.

Now, what have you got to tell me about
this data business?

Well, that rather depends on how much
you know already.

Well, let's take it that I know nothing,
eh? Except that certain ministers are

going white at the gills every time the
subject's mentioned.

Perhaps they're afraid our friendly,
excitable heckler might have a go at one

them next, huh? No, it's far bigger than
that, and you know it.

Oh, no.

No, they wouldn't clamp down with a
nationwide blackout security just

some maniac runs loose with a shotgun.

Oh, excuse me.

Yes, Andrew.

Oh, ask him to come in, will you?

Oh, I didn't know we were going to have
company.

Ah, do come in, Major.

I need hardly introduce you to the Right
Honourable Arthur Dove.

Hardly. Now, what is this syndrome? Some
sort of a joke or something?

Swinburne and I can see each other any
day of the week. Yes, but on the other

side of the house. Yes, and that's where
he belongs.

Swinburne and I have got nothing in
common and never will have. You make a

song and dance about national security
from your side of the house now.

Am I to take it this is just for your
personal political advantage? You know

very well it isn't. Then that at least
is something we have in common. Now

tell me you're standing out against the
party whips on this issue. I've done it

before. Do you want to know why Dighter
was murdered?

Now you listen to me. Please, please.

I brought you both together because I
know that each of you in your own way

places security of country above
everything else.

I'm... merely providing the opportunity
for you to discuss the matter on neutral

ground. I'd like to make it clear for my
part that anything said here must be

treated in the strictest confidence.
Yes, of course. I've already taken that

granted.

Well, gentlemen, shall we begin?

This must be the shortest political
career on record.

Michael died to hold his seat for
exactly one and a half seconds.

Still no trace of the gentleman with the
shotgun?

Oh, hey, what do you think of this
campaign material?

Well, it was obviously effective.

In getting him in or getting him shot?

Both.

I was on to a friend of mine in Fleet
Street this morning.

Diter was paying a publicity consultant
to handle him, a gentleman called Mark

St. John.

St. John specializes in promoting
politicians.

Who besides Diter?

Well, he'd hardly issue a list, but I
did get the names of some of his

commercial clients.

A couple of international trade fairs.

Fine government, Slimarama Keep...
Slimarama Keep Fit School. Have you

that? It is the Keep Fit Come Ski School
in Victoria.

Personally, I'm surprised a man like St.
John bothers with it.

How do you like to take a few skiing
lessons now? I might give you a little

holiday in St. Moritz this winter.

Come to think of it, it could be quite a
place to be if someone starts fooling

about with that warhead. What warhead?

A five -megaton nuclear warhead has been
lost.

What do you mean, lost?

Well, it was travelling by road a week
ago to an RAF station in East Anglia,

at half -past two in the morning, it ran
into heavy fog and an armed ambush, and

when the fog had lifted, the truck in
which it was travelling was found ten

miles away, all on its own.

How could anyone carry away a thing that
big?

I don't know, a sort of mini -bomb, I
suppose.

Anyway, it was a brilliant piece of
work.

There you are. Thanks.

So that was Diter's security scandal.

Yeah, somebody wanted him out of the
way, so now there's a spare seat going

the area. 80 ,000 voters
disenfranchised. It hardly seems the

thing at the moment. Well, it is a
point, because when they run the by

again, they're going to have a lot of
trouble finding candidates. What's

laughing, you know, is a hot seat.

What would you say to standing for
Parliament?

No. Oh, I deny you'd be very good. I'd
vote for you.

You'd pull out before polling day, Paul.

Oh, look, I'll pay your deposit.

I'll even kiss a few babies for you
tonight. Hey, wait.

Whoops.

How does it... This is sheer
incompetence.

Typical. Absolutely typical of the way
you lot have been running this country.

think we did agree to try and steer
clear of party politics. All right.

But why all this secrecy? Why wasn't
Parliament told about this? With half a

dozen lobby correspondents sitting in
the press gallery?

Even with a security hold in the British
press, the foreign papers would have

headlined it. But this warhead, it's
capable of wiping out a couple of

Parliament and the public are entitled
to know the danger. Personally, I agree

with you. That's why I thought the
matter was so grave we might forget our

political allegiances.

However, if you find yourself incapable
of doing that... No, no, no, no. Wait a

minute, Swindon. Wait a minute.

You're right. I'll say this for you.

I don't like your politics, as you well
know.

But I do admire a man who's got the guts
to put his country before his party. I

think we all agree that this is the
essential thing.

Yes.

Point is, though, what are we going to
do about it?

Are we going to force a debate?

The leaders of all three parties met
last night and decided there should be

debate. I might have guessed that.
Obviously, if this business is to be

it will have to be raised under the
privilege of Parliament by an individual

member who knows the facts.

Very well.

I'll place a question in the order paper
first thing tomorrow morning. Now,

wait. Do you think that's wise? If you
raise it, the government are bound to

deny it outright.

It'll be regarded as an opposition
slander.

But if one of their own backbenchers
raises it...

Yes. That'll really put the cat amongst
the pigeons.

That's what I thought.

I would, of course, expect total support
from your side of the house. In the

event of a debate and a division, I
think I can muster enough support among

own colleagues.

To bring down the government?

Is that what's in your mind, Swinburne?

I think we have both agreed.

Well, if that's all, gentlemen.

Don't you bother to see me out.

Well, I've met some fly ones in my time.

But that one takes the biscuit.

You'd better take the tape, Arthur.

I'll put it on the bill.

I'd really like to regard this place as
a winter sports center, Mrs. Gale.

But apart from ski instruction, which is
the basis of the center...

We also run keep -fit classes and a
swimming school.

Although, of course, at this time of
year, most of our clients come for the

short course and drive.

Is it only for women?

Oh, no, this is our ladies' morning.

No, the gentlemen come in the afternoons
and mix classes in the evenings.

Max, could you spare a minute?

Max is my chief instructor.

Max, this is Mrs. Gale, who's going to
join us for a few weeks. Delighted to

meet you, Mrs. Gale. How do you do?

Max will be taking you for more advanced
instruction.

I look forward to that.

Now, Mrs. Gale, I assume you would
prefer to start with the beginner's

Yes, I think so. Fine. Now, Mrs. Dove
here is doing exercises to strengthen

leg and stomach muscles.

Mrs. Gale, Mrs. Arthur Dowell. Pleased
to meet you. You'll excuse me not

stopping, won't you?

Would you excuse me one moment?

They're very good here, you know.
They'll look after you. Well, that's

comforting. Especially Max.

He used to be a chump, didn't he,
though? Really? Ah, you'll like him.

Here, Max.

When can I get off this flaming bag?

Just a few more minutes, Mrs. Dove. We
must strengthen those little muscles,

know. Start the monkey.

Mrs. Gale, perhaps you might be trying
the training machine. Yes, sir.

Just sit down there.

Thank you.

Thank you, I know how it works.

Good for you.

Weren't you in Germany last year?

No. Oh, I thought I saw you there.

Art and I had three weeks there during
the recess.

You in politics?

Why do you ask that? Oh, they mostly are
here, you know. That woman over there,

she's Brigadier Gatlin's wife.

Ministry's defence?

That's right.

You must have some interesting
discussion.

Oh, it's mostly House of Commons gossip,
you know. I don't take much interest

myself. But Arthur likes me going on
these winter sports, larks. You know,

have to keep up with the social thing.

All right, Mrs. Dodd, that'll do for
now. Oh, thank goodness for that.

I should give it a rest now, though.

He don't want to strain himself too much
on the first day.

He'll get me in trim for canvassing.
Canvassing?

Yes. I'm fighting a by -election.

By -election?

But there's no by -election coming up
except... You're not standing for South

East Anglia, are you? That's right.

Your husband went up to South East
Anglia, didn't he? During Dieter's

He went up there a couple of times, yes.
Though not backing Dieter, of course.

No, no, of course not. No, Dieter got
in. Much good he did.

On the farmer's vote.

Yes, I know.

Now, Mrs. Dowling, if you'd like to go
and take your rest. With pleasure.

Cheerio. Bye.

Mrs. Gale, I've just been checking
through our class lists. I was wondering

we could arrange a little extra
instruction for you. Yes, if you think I

it. I'm sure you'll soon feel the
benefit.

How would tonight suit you?

Yes.

Ah, Major Stenburn.

Remember me, Steve?

Friend of Michael Dyer's?

Oh, yes, yes, of course.

You said we might have a longer chat
sometime.

I thought if the house wasn't sitting
for a couple of hours, might as well be

now, eh? This terrace is reserved for
members, you know.

Members and their friends.

I said that I was a friend of yours and
they let me in very decently.

I don't know about you, old boy, but I
think you'd better chill. Just a minute,

Gavin. I don't think I've had the
pleasure.

Mr. Steve Marks and John.

How do you do?

You knew Michael Dyer then, Mr. Steve?
We served together during the war.

Oh, he'd have been about 15 at the time,
wasn't he?

He was a boy bugler.

Even then he was trying to inveigle me
into politics.

Now, it's not until his death I've
decided to follow his advice.

Oh, really? In what capacity? Oh, not
very grand.

Election agent. Election agent?

For which division?

Well, there's only one going, you know,
at the moment. If you mean in Anglia,

the writ hasn't been issued yet. I
believe in starting early. Ah,

there you are, Mrs. Gale.

How many orbits, my dear?

Come on up. Meet Major Swinburne.

Mr. Marks and John.

How do you do? This is our prospective
candidate. I hope one of your future

colleagues. I hope so too, Mrs. Gale.
Though I expect you know that

traditionally the seat has been won by a
farmer's candidate.

Until data came along.

And do you intend to fight the same
campaign?

Exactly the same.

Except that I shan't wait until I'm
elected to make my expose.

I shall do it from the moment I start
campaigning.

That's my candidate.

Well, gentlemen, we won't keep you. I'm
sure you're very busy.

Well... Now, wait a moment.

Mrs. Gale.

Yes, Major? I'd like to think you were
bluffing.

But you can't be sure.

We can't very well discuss it here.
Could I meet you both this evening?

But won't you be in the house this
evening, Major? I see by the order paper

have a private member question to put.

I'd like to speak to you before I put
the question. Mrs. Gale has an

this evening at the Slimmerama Key Pit
School.

Well, I know where it is. Could I meet
you there? I shall be there. Good. At

half past seven.

I think we've caught a little fish.

I hope things are not getting out of
hand, Sundern. Is there any reason why

there should be?

Oh, I thought you looked a bit worried,
that's all. I'm sure Gavin has

everything under control.

I hope you're right.

Because if you don't break this data
scandal, I will.

I can handle it.

You got here early, then.

Not quite early enough.

And so, ladies and gentlemen, as your
independent candidate in this by

-election... Boo!

Don't you like it? I was just heckling.
What did you say?

I was just heckling. Right, I'll give
you another one.

Good people. Good people, that's good.
Some of you are aware that this campaign

is being fought at a vital moment... In
the history of our nation, we must stand

firm, put our shoulders to the wheel.
Look, I'm trying to help you now. It

starts in a week, your campaign.

Couldn't I write my own clichés? I've
got some very powerful stuff just

on here. That truck would have had time
to get 40 or 50 miles, wouldn't it,

before the fog lifted? You see, my
rhetoric is wasted on you. I'm still

to work out where you could hide a five
-megaton warhead. Almost anywhere.

Perhaps it would be a built -up area.

Well, the biggest built -up area within
a 50 -mile radius of where that truck

was ambushed is London.

Yeah, I suppose that would be about the
biggest.

And if they had time to get it to
London, they might also have had time to

it out of the country.

No, I doubt it, because it was a late
October fog that day.

All air traffic and shipping were being
stopped when the fog lifted.

Everything was being searched.

Even more to the point, why would anyone
steal a warhead? I mean, what do you do

with a thing like that when you've got
it? You could let it off.

Did it have a priming mechanism?

No, but anyone who was smart enough to
pinch a warhead, a priming mechanism, no

bother at all.

How much would a weapon like that be
worth? Well, it depends who wants it. I

think of at least half a dozen non
-nuclear countries...

We'll give a couple of million to get
some in their armory. Yes, I suppose you

can name your own price.

Worth murdering a brand new MP for now.

Well, I'm in no danger of being the
next, judging by the speeches you're

for me.

You're not satisfied?

No.

All right, I'll get you an expert, Mr.
Marks and John. Nothing but the best for

you. Fine.

He did pretty well for Dieter, didn't
he?

Publicity agents don't start work till
about ten.

I'd like to be there in good time.

Thank you very much.

Oh, Angela, get me Henson at the Board
of Trade, will you?

What appointments do I have this
morning?

Mr. Steed?

Yes, ask him to come in, will you?

Good morning.

Well, what can I do for you, Mr. Steed?

Oh.

I need your professional advice.

In what capacity?

You ran Michael Diter's campaign. I
understand you did a brilliant job of

I'd like you to do the same thing for
Mrs... Mrs. Gale.

I'm afraid that might not be quite so
easy.

Why not? We're running the same
campaign, you know. It should be a piece

cake. Not quite the same campaign, Mr.
Steed.

You remember Diter won his seat by
threatening to expose the government

was elected.

Uh -huh. From what you've told me, you
plan to do it as soon as your client is

nominated. That, um...

Could get us both into rather serious
trouble. Official secret, sir? To name

one of the problems. And that's why we
need you, St.

John's.

Your reputation in Fleet Street, you
know just how far to go without going

the edge, eh?

I'm sorry, Mr. Steed.

I think you should try someone else.

Yes.

Oh, keep trying him, will you?

Can offer you a fee in the region of 1
,000 quid.

Reasonable, Mr. Steed, but I shouldn't
like to lose another client before it

a chance to pay the bill.

Fifteen hundred in advance. The
remainder when she's elected.

Precisely what would you expect me to do
for that? Publicity, public relations,

and market research.

Market research? Yes, find out anything
you know and all you can find out on the

missing warhead. Oh, don't say what
missing warhead.

Where do you get your information,
Steed? Sort of the same places as

think.

Why should I do this?

Well, if you don't, I shall have to
assume that you're earning more out of

affair than the fee that I'm prepared to
offer you. Which is?

Ten thousand quid. In cash.

All right. Good!

I'll see it sent to you later in the
day.

When can we expect results, eh? Well,
perhaps you're inclined by not to come

see me tomorrow evening.

Uh, I, uh... I can't promise to get you
the information you want. You must

understand that. I merely arrange for
people to get together under the right

circumstances. The rest is up to Mrs.
Gale.

She has my fullest confidence.

That was a beautiful dinner, Mrs. Gale.

Help yourself to brandy. It's over
there. Thank you.

I see you've got my book.

The Great Hunger Marches.

You haven't read it, though, I'll bet.

You put it here for my benefit, did you?
As a matter of fact, I've read it

twice. I particularly like the chapter
on the Rhonda.

Yes, I wrote that from experience.

Bitter experience.

Yes, it sounded like it.

I'll never forget those Hunger Marches
as long as I live.

In those days, when you fought a by
-election, you fought it on plain,

straightforward issues.

A man fought it according to how much he
had in his belly.

Don't you think the Anglia election is a
straightforward issue?

Oh, nothing's straightforward these
days.

Not even on something as simple as the
defence of this country.

Now, when I get up on my hind legs in
the house and talk about defence... But

you do quite frequently.

Well, I'm considered something of an
expert, you know.

Anyway, when I talk about defence, I'm
thinking of the Tommy out there in the

trenches and the poor little working
-class homes that were destroyed during

war.

To some of them, of course, it's just a
political game.

You're talking of Major Swinburne, are
you? The late Major?

I don't like walking over corpses, Mrs.
Gale, but when he disobeyed the party

whips and decided to break this tighter
scandal in the house, he wasn't doing it

out of patriotism, you know?

Oh, no, no, no.

No, he'd got his eye on Downing Street.

I don't understand.

The government had to resign.

Well, you see, he thought he'd be the
one to lead his party in the next

election. The only one with the guts to
put his country first.

You show me a rebel and you show me a
budding careerist.

Well, to get back to my campaign, Mr.
Dowd. Yes, well now, how is it going?

I'm going to need an ally.

An experienced political ally who knows
something of what's going on behind the

scenes. Well, we do have a candidate of
our own, you know, standing in East

Anglia. Yes, but not on this issue.

Oh, no.

And in any case, he's an idiot.

Personally speaking, I'd rather back
you.

Good. In that case, why don't we leave
me to talk over the tactics with your

election agent, eh?

Seems a shame to waste the evening
talking politics.

What would you like to discuss?

Well, you've met my old woman.

What do you think?

I got on very well with her.

Yes, yes, I didn't mean to suggest
anything else.

No, no, she's a fine woman, Miss Ellen.

Stuck by me through thick and thin.

Yes, I'm sure of that.

Yes, if only she didn't bore me to ruddy
tears.

I'm sorry to sound a bit hard about
this, but I'm telling just the plain

you see.

Oh, Ellen knows that I've got an eye for
the girls.

She's not that much of a fool.

Anyway, she's got her own amusements.

Fiona?

I want to talk to you.

I'm busy.

This isn't something I could discuss on
the telephone.

Is Mrs. Gale here?

She's in the changing room. Why?

I want you to find out exactly what
she's up to. What do you think she's up

I don't know.

To begin with, I thought she was trying
to ride away into Parliament on the

strength of this warhead scandal.

What's made you change your mind?

Her agent, Steed, came to me and offered
£10 ,000 to handle her campaign.

There are plenty of rich men playing
politics.

No, I think he's more interested in the
missing warhead than in getting Mrs.

Gale into Parliament.

I also think he's been searching my
office.

It's about time you learned to look
after your end of things, isn't it,

Why, your friends just stay hidden.

What's happened to that cool, bland
exterior of yours?

Listen, Fiona.

One way or another, I'm going to make a
lot of money out of this business.

And when it's all over, I shall have to
retire gracefully to some sun -drenched

island. Sounds nice.

Yes, it could be.

We're the right company.

No, thanks.

Now, what do you want me to do about
Mrs. Gale?

Find out just how much she knows.

But be careful.

I want information, not trouble.

We just have to see how it goes,
darling.

Good morning, Uncle Tom. Oh, yes.

We're being shown over the house today,
Sir Gerald. Sir Gerald, that's very kind

of him. What do you enjoy, sir?

Thank you.

Sorry if I kept you waiting.

I was held up in committee.

That's all right, Mr. Dove. Time to
persuade your party to force a security

debate.

I wouldn't waste my time.

I imagine the party and the government
have an understanding over national

security. Yes, that's it.

We're supposed to keep our ruddy mouth
shut.

Why don't you put a private question,
like Swindon?

It's a complicated political position.

That's a classic politician's remark.

All right, Steed.

I think you've got some information I
need, and if you give it to me, I'm

prepared to help Mrs. Gale.

I heard you had a chair.

Yes. Yes, she's quite a girl, isn't she?

Well, that's what counts as taking
skiing lessons, you know.

Yes. Well, anyway, we decided to leave
the tactics for you and me to discuss.

Well, let's hear your proposals first.

Well, I'm prepared to see that Mrs. Gale
gets a clear field in the Angler

Division by having our candidate pull
out.

Well, it's a bit generous of you, but
are you sure that can be done?

Well, it can't, um, national standards,
but I have got friends in the

constituency party.

Oh. And in return?

I want you to put your cards on the
table, Steve. What exactly do you want

know?

Where's that warhead? Is it still in the
country? I'm sure it is. What makes you

so certain? Late last night, the
government got a blackmail note.

They were told if they paid out half a
million pounds, they'd be told where to

find the warhead.

Are they going to pay it?

Well, I don't know. See, I'm not the
government.

No, but you do seem to have some pretty
good source of information.

I keep my ear to the ground, you know.

They pay, of course.

You think so?

Hmm?

Yes.

Yes, it's in their interest to do so.

If they can get that warhead back fast
without anyone knowing, they'll remain

power. If not, they're out.

Well, if you want to get them out,
you've got to move fast.

Yes.

Yes, but in politics, you've sometimes
got to box a bit clever. You're the

expert.

Yes, and you're not doing so badly
yourself for a beginner.

Hello again.

Ah, there you are. Do you have the time?

Yes. Isn't it wonderful to think that in
this fine old Gothic building, all the

decisions that affect our lives are
taken? It's comforting, isn't it? Oh,

Well, I expect you'd like us to be
trotting. If you trip over a missing

let me know.

Oh, we shall.

Yes, I shall never forget those days,
Mrs. Gale. We trot our feet off day

day. And Arthur was marvellous. He used
to hold those crowds spellbound.

Oh, you were a great orator in those
days.

Isn't he now? Well, he doesn't practice
it now, you know.

It's all committee work.

All he can talk about when he comes home
now is this bloke or that bloke who's

after his position.

Oh, I know I shouldn't say this, Mrs.
Gale, but it just bores me to tears.

I'm sorry.

Well, that's the way it is.

I suppose I shouldn't complain.

Still, he's regarded as a very important
figure, isn't he? Oh, yes, he's

favourite for a minister if we get him
the next election.

I think a lot of him. He could become
prime minister. Oh, you like to think

daft, Mrs Gale, but I hope he never
does.

Don't you see yourself at number ten? I
don't even like the bunch he mixes with,

as it is.

Well, most of them, they're all smiles
to your face, but I know what they say

soon as your back's turned.

Cheese from the back streets.

Well, I'm proud of it. And so was Arthur
at one time, till he started talking

bars.

All right, ladies, that'll do for today.

A bit sharp on the clock, aren't you?

Now, Mrs. Dove, Max will give you an
extra ten minutes on your own tomorrow.

I'll bet he will.

Well, let's go and get changed, then.
Would you like to come and have dinner

with me? Yes, I'd love to.

Oh, Mrs. Gale, I wonder if I might speak
to you for a few minutes.

I'll catch you up.

Mrs.

Gale, I don't think we've apologized for
not attending to your instruction the

other night.

Oh, that's all right.

I got your message.

But from our information, you don't seem
to have acted on it.

If Swinburne's murder was supposed to
warn me of standing for election, I'm

afraid you're wasting your time.

What are you and Steve trying to get out
of this, Mrs. Gale?

A political career, perhaps?

How did Steve find out about that
blackmail note?

If I knew, I wouldn't tell you.

We want an answer, Mrs. Gale.

I forgot my handbag.

Oh, it's over here, Mrs. Dove.

Well, have you finished then?

Unless there were any other questions
you wanted to ask me.

No, not in the meantime.

Good.

Thank you.

Let's go and have that dinner. Right.

Dodger? Dodger!

I was expecting to be received by Mark
St. John.

I'm afraid that pleasure has been denied
you. He's dead.

When did this happen? A few minutes ago.
When I arrived, he was being carted

away in an ambulance.

Do you know how he died?

He had been shot.

The curious thing is that the police
haven't arrived and one wonders who

the ambulance.

Isn't there anyone else in the building?
No, all place deserted.

He could hardly have had the chance to
call it himself, so it looks like

killed him.

Yeah, a friend with a shotgun.

The cupboard's bare, see?

Did you make this mess?

No, it was like this in my life. I've
been trying to piece together these

on St John's clients. I think that's
what our little friend there was

in. Did you write this file there?

No, neither does.

See, when an emergency call is made for
an ambulance, the message is

automatically relayed to the police,
isn't it?

Yes.

Have you found any press cuttings on the
South East Anglia by -election?

Yes, somewhere.

Hey, these election photographs.

You got any more of them?

Yeah,

yeah, yeah.

Any negatives? Yes.

Bundles of them.

Now's the time.

Now's the time. For all good men to come
to the

aid of the party.

If I can get some prints made of some of
these, it might solve one at least of

our problems.

Lunteth, squint eye, H above the line.

What's that?

A very good description of my Auntie
Queenie.

You know, I solved another small
problem. The blackmail note sent to the

government was typed on this machine.

So do I.

one of these days.

What are you doing here?

Well, we have to make final
arrangements.

But why here? You could have been
followed.

Dead men cast no shadows.

Is St. John coming?

No, we don't need him for phase two of
the operation.

But the government were ready to pay the
ransom. I'm not interested in their

half a million pounds. I never have
been.

Blackmail might be as far as St. John's
imagination would stretch.

But I'm playing for bigger stakes.

What?

I've been approached by another party.

They want the warhead, but we don't have
to move it.

They're going to explode it?

Yes. When?

In 24 hours' time.

I've timed the operation for Tuesday,
November the 5th.

Rather appropriate, don't you think?

In the meantime, there are one or two
things to be tidied up.

Max?

Yes?

Max, I have a job for you.

Yes?

Come in.

I'm in the darkroom.

I haven't any change.

For a prospective candidate, you're
extremely stingy. Remind me not to vote

you. Oh, you're doing that.

Think I've got this ambulance business
sorted out.

These four pictures were taken by St.
John's photographer when Diter was

Now, number one.

Diter shot.

Don't see a thing.

It's coming up.

Ah.

That was the photograph that went on the
front page of the National Press,

remember? I remember, yes.

Number two.

Someone quickly covers Diter's head and
shoulders with a coat. Now, if you look

closely, you can see who's doing that.

Yeah, it's on John.

Number three.

Two ambulance men shifting, Geiter.

Now, look at the time on the town hall
clock in that one.

It's only a minute later. They must have
been standing by.

Number four.

The ambulance disappearing down the
street. Now, I've had that detail blown

so you can just read the number plate.

The ambulance was stolen some weeks
before.

They'd have to get hold of a body for
the local coroner.

That's comparatively easy.

Look at number one again.

And the print from the original
negative.

No bloodstains on this one. No
bloodstains on that. The bloodstains

touched in artery.

That was the photograph St. John
Publicity Service has indicated to the

press. The one with the bloodstains. I
don't think it's the shotgun in the

office. It was brand new. Neither barrel
had been fired.

Blanks.

He went into an awful lot of trouble,
didn't he?

Yes, that's what I don't understand.

Why this elaborate fake?

It certainly explains the blackmail
angle, I tell you.

Now, Dieter and Sir John get together.
They steal a warhead and they put

pressure on the government, threatening
them with scandal and exposure if they

don't pay up.

And the government doesn't play ball.

So they arrange a fake killing, Dieter,
at the by -election, where they can be

sure of maximum publicity.

Yeah, but then the government don't play
ball again.

And Sir John gets hold of Swinburne and
Dove.

To step up the pressure, exposure in the
house.

But Swinburne's death was certainly no
fake. Neither was St John's. That

suggests, then, that the thieves have
fallen out. That puts Diter on top. I

don't think blackmail was his intention.
Otherwise, he'd have got the money

first and bumped his fells off
afterwards.

Hello?

Yes, it is.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Dow.

I see.

All right, look, you stay where you are.
I'll come right over.

Arthur Dove's disappeared.

Not a stolen ambulance, though.

I hope not. I'm just going to find out.

There's another thing. In the blackmail
note that St John sent to the

government, he said there was a
detonating primer to go with the

No one is inclined to disbelieve him.

Warheads work on a timing mechanism,
don't they?

That's right.

And tonight is Guy Fawkes' night.

Tonight could be the biggest bumper Guy
Fawkes night of all time.

All right, hold on a moment.

Max is still on his tail. All right,
give it to me.

Hello, Max.

Which way is he heading?

Yes, I thought so.

All right, Max, you can leave the rest
to me.

How much does Arthur Dove know about
that warhead?

Well, it won't take any chances.

You'll get rid of him.

I might use him as live bait first.

It's Steed and Mrs. Gale I'm more
concerned with at the moment.

What time was he due here?

Two hours ago.

Oh, it's quite possible he'd just been
delayed. It might be nothing serious.

Oh, no.

He'd have been here all right.

He has his name down for a private
question on the order paper.

He wasn't there to put it.

Do you know what this question was?

Well, he never told me, but I can guess.

You see, Mrs. Gale, ever since Swinburne
died, Arthur's been blaming himself.

He knew he ought to expose this
business. It's just that, well, I

didn't have the courage, that was all.

There could be other reasons.

After all, he was pretty closely tied up
with St. John. Oh, no.

No. As far as Arthur was concerned, it
was just a question of playing politics.

When he found out this bomb had been
stolen, he realised he had this chance

lifetime to attack the government and
saying John was supposed to be helping

him. Oh, but this isn't helping us to
find him, is it? It might be. Oh, I

shouldn't have rung you up. It was just
on the outside chance you might have

known where he is.

Mrs. Duff, will you be all right if I
leave you here?

Well, of course, love.

This place is like a second home to me.
Good. I will contact you as soon as we

know anything.

Thank you, love.

You don't know how grateful I am.

I thought you were dead. A gross
exaggeration on the part of my

What do you want?

You. Now listen, Ryder, listen.

I don't know what your game is, but all
I want to do is get out of this whole

business. With your career intact.

Now, please. So you came here to destroy
any evidence that might have connected

you with the late Mr. St. John. Listen,
Ryder, please, please listen.

I really didn't know what he was up to.

What do you know?

Enough to realize that I should never
have allowed myself to get involved.

Peter, please. Politics is my business,
not crime. Yes. I started out with St.

John to embarrass the government.

But I'm not a traitor. I didn't agree to
blackmail. It's too late now. Look, if

necessary, I'll go to the police.

I'll resign the house. For queen and
country?

Yes.

Yes, but that's something you wouldn't
understand.

I wouldn't even like to try.

Now pick up that phone and call your
wife.

Tell her to meet you in one hour's time
at the Slimmerama Club with Steed and

Mrs. Gale.

Arthur! Arthur!

Good evening, Mrs. Duff. Oh, Fiona.

Did Steve and Mrs. Gale come with you?
Mrs. Gale was still in the house. She

should be here soon.

Yes, I heard you'd had a long chat with
her. What were you talking about, Mrs.

Duff? Oh, you're trying to work out
where Arthur could be. Is that all?

What do you mean?

You've become very friendly with Mrs.
Gale. What's that to you?

Now, look.

I came here to meet my husband, not to
answer your questions. Where is Arthur?

There. Arthur!

Oh, Arthur!

What have you done to him?

He'll be all right, Mrs. Dubb, providing
you tell us what we want to know.

You say you are asking Mrs. Gale to look
for your husband. I just told you that.

Did you also learn that she was looking
for the warhead? Why did you talk about

that to her?

Did you talk about Steed? I know nothing
about him. You're not prepared to help

us, Mr. Dove? We can't help you. We
don't know anything.

For the last time, Mrs. Dove, where is
Steed?

He's been delayed.

All right, I know, but I'm here now. All
right, well, I'll set the fuse for

midnight. Midnight?

That's coming to a good time, isn't it?
The ambulance is standing by. We should

be well clear of the blast area by that
time. Now, come on, get on it.

I suppose you know it's an offence to
fire those things off within 50 yards of

the street.

Thank goodness he wasn't about to sit
there.

He's a liar, praise be, and that's what
really matters. Yes, of course. You

know, I don't think he'll have done him
any harm.

Ah, there you are.

Well, I suppose you won't be standing
for South East Anglia now, Mrs Gale. No,

I'm afraid not. I'm very sorry to hear
it. I always thought you stood a good

chance. Thank you.

Well, I expect I'll be seeing you both
at the sports centre.

I understand. It's under new management.

Yes.

Yes, I suppose it would be.

Pity about young Max.

Be seeing you.

I wonder who will stand for the South
East Anglia by -election.

You, if the letter I sent them offering
your resignation doesn't arrive by nine

o 'clock this morning.

Steve, I think you've missed a point
there. Eh?

Dieter's still legally their
representative until his trial opens.

can just see you holding that farmer's
feet.

Just exactly what did he have against
this place?

Nothing personal. It just happened to be
a suitable detonating point.

From the stone's throw from here, it's
right in the middle. The War Office,

Ministry of Defence, the Admiralty. Yes,
whoever was paying him would certainly

have got their money's worth.

Guy Fawkes himself couldn't have wished
for more.

Thank you.