Original subtitles

Merton to Steed.

Merton to Steed.

Hello, Merton.

Rydercroft is going to be killed.

Rydercroft? Hugh Rydercroft. It's all planned.

The attempt will be made at 12 noon today.

How do you know this?

Who's behind it?

I know because...

What was Merton working on?

Ends and odds.

Don't you mean odds and ends?

No. Merton had a different approach.

In a coma.

Likely to remain so for a few days.

Unfortunately, we haven't got a few days.

Rydercroft is going to be killed.

Rydercroft? Hugh Rydercroft. It's all planned.

The attempt will be made at 12 noon today.

How do you know this?

Who's behind it?

I know, because... Who

is Rydercroft? Controller for the Ministry of Ecology.

Twelve noon today.

That doesn't give us much time.

How do you know this? Who's behind it?

I know, because... What's that

sound? The wind in the trees.

We haven't got much time.

We know when Rydercroft is going to be killed.

I know where.

Come on, Enzalot.

But this is ridiculous.

Quite ridiculous.

It's also for your own good, Mr. Rydercroft. Look, I'm just a simple

soul. Ecology.

The conservation of everything that's good and true in nature.

Who on earth would want to kill me?

Not on earth, Mr. Rydercroft.

You are due to be dead at 12 noon. At 12 noon, you'll be up there.

What? That was the message, and that's why we're having a plane check.

But I've already done my pre -flight checks.

Ah, but better to be sure. Better to be safe than sorry. Better alive than dead.

Look, I'm a qualified pilot. I'll be flying for years.

16 minutes to 12.

You satisfied now, Steed?

No.

An awful lot can happen in 16 minutes.

I remember once in Cairo...

It's a girl I knew. The trouble with your people, Steve, is you think

else is incompetent. I'm totally too sensitive.

Why not view ours as additional cover? Now, a wasted expense.

My team know this ground, this airport, like the back of their hands.

Right across plane, we'll take off on time. He'll arrive in Switzerland on

schedule. The aircraft itself has begun over with a fine tooth comb, checked and

rechecked. Now then, tell me, as an expert, what could happen?

I suppose you think I'm the real Steve.

Don't move, Turner.

This umbrella is loaded.

Just an example.

Fifteen and a half minutes to go.

Who are you?

Could be a forgery.

But you know me.

You could be a double, a fake, a robot. I gave the right knock.

Could have been luck. Luck.

When did you last play the bassoon?

Ryder Croft can board the plane now.

Bassoon question really struck home, didn't it? I do not play the bassoon.

That proves nothing.

Who ever heard of a robot that could play a bassoon?

Purdy. How do you know I'm Purdy? I could be a double.

A fake.

A robot.

The plane is clean and he can leave.

Well, you'll have to prove who we are.

Definitely the real Gambit. And no.

Mr. Rydercroft.

About time.

So everything's all right? Assuming one thing, of course. He is Rydercroft.

There.

Not 12 yet. We have a complete radar scan of the whole area.

Airlines at a radius of five miles have been closed.

What more do you want?

I want it to be one minute past 12 and Rydercroft still alive.

Control to Rydercroft, you are clear for takeoff.

All takeoff checks okay.

Engine okay.

Preparing for takeoff.

You may be surprised to learn I'm airborne.

Takeoff satisfactory.

Climbing steadily.

All techs okay.

We'll continue climbing.

Maintain radio contact right across.

Will do.

But I honestly think you chaps are worrying too much.

So do I.

Well, Steed?

Oh, for Pete's sake, man, another few minutes and Rydercroft will be across

channel. Outside our jurisdiction.

Exactly.

Yes, but in another few minutes.

Oh, come on, Steed. Either your information was unsound or my security

precautions too efficient.

It's a pity you spent so much time here. I'm sure you could have been doing

something useful.

Yes, I could have coupled up my train set.

maintaining climb, channel in sight, air lanes clear, no cloud, over.

Maintain radio contact, Rydercroft.

Well, I suppose Merton was mistaken.

Look, what could happen now?

An attack by another plane.

Oh, for Pete's sake.

Control to Rydercroft.

Visibility check, please.

My goodness, are you still worrying?

Visibility 100%.

another thing in the sky.

Except... Except what, Riding Rock?

Come in, Riding Rock.

Riding Rock!

I can't understand why people want to fly.

If nature had intended us to fly, we would have been given wings.

Any indication as to the cause of the crash yet?

Oh, I know why it crashed.

Why? It hit the ground.

What made it hit the ground?

Oh,

too soon for conjecture.

May form a conclusion sooner.

Shall I advise Steed, or will you? Advise him of what?

He and his people.

He wanted to be informed as soon as he'd reached any conclusion. I shall advise

Steed and his people.

As and when I think it necessary. Is that clear?

Yes, Mr... Attorney, yes, of course.

Just... Oh, don't.

The truth of the matter is they think they know our job better than we do

ourselves.

Found something?

No. No.

Nothing at all.

Look, you carry on here.

I'll be back later.

Very well, Mr.

Turner.

Well? What?

I see.

We have a visitor today.

I checked through right across the file.

Nothing. He lived an absolutely blameless life.

His trip to Switzerland was to attend a conservation conference.

He's been concerned with nothing but worthy and good works.

Then why was he killed?

Play it again, Sam.

Douglas Fairbanks.

Hey open up!

Any offers?

Preferably of an unpredictable nature.

A screeching sound.

Tires on tarmac.

Chalk on a blackboard.

Diamond on glass.

5 ,000 robins with a wounded wing.

A bird strike.

A flock of birds hit a plane.

They shatter the cockpit, jam the engines. It's got to be.

A bird strike.

Well, it's happened before.

But not to order.

Not dead on time.

I found this in Merton's car.

Do you know, Mr. Turner?

It is Turner.

Do you know, it reminds me of a cormorant I once picked up on the shore.

Like you, it was still alive.

And like you, terrified.

Helpless.

You know, it swings.

Every single feather caked with oil.

A frightened little head turning from side to side, much as yours does.

Terrified.

So terrified that it eventually died of fright.

At the time, I thought it was a terrible end.

But perhaps not quite so terrible compared with those that your people

conjure up.

Oh, yes, one could imagine something far more horrendous.

Hideous.

Now, Mr Turner, shall we talk?

Mr Turner, will you tell me everything?

Everything, please.

Rydercroft. Hugh Rydercroft. The ecology man.

Was on his way to Switzerland to discuss... Amongst other things. Birds.

The feathered variety.

Birds. They're conservation, migration and control.

But Rydercroft's plane was brought down.

By birds.

Of the feathered variety.

I know.

Rydercroft is no longer with us.

Definitely. Indisputably. But.

But.

But. There are two other men mentioned in Rydercroft's report. Foster and

Bridlington.

Foster. And I'll deal with Bridlington.

Well, I'll get on to it right away, then.

Obviously, I have to find out why we haven't heard from Turner.

This is what brought you here.

I imagine it was found amongst the wreckage of the plane.

Yes. Yes, sir. I found it, but I didn't tell anyone.

The record of the plane is being examined.

So this piece would have been carefully logged.

Right? Now, where would that log be kept?

The exact location.

It's an office.

A temporary office.

All the details will be kept there.

In a red tray.

Did Turner say where he was going?

No.

But then his sword never do.

Mysterious. Like the ways of nature.

Now, I always say, if we were intended to fly... We wouldn't have been given

legs. What?

Oh. I never thought of that.

Good point. Very good point.

The very act of flying is against all the principles of human nature.

Mr. Lewington, have you ever flown?

No.

No, never will.

Mind you, it's not that I'm scared of flying.

Of course not.

Anyone can see you're not afraid.

Of flying.

Oh, right.

You're afraid of crashing.

Oh.

Perhaps it was what he found that sent him scuttling away.

Well, whatever Turner found, if it was tagged, it had to be log two, right?

Yes, yes.

Hop on.

Every little fragment is carefully described, listed and set down, so there

should be no problem at all in running down exactly what it was that captured

Turner's attention.

We are most meticulous. Everything is carefully kept... here.

Work for you to do, my friend.

Killing.

Not a rabbit.

Or a mouse.

Or a rat.

Worse than a rat.

A man.

Fosta.

Richard Fosta.

Mr. Bridlington?

Oh, come in, come in.

Ah, you must be Steed. The Ministry told me to expect you.

Yes.

I wanted to ask you about Rydercroft. Oh, charming man, charming man. Yes,

dead now, you know.

Yes. But weren't you working with him?

Oh, yes, indeed, on the bird side of things.

Birds, my speciality.

I pointed out the dangers, and Foster suggested a cure, but it was too

much too drastic.

Foster's answer was to mass exterminate the birds. That's unthinkable. Oh, no,

no, no, no.

Control, that's the only answer.

Control? Yes, that's what I'm working on now.

Yes, communications with our little feathered friends.

Like so.

Oh, early days, early days.

I'm having rather partial success.

Would you like a demonstration, please?

The cage door, it is firmly locked, isn't it?

Yes, but are you sure they can't get through that window?

Oh, yes, but they can get down the chimney.

Didn't you see that film? Oh.

Two feathers.

And one egg.

We have a problem.

And if it hatches out, a hostage.

What do we do now? Build a nest?

You could sit on it, Purdy. A cage would be more useful.

Very frightening.

What is?

Bridlington's experiments. He's working at the control of birds.

And can he? Control, no, but he can attract them.

You know, a single sparrow is a certain cockney charm, but ten thousand...

Very frightening.

How was your day?

Foster's dead.

Turner's disappeared.

Waterloo.

Waterloo.

He was scratched and torn.

There was no real wound.

He just died of shock.

That's a Waterlow.

He's one of the world's leading authorities on... On bird migration.

Shall we migrate?

In Waterlow's direction.

Hurdy, hold the fort, man the battlements, lower the drawbridge... And

dogs.

Where's the water, though?

Eh?

Well, of course I'm here. You're calling me, aren't you?

Hello? Hello?

You shall lead the attack.

It doesn't take two of us to talk to him.

Why don't I prowl around the ground?

Good thinking.

Professor Waterloo!

The situation is simple, as I explained to Rydercroft.

Overpopulation is the threat we face, Mr. Seed.

And with overpopulation, mass starvation.

But how does that affect the birds?

On the contrary, they can affect us.

Do you know how many birds there actually are on this planet of ours, Mr.

Something like 100 billion.

And the average bird can eat almost twice its own body weight in a single

Now.

Apart from the odd worm or two.

The bird competes with humanity for its food.

Fish from the sea.

Wheat, peas, beans from the soil.

So if we're to survive, their number has to be limited.

Unfortunately.

Oh, we expect an outcry when the plans are made public, of course. But I don't

want to destroy birds. Oh, dear, no.

But to limit them in the future.

The whole scheme is ecologically sound.

Ultimately, it will protect the birds.

Only an extremist or a madman could take exception to it.

Madman?

Professor, I think we ought to continue this conversation inside.

Oh, but I like it out here. Harmony with nature, Professor.

Steve! Steve!

Birds can't swim.

Docks can.

I didn't claim my plan was perfect.

Well, Professor, you heard, you saw what happened.

Some kind of bird caller.

A sophisticated flute.

Bridlington was working on the same theory. Yes, but to perfect it to this

level.

Suicide birds?

Kamikaze pigeons.

But birds can be trained.

Oh, definitely.

The illusionist and his doves of birds pushing barrows, pulling carts.

And there was one man who established an extraordinary rapport between himself

and the birds he worked with. Falcons, mostly. Birds of prey.

What was the name of this remarkable bird, then?

Jarkardi. Yes, he styled himself the great Sarkardi, and he was great. Really

understood birds.

Sounds like a man I should meet.

Meet? Well, I've no idea where he is now.

Tompkins might know. Tompkins. Chapo assisted him. He might know. I know

he is.

Sarkardi, though.

I think he left the entertainment business, set up a bird sanctuary of his

Speaking of sanctuary... I think we should put you away somewhere safe for a

while, Professor.

In an iron cage battle.

This man Tompkins. I'll seek him out.

I'll try and check out the sanctuary.

Right.

That ain't what they used to be.

. .

all right to warn me.

There's an intruder in my house.

I worked with falcons for many years.

An unpredictable breed.

But intelligent, Mr. Tompkins.

Oh, very.

And controllable?

Yes, if you have the gift.

But that goes for most birds.

They have memory, you see.

And contrary to popular belief, they can live to a great age.

Especially in captivity.

Their knowledge builds through the years.

Until... Until?

I was going to say that they become friends.

But not to me.

Please don't move.

Stay very still.

Well, you're amongst friends.

Oh. Purge my friends, but your enemies?

I hope not.

I'm sorry, but if you... If you didn't need them to play this, they'll answer

call and attack.

The result is horrifying.

Terrible.

They go for the eyes. You see for the bright gleam in the eyes.

And your eyes are very beautiful.

Very bright.

I don't want you to lose them.

Only once did I meet a man,

Zaccardi, able to exert total control.

Total?

How total?

Total, complete, ultimate.

Could a person, Zaccardi, train a flock of birds, seagulls, say, to attack an

aircraft?

To Zaccardi, anything was possible.

If you're interested, I have a picture of him.

The third right -hand drawer of the desk.

It was the third day when he retired.

He had so much to offer.

He retired, you say?

Yes, to devote his life to birds.

He opened a home for them.

The Sanctuary of Wings.

Please, sit down.

Well, I'm aware of the work of you and your colleagues.

More aware than you think. It's only right that you should know of my plans.

Hopefully for your own sake.

You'll approve?

Oh, don't worry.

You're safe.

Quite safe.

For the moment.

Yes, sir, can I help you?

Indeed you can.

I'll take those.

How many?

Your entire stock.

And some more.

What you see now represents my

life's work, my life's dream.

I hope you'll be impressed.

Now, look at this.

See, just...

How many birds there are?

An army.

Vast army.

My army.

He who controls the birds controls the world.

Are you seeking sanctuary?

There is nothing, absolutely nothing that you or anyone else can do. That's

you must join me. Join me in my task.

In my mission.

What a pity.

You wouldn't believe me.

Now, you don't give me any choice.

I'm sorry, but I cannot watch it.

Put it?

Galore.

No.

No. No!

No!

He

could

sing.

But he couldn't fly.