All language subtitles for Alfred Hitchcock s04e24 The Avon Emeralds.eng

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I
decided quite suddenly to go abroad.

It seems a very rich but distant aunt
has disappeared.

I decided to console myself on the
Riviera until the matter is cleared up

the insurance policy paid off.

Catsup. It's perfect for travel.

I find a bottle or two will make any
dish taste like home cooking.

I've already told him I have nothing to
declare.

The upturned palm, the symbol of travel.

However, I'm afraid he wants the key to
my trunk.

I think this would be the perfect moment
for you to look the other way.

Those of you who know of no other way to
look.

will have to endure the following.

Ah, Benson.

Morning, Hopkins.

Sir Charles.

Good night.

Hope you'll forgive me, sir, for having
borrowed your scissors.

Oh, I was a great one for clipping the
times in my own day, Benson.

Anything of special interest?

Oh, yes, sir.

Oddly enough, a Benedictine friar, a
member of the cannon's regular in

sir, has had the most remarkable success
with Cipropedium.

Cipropedium, sir?

Well, it's an orchid, more commonly
known as lady's slipper or the moccasin

flower. Well, it's not a variety I
favour especially, but what this friar

accomplished under the most obstinate
conditions... With all due respect for

cannons regular in Cornwall, Benson, I'm
afraid we'll have to defer the lady's

slipper until another time.

Yes, sir. Sit down, Benson. Thank you,
sir.

I'm sure you recall a case we had some
month ago when a...

Lady Avon tried to sell some jewellery
and, shall we say, overlooked the

share of the proceeds due to the
treasury.

I remember it very well, sir. I was on
the case.

It escapes me now, but wasn't it a
couple of rings she tried to sell?

Oh, no, sir. It was a rather dainty
brooch, lightly salted with diamonds, or

use the trade expression.

I remember she referred to it as a
bauble because it fetched her no more

,000. Oh.

And what then?

Very little beyond that, sir, except
that, well, her ladyship was a trifle

abusive. She disliked paying death
duties.

She claimed it left her with hardly the
price of a hat.

Of course, I'm not familiar with her
ladyship's taste in hats.

But what does seem apparent is that she
was widowed too early to have acquired a

proper sense of responsibility.

Yes, sir.

Lord Avon was of my generation. I knew
him well.

At the time of his second marriage,
he... Well, he was a horticulturalist,

Benson. You'll understand better than I.

The perils of a late autumnal bloom.

Yes, sir.

The reason I called you in was to tell
you that the famous Avon necklace, 20

perfectly matched cabochon emeralds with
a cluster in the center, the last major

item of our ladyship's inheritance, is
up for sale.

I expected as much, sir. Death duties
took the bulk of Lord Avon's estate, and

there simply wasn't the cash to meet
them. The proceeds of the sale of the

country house proved insufficient.

This left the jewellery.

For the purposes of probate, the
emeralds were valued at £100 ,000.

But what they'd fit in the open market,
and especially abroad, could be very

much more.

The Treasury is having a new appraisal
made.

I see them.

Now...

Her ladyship has already received an
offer for an undisclosed amount from an

American source.

But the Treasury has very wisely refused
to grant her an export permit.

Has she received any bids in England,
sir? Not several.

The most generous was an offer of 125
,000 pounds, which she turned down.

Now, this only serves to confirm my
belief that her ladyship intends to live

abroad, outside the Stirling area, and
to dispose of the emeralds in defiance

the Treasury claim.

This, of course, we're determined to
prevent.

If I may ask, sir, exactly where are the
emeralds now?

Reputedly in her hotel here in London,
in the Thick. And while legally she's

entitled to keep them in a shoebox or a
napkin if she so desires, I should like

you to confirm their whereabouts.

Is that all, sir?

No.

Lady Avon has booked a plane passage to
the French Riviera the day after

tomorrow. And while we take every
precaution to make sure that the

not with her, one never can be sure.

You'll be on the same plane, Benson, and
prepared to stay in France for a few

days.

Yes, sir. Oh, I realize that this
interferes with your holiday plans.

Well, that's all right, sir. Where were
you going?

I had thought of Cornwall, sir. Ah, the
cannons regular and the lady slipper.

I had thought of looking in on the Fry's
experiment.

Well, I must say I admire your full
devotion for everything you do.

tramping the countryside on every
holiday, sort of pollinating as you go.

I beg your pardon, sir? That's probably
what makes you a good policeman.

Ah, tea.

Now,

getting back to the case, I think we
must assume that Lady Avon may have a

confederate who might try and smuggle
the emeralds past the customs and

them to her in Cannes. I see, sir.

The important thing is that the emerald
should not leave the country. But if by

any mischance they do, you'll have to
bring them back with or without Lady

I understand.

Oh, and, sir? Yes, Winston?

Well, considering the attention that
Lady Avon and her jewels have received

the press, don't you think we can expect
that, well, half the thieves of England

and some of the continent's sharpest
talent will take this opportunity to try

nab them?

It's quite well taken, Inspector.

How many men do you want?

Oh, just a couple, sir.

Oh, do you think that'll be enough?

You know, there's always a grim
possibility that before this thing's

someone may have tried to slit her
ladyship's lovely throat.

Oh, good morning, Inspector Benson.
Hello, Ives.

Can I help you, Inspector?

Ives, let's eliminate the inspector just
for now.

Oh, yes.

Ives, I understand you have Lady Avon's
emeralds in safekeeping.

I'd like to see them, if you don't mind.

I'm afraid that's up to Mr. Saunders. It
is his responsibility.

I've already spoken to Mr. Saunders.

Oh.

In that case, of course, would you come
in?

There it is, sir.

You know, this safe has been with us for
80 years.

How long have the admirals been with
you, I ask? Only five days, sir.

You see, Mr.

Saunders warned her leadership that we
could not accept the responsibility.

But she insisted upon keeping them here.

There we are, sir.

Excuse me, sir. Can I help you?

I doubt it extremely.

Herbert Morgan and Linnet.

I'm here to appraise the Avon necklace
for the treasury.

I'm afraid your suspicions were
misplaced, Inspector.

These are the Avon emeralds.

Mmm, delicious.

I don't know why everyone doesn't have
caviar for breakfast.

Don't you, dear?

Absolutely jammed with vitamins.

Would you care for anything else,
milady?

Some more caviar, please. Certainly,
milady.

I... I do hope you're going to have
enough money to pay the hotel bill.

Oh, I expect so.

After all, after tomorrow, I won't need
any more pounds, will I?

Tell me, Aunt Catherine, how many
seasons have you spent in Cairns?

Well, it's rather hard to remember,
dear. I'd have to work it out by

Let me see, the last one loathed the
sunshine.

The one before that soaked it up like a
fig.

Your Uncle Alfred, though, of course,
that was much, much earlier.

Alfred could take the sun or leave it
alone.

Let me see, after him there was Michael.

Oh, no, I wasn't married to him.

Well, all in all, dear, I should say
about a dozen.

Husbands all seasoned, darling.

Gwendolyn.

I wonder if I shall like it there.

Well, it's a charming villa, dear, and
the agent says the servants are very

good. I shall know how true that is
tomorrow.

But I promise you, if they're not
perfect treasures, I'll have them all

before you come.

I'm a respectable, hard -working man,
and a cheat -oper as well. What's going

here? What are you doing to poor Bowles?
His name isn't Bowles, my lady, it's

Fletcher. And he's a convict on license.

Oh, it's you.

Persecution, my lady.

I'm sure Mr. Saunders wouldn't employ
any servant without the very best of

references. Four convictions for
robbery.

Two for breaking and entering, three for
loitering with intent to commit a

felony. That's a lie.

It was only two.

Give him half a chance, he'd steal the
gold leaf off the cross at St. Paul's.

Milady, it does appear that I was
unaware of certain facts.

Take him downstairs and search him,
Hodges.

Come on. Milady, I wonder if Mr.
Saunders and I may have a few words with

Oh, very well. Come in.

This is my aunt, Mrs. Sedley.

Darling, this is that detective
inspector that was so irksome about my

How do you do, madam?

I'm afraid it is I, milady, who is going
to be irksome now.

In the matter of your emeralds,
milady... What about them?

The management would so much prefer not
to have the responsibility of their

safekeeping. Would you not consider
putting them in a bank vault?

I suppose this is your idea, Inspector.

I assure you, milady... I will not put
my emeralds in a bank vault. But,

milady... It's much more convenient for
me to have them in the hotel.

An armed guard could always be supplied
to escort them from the bank when you

wish to wear them, milady. How do I know
when I want to wear them? No, no, it's

absolutely absurd.

But, milady...

I have every confidence in the hotel
safe and every confidence in you, Mr.

Saunders.

How do you search the waiter, sir?

But he was clean.

A pity he looked a likely candidate.

One of those people must be a
confederate.

The trouble is, sir, there are too many
suspicious characters around.

Now tell me, Vincent, what was Lady
Avon's attitude? How would you assess

Willful? Perverse?

Determined? Extravagant?

Everything the treasury is against.

She eats caviar for breakfast, sir.

Does she now?

Preferred kippers, myself.

How many are his 30 shillings an ounce,
sir? Well, we should just have to take

double precautions to make certain that
necklace doesn't leave the country.

You can put on another couple of men if
you like.

Yes, sir.

Hello?

Who?

Oh, yes, put him through.

Yes, Mrs. Saunders.

Yes, he's here.

What's that?

Hold on.

The Avon emeralds were stolen from the
safe last night.

Lady Avon, if the treasury appraiser
hadn't come back this morning to check

the size of one of the stones, this
robbery might not have been discovered

days. Obviously. But the fact that it
has been discovered enables us to narrow

down the time during which the robbery
could have been committed.

Is that a good thing?

Lady Avon, where were you last night?

I went to a charity bar at the
Dorchester and I wore the necklace. And

know why you're asking me all this.

Because there was one of your men
watching me like a hawk all evening.

Lady Avon, you don't seem to be taking
this lot very seriously.

What would you like me to do, scream?

I understand the emeralds were not
insured. Why was that?

Oh, I couldn't afford the premiums. The
death duties on my husband's estate were

absolutely crippling. I'm sure they
were. Now, after the ball.

I got back at 2 a .m. and I put the
emeralds in the safe.

Ask him. He was there lurking behind a
potted palm.

And afterwards?

You know very well I went straight to my
room. I saw you peeping out of the

linen cupboard.

Lady Avon, did you leave your... your
suite again last night?

I'm sure you had somebody watching me to
see that I didn't. Anyway, my aunt,

Mrs. Sedley, was saying the night was...

Oh, I wonder if I might have a few words
with Mrs. Sedley.

That might be a little difficult.

Indeed? She left on a plane for Nice at
nine o 'clock.

That's in France, you know.

I'm well aware of that, Lady Avon.

May I ask if you intend to join her
there?

Come in.

Oh, I'm sorry, Lady Avon.

Mr. Geist, come in. These gentlemen are
just going.

Mr. Geist is going to show me a picture.
Lady Avon, I... Oh, yes, you wanted to

know if I was going to France, didn't
you? Well, I am.

And to save you the bother of finding
out, I'll even tell you the time of the

plane. Nine o 'clock tomorrow.

Goodbye, Inspector.

Goodbye, Sergeant.

Goodbye.

Now, Mr. Geist, show me the picture.

Be careful with that. It's fragile.

Yes, madam.

Got a dog with us, sir.

Means she won't be back for quite a
while.

Oh, why?

The dog would have to be quarantined for
six months.

She wouldn't like that.

Pretty nice setup, if you ask me.

Jewel's officially reported stolen, so
she doesn't have to account for them.

Just turns up with them in France and
sells them to some rich American.

Well, she's not going to get away with
it.

Do you think the French police will be
able to help, sir?

Well, they're having her aunt, Mrs.
Sedley, watched in care, and they've

arranged for an officer of the theater
to meet me when we land in Nice.

I hope it won't come to that.

I don't...

I'm sorry,

Lady Avon, it'll be necessary of you to
be searched.

Oh, really, this is too much.

What about the dog?

Where's the dog to? It's not a dog.

Her name is Juliet.

I take it she can come with me?

minute now.

Would you mind unwrapping the painting,
sir?

I'm sorry, sir.

Well, I'm an honest man.

I'm a member of the Society of Fine Art
Dealers in London, in Paris, in

Amsterdam. I'm an accredited dealer. I
have letters here.

Please, look at them.

I have never been as simple as I was
before.

I haven't even been accused of selling
freaks.

I'm highly reputed.

I'm old established.

Ah.

Girl with a milk chair.

Lovely, isn't it?

Inspector Benton?

Yes?

Oh,

how do you do? You had the report from
London?

He had the report from Interpol in
Paris.

The subject, Madame Sidley, has been
under surveillance since you arrived.

The other subject was with you in this
plane?

Oh, yes. She's over there now in the
white hat.

Here.

Brunet.

Any charmant?

Quite. Do you wish to have her searched?

She was searched quite thoroughly in
London. No result.

But she must have the jewels with her.

Ah, now watch.

Oh, and Catherine. Darling. Oh, darling,
you're not quite your immaculate self.

Have you had a gasp, Lydrian? If she
does not have the stolen jewels, what

we watching for?

I said we didn't find them on her. But
she's got them all right.

So she too.

Who did she steal them from?

From herself.

Ah. To cheat the insurance?

No, they weren't insured.

Then what is the charge?

Defrauding the treasury.

Comment? Well, those emeralds were
supposed to go towards paying death

You know, taxes.

Oh, she's leaving now.

Monsieur,

you cannot do this.

What do you mean? What are you talking
about?

The lady does not pay government taxes.

This is not an offense for her to be
extradited.

The reports say the jewels were...

stolen. Well, so they are.

From ourselves.

Monsieur, if we arrested everybody in
France who avoided to pay taxes, there

should not be anyone left.

But, monsieur, I mustn't lose sight of
them for a moment.

The surveillance.

That, monsieur, is your affair.

Yours and the British government.

I cannot waste my men for such a
purpose. But, monsieur.

I regret, monsieur.

It is impossible.

$230 ,000.

$231 ,000. $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8,
$9,

$10, $11, $12, $13, $14, $15, $16,

$17, $18, $19.

$250 ,000!

Oh, isn't that wonderful?

Oh, aren't they pretty?

Oh, yes.

Here they are.

Beautiful.

Just beautiful.

Beautiful.

I don't see how you can get apart with
them.

Well, if I'm going to catch that plane
for Paris, I... Oh, my aunt can drive to

the airport, can't you, darling?

I should be delighted to.

Goodbye, Lady Avon.

Goodbye. It's a pleasure to do business
with you.

Goodbye, sir.

Oh, allow me.

Darling, I did everything just as you
told me.

But was it absolutely necessary to have
that horrible woman search me?

She was so thorough.

No, darling, I didn't get anything to
eat on the plane. Is there any caviar in

the house?

My difficulty with the customs official
turned out to be rather serious.

He found my aunt in the trunk, quite
dead, of course, but it was a peculiar

place for her to be.

He was terribly upset. You see, she had
no passport, and they're very strict,

you know.

I'm very much afraid I shall have to
change my plans and continue without

But my trip is a short one. I shall be
back in a week. Until then, au revoir.

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