Original subtitles

Heat. Heat.

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[Applause]

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[Music]

Mrs. Arland. Mrs. Rush child. Awake the

master. That's just it. He's in there

asleep at his desk. He must have been up

all night. Fancy. The master was never

one to spare himself. Must have a

choice, isn't it? Seat to the drawing

room. I'll attend to Mr.

Burke. Good morning, Ted.

Mr.

[Applause]

[Music]

Bedroom means system cork. System,

system, system. It depends upon the

system, Inspector Bird. I know what I

can lay my hands on. Anything I need.

It's quite possible. But you're only one

person. Suppose something were to happen

to you. Huh? Suppose someone else had to

come here take over your office. Your

job would have they wouldn't even know

where to begin. I'm not thinking of

passing on just yet. And then there's

the question of economy. Your expenses

last month almost £2 for the hire of

handsome cash. Ah, now that is economy.

That is what save my time, my legs.

Otherwise, that must be good for the

department. Do you really want to save

money? It's a constant struggle to run

this department inside the budget. A

constant struggle. You can start by

forgetting my office. Don't waste your

time and expense on me, Inspector. Get

the records department organized. I am

not going into that again, Sergeant.

Shambles. Takes hours to find the record

of a suspect. Days. You can lose an

officer in those files. That is not your

concern. It is my concern. 3 weeks ago,

I lost a man. Could be a whole day to

find his record. When I discovered he

was a crook, he'd scared of the

continent. Don't you come here telling

about efficiency. We're expected to run

this section on shirt buttons. We denied

the most elementary scientific aid. A

scientific aid is nonsense. It's

policemen who catch thieves, not

microscopes. The time will come, we'll

continue this discussion at another

time.

You are late. I'm sorry. I got help.

Don't let it occur again. While you're

in this department, you will be punctual

at all times. Efficiency and punctuality

go together.

Efficiency and punctuality go together.

Inspector Bird is right for once. Stop

grinning like an ape. A minute one way

or another can make all the difference

in this business. Now come on. Where are

we off to? Bazewater. What for? To look

at a case of suicide. Well, if it's

suicide, what are we going? Well, they

say it's suicide, but if we uh believed

everything we're told, we'd soon be out

of business, wouldn't we? The coroner

returned an open verdict, so they want

me to go along and make further

inquiries. You satisfied? Oh, yes. I see

now. Oh, I'm glad we have your

permission to proceed. Come on, lad.

Come

on. Hereby revoking all previous

testaments signed and attested by me, I

hereby bequeath and bestow to the

members of my domestic staff as may at

the time of my death be in my employee a

copy of the book of common prayer bound

in cloth on which their initials so long

as these do not exceed three letters

shall be imprinted together with a sum

of five shillings each to be subscribed

in their name to any of the following

charities. And there's a list of

charities to my wife s. Very well. You

may go and see that we're not disturbed

by those policemen in the library.

To my wife Sarah, my Bible, and

instruments of self-discipline, in the

earnest hope that inspired by the one

and spurred on by the other, she may yet

turn away from the life she has led, and

stand before the throne of judgment a

repentant sinner. to my executive James

Lord the manuscript of my essay on

Deuteronomy that it may guide him to the

study of laws more eternal than those

that occupy his daily life together with

my small guilt crucifix. The residue of

my estate I bequeath entirely and

without restriction to my housekeeper

Mrs. Holland in recognition of the many

ways in which she freed me for a higher

service. It's duly signed and witnessed.

Well, it's nice to know somebody got

something out of it. Congratulations.

Congratulations. At a time like this,

you're very welcome to borrow my

instruments of self-discipline if you're

afraid of being miserable in comfort. I

couldn't expect you to understand. To

understand what? My sense of loss. My

utter berment at my husband's death. No,

that I can't. You're as shameless as he

said you were. Now, very satisfying for

you. Now, ladies, it's hardly seeming.

Oh, well, I suppose for him hypocrisy is

a fitting epit. Now, ladies, please. I

will not allow you to speak of the

house. Who are you to allow? Let me

remind you that you're in my house. J,

let's not be hasty. You're not going to

let this dried up counter jumper get

away with that, are you? Well, from the

strictly legal project. Come on, don't

dither. Well, I was about to say, well,

you see, legally the house is, Mrs.

Holland, but I'm sure she wouldn't wish

to take advantage of that fact. I

shouldn't bank on that if I were you.

Thank you. I think the sooner you leave,

the better. Don't worry. I have no wish

to say. The heat of the moment, I am

sure Mrs. Holland wishes to be friends.

Will you take your legacies with you, or

shall I have them sent off? My god,

you're a hard one. You know, it would

have served you both right if you had

been married to him. I don't know who

would have got the worst of the bargain.

You or him. I asked you a question. Mom,

he's dead, isn't he? That's enough for

me. I want nothing to remind me of him.

Do you hear me? Nothing.

Mr. Bertram,

excuse me. Hey, not so fast. What was

all that about? I don't know, sir. I

thought you were watching. I just wanted

to see if the fire was all right. What's

through the keyhole? You've got no

business to go around spying on people

like that. No, no, that's one way of

putting it. Thought you was in the

library. Yes, I was. Now, what were you

doing looking through that keyhole? I

didn't mean no arm. Don't spit on me,

sir. Don't tell her. She'd give me

notice. She would really. All right. All

right. I'll consider it. It depends on

you. Thanks ever so much. On one

condition. I might have known. Go on.

Let's hear it. Why did Mrs. uh Bertram

leave like that? That's easy. Ordered

out of the house. She was his own wife.

Ordered out by that bag of rations. Who?

Old Holland. Mrs. Holland, the

housekeeper. You um you found the body,

I believe. Yeah. No, I mean, I didn't

know he was dead. Not till later. I

thought he was having a kip. I thought

he was asleep. But you were the first

person to go in the room that morning.

Suppose I was. Why? Well, I had to lay

the fire, didn't I? Could it be a right

carry on if I didn't lay the fires in

this house? And there he was. There he

was.

Show me.

Finished as best I can.

I'm afraid I'm a bit hamfisted. Not much

good at drawing. No, I can see that.

It'll have to do. And these damn

bureaucrats at Whiteall would allow us

enough money for a photographer.

Well, well, you sort of was sitting

there. Don't tell me, girl. Show me,

will you?

Well, he he was sort of sort of like

this. Uhhuh. And you were where? Oh, I

must have been about where you are now.

Not too far in the room, perhaps. Mhm.

Yeah. A little bit to the right. Am I

right? Uhhuh. Yeah, that's about it. All

right. Uh, Mark, Marott, add it to this.

Oh, now you said uh you thought he was

asleep. No reason to think anything else

was there. All right, off to come. Now,

what do you do? Got out of it sharp as I

could. Tell you the truth, I was scared

I might wake him up. More than once,

I've lost me after half day if you

disturbing the master. Did you notice

anything? Like what? Well, I'm not sure.

Well, if you didn't know what you mean,

how do you expect me to help you? Well,

no note on the desk. Or it may have

fallen on the floor perhaps. No,

nothing. You sure? Oh, that would be it.

I'll have to go. I expect Mr. Lord's

leaving. Mr. Lord? Yeah, the lawyer.

What you call it? The solister. No.

Well, uh, ask him to come in here, will

you? Well, I don't know. I don't know.

But I should. I mean, I don't know who

you are. Never mind who I am. You're not

in the position to argue, are you? If I

happen to say that I saw you. All right.

Blow me in your arors. You like six

penned for your Tanner, don't you?

[Applause]

Yes. Now, what is it we say? Oh, they

pardon. You rang, Mom. That's better.

Mr. Lord is just leaving. Polly, you

realize that it may take some little

time to have the will proved and the

estate settled. I take it you'll remain

here meanwhile. Where else? This is my

home. Quite. Would you like me to

arrange an advance from the estate? Oh,

I have adequate means. As you wish. My

wants are very simple. Extraordinary?

Extraordinary? What do you mean? You

sounded just like him for a moment. It

might have been him speaking.

Polly, Mr. Lord is just leaving. His

wife, sir, good day. Good day to you,

sir.

Well, I'd say the girl's in the clear at

least. Now, why'd you say that? How do

you know? Oh, I don't know. She seems to

very seems seems. Just because a girl's

got a bright eye and a friendly looking

bosom, you assume she's innocent. You

think she's guilty then? No, don't jump

to extremes. I simply think she'll bear

watching. That's all. As a matter of

fact, when I go from here, I'm going to

leave you to uh keep an eye on her. Not

an unpleasant duty. Very nice. What

exactly do you expect me to find?

Sir, gentlemen, one of you, Mr. Lord, my

name is Cork. Sergeant Cork from

Scotland Yard. Ah, yes indeed. A

policeman. This is my colleague, Mr.

Merritt. All right, love. You can go.

Not to go. How to be a shot this time?

Tell me what brings you fellows here. Do

you investigate every case of suicide

now? Only those with no apparent motive.

Society is progressing. Now one can't

even take one's own life without

providing a motive for it. If he did

take his own life. If he did. Now look

south. You take it from me. This is a

clear case of suicide. You run along and

leave it at that. Excuse me. Where you

going? To my office. Your office can

wait. I have some questions I want

answered first. Now look here. I am

looking. You can go when you've answered

my questions. If you don't mind,

thank you, Mr. Lord. Now, you were the

dead man's uh solicitor, I understand.

Yes. How friendly were you? How close? I

sold him legal advice over a long

period. Oh, don't hedge. Please answer

the question. There's no need to take

that attitude. I'm investigating a man's

death. I haven't time for the minor

pleasantries. Were you or were you not

on good terms with the deceased? Well, I

that is to say I'm afraid not. Why not?

I was indeed I am a friend of Mrs.

Bertrams who um who left her husband 5

years ago, Sergeant. Yes. Yes, it would

be something of that order. But you

continue to look after Mr. Bertram's

affairs. I have a small practice,

Sergeant. Quite. What was the trouble

between them? I can't see that that is

any concern of yours. Mr. Law, will you

leave me to decide what is or what is

not my concern? You're simply required

to answer the question. Not that one.

That question should be addressed to

her. It will be. You have her address.

Yes, sir. I'll tell you this, though. My

sympathies are entirely with Sarah and

Mrs. Bertram. I'm on her side. She was

very cruy treated. I'm sure that must be

a great consolation to her. What is the

point of this inquiry? The inquest

stated quite specifically that he'd

taken an overdose of Lordam. Not quite.

It was stated quite specifically. I say

the death was due to an overdose of

Lord. Well, it did not establish whether

he took the stuff himself or someone

else gave it to him. Yes, but look here.

The body was unmarked. No sign of a

struggle. Well, well, would you allow

someone else to make you drink a lethal

dose without putting up a fight? No, not

if I knew what I was drinking. Oh, I

see. And um have you any suspects? Uh,

two so far? Two? You? What? He was my

client. I needed his business. Would I

be likely to kill the goose that laid

the golden eggs? Who's the other one?

Mrs. Bertram, his wife. You don't

seriously She left him. You hinted

yourself he treated her badly. Yes, but

she wouldn't kill him for that. She's

not a murderer. She's not the type. No

one never is. But we still get murders,

don't we? Given sufficient motive and

opportunity. If it's motive and

opportunity you're looking for, why

stray from here? There's someone with

both. Not 20 paces from where you're

standing, Mrs. Holland. M housekeeper.

That's a possibility. And his principal

beneficiary. You didn't know that, did

you? Mrs. Holland. She gets the house,

everything. You people never can see

what's under your noses. Never mind.

There's always someone like you, only

too ready to point it out to us. I'd

like you to remember that you are a

servant of the public. I will not

tolerate that kind of You don't have to.

There's no more questions I want

answered. Can you show this gentleman

out, please, and ask your mistress if

she could spare me a moment or so? I'll

ask. Don't ask her. Tell her, dear. I

trust we shan be again. Feeling is quite

mutual.

God, I can't stand these pious humbugs.

Sergeant. Yes. What exactly do you

expect me to find out about the girl? If

I knew that, I wouldn't want you to stay

and keep an eye on her, would I? I

suppose not.

I understand you wish

just for a moment. I'm sorry. I I didn't

mean to start again. You wish to see me?

Please. Does it have to be in here? It's

just that this room I know. I realize it

must be rather distressing for you. I'm

not quite myself. I've had a very

upsetting day. That poor misguided

creature. Mrs. Bertram. Legally, I

suppose she is still Mrs. Bertram. But

you know, she's calling herself Mrs.

Perry. Perry? Perry is the man she

she took up with. They're living

together. Oh, in sin. Give me all the

gory details. She's not a question I

would care to discuss with the

gentleman. But ma'am, I'm not a

gentleman. I'm merely a peaceman. Then

you must ask her those questions. Yes.

Yes, I will. Right. Let us get on to you

and uh Mr. Bertram. You were on good

terms. I think I can say we were

friends. Yes. Good friends. Oh yes. I

told him everything and he helped me to

overcome my sinful ways. His faith was

like a rock. His charity was endless. He

was goodness itself. Too good to live.

In fact, if you are being facicious, I'm

never that. Yes, Mary. Well, only this.

Look, if his beliefs were so strong, he

wouldn't commit suicide, would he?

Suicide would be a mortal sin. That is

what I don't understand. But we can't be

certain yet that it was suicide.

That is impossible. He had no enemies.

He was indeed a very lucky man. Can you

think of anyone, Mrs. Horn, who, should

we say, disliked him? Well, there was

Mr. Lord. He was a false friend, if you

see what I mean. I must speak frankly.

He had designs on Mrs. Bertram. And what

about her? She's unprincipled enough.

And as you me, you benefit under the

will. Do you think his worldly goods are

any exchange for what I lost? A

confident, a friend, a teacher? Still,

profit can be a very powerful motive.

Not the only one. What uh others had you

in mind? For years, Mr. Bertram refused

to give his wife a divorce. Now she no

longer needs one, does she? She's a

widow. She can remarry when she likes.

Thank you, Mrs. Horn. You've been most

helpful. I don't think we need to turn

you any

[Music]

longer. God, what a household. Send

shivers up my spine. All this synthetic

goodness and all this faith. At the same

time, everyone busy sharpening knives

stricken to anyone else's back. Where

now? Back to the

yard. Come on, lad.

[Applause]

Let me go. Let me go. What's this then?

Find out. You're so bloom and clever.

Well, we'll see what the sergeant has to

say, shall we?

[Music]

That's for me to answer before I can

tell you. All right, sit down. Traffic

me all the way up here. She looked at

me. If I get the [ __ ] you'll be the one

to blame. All right. Now, what happened?

Well, after you'd gone, Mrs. Holland

went upstairs. Pretty soon, this Tweeny

came down. Went Tweety. You mean this

young lady? She got a name, hasn't she?

Yeah. Yes. It's um Holly Reed. Thank

you, Miss Reed. Go on, Bob. Well, uh

Miss Reed went into the drawing room and

uh I caught her trying to burn this. Oh,

I never. He's nothing but a rotten liar.

I only went in to attend to the fire.

Next thing I knew, Barry was carrying on

about some darling piper. I was only

just in time to stop her. It looks like

some sort of broad sheet. Sergeant, I

never seen that in my life before. I

swear on my mother's grave. All right,

be quiet, will you? A pillary. Another

of these liveless, blackmailing scandal

sheets. There's an attack on Mr.

Bertram. It says he assaulted a child 20

years ago. That's not all nether. You

have a read lower down. There's some

right juicy bits down there. I thought

you hadn't read it. Is it true? Wouldn't

surprise me. It was a dark old burch. Do

you know if it's true? Well, I don't

know. Not actually. No. You see what I

mean? It's a bit of a laugh though, is

it? If I were you, I wouldn't feel like

laughing. What do you mean? I think that

you tried to blackmail your master. When

refused, you lost your head and you

killed him. Oh, that's not true. I

wouldn't do nothing like that. Oh, you

think? Just come on. I'm stupid. All

right, stop slowly. For heaven's sake,

you'll get a handkerchief. Blow your

nose wedge. Blow it. It's

better. Now, come along. Tell me about

this paper. I'll find it. That's the

honest

truth. Oh, I I went to do the fire in

the library that morning. You know, the

morning of the day, the day you corpsed

it, and there it was on the floor. But I

mean, I thought to myself, hello. I

thought juicy. I didn't put it back on

the desk. I thought it might wake him

up. So I just stuck down the front of

the apron. Then I called Mrs. Holland

and she found he was dead. Then the

police came there. Mr. Lord, it was like

that all day. People coming going. I

forgot about it. I found it when I went

to bed and put it under the mattress.

Well, then the day you came around, I

got scared. Thought it looked bad for

me. I mean, if anyone found it, they

might have thought like you said. Yeah.

You took your time, didn't you? Why

didn't you burn it in your room? Oh, in

my room. Hey, that'll be the day. That

old skin flint moans if you have a

blooming candle, mind you. Oh, she makes

out. She does it for Christian reasons,

mortifying the flesh or some such Tommy

Rock, but it's just meanness. She didn't

tell me wants to question what she

wants, though. Now, like every Thursday,

she goes up to London shopping. Mostly

books about God and all that. Oh, yes.

Special toilet soap. Of course, you

haven't shown me, but I've seen the

wrappings from some lard chemist in

Cherry Man Street, something like that.

Yes. Yes, sir. German Street. So, you

decided to burn this downstairs? But I

had to buy me time in case she caught me

at it. But when she went upstairs, I

thought, "N chance." Not thinking you'd

have your wing at the spy on me. But I

never knew nothing about it. Not till I

find it. After she's dead, that's God's

truth. So, help me. See, that's wet.

See, that's dry. Cut my throat if I tell

a lie. You've uh you've been in trouble

with the police before, haven't you?

How'd you know that? I didn't. You just

told me. You didn't?

Oh, Blum. You're all

twisters. Me and me brother. See, we was

pinched for knocking off free penning

and mutton from a butchers in Chapel

Street. Perhaps I come to meet Mr.

Bertram. It was in court. See, and when

I come up before the bubble and squeak,

I take a pot. The bubble and squeak. The

beak of the magistrate. Oh dear. Mr.

Burch's [ __ ] up for me. See? Well, I was

decent to him. You just come up. He knew

why he was at. Don't fret. They bow me

over. See, so long as I went to work for

Mr. Bertram. Well, it's better than

prison. That's all you know, mate. Work.

I'm on the go from 5 till 11 at night.

And if I so matches open my mouth to

complain, they threatened to send me

back before the court. Talk about

Christian charity. He was a right psalm

singing hypocrite. See you. All right.

Thank you, Miss Reed. What? Hop it. You

can go.

Oh, thank you.

I say don't make anything about this

this paper to anyone. Wild horses

wouldn't drag it by me, sir. No. And if

Mrs. Holland cuts up about you leaving

your work, tell her to come and see me.

Oh, darn. I'll enjoy that. Just a

minute. Here.

Hey, what's this for then? Your bus

fair. Oh, t. Hey, you're a tough. You

are.

Poor little devil. Got a load of spirit,

though. Yes. If she hadn't got the gut,

she'd never survive. Well, what's our

next move then? And I'm glad to see

you've got your mind on your job. I'm

going to pay a call on the persons who

published this filth. Come on, lad. Come

[Music]

[Music]

on. Can I set these up, Mr. B.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Forest. Let me see the

roughs. Mr.

Brandon. Good. Good.

Excellent. Well done. You like it?

Indeed. Indeed. It has conviction force.

Yet remains the right side of liel. An

admirable exercise. Admirable. I prefer

the Bertram piece myself. Tell me, why

did you bring it to me? I thought you

would be interested in the truth. I am.

But are

you was he a relative? What makes you

say that? Some of the information could

only have come from someone who was on

intimate terms with Bertrram. I did know

someone close to him, but I found this

out myself. Don't worry. I shall ask you

to disclose your source. We have our

ethics. Yes, this will do. I think you

may have quite a future with us, Mr.

Brandon. I am very grateful. Well,

there's two gentlemen to see you from

Scotland Yard. See me? Well, well, fame

at last. Shoot them in. Relax, dear boy.

Nothing troubles the conabulary so much

as an apparently clear conscience.

Sergeant Cork and Mr. Marriott, come in,

gentlemen. We come in. Welcome to the

Pony. This is indeed a patter. You are

the Reverend Septimus Barrow. You knew

Imagine there boy. Are you um

responsible for this? I have that honor.

I am indeed. I don't think we need to

turn your friend. Of course. Of course.

Mr. abandoned. Perhaps you'll give that

to Forest on your way out.

A writer, a promise. You mark my words.

Now, what can we do for you, Inspector?

Sergeant. Oh, forgive me. You printed a

piece about Mr. Bertram. I fear there

must be some mistake. As I recall, we

published nothing about I didn't say you

published anything. I said you printed

it. You set the article up. Well, let me

see. Now, you come to mention it. I

believe we did plan to uh Yes, we did.

Uh, thank you. Uh, I have a copy here.

Yes, I I recall it now. Mr. Brandon

wrote a little piece. Now, what happened

to it? Ah, yes, of course. Owing to Mr.

Bertram's untimely demise, we were never

able to publish it. I'm so sorry. It

quite slipped my memory. Mr. Brandon

wrote it. Indeed. Yes. But, uh, I'm

afraid I don't understand. Sergeant, how

did you come by this copy? It was found

in the dead man's possession. What an

extraordinary thing. How did it get

there? Oh, it's an old trick. Is it

necessary? I mean, you simply dig up all

the dirt you can about some poor

unfortunate devil. You set it up in

print. You take off two or three copies.

Then you face him with it. You threaten

to print the whole kaboodleoodle unless

he pays up. Well, that sounds most

unpleasant, Sergeant. That would be

extortion. Blackmail is the word. Not

one I care for. Any more than I care for

this filth? Filth? Oh, no. Oh, dear. No

truth. Truth? I don't that concerns you.

Our motive is to scourge the enemies of

the Lord, to smite them hip and thigh,

wherever we may find them. This

muckreking, if you didn't send this to

Mr. Bertram, how do you suggest this got

into his possession? I can't imagine,

but I might add that I accept the least

responsibility for it. I didn't expect

you would. People like you never do. Sin

shall find them out. Oh, save your good

words for the sermon. I'm trying to do

my duty. And I want to know how Mr.

Bertram got hold of this paper. Well, I

can't help you there. I don't understand

how it could have happened. It's never

happened before. I find it puzzling.

It drove a man to his death, and you

find it puzzling. What does it take to

worry you? All right, save your breath,

lad.

You um you have a routine for these

things naturally. Which is when I

approve a story, it's set up in type. We

pull two roughs on a story such as this

where there's a risk of liabil. You

understand? Well, I'm surprised that

bothered you. Well, we're meticulous

about that. I can assure you. We send

one round to our solicitor for his

opinion. He may approve it. He generally

does. We are not exactly noviceses, you

know, or he may suggest some

modifications. In any event, his copy

goes on our files. We use the other for

making up our layout. And uh when the

story is not used, we file both copies

naturally. Then you should have two

copies. We should. We should. I'd like

to see them. By all means,

[Applause]

certainly. Strange. Very strange. We

appear to have only one. Yours or yours?

Listeners? Oh, ours. The solicitor

always initials the margin. This, as you

see, is blank. He couldn't have

forgotten. Oh, hardly. We only pay on

signature. A solicitor may fail to do

his job. He never omits a charge for it.

What is your list's name? Lord,

Sergeant, Mr. Lord.

Mr. James Lord. Why? Yes. Go along and

find out what happened to his copy, will

you? In just a moment. At the same time,

ask him what was Mrs. Bertram's maiden

name. Maiden name? Yes. Mr. You uh you

know, Mr. Lorden, as it happens, yes.

Quite sound, I think. Impoverished, of

course. Even a little CD that's to the

good. Never employ a prosperous lawyer,

Sergeant. He'll just wax fatter at your

expense. Find the man who's failed to

make a success. He's the man who work

for next to nothing, Sergeant. I'll

remember that.

What was the um the name of the uh young

man who was here when I arrived? Oh,

Brandon? You mean Victor Brandon? He is

a regular contributor. No, quite new,

but as I say, he has real promise. He's

learning fast. has the right touch, if

that is the word for it. You're

interested in Mr. Brandon? I'm

interested in all your activities, Mr.

Barrow. I'm flattered. Now, is there

anything else we can do for you? Oh, I

don't think so. I hope

not. Oh. Um, have you uh a Bible handy?

Naturally,

yeah. Something I remembered uh just

now. Something in Psalms.

I thought it might interest

you. I surrounded. I remembered it when

you were

speaking. Oh, yes. Yes, there. I didn't

realize policemen studied the good book.

You must never underrate as anybody, Mr.

Barrow. Just read there. The vile young

man is full of cursing and deceit and

fraud. Under his tongue is mischief and

vanity. He siteth in the lurking places

of the villages. In the secret places

does he murder the

[Applause]

innocent you know Alfred there are

millions of people down there most of in

need of help, advice, or sympathy. All

of which they've been more than willing

to pay for. And here we are with 50

years experience to offer them between

us. You'd think one or two of them might

stray in here. That's all we need. One

or two modest clients today. We'd be in

Clover then. Hey, Alfred. We might even

be able to get the gas

reconnected. Oh. Oh, you are. I'm sorry.

I thought it was my clark. Oh, the door

was open. Yes, it always is. But very

few people seem aware of the fact. I uh

I don't recall your name. Marriott.

Detective Constable Marriott. Ah, yes.

Marriott, the policeman. More questions.

If you don't mind, I understand you do

some work for the pillary from time to

time. I don't advertise the fact, but I

can't deny it. I take it that means yes.

Oh, I was forgetting you require short,

direct answers like Sergeant Cork. Cork

possible. Very well then. Yes. Why

didn't you tell us they were doing an

article about Mr. Bertram? I um saw no

point. After his death, they decided not

to publish. Did you know that before his

death, a copy was sent to Mr. Bertram?

That's not possible. It's a

fact. I uh understand you had a copy.

Yes. Um old Barrow wanted my opinion on

it, which was legally it was in the

clear. Well, may I see your copy? Uh

yes, if if I can find it. Now it's here

somewhere. Ah, yes. Here it

is. Does that prove something? Well,

I'll have to check with the sergeant, of

course. Of course. But unless I'm much

mistaken, sir, you've just removed

yourself from the list of substances.

Let's hope you're right. Still, I did

give you Mrs. Holland. That's a fair

exchange. Yes, sir. You also gave us

Mrs. Bertram.

Oh, there was one other question the

sergeant wanted me to ask. Do you have

to know Mrs. Burton's maiden name? It's

Brandon. Brandon? What the dickens is

[Music]

that? Mr. Lord showed you his copy. The

Reverend Septimus Balor showed me is

that would seem to put those two

gentlemen out of the reckoning. Well,

there were three copies, Sergeant. Who

made third? That's a good question. Any

answer? What about Victor Brandon? What

about him? Well, he's Mrs. Bertram's

brother, isn't he? He wrote the article.

This could have been hatched up between

them. Yes, could have been. Why are we

going to call him Mrs. Bertram? I should

have thought the first person to see him

would be

Brandon. The

idiot. A little luck. He may be there,

too. Luck. Well, luck can be um

organized, lady.

Sergeant. Yeah. How did you connect up

Brandon with Burton? Why did you ask me

to find out who made a name? Well, I saw

once remembered the house. Only for a

moment. I think it was enough. Now, as I

saw Brandon at Mr. Barrow's office, I

saw some sort of likeness. Not very

much. Something uh the eyes, but it was

enough. That reminds me, that's

something you must get started on. Learn

to train your memory, lad. As long as

they deprive us of records and

photographs, we must use our eyes. And

this, too. Learn to memorize faces.

Learn to put the name of the face of

every thief you meet. Handwriting is

another important thing, too. A man puts

his character into his fist, you

know. Marott,

is that you, Albert? You expecting

someone else?

Have you had a good day? Oh, as good as

any other. Well, at least they took you

on that three days this week. Yeah.

Aren't we lucky? Oh, and two last. Yeah,

none the week before or the week before

that. Never mind, though.

Weeks work in a

month. Making a fortune. Keep going on

like that. We'll be getting ideas above

our station.

You ready for dinner? No. I'm going to

take a walk. Me, too. Never you mind.

Down the pub. The Duke of Cambridge. I

don't know why I bother to ask. Well,

what do you want me to do? Your dinner's

in the oven. It'll spoil. We'll have to

spoil them, won't it? I know where I

ought to go. Where? South Africa. That's

the place. No, they're still striking

gold out there. Place must be made of

it. I've heard people say they make

thousands overnight.

Yeah, but it wouldn't be our

luck. Oh, Sam, we've got to do

something.

But come with me. Come on. It'll do you

good. To South Africa. We're not to the

pub. Come on. The kids going to look out

for themselves for an hour or two. No.

I'd better stay and see to them. You

know what's the matter with you, Sarah?

You're not a wife for a working man. You

never have been. You never will be. You

always got to have your eye on something

better. You have What's wrong with that?

What's wrong is it never happens. Oh, it

does. It could. Well, like all that

malarkey about what we was going to do

with the money that husband of yours was

going to leave you. I just thought I

could have told you. Oh, you wanted it,

too. There's a lot of things I want. I

want a full belly and a gold watch chain

to hang over it. That'll be nice. And a

week's work every week and a house that

isn't at the mercy of some some rat rent

landlord. Oh, there's a lot of things I

want. All right. The only difference is

I know I'm not going to get

them. Not in this life I'm not. I got me

doubts about the

next. You have to settle for what you

got. That's what you have to do. And

drink yourself stupid once a week.

Ah, you'll never see it, will you? Never

mind, though. Just be thankful it

doesn't happen more often. Will you come

or not? No, I better stay. Please

yourself,

Albert. What? about us getting married.

I mean, have you made your mind up yet?

There's no obstacle now that he's gone.

Well, it's it's a bit late for us to try

and make ourselves respectable in it.

Oh, you'd soon to spend the license

money on fear. Well, it's just a

question of value for money.

Good evening. What the you want? I'd

like a word with Mrs. Uh, Perry, please.

I would, would you, Mrs. Perry? Oh, Mrs.

Perry. You wanted There's a couple of

gents to see you, Mrs. Perry. There she

is. She's all your Albert.

Yes. Uh, my name is Cork. Sergeant Cork.

We have met before. Oh, yes. Mr. B. This

is my colleague, Detective Council

Marriott. Well, you better come in.

You won't mind coming into the kitchen

window. And there's nowhere else to ask

for children.

Well, we're investigating the death of

your late husband. Oh, is that all?

Well, he's dead, isn't he? What do you

want me to say? Cuz I'm sorry. Well, I'm

not. When was the last time you saw your

husband? I haven't seen him for Oh, 2

years now. Two? I understood you left

him 5 years ago. Yes, that's right. What

then? Well, I went to see him two years

ago. It was James's idea. Really? Mr.

Lord? Yes. Do you know him? Yes. Oh,

yes. Yes, of course you would. Well, I'd

written several times to ask for a

divorce, but my husband never replied,

and James got the idea that um Mrs.

Holland might be intercepting my

letters. Would she do that? Well, I

wouldn't put it past her. She'd stop at

nothing to protect the master from the

wicked world around him. As he and you

were part of this um wicked world, you

ask her. I was the devil incarnate.

Anyway, I found out which was her

afternoon off and I duly presented

myself. He was superb. He really was. He

showed no more surprise than if I'd just

returned from a round of the shops. No

more interest either. He was unpleasant.

Oh, no, not him. He was as sanctimonious

as ever. I knew at once it was a waste

of time. But having got so far, I begged

him to divorce me. He wouldn't hear of

it, of course. He just smiled his

well-known tragic smile, and he said,

"When I repented of my sin, I must feel

free to return to him." To him of all

people. In the end, I just had to go. If

I hadn't, I'd have killed him.

What he done to make you hate him so

much?

Nothing. Nothing.

There are sins of omission, too, aren't

there? I was a very ordinary young woman

when I first met my husband. I admired

him, but I was attracted to him, too. I

thought he felt the same way about me.

Well, that's part of any normal

marriage, surely.

Oh, he talked of a marriage of true

minds. When we were married, I found

that was exactly what he meant. Ours was

to be an entirely spiritual union.

Anything else was dirty, see? And how

long did this go on?

4

years. I tried very hard to accept it.

In the end, I couldn't take any more and

I just left him.

With my virginity still intact and four

years of mortal sin to catch up

on, I met a man at last. You've just

seen him. He wasn't a plaster saint. He

was a man. Oh, I know he was poor and

rough, but he was strong and clean and

and real. I became a woman and a

mother. And I wanted to be a wife, too,

you know, in the worldly sense. But my

husband wouldn't allow that. Not him. He

had to retain his stake in my spiritual

salvation. Damn it, Sergeant. Surely if

her

husband, what I mean is, couldn't you

have had your marriage enulled? I mean,

legally. Oh, you must be very new at

your job. No, she's right. She's right.

Will you have a look at this? Common

law, sir. Is beyond the common run of

purses. It's far too expensive. Oh, I

see.

Oh, this is vile. It's wicked. How could

anyone?

It isn't true. Yes. He was convicted of

assault 20 years ago.

Oh, I suppose it makes sense. Of your

marriage?

Yes, I can understand a lot of things

now. Oh, he could have told me. Did you

send him this

sheet? Good heavens know. Why should I?

You said you wanted to marry again.

It's in the early days that a public

bond sustained you.

Now it doesn't seem

important. Excuse me.

Hello.

Um, it's my brother. You don't mind? Oh,

on the contrary. I was expecting Mr.

random the call. What? I had note from

Lord saying so. Not from Lord from me. I

sent it. I want to see you. But you had

no right. I must apologize if it was

very necessary. Did you

um you write this? Did you? Yes, I did.

As a matter of fact, you take off

another copy and send it to Mr. Bertram.

Did you? Yes. But why? Because of what

he did to you. But that's all over. Is

it reducing you to this? I'm happy

enough here. You expect me to believe

that? He deserved all he got. He was a

sanctimonious hypocrite. So, let's get

into a discussion about hypocrisy. I

don't think you'd come out of it too

well, Mr. Ben. He tortured Sarah for 4

years, didn't he? He still tortured even

though he's dead. The man was a monster.

No wonder, Mr. Barrow finds you a very

promising pupil. How did you uh deliver

this? I dropped it through his door.

When? The morning

before he died. He didn't just die.

You mean that? This killed him. The

broad sheep was a murder weapon. were

sent this to him, killed him as surely

we'd struck a knife into his back. Good

night,

Sergeant. You can let him go. Suggest.

Well, if you kill Mr. Burch. Well, he

merely supplied the weapon and maybe the

motive, but that's all. Well, then who?

I'll use this lad. Work it out. You know

as much as I do. Good night, Mrs. Barry.

Don't look at me like that. I did it for

you, for your good. You hear me? That's

what he used to say. It's not fair.

Sarah, please. No. Don't touch me. Don't

come near me.

Coming.

All right, I'm coming. Leave off, aren't

you?

[Music]

She's coming. All right, wait there,

William. Will you be all right? Oh,

you'll learn there may be safety and

numbers, but there's far less

surprise. Well, hello. Oh, hello. It's

you again. Blame me, they work you at

your place, don't they? Shocking eyes,

you keep nearly as bad as mine. She's

expecting you. Thank

you. Yeah, I'll take those. Yeah, it's

very kind of you. Thank you.

What do you um do with uh anything that

comes through the door? Do what you

think. Take him to Mrs. Holland. I just

came to and you rang the bell and before

Mr. Bertram died. The same. Everything

went to Mrs. Holland. I see. Anything

else? No. Oh, I'd just like to know what

goes on in that head of yours. I would

really that copier

again to cork. Ma'am. Oh, and here's the

mail. Leave it there. Good evening,

Sergeant. Good evening. I must apologize

for calling at this late hour. You have

your duty, Sergeant.

You have some news, I imagine. Well, if

you can call it news in my opinion, Mrs.

Holland, your late employer was

murdered.

Murdered by who? By Mr. Lord. I don't

think so, but thank you for the

suggestion. Then Mrs. Bertram, I knew

she was capable of anything. Oh, no. She

had nothing to gain. I told you she

wanted a divorce once, but it came too

late for her. Oh, then it's Polly the

wretch. Oh, this is far too complicated

the crime for a child. Perhaps you

better have a look at the chief exhibit

in this case, Mrs. Harlem.

[Applause]

Take it, read it. I don't care to read

such things about the master. But how do

you know it is about the master, Mrs.

Harlem? I I must have seen a copy

somewhere. This is the only copy in

circulation. Then I must have seen it.

Where? Where? You found it? On his desk?

Yes, that's it. I was tidying his desk.

But we didn't find it on his desk. But

you must have done. Must. Why must?

Because because because you put it

there, didn't you?

Yes. Yes, I did. I thought he ought to

see it. Why do you want to remind him

this shabbid little scandal? I thought

it was my duty. Duty to rattle this old

skeleton. You must have hated him a

great deal. No. No, that's not true.

I loved him. But he didn't return your

love, did he? So your feelings turned to

hate. Is that what happened? He did love

me. He told me so. It was a union. A

true union of the spirit. But you wanted

more.

Yes, I

did. But I respected his decision. I

learned to discipline my feelings when

he told me when he said there could be

nothing physical between us. I

understood. I even admired his strength.

And then that

came to think that he'd known with that

[ __ ] what he denied to me. So with this

scandal sheet, you hoped to blackmail

him into making love to you. Hoped. I

might have known when I confronted with

him that he ignored it and spoke of the

need to mortify the flesh. Purity

through self-disipline he called it. He

disgusted me. So you killed him. No. No.

I loved him in spite of everything.

Molland, you take me for a fool. While

Mr. Bertram was alive, you made a

regular habit of going to London each

Thursday. Yes. One of those Thursdays,

the day before he died, as a matter of

fact, you paid a call at a chemist

Harkers in German Street to buy

medicines. Medicines? Yes. I suppose you

could call Lenham Medson? Yes. The

chemist remembers the occasion quite

well. We had trouble finding him, but we

find him in the long

run. How did you kill him, Mrs. Holland?

How did you kill

him? The

coffee. I knew his words so well. You

see, when he was working, he'd let his

coffee get lukewarm, then he'd drain it

at a single swallow.

Don't suppose he even tasted the lord

that night? I don't suppose he did? I

shall deny it. You can't prove it.

You've no witnesses here. It's just your

word against mine. You think so?

Do you hear it all? Every blessed word.

Yeah. Somehow I thought I could rely on

you.

No, no. Put him away, Bob. We shall meet

tonight. You a long time. Oh, the

wicked. My bed. I shall seek him for my

soul. If Mrs. Holland's stings, will you

him? But I found him not. I shall arise.

Go about the city, the streets, and the

broadways. I shall seek him all my soul

loveth. I sought him and I found him

not. I charge you, oh daughters of

Jerusalem. If you see my beloved, tell

him I am sick of

love. Set me a seal upon my heart, a

seal upon my arms. Love is as strong as

death. Jealousy is as cruel as the

grave. Awake wind and you sunk. flow

into my garden and all the spices that

are in shall my beloved

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Music]

enter. Heat.

[Music]

[Music]

Heat.

[Music]

Heat. Heat.