Original subtitles

[Music]

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Louder.

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Alan Thomas, father, the jury has found

you guilty of the willful and brutal

murder of Benjamin Sweeney. By virtue of

the authority vested in me by our

sovereign Queen Victoria, I do hereby

pronounce sentence upon you.

You shall be taken from this court to a

suitable place of execution, and there

you shall be hanged by the neck until

you are dead. And may God have mercy on

yourselves. No, I'll get you, this

judge, Palmer. I'll follow you to the

ends of the earth. I'll get you good and

proper. Hear the

[Music]

court. I think there's this way.

Good morning, gentlemen. Morning. My

name is Cork. We have room reserved by

telegraph from London. Oh, yes, Mr.

Cork. Your room's ready for you. Number

516. That's on the fifth floor. Thank

you. Mr. Meritt has an adjoining room.

Oh, no, sir. The same room. That's what

I was given to understand.

Really? Are there no other rooms nearby?

Oh, I'm afraid the entire hotel is fully

booked, sir. The whole of London seems

to come down to Brighton. It's

remarkable. Quite remarkable. Well,

there were still one or two people left

uh in London when we came away.

I say I'd say it very quietly, you judge

Palmer's daughter. The baggage can wait

for a moment. Excuse me. Um, Lord

Palmer,

who are you, sir? Uh, Sergeant Cork,

Detective Department from London. My

assistant, Mr. Merit. How you do? Oh,

really? Take the children into

breakfast, my dear. I'll join you in a

few moments.

Is it convenient to discuss the matter

before breakfast, sir? It's never

convenient for me to discuss any matter

before breakfast. Where is your senior

officer? I am senior officer. A

sergeant. The threatening letters you've

been receiving. May we see them, please,

sir? I'd scarcely carry them about on my

person. You better come and see me in my

suite at 10:00. Well, we'd like to start

work as quickly as possible, sir. Of

course. In my suite at 10:00. Oh, and uh

while you're about it, I would sooner

that you didn't declare your profession

to all sunundry in this attempt. Yes, I

quite understand. People in our side the

law are never too popular, are they?

The porter will show you up, sir. Here

you go.

I told you to go with your mother,

Virginia.

Oh, very interesting. So, they've come

from the London detective branch. The

sooner they go back, the better. It's a

waste of public money. If it hadn't have

been for your mother, but aren't you all

so concerned about our safety further?

Of course I am. But I've had threats

before. They've always proved empty. So,

they will again.

Street cheers for Albert. For who?

Inspector Bird. He doesn't believe in

wasting the taxpayers's money, does he?

Marvelous view. You can see for miles.

Not so good in the other direction. I

think we're over the kitchen. Yeah,

where they're cooking cabbage. Heaven

sake, try and close that window, lad,

will you?

Well, this should make for a good

night's sleep. Anyway, at least yours

has springs. We had to do a job of work

there. Not here for the donkey rides.

Let's get over as quickly as possible

and get back to the home comforts. Oh,

that's the first move. Fair courtesy

calling the Brighton police. No, I doubt

they'd appreciate that. They don't take

too kindly to outsiders being brought to

Do you know the judge? I met him once a

brief encounter. Wasn't very pleasant.

He uh he hanged my man. And I'm sorry,

sir. Well, didn't the man deserve it?

Well, according to the law, it was

guilty, but I have my own opinions about

hanging. Little Palmer pronounced sent

him with such relish. Thank God

retiring. Put the black cap on for the

last time. He's made his half century.

What? 50 hangings? Yeah. If we stopped

at Fort 90, he wouldn't have been here.

Those threatening letters started coming

after he'd sentenced young foul at

Lewis.

You think there's a connection? No.

That's what we're here to find out, len.

By the way, uh, how's the enemy? Uh, 5

to 10. Must be late for our appointment,

must we? No, I don't suppose he'll want

to keep us all day. What's that supposed

to suggest? Well, we're in Brighton. The

sun's shining. I mean, couldn't we

discuss the case on the pier? Look, one

whiff of the briney and you're off,

aren't you? Come on then. Let's go and

see how the other half lives. There you

go.

Who is that yacht mother? The one with

the red and gold cross. The Duke of

Rutlands. I imagine David would know.

Young man is in his form at school.

Where is the boy? He's lying down. I'm

afraid the heat was too much for him.

The poor child hardly slept at all last

night. That's because he doesn't take

enough exercise. He ought to be out in

the fresh air like any other lad of his

age. Yes, but Brighton's no change for

him. We ought to have gone to key.

Come in.

Ah, our custodians have arrived. Haven't

you something to attend to, Virginia?

Well, I prefer your family to be

present, sir. The devil you would. Well,

if we are to offer them protection, it

would be a useful precaution to uh know

something about them. Now, you pay

attention to me, Cork. I am not going to

have my only doing his job. I'm Lady

Palmer and this is our daughter

Virginia. Mom, Mr. Mariam, how you do?

Uh, you have a son, I believe. Mom. Yes,

David. He's not very well at the moment,

I'm afraid. He's perfectly well.

Virginia, go and call him.

Excuse me. Yes. Thank you.

While we're waiting, sir, have you the

letters with you?

Now, you must understand that I

attribute very little importance to

them. I've had too many threats from

criminals in my career to pay much heed

to. And why'd you make an exception of

these, sir? I insisted on the police

being called. I have an uneasy feeling

about them, and so does Virginia, and

she's not normally worried about

anything. Well, now you know why you're

here, Cork. Women's premonition.

Yes, father. This detective wants to

take a look at you. Are you uh feeling

better, boy? Yes, thank you, sir. On

holiday from school, are you? Yes, sir.

Look, uh David, is it? This is Mr.

Merritt here. When you leave this hotel,

either Mr. Merritt or myself will be um

close at hand. And it doesn't worry you.

No, sir. All right, that's all right,

David. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Shall I go back to my room now, father?

No. Go on to the balcony. Get some fresh

air into your lungs. Come along, David.

I'll show you the new yacht.

Now, about these letters. All the same

hand, sir. Writing's not very good. All

uh posted locally, and the paper looks

as though it's been torn out of a school

exercise book. Written and posted by the

same fellow clearly. Judge Palmer, I

will make your family suffer. An eye for

an eye, a tooth for a tooth. If Fowler

dies, you won't escape vengeance. Only

whoever wrote it. Couldn't spell

vengeance. Well, they're all a bit

vague, aren't they? They're probably

deliberately vague so as not to give

away any uh specific intention. If there

is any intention apart from that, I must

assume there is, sir. Now, this young

man, Fowler, could you tell me something

about his background, sir? It was a

perfectly straightforward case. He was

found guilty of the murder of a school

master, a brutal homicide, and I

sentenced him according to the law. The

uh murdered man was on the staff here at

the Prince Albert School at Brighton, I

believe, sir. Yes, a very fine master. I

met him once. David attends the same

school. And young Fowler is due to be

hanged on Monday. Unless there's a stay

of execution, which I very much doubt.

Well, there's some agitation, I

understand. So, after all, Fowler is

just a boy. Age has nothing to do with

justice, sir.

This damned sentimental toddle about

reform. It sickens me if people could

see the hardened and vicious criminals

that come before me. Hardly vicious,

sir. He scarcely had time, had he? I do

not propose to debate the matter. The

law is the law. Without it, this country

would soon be in the hands of the

barbarians. Severity is common sense in

dealing with the criminal. The balcony

next door. Then I hope they learn

something. I have served her majesties

the sizes for over 40 years. William,

I'm quite sure that Sergeant Cork is

aware of that. Then I hope he's also

aware that I am not a man to be deterred

from my duty by sentiment or pressure. I

uh think that part of your character is

fairly wellnown, sir. Yes. Good. I'm not

ashamed of it. Now, let's waste no more

time. I want the author of those letters

found and brought to justice, and I want

my family protected. Well, sir, we'll be

about our business. We'll take you, Mom.

Excuse me, mayor. I need hardly say that

what I said to your son also applies to

you and uh to you, miss. I shall be out

for the rest of the morning, but if you

uh want to leave the hotel, I hope

you'll inform Mr. Meritt.

You mean you are to be our chaperone,

Mr. Marriott? Well, yes, you could call

it that.

I shall be going out at about 11 to take

some air. Oh, mother, I'm tired of

staying in this dull hotel. It's such a

lovely day. Take the boy with you,

Virginia. Get him out. Do him good. I

didn't come down here so that he could

sit in a stuffy room.

Mom.

Mom, are you all right? There's been no

word. No. Mr. Onwin said there might be

a word today. I waited in in case there

was. Yeah. Well, they've uh got to read

a petition. That sort of thing. Alan

will get a reprieve, won't he? Yeah.

Yeah. Hey, look, Mom. It's a lovely day.

Why don't you take a trip to Rotting

Dean and back? Oh, Len, your own brother

waiting to be angry and you ask me to go

on a pleasure trip. Oh, no. I know. It's

just

a Well, it doesn't do any good, does it?

No, no, I suppose not. I'll get you

dinner.

Lynn, that might be. It might not.

Yes,

he's from the police. Lynn, Sergeant

Cork from the detective department. Oh,

you've come to tell us it's going to be

all right, haven't you? Sorry, I didn't

quite tell. Are they going to let my

brother off hanging? Well, that's not

quite why I'm here. I'm sorry. Why are

you here? What do you want? Well, I just

like to ask a few questions and uh see

if either of you can tell me anything at

all about these.

What's it say? Well, why don't you read

them for yourself, ma'am? My mother

can't read. But you can read and you can

write as well, can't you? I didn't write

this if that's what you mean. Perhaps

you uh know who did. You think I'll tell

you if I did? Listen, mister. When

Palmer gets what I want to give him, it

won't come through a penny post. Oh,

look, you can stop that before you

start. If I hear you utter one threat

against him. Can I speak now? Aren't we

even tight to open our mouth to stay l

I'm sick to death of judges and cops?

There's an old lot of you. You haven't

come here to help. You can push off and

leave us alone. Stupid. That's not going

to help anyone. I've got nothing to say

to you, Sergeant, whatever your name is.

Because if I did, you twist it and turn

and make lies out of it. I was in court.

They tied up my brother with our fancy

talk and legal questions. Nobody saw him

hit the master. Nobody saw him take the

watch. It was all just talk, clever

talk. I found him guilty. And how did he

get the watch? He found it in the

bushes. That's what the uh Prince Albert

school, the other side of the White

Rock, wasn't it? Yes. He was gardener's

boy there and did our jobs and always

did his job proper. Never a word of

complaint, sir. Until Until they said he

hit one of the masters with a bilock.

They won't hang him, Sergeant, will

they? He's only a boy. He's only 14.

Yes. Yes, I know, Mom. 14. If they hang

him, if they do, I meant every word I

said, Sergeant. An eye for an eye, a

tooth for a

tooth. What is in the Bible?

[Music]

[Music]

will you be following us all the time,

Mr. Marriott? Oh, yes. Those are my

instructions. Oh,

would you like a water, I say? No, thank

you. It's cold out here. Cold? The sun

is blazing down. I know. How about a

trip on the uh on the Princess

Charlotte? No, thank you. But don't let

us interfere with your pleasure. Oh, no.

You You got any suggestions to make? Mr.

Meritt, you're only obliged to protect

us. You don't have to provide

entertainment, too. No, but I'd like to.

I mean, there are so many interesting

things to do in Brighton. Don't you

agree? Well, it depends what sort of

things amuse you. Personally, I would

prefer somewhere much more

sophisticated, like Paris. Your father

would never allow. I shouldn't ask him.

But you wouldn't go on your own, surely.

I mean, Paris, the city of sin. Don't

mock me. I'm serious. I'd like to work.

I'd like to find a job and do something

really useful. But I'm not even allowed

to think about it. It's unladylike. Oh,

I get so angry. Brings out the color in

your eyes. Will you stop mocking me? I

mean it.

I'm not mocking you. Someday I'm going

to run down that beach and I'm going to

jump into the sea and swim free, alive,

and on my own. Yes, I bet you would,

too. Have you got any other adventures

in mind? You'd be surprised. It takes a

lot to surprise me. Where's your

brother? Oh, there he is.

David running, isn't it, Mr. Cher? Well,

I hope you keep the cat away from it

long enough to get it to last case.

Oh, that's the editor of the Brighton

vehicle. Well, what's he doing down

here? Looking for a fishy story. Oh,

really? Of all the stupid things to say,

can't you ever be serious?

Good morning, Mr.

I do apologize, but have we met

somewhere before? Not really, but I've

seen you at Leisa. I'm Virginia Palmer.

I believe you know my father.

Unfortunately,

this is Mr. Enwin. Constable Marriott.

Uh, detective. Constable Marriott.

Please meet. How do you do, detective?

Well, that's very interesting. I know

you're not on the local force, Mr.

Marriott. So, what brings you to

Brighton? Just making a few routine

inquiries. I see. And would it be pring

to ask if those inquiries concern Lord

Justice Palmer? I'm afraid it would. I

gather you don't regard him very highly.

No. Nor anyone else who supports the

death penalty for children. We're living

in the 19th century, Mr. Marriott. It's

not the dark ages. There is no excuse

for judicial murder. Does your paper

support abolition? All the way. But of

course, I wouldn't expect to find

sympathizers in the police for We do see

some pretty brutal murders. You know,

two blacks make a wife. H there's a

desperate hardened criminal up in Louis

jail waiting for the rope and he's just

14 years old. Mr.

Mar to you. Good day,

Mr. Marion. Oh, Mr. Marion, I can't find

David. I can't find him anywhere. I

thought he was with you. Where do you

want to see him? David, here somewhere.

David. David. David. David.

This way for the Princess Charlotte.

Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. David. Ladies and

gentlemen, this way for the Princess

Charlotte. Hurry. Hurry.

Hurry. Charlotte. Hungry.

[Music]

[Music]

[Laughter]

If this is the kind of protection

afforded by the London police, no wonder

the city is seething with criminals.

Well, all I can say, sir, is that as

soon as Miss Virginia and I realized

your son had slipped away, we did

everything in our power to find him.

That's true, father. We searched that

pier from end to end. Oh my poor David.

I knew he shouldn't have got out. If I'd

known those two detectives who were such

bungling idiots, I'd never have allowed

it in the first instance. I knew this

would happen. He's been abducted. Those

villains who sent those filthy letters

have abducted him. Haven't you anything

to say in the matter? C. I think uh Lady

Palmer should retire to her bed, sir.

It's quite understandably distressed,

but it's not going to help us find the

boy. He's quite right. Go to bed first.

But I must know what's happened. The

local police are scaring the town. Mom,

everything is being done at Candy. Come

along, mother. My poor David. I knew he

shouldn't have gone out, but he had

to Palmer. Has David ever attempted to

uh run away before. Run away? Of course,

he's never tried to run away. This is

absurd. He's been abducted. He's

disappeared for over 4 hours. The pier

was crowd, you say? Well, surely if he'd

been seized, someone would have noticed

that. I would have thought so. Yes.

Unless he was enticed. I know we'd have

to taken the whole length of the pier.

You'd check at the pier entrance. Well,

the pier attendants swore he couldn't

remember seeing the boy leave. And

there's uh an alternative. Either he's

still on the pier, but the Brighton

priest already checked the pier. Or he

left the pier by the sea. On a boat?

Yes, there are pleasure boats leading

from that pier. Pleasure boats. Excuse

us, Lord. Farmer, we'd like to be

getting along now, please. Father.

Father, I think we better get Dr. Hughes

to give Mother some chloro. Fighter,

I'll have him sent forth. Until that boy

is found, Cork, you better find him or I

wouldn't be in your shoes when you

return to Scotland Yard. Good.

I'm sorry, father.

Don't blame yourself, my dear. Would you

think he's been kidnapped?

I don't

know. It's

possible. Poor lad. If I get my hands on

those responsible, how can they do this?

To take their revenge on me through my

son?

He's only a child. He's not strong. But

if they think they can blackmail me,

I'll call for Dr. Hughes, shall I? H Oh,

yes. Yes. I'm sorry. I I was quite

forgetting.

No, I haven't seen Len since this

morning when you were here. He hasn't

come back. How do you know? Cuz I've

just seen him. I've been in all the

time. You haven't been out at all? No. I

told you. I say case word comes about

Alan. I don't believe you. Where is Len?

Len wouldn't arm Judge Palmer's son.

What do you know about Judge Palmer's

son?

Nothing. What's more to the point? How

do you know about it? You said you

haven't been out. You heard from Len,

didn't you?

Yes. Go on, tell me everything. What

happened? Well, Len was sitting here. to

see having his supper and reading bits

out of the newspaper. Go on. Well, he

come across this bit about the boy being

missing. He said he'd seen him on the

boat on the Princess Charlotte. He said

he knew he was because of the school

badge he was wearing. You see, he

recognized him at once because it was

the school that Alan used to work at.

You see, that's why he knew him at once.

Did he know it was David Palmer? No, no.

That's what I'm telling you. How could

he know who it was? He wouldn't arm the

boy. He couldn't know who it was. If he

couldn't arm him, Charlotte goes to

Rotting Dean, doesn't it? Did he get off

there? No, he don't tie up, you see.

Just sails around the coast for an hour

or so and then comes back to Brighton.

He got off at the West Pier. The West

Pier, not the Champier. That's right.

Why in heaven's name didn't he tell us

about this? Well, would you have

believed

him? Len knew you'd be looking for him.

That's why he

bolted before he went he he wrote a

letter to

Alan telling him to be brave. See the

paper this is written on. Where did it

come from? Some old book. I think what

Alan brought home. They used to throw

him out up at the school. Why? Looks

like a page from an exercise book. Yes,

that's right. The school book. That's

what I said. What? What's the matter?

Look, I'll I'll keep this. No, but it's

for Alan. wrote it.

I'll see if he gets it.

When my father comes down to breakfast,

will you tell him that I'm going out and

I shall be back in about an hour?

Certainly, Miss Palmer.

Miss Palmer? Yes. I overheard you're

going out? Yes. I must get some fresh

air and I can't do anything to help it

see. Well, you know what my instructions

are and especially after what happened

yesterday. Well, you can come if you

like. I hope you won't find it too

embarrassing. Embarrassing? I'm going

bathing. Oh, I'll enjoy that. Have you

got one of those new costumes? You know,

some of them are very dashy. I suppose

you have reasonable success with some

girls. Personally, I find your humor

rather weak. Still, it takes all kinds

to make a world, doesn't it? Excuse me.

I'll get my costume.

[Music]

Good morning, Preston. Oh, good morning,

Mr. Howard. Uh, would you inform Lord

Justice Palmer that I've come to call on

him? I'm afraid he's not down to

breakfast yet, sir. Would you care to

wait? Oh, very well.

[Music]

[Music]

Any luck, sir? Not a matter of luck,

lad. We haven't had very much of that.

Many things are very difficult for us. I

know, sir. I'm sorry. Sorry not enough.

Cost you a warrant card. You know, you

concentrated more on your job and less

on the pleasure of the seaside. There'd

be nothing to be sorry about, would

there? Excuse me, Mr. Howard. Ah, Miss

Palmer, I read the report in the

newspaper. I simply can't begin to tell

you how distressed I am. And a friend of

the family. Well, he was asking for his

lordship earlier. Was he? Well, they can

only hope that you're finding

very farmer. I pray there's no news yet,

but the police are extending their

search in land. How is your mother?

She's still asleep. Oh, this is Mr.

Hard. Now, he's the headmaster of the

Prince Albert School, and this is

Sergeant Cork, who's in charge of the

investigation. How is that? How to do?

Well, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Hard.

Sergeant Cor. Yes, of course.

Well, you making good progress,

Sergeant? I'm afraid we've made no

progress at all, sir. I wonder if you

could help me. In any way, I can. Can we

go and talk in my room? Uh, it's a

little more private there. Ah, Sergeant,

I called on earlier, but you've gone.

Sorry, I don't quite tell. Anwin,

Charles Anwin, editor of the Brighton

Bugle. I'd like to have a few words with

you. I'm afraid I'm rather busy. It'll

only take a minute, Sergeant. I wonder

if you'd uh mind waiting in my room,

sir. 516 on the fifth floor. Go right

in, will you? Certainly.

Now, Mr. uh Ang, I'm just after a few

details on the path, boy. I'll take some

notes if you don't mind. No notes to

give. We haven't got very far. But you

do have a suspect. I'm afraid not. The

boy seems to have uh disappeared into

thin air. Well, I didn't have to come

all this way just to find that out. H I

was on the pier when it happened. I kept

your man, what's his name? Marriott to

look for the boy. Now, about that boy up

in Lewis jail, Alan Fowler. They they

string him up in 3 days, don't they? I

suggest you confine your report to a

simple statement that the uh police are

making inquiries.

Thank me to ask you. There wasn't really

much time, was there, between the boy

disappearing and your paper going to

press? You rather quick off the mark,

weren't you? As I told you, I was lucky

enough to be on the pier when it

happened. Well, thanks for the

information, Sergeant. Such as it was.

You're welcome.

Why didn't you bring your costume, Mr.

Marriott? Well, I've already been choked

off once for neglecting my duty.

Sergeant Court caught me bathing. I'd be

for the high jump goods. But this is the

whole point. Your duty is to be with me

all the time. Oh, are you going into the

sea in your clothes? It's such a nice

blazer. I shall be able to keep an eye

on you from here. Well, there's an old

costume of fathers inside the bathing

machine. No thanks. I like to look my

best at all times. Besides, I don't

think he'd approve. Are you frightened

of Father? Everybody is except Sergeant

Cork, perhaps. Mind you, I can't think

why people should be frightened of

Father. They wouldn't be if they could

see him when he first gets up in the

morning. Perhaps it's the judge's wig.

He always looks rather fierce in mad.

Yes. Well, he he he is a judge and he

has the power of life and death over a

good many of people. Yes, I suppose. So,

do you realize that this boy is the 50th

person he's sentenced to death? Well, I

suppose he could say he was serving the

Lord, doing his duty. Duty? Yes, that's

what he would say. But there's also such

a thing as mercy, isn't there? Yes.

Justice without mercy is an abomination.

I think an ancient Greek said that.

Justice without mercy is an abomination.

Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Marriott. What? For

talking to me seriously for a change.

For treating me as an intelligent woman

and not just a silly little girl to

flirt with.

Are you sure you won't go for that swim,

Mr. Marion? You're looking rather hot.

Well, I I I think I might just come for

a paddle. Yeah.

We were rather disturbed by young

farmer's refusal to participate in the

more um manly pursuits. I didn't like

games, eh? Unfortunately, no. What?

That's the the dustpins. They play

football with them around here. Do go

on, sir.

We like to think that the Prince Albert

turns out the more virile type of boy.

We have the empire to think of, Mr.

Cork. It needs men, strong men. Uh

Palmer's father once uh expressed the

opinion that uh the boy had, how did he

put it? A soft center, rather too

sensitive, if you follow me. He was too

inwardlooking. Something's burning. Is

it over the kitchen here? The air is

anything but barmy. It might help if you

close the window. Yes, I only wish we

could, though. We tried last night, but

I'm afraid the sash cord broke. It

remains permanently stuck in the upright

position. Most unpleasant. Um, this

um the murdered man, Sweeney, what kind

of a master was he, sir? Oh, excellent.

Excellent. And a great favorite with

most of the boys. Most of them. Well,

some of the younger ones found his

personality a little forceful. that they

were inclined to regard him as strict

and young Palmer. He tried to jerk the

boy out of his introspective ways, but

without success, as I've said. Well,

thank you very much for your assistance

as I hope I've been of some help.

Extremely kind of you. Good day to you,

sir. Uh, good day, Sergeant. I find your

way down. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh, any report on the missing voice?

Okay, look. Is Miss Farmer all right?

Yes. Personally delivered back to her

suite. Well, I'll be off now. Look, and

try not to lose anybody else while my

back's turn. Where are you going? I'm

going to Lewis. I think it's about time

I saw that young fellow Alan Fowler in

jail. And try and do something about

that blasted window. Willy land. Right,

Sergeant.

[Music]

All right, I want to add you stand up.

It's um Allan, isn't it? What you want?

I'm Sergeant Cork from London.

The

uh the governor has given me admission

to ask you a few questions. I never

killed Mr. Sweeney. Honestly, that's the

truth. According to the trial, uh you

attacked Mr. Sweeney with a bill book

and then stole his watch. Well, it's all

lies. Well, I was using the bill to cut

down the nettles. And that's where you

found the watch in the nettles. H. Yeah,

that's right. I swore that in the court

on the Bible, and it's true. You uh

never saw Mr. Sweeney at all that

afternoon. Hey, leave him alone. Leave

him alone, please.

No, I never saw him. Then you ran away.

You hid in the garden shed until the

police found you. H,

do you um remember what happened, lad?

What day is it, sir? Friday. Only got

three more days,

then to tell you that I uh believed your

story. You did find the watch in the

nettles. They'd still hang me, wouldn't

they? They think I killed Mr. Sweeney.

So they still hang me. How long did you

work in the gardens of the school? Two

years. You ever know a boy called David

Palmer? Yeah, I knew him a bit better

than what I knew the others. Do you ever

see him together with Mr. Sweeney? Not

if he could help it. Sweeny hated

Palmer. Well, how'd you know? Well, he

was a rotten tight. Used to treat young

Palmer like dirt. Laugh at him like once

he made him stand out in the snow the

whole morning to toughen him up, he

said. And he used to beat him. Oh, I

seen it all. He was a rotten tight and

young Palmer was scared, frightened of

him. He hated Sweenie.

Thanks, man. Thank you. Well, don't go.

Or please don't go. Let's stay and talk.

I mean, it's not nice being on me. I'm

thinking that I know I must go now, but

I'll come back then. I promise you.

Now come along, my dear. Remember what

Dr. Hughes said. The salt water will do

you a world of good. Then up your

muscles, blower away the vapors, freshen

you up. I can't think of anything but

David. It won't help the boy if you

become

ill. Our quick bathe will do us both.

Then we'll go back.

[Music]

[Music]

I gave mother cell the that any doctor,

but I'm afraid she's still completely

collapsed.

Any capable young lady, sir? Hum.

Oh, my daughter. Yes.

Yes. This note cork. I presume it was

written by the same hand. I am not sure,

sir. Letters are more perfectly formed.

The paper isn't quite the same. Of

course, that could be deliberate. It was

fortunate the lad had the presence of

mine to conceal it from my wife. Eye for

an eye, tooth for a tooth. Judge Palmer,

they wouldn't dare. Court, they wouldn't

dare. So be right, sir. One thing this

note does suggest, the boy is still

alive and we hope unharmed. If they want

revenge, why don't they wreak it on me?

He's a child, Cork. He's 14 years old

and so is young Father. Father, Father

was a brutal killer. I'm merely pointing

out the irony of the situation. Are you

comparing your brother to Fowler to a

murderer? I only said that they're both

too young. If this is the the the

affection you show for your brother, the

concern that you feel to your poor

mother in there. Don't you talk to me

about the concern I feel for my mother.

Ever since you first got these notes,

all you've thought about are the insults

for your dignity. And don't lecture me

about the affection I feel for my

brother. What affection have you ever

shown David. Just tell me that, father.

How dare you? Oh, not I, father. Someone

else. Someone else has dared to put the

Bible back at you. An eye for an eye.

The Lord said, "Thou shalt administer my

Lord." He said that to Moses, father,

not to you. Go to your room, miss. Go to

your room immediately.

As you wish, father.

What can I do? C. Even my own family

turns against Well, I hesitate to

suggest this to a man in your position,

sir. But you certain in your own mind

there's no case for reprieve for young

Fowler. After all, he's young. You can't

escape that fact.

The law in its wisdom has decreed that

he is old enough to know what he is

doing. But do you believe that, sir? Do

you believe he's a vicious killer, only

fit for the noose? My personal feelings

don't enter into it. I administer the

laws, not make them. I've lived by the

law all my life. And God help me, I will

not weaken now.

Looking for clues, Mr. Meritt? Clues?

Come, come, Mr. Merritt. I'm sure you're

not employed to sweep the floor for his

lordship. What brings you here, Unwin?

Just following my nose. I believe there

was some kind of incident here earlier

today. And how would you know about

that? I employ a reporter to watch out

for these things. I'm sorry, Mr. Anwin.

I have no statement to make, as usual.

So, both my arms on the job, it must be

very important. What did Lady Palmer

find in here? Look, we should hate to

have to throw you out, but if you

insist, gentlemen, let us be civilized.

No violence, please. If you want me to

go, I'll go.

But I shan go very far. I will see you.

Now, wait a minute, mate. I think Mr.

Ram might be able to help us. I'm

suspicious already. Supposing I were to

ask you to put an appeal in your

newspaper for anyone who knew the

whereabouts of David Palmer to come

forward. I understand that Lady Palmer

is willing to offer a reward of 100

guineies. Supposing new evidence was to

come to light, would Judge Palmer be

prepared to hear it? I think so. Good.

I'll quote you in this afternoon's

edition. Good day to you, gentlemen.

What you found, lad? Well, there's a

faint imprint of a boot on the

floorboards. Oh, yeah. I think it's

mine. It's a fat lot of use there, isn't

it? Now, what about the noose? Well,

it's just ordinary hemp. Sell miles of

it every week in this town. Well, it

looks like we've come to a dead end. If

only we could find Lifower.

Yeah, an eye for an

[Music]

eye. Shut up. Shut up. I ain't going to

hurt at you. Now, if you'll keep quiet,

I'll let you go. Is it all right? What

do you want? Where's that copper?

Sergeant Cork. I don't know. I expect

he's in his room. Where's his room?

Well, it's two floors up from here. Show

me where it

is. And no tricks.

Keep quiet.

You come near us, you'll get hurt. I'll

let go of a fire. I could break her arm

before you could reach me. Wait a

minute, Meredith. This isn't going to be

your case, [ __ ] Have to let it go. Tell

us why you're here. Not yet. You put

something in the paper about the

evidence of the whereabouts of young

Palmer that might help my brother. Is

that true? Look, I won't discuss

anything with you until you All right,

lad.

Done. I knew a trick. You don't want to

help my brother. You just want to trap

me. Look, we're not here to trap anyone,

but I want a word with you. Come on.

Want to talk to you now.

Are you all right, miss? Oh, a little

bruise was shaking in that door, but

it's nothing. Well, we'll be all right

if I go now. Yes, I'll be quite all

right. Mr. Marriott, do you think Len

Farer really came here about his

brother, or do you think he may have

news of David? Well, whichever it is,

you can rest assured we'll find out. Oh,

I'm sure you will. It's just a question

of whether you'll find out in time,

isn't it?

Ah, Mr. Howard. Ah, Sergeant

Thesser arrived saying you wish to see

me. As I said, I'm most anxious to help.

Well, I wonder if you'd care to come uh

the train journey with me this

afternoon. To where, sir? To Lewis. I

had to go and see young Alan Fowl in

jail. I'd like you uh with me. To Lewis

jail? Yes, there's a train at uh 12:00.

Should I get a cab for you? Will we meet

with the station? Well, it would mean

putting off some appointments this

afternoon. Uh couldn't it be tomorrow

afternoon? By tomorrow afternoon, Fowler

will be dead. Yes. Well, if you really

think my presence is valuable, I better

go and make some arrangements. I I 40

boys boarding with me during the school

holiday. I don't think they managed

without you one afternoon. I've been

making a few inquiries about uh Mr.

Sweeney. Really? the people

I a sadist sergeant George miserable

little bedroom they've given you I shall

speak to the manager this afternoon and

I shall have you transferred to a decent

room with a view no um oh father will

pay for it no thank you but I don't

think we should be staying much longer

then father wasn't able to help much

then was he well we're pretty certain he

doesn't know where David is well now

Virginia you've uh you've seen my room I

mean it wouldn't do to be found in my

bedroom would You're a bit oldfashioned,

aren't you? In any case, I want someone

to talk to. Well, I suppose I could go

for a bathe, but then you'd have to

come, too.

Who is it? Ah, no. While the cat's away,

shall we talk outside? Lady's present.

And Julie noted, I didn't come here to

spy on you. I came to give you some

information. Then you can give it to me

outside. Mr. Marriott, if if Mr. Unwin

has some information, let us hear it.

Very well. Say your piece and then go.

Your eminent superior asked me to not

put an appeal in the bugle about young

David Palmer. I just came along to tell

you the results. Results? What have you

heard? Not where David is hidden, I'm

afraid. My informants didn't divulge

that. Who is your informant? Now, let's

not keep Miss Palmer waiting while you

ask me routine questions, Mr.

Mary. The kidnappers wish to meet your

father, and they insist that he be

alone. Where do they want to meet him?

They'll arrange the times and venue when

your father confirms the appointment.

Who gave you this information? How is it

passed on to you? An unsigned note

pushed to the letter box of my printing

office presumably sometime during the

night. You all want to see the note, of

course. Of course.

Well, it uh seems to be in the same hand

that wrote the last one.

If these people do agree to see my

father, how will he let them know? I

imagine they're relying on my newspaper

to publish the fact, and I have agreed

to bring out a special board sheet under

the circumstances.

Well, now I've delivered my message, so

I'll be off. You'll tell your father to

let me know his answer by the time I go

to press this afternoon, will you? I

shall certainly do my very best to

persuade him. Good day, Mr. Anwin.

I told you I never done it. I never

killed Mr. Sweet. Listen to me, Alan. In

12 hours time, they'll take you through

that door there. Cork, I must protest.

There's no need to torture the boy. I

shall leave. You stay where you are. I

want you to hear

this. And tell me in front of this

gentleman here. What do you tell your

brother Len? Len? He's told us all about

it. Well, Len wouldn't say nothing. I

know it's a trouble. Didn't say anything

cuz he didn't know the difference

between murder and manstor. You don't

either, do you? No, sir. Look, lad. If

you attack someone and you kill them,

that is murder. But if someone attacks

you and in defending yourself, you

accidentally kill them, that is

manslaughter. Sergeant, you've no right

to suggest the case has been. Look, you

can't be hanged for manslaughter, lad.

You can have a term imprisonment. You

can't be hang for it. Now, tell me, lad,

did Mr. Sweeney attack you?

Yes, sir. He found you with the watch

and he accused you of having stolen it.

Yes, sir. Well, he started to beat me.

And you hit back with a bill hook? I was

afraid. I just kept hitting him to stop

him beating me. And when you saw what

happened, you ran away. You're just

putting words into the boy's mouth. If

that's what happened, why didn't he say

so at the trial? And why didn't you? I

killed Mr. Sweeney. You thought you'd

stick your story and say you hadn't done

it. Yes, sir. And that's what Len

thought so, too.

Answer your questions. Boy say anything

now to save his own neck. Do you think

anyone's going to believe him? If there

was a witness, there would. But there

was no witness. I think there was. And I

think you know who it is, Mr. Howard.

Unwin. Good evening, judge. I'm glad to

see you obeyed instructions and came

alone. Where is David? Where is he?

Calling good time. You tell me where he

is or buy not.

He's all right so far. But there are

only 3 hours till dawn. And if the black

flag goes up over Lewis jail, I've left

instructions that David shall hang too.

But that would be cold bloodooded

murder. I'm not on the bench now, Judge

Palmer. Now, let's waste no more time. I

have a telegraph form here addressed to

the governor of Lewis Prison. It

requests him to stay the execution. Only

the home secretary can do that. I have a

similar form here addressed to the home

secretary. both go on to say that on

reconsideration of your summing up

speech to the jury at the trial, you'll

now feel you may have unwittingly

misdirected. All you're required to do

is to sign the form so that I can send

them

off. For God's sake, have pity on that

boy and stop the execution. Just for

once in your life, show some mercy.

Where is he?

I don't go in for kidnapping young boys,

nor for hanging them. I thought I might

be able to bluff you into saving young

father's neck. Not then. You do know

where he is. I

might. I uh He's all right, sir. I think

by now David should be on his way to

your suite. Then he's safe. Oh, he's

rides a trivet. Oh, Mr. Armen. Didn't

work out, did it? You've saved one boy.

The other's going to die. Pal's not hang

yet. We still have 3 hours.

David. Oh my poor David. What have they

done to you? Nobody's done anything to

him, Mom. He was in hiding of his own

free will. It's incredible, my lady, to

think that he was in my school the whole

time, hiding in a garden shed. But But

you must be starved to death, my

darling. Some boys brought me food every

day. They swore to keep the secret. But

why, David? Why did you do it?

I couldn't come home before mother

because because I told him not to.

Mother, you told him. Virginia, where is

he?

David. David, my

son. Thank heaven you're

safe. But I I really ought to punish

you. The concern you've given your poor

mother to all of us. Now, William, the

boy has suffered enough. Well, Virginia,

I think you owe your father and me an

explanation. It was that damn scoundrel

when talked you into this, wasn't it?

Oh, you'll find out, have you? Well, no.

As a matter of fact, it was my idea. I

explained it all to David, and he was

willing to go into hiding, but we had to

think of a suitable hiding place, of

course. And I thought of school. Then

all you had to do was to divert my

assistant, which we succeeded in doing

while David slipped into the pleasure

boat. I've heard enough of this. David,

you go to your room. I'll talk to you

later. I'd like to work with him first,

sir. If you Now, now, now. This is no

longer your concern, Cork. This is a

family matter. That's very true, sir. If

I could have your permission to leave.

Kindly wait here, Mr. Hard, until I

finish my investigation.

Why do you decide to help Mr. Arin and

your sister with this scheme? They said

if I help, we might stop them hanging

him. I saw what happened to Mr. Sweeney.

It wasn't the garden boy's fault. He was

just defending himself. That was all. It

wasn't Alan's fault. And what did you

tell anyone? I did. I told Mr. Howard on

the same day it happened. Howard? The

boy came to me with some garbled story.

I thought he was making it up. And what

did Mr. Howard say to you? Said it was

all my imagination, that it was wicked,

and if I repeated it to anyone at all, I

should be beaten every morning after

prayers for every day of the term. Did

he now? But if you knew this, it was

your duty to come and tell me. He said,

"If I told you, then you would beat me

as well." And he said, "You wouldn't

believe me." Howard, that's not true. My

son is not a lion. No. What I meant to

say was I I just couldn't accept it. It

wasn't for you to accept it, was it?

That's what a jury's there for. Sweeney

was a fine master. You think I was going

to have his reputation smeared in court?

You mean the school's reputation? This

had come out to be the end of you and

the school as well. For that, you were

prepared to see a boy hang. I didn't

realize it. Then it was too late, you

see. I mean, I didn't realize you

deliberately withheld evidence. You

intimidated a witness. That, sir, is

punishable in law. Martha after to our

room. Lock him in, will you? Of course,

discuss this matter later. I I didn't

realize. Take him away. It was too late.

You see, he was a fine master.

Where's that damn telegraph office?

There's a cab in the rank downstairs, so

you can get there in 5 minutes. Oh,

thank you, father. Now, don't think that

I've been swayed by your emotional

appeals, girl. This is a point of law. A

straightforward point of

law. David, would you would you like to

come for the ride with me? Yes, father.

Please.

You come too, my dear. So long as we

don't keep David up too late. Thank you,

Sergeant, for all your help. I'm

indebted to you, Sergeant. Pleasure,

sir.

Sergeant, what will happen to Charles?

Or I mean, Mr. Anwin, he'll be charged

with sending threatening letters. But we

can post them together. Next time,

perhaps you'll learn how to uh spell the

word vengeance. I dare say you get off

with the warning this time, but if you

should try it again. We should. If you

should, you might give me advanced

warning. I can send Mr. Merritt to

handle it. He likes the seaside. I

prefer London myself. All this fresh air

can't be helped.

Good night. Good night, Sergeant.

Any more for the princess? Hungry.

Hungry. Hungry. Anti for the Princess

John.

Sergeant, what time is the train? Back

to London. Ah, noon. We have 2 hours to

kill. Marvelous. Time for a taste of the

old briney. Would you uh keep an eye on

that for me?

What

the

Marriott? What?

Elliot. Yes.

You look ridiculous. You You You look

like a barber's pole. You'll never win

any friendships with flattery, Sergeant.

[Applause]

No. Heat. Heat.

[Music]