Original subtitles

No! No!

What's happened?

Tommy!

You!

Of all people, you!

Ducks.

Of course.

Oh, dear, oh, Bean.

Be mom.

Yes, two months ago.

You? Five months ago.

Pretty early?

Spent. Oh, Tommy.

Oh, no, old thing, not in right anticipation.

No such luck.

Cost of living, you know.

My dear boy, there's nothing I don't know about the cost of living.

Can you afford one in province?

Of course I can.

Oh, you always were a shocking liar.

Come on, let's adjourn. A pot of tea, a carrot bun, and each pay our own.

Anyway, there I was, in that wretched hospital, coming out of the anaesthetic.

There you were.

Wretched nurse.

Oh, I thought you were an angel.

I thought you were dying. You looked awful.

You looked exactly as you'd looked all those years before.

Up a tree, in an orchard, chucking apples down to the rest of us. It wasn't

affecting the union, I agree.

That's not true. You did look rather cleaner.

Anyway, a month later, they sent me back to the front.

1916.

Seems a lifetime ago.

When I told her she couldn't have a flat after all. It was simply a bargain, my

dear. Just like the one Mabel Lewis brought back from Paris.

Ridiculous conversations people have.

Do you know, I heard someone talking in the street yesterday about somebody

called Jane Finn.

Did you ever hear such a ludicrous man?

How about a job?

Any prospects?

There aren't any jobs.

Anyway, even if there were, they wouldn't give them to me.

I mean, why should they?

I'm an ex-serviced man with absolutely no qualifications whatsoever.

Money's all I think about.

Money morning, noon and night.

So I'm here.

I've tried all the orthodox ways of making money.

How about the unorthodox?

Look, if only we could get ourselves known, people might hire us to commit

crimes for them.

And just how do you propose to get in touch with our...

Would-be employers?

Advertisement. Got a pencil and paper?

Yes. As a matter of fact, I have.

Somewhere.

There.

Now, how about a young officer wounded in the war?

Twice wounded in the war.

Here we are.

Two young adventurers for hire.

Willing to do anything, go anywhere.

Pay must be good.

No reasonable offer.

I should think any offer we get to that would be a pretty unreasonable one.

Tommy, you're a genius.

That's much more chic. No unreasonable offer.

May I speak to you for a moment?

If you're going to make a nuisance of yourself, I warn you, I shall scream.

I mean no disrespect.

But I happened to overhear part of the conversation you had with the young

gentleman in the teals.

You did?

I think I may be able to help you.

Is that the reason you followed me here?

It's the only reason, I assure you.

Whittington's the name.

You can call upon me at my office tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock. I will

lay the details of my proposition before you.

100 pounds down and all expenses paid?

That is my proposition.

And the nature of the work?

Shall we say a pleasure trip?

Where to?

Paris. Oh.

What could be more delightful than to turn the clock back a few years?

A very few, I'm sure.

And re-enter one of those pensionnats de gentille that Paris abounds in.

Finishing school?

Of an informal nature.

For how long?

That depends.

Possibly three months.

You would have to get in the character of my ward, and I should have to insist

on absolute secrecy.

And there are no other conditions?

None whatever.

Well, surely you're not going to refuse. It's a very liberal offer, Miss... Finn.

Jane Finn.

Very clever young woman, but not very wise.

Now, who's been talking?

Rita?

Rita?

No, Rita knows nothing about me.

I should advise you not to play the fool with me.

How much do you know?

Very little indeed.

Well, how much do you want?

Mimi. Well, I presume this was intended as a blackmail. Or is it something else

that you're after?

Come in.

Message for you, sir.

Thank you, Mayor Brown.

You may go.

Come back tomorrow at the same time.

I'm busy now.

It's 50 pounds. What are you going on with?

I didn't want you in my real name because of Paul Farah. So I just

invented one, you know, in case we got involved in anything shady.

Perhaps that's so, but you didn't invent it.

Didn't I?

No. You didn't.

Thank you. No, I told it to you.

Don't you remember? I said yesterday I'd overheard two people talking about a

female called Jane Finn.

That's what put it in your mind. Oh, you did? I remember now.

Tommy? Yes?

What did they like, the two men that passed you?

Well, one was a big, dark, burly sort of chap.

Quite handsome, I suppose.

Do you know, I think that's him.

How extraordinary, that's Whittington. And what was the other one like?

Oh, well, I didn't really notice him particularly.

It was really the outlandish name that caught my attention.

And people say coincidences don't happen.

Tubbins, what is this going to lead to?

Who knows?

We might get another 50 pounds.

Yes, well, if you inflict on celebrating our newfound wealth in places like this,

you'll have to.

Were you hungry or what?

Hungry. Well, then.

But seriously, Tubbins.

This man, um, Whittington, he was, uh, angry, you say? Very.

Yes, likely to be more so tomorrow. You can't bluff him forever, you know.

You're sure to slip up.

Sooner or later.

Where's your threat of adventure gone?

Oh, they're gone.

Gone? Yesterday afternoon.

Company being wound up, they say.

Thank you.

I suppose you don't have Whittington's address.

I'm afraid I don't, Miss. They left rather suddenly.

Yes, they did, didn't they?

Cheer up.

Can't be helped.

That's where you're wrong.

This isn't the end, you know. It's just the beginning.

What happens if the man has vanished? It can't be the beginning of anything.

Have a bump. I don't want a bump.

Tommy, don't you see?

If they're scared enough to run away, then there must be a lot in this Jane

Finn business.

I've got a pencil.

Oh, not again.

We're going to get to the bottom of this. We'll be sleuths in earnest.

There's no one left to sleuth.

That's why we'll have to start all over again.

Wanted. Any information respecting Jane Finn?

Oh, it's a waiting I can't bear.

The advertisement only went in this morning.

Sometimes, Thomas Beresford, you're irritatingly logical.

Oh, look at that.

What? There on the grass.

Oh.

Someone must have lost it.

Rather pretty, isn't it? Yes, it is pretty.

I suppose we ought to hand it in. It's not worth anything.

How can you tell?

Cheap cloth.

I'll take it as an omen that our luck's about to change.

It's better.

Five pounds won't last forever.

Tuppence, have you thought, supposing there are no replies?

To an advertisement in the Times?

They'd be ridiculous.

Sorry to disappoint you, I think.

Good money wasted.

Tommy. Still, there it is.

Only two replies.

Oh, you devil.

Ooh, thick paper, this one.

Looks rich.

We'll leave it for last and open the other one first.

Right you are.

Dear sir, referring to your advertisement in this morning's paper, I

may be able to be of some use to you.

Perhaps you could call and see me at the above address at 11 o'clock. Yours

truly, A. Carter.

27 Cosholton Gardens.

Plenty of time to get there if we go by taxi.

Plenty of time to get there if we go by few.

Oh, it's from the Ritz.

Dear sir, read your advertisement.

I should be glad if you would call round somewhere about lunchtime.

Yours truly, Julius P.

Hirshheimer.

I like the sound of Mr.

Hirshheimer.

Lunchtime frequently leads to free food.

But first, Karshalton Gardens.

What we want to know, Mr. Carter, is what do you know about Jane Finn?

Well, the question is, what do you know about Jane Finn?

I really don't see what that's got to do with it.

Oh, but it has, you know, really.

You must know something to have advertised this, you did.

So I suppose you tell me.

We couldn't do that, could we, Tommy?

I dare say the little we know won't be any good to you, sir.

But such as it is, you're welcome to it.

Tommy. Do you know who I am?

Recognized you at once, sir.

Saw you in France when I was with the intelligence.

Far ahead, Tubbins.

I suppose it started really when Tommy and I bumped into each other.

When we got there, Whittington had...

So we advertised.

Yes, I see.

Well, you're a curious young couple, if you don't mind my saying so.

Well, if it's adventure you want, how would you like to work for me?

All quite unofficial, you understand.

But expenses paid and moderate salary.

What should we have to do?

Go on with what you're doing now. Find Jane Finn.

Yes, but who is Jane Finn?

In the early days of 1915, a secret treaty was drawn up in America, at that

time a neutral country.

It was dispatched to England for certain signatures by a special messenger, a

young fellow called Danvers.

Danvers sailed for England on the Lusitania.

He carried the precious papers.

in an oilskin packet which he wore next to his skin.

It was on that particular voyage that the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk.

And in the few moments during the launching of the boats, Danvers was seen

speaking to a young American girl.

Nobody actually saw him part anything to her.

But he might have done so.

And when his body was eventually washed ashore and identified beyond any

possible doubt, the oil skin packet was missing.

And that girl was Jane Finn?

We think he entrusted the papers to her, believing that she, as a woman, would

have a greater chance of bringing them safely to shore.

But Jane Finn vanished.

And the Trinity?

It seems that the treaty was not destroyed at all.

and has assumed a new and deadly significance.

Its publication now would embarrass our government, strengthen the possibility

of a general strike.

General strike?

Which would in turn lead to revolution in this country and the danger of a war

in Europe. Who in their right minds would ever... Well, we don't know that

this man is in his right mind.

He's spoken of, quite simply, as Mr. Brown.

And you think he has the treaty?

We think he has knowledge of it.

And if he got it, would certainly make use of it.

And James, then?

Maybe dead, for all we know.

But I don't think so, because the curious thing is that they are now

trying to get information about the girl from us.

Whatever for?

What does Mr. Brown want?

Supreme power for himself of a kind unique in history.

You know who it is, sir?

There are no clues at all as to his real identity. Even his own followers are

unaware of it.

And he's one idiosyncrasy. He never plays the principal part.

But whenever we've come across his track, he's there, somewhere in the

background.

Maybe as a clerk or waiter or cabman.

Once it was even a clergyman.

And always the name is mentioned.

Brown.

In Washington's office.

The clerk, he was called Brown.

Can you describe him?

Just ordinary.

You know, like everyone else.

The invariable description of Mr. Brown. An unassuming sort of chap.

But I must warn you both.

You'll be pitting yourselves against a formidable organization.

And the business side of it.

Funds within reason, detailed information on any point, but no

official recognition whatsoever.

How much?

Tons.

Shall we say at the rate of 300 a year?

Each?

Each.

Oh, Tom, it pinched me. I can't believe it's real. Yes, we're not dreaming.

We've got a job. And what a job.

Oh, the joint venture has really begun.

Funny how it makes you hungry.

Everything seems to make you hungry.

Well, it must be nearly lunchtime.

Julius P. Hirshheimer.

We didn't tell Mr. Carter about him.

Well, there's nothing much to tell, not till we've seen him, but we'd better

take a taxi.

Now who's being extravagant?

You're telling us Jane Finn is your cousin.

My father and her mother were brother and sister.

Then you know where she is.

I'm darned if I do, don't you?

We advertise to receive information, Mr. Hirshheimer, not to give it.

I know. I can read.

But I thought maybe it was a bit of her past history you were interested in. You

might know where she is right now.

Are you telling me the truth?

Oh, we really don't know where she is.

Well, I know why I'm trying to find her. Why are you trying to find her?

Why are you trying to find her?

When they were young, our parents were real close.

They had a row, a big row.

My Aunt Jane, that's Jane's mother, insisted on marrying the man she loved,

except the man she loved was poor.

In my experience, there's men... Do you mind?

Oh, thanks.

My father was hopping mad.

Said if he ever struck oil, he was speaking metaphorically, understand, she

wouldn't see a cent of it.

Then he went and struck oil.

Literally. Yeah, my daddy ended up the third richest man in America.

Then last fall, he died.

And I got the dollars.

So now you're the third richest man in America?

I wanted to share my wealth with the only living relative I knew I had left

in the world.

Cousin Jane.

But when I went to track her down, I discovered she'd just plum vanished.

That's why I'm trying to find her.

Why are you?

Well, you see, we're kind of private investigators.

Not kind of. We are.

Who have been hired to try to find your cousin.

Because it's thought that at the moment she disappeared, she had, quite

unknowingly, got mixed up in some political show.

She may be held somewhere against her will.

Well, that makes some sense.

Whenever I've tried to start a line of inquiry, I've been turned away.

Scotland jar, though we're civil enough.

He even sent a man around this morning to pick up a photograph.

Quite an unassuming sort of chap.

You don't happen to remember his name, do you?

Yes, I do.

No, no, I don't.

I've got it here, though.

Just have a sec.

Here it is.

Inspector Brown.

You sure?

Quite sure?

Well, I guess I must have been mistaken.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Well, you were quite right, Miss Tuffin.

There is no Inspector Brown in Scotland Yard.

I'm sorry.

I don't understand.

Why would anyone want to steal a Cousin James photograph?

Was there anything special about it?

To me, there was.

As far as I know, it was the only photograph ever in existence.

Now what do I do?

We're going to have to tell him. It isn't fair.

I agree.

I'll tell him. You book it in.

Won't the government find that a little excessive?

The government?

Wait a minute.

What are you two?

He said funds within reason.

Yes, I'm not sure that within reason covers the ritz.

We're keeping in touch with Jane Finn's only living relative.

You'll excuse me? Go on.

I'll see you both later.

I'm off to do a little fluting of my own.

My colleague and I will confirm.

Facts known, facts to be ascertained, and then we'll map out a plan of

campaign. Oh, good.

Good. Make yourselves at home.

Thank you.

I'd like you to know, it's a real pleasure having you around.

I didn't know nice millionaires existed.

Money hath charms.

Now let's concentrate.

To begin with, what do we have to go on?

Absolutely nothing. Wrong. We have two distinct clues. Have we? First clue.

We know a member of the gang.

Whittington.

I'd recognize him anywhere.

I don't call that much of a clue. Never mind. Clue two is much more promising.

It better be.

Rita. The name Whittington mentioned.

I know you're proposing a third advertisement.

Wanted female crook answers to the name of Rita. No, I am not.

I propose to reason in a logical manner.

That man Danvers was shattered on the way over, wasn't he?

And it was more likely to have been by a woman than by a man.

I don't see that at all.

Well, it's obvious.

Women and children first, and that woman, whoever she was, was bathed.

How do you make that out?

Well, if she wasn't.

How would they have known that Jane Finn still had the papers?

There's something of the simplicity of the truly great mind about you, Tums.

Thank you.

Now, there's a chance. I admit it's only a chance that this woman may have been

Rita. And if so?

We've got to hunt through the survivors of the Lusitania till we find her.