Original subtitles

Oh!

What a racket.

I'll go up and tell her to turn it off. Well, do before the police come.

You're early. Listen, you're noisy. We could hear this racket all the way from

the bypass.

I'm sorry. Yes, so is Mr. Heath. He's going to be very sorry he installed this

for you. Oh, no, not so noisy next time, really. I promise.

Well, we'll see about that. In the meantime, you spend more time on your

English lessons.

The twist's the same in any language.

Five, right?

Jack, what is it?

Somebody's broken in.

Oh, no.

Everything all right upstairs?

Well, I don't know. I've only been in Greta's room. Well, check if anything's

missing. I'll look outside.

Well, be careful.

Diane? Yes.

Are you all right? Yes.

Now, look, leave everything just as it is.

I'll call the police.

Aren't both the diamond rings missing?

No. Fortunately, I was wearing one of them. You were lucky.

That's hardly the word we would have chosen.

What about the two-strand pearl necklace?

I'm afraid that's gone.

Old Uncle Alec's wedding present.

If it's any consolation, sir, you've got good men on the job.

They were here half the night blowing powder all over the place. They found a

footprint, whatever good that is.

What about the horseshoe diamond and ruby brooch? No, that's gone.

Haven't worn that for ages.

Not since we were in Tangier.

Are you married, Mr. White?

Yes. Well, then perhaps Mrs. White will realize how unobservant husbands are. I

wore that two weeks ago at the company dance.

Oh, did you?

Shouldn't spend so much time eyeing the field.

That'll be the day.

Oh, excuse me.

Hello? Jack East?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Must have changed his mind.

Look, could you manage without me? I mustn't be late for the board meeting.

Oh, hello there, darling.

Don't let Uncle walk all over you.

I'm not in the habit of being treated as a doormat. Oh, well, I didn't mean it

seriously.

Was the house empty when it was burgled?

No, Greta, our au pair girl, was upstairs.

Did she hear anything?

No.

Of course you knew.

It wasn't a professional job.

No, I didn't. I am at home.

How can you tell?

The way the glass was broken, a professional doesn't just wander off,

break a window to let himself in.

Doesn't he?

He uses glass cutters, suction pads, no mess, no noise.

It was probably someone who knew you'd be out. Any ideas?

Mr. White, I'm not unhelpful, but... We don't recruit our friends from the

criminal classes.

Of course.

Come in.

Oh, this is Greta. Would you like to have a word with her?

Please. Greta, this is Mr. White of the insurance company. He'd like to ask you

a few questions about the burglary.

But I don't know anything.

You were upstairs all evening, Greta.

Upstairs all evening.

Did you hear anything?

But this is what the police asked me. Answer the question, Greta.

Yesterday, Mr. Heath put my new record player in my bedroom.

He wired it up for you yesterday afternoon.

And last night I played my records.

So you didn't hear anything? She didn't even hear us come home.

Thank you, Gran.

So much for that.

Miss Lee, you'd better retype this heading.

Oh, Ann.

Yes, Mr. Heath?

You did the orders for the photos of the company dance?

Yes. You didn't want any, did you?

Have you still got the proofs? No, but I can get them. Would you? Leave them on

my desk.

No bother at all. Thank you.

Oh, I was wondering what we'd all say if he came in this morning and announced

his retirement.

Oh, you're a nice fellow, Jack, but that imagination.

Campbell, retired.

He'd just dry up and blow away at a very old age.

Oh, that's more hopeful than some of the versions I've heard.

You know he's going to bring the new boy along.

Roy Warburton, ACA, ACIS, etc.

Can I ask you something off the record?

Yes, of course. Ask away.

Going to Ray's magazine again?

If I can.

Good. He's got to see reason.

I'd like to bet.

Anything I can do?

Yes. Just stand clear.

I expect we'll be here till midnight.

I hope not.

It's up till four o'clock.

Burglars. Really?

Yes. They took all Diane's jewels.

We had half a naked city travelling round the house. Four hours, seven pots

of tea, a choice piece of wedgewood.

Any clues?

Leeds, whatever they call it? Oh, I'd be the last one to be told.

They said they had a footprint.

I think it was a gardener's.

Anything else missing?

Isn't that enough?

You're late. Somebody's following me.

It's the zoo.

Brings out the beast in them.

And you're looking particularly beautiful today, Diane. Oh, please.

No, it's true.

That color suits you.

Mmm.

Quarter carrot.

Brilliant cut.

No carbon spots. Well...

I always admired your husband's taste.

He was late leaving this morning, wasn't he? So it was you that called.

Young company director, tardy for the office. That'll never do, will it?

Can I go now?

So soon?

Can't I tempt you to a morning coffee? There's a new patisserie.

They fly Mille Feuille in from Budapest or Balham or somewhere. No, thank you.

Back to this garden job.

Sound feasible to everybody?

Practical?

Mr. Heath, you don't look too enthusiastic.

Well, it says probable time of purchase December.

Does that mean the receiver will be in until then?

Correct. Does that bother you?

It means a further six months deterioration, improper maintenance,

evaporation of goodwill.

And it also means a saving of £200,000 on the purchase.

Not a trivial item, gentlemen.

True enough.

Seems sound to me, Mr. Chairman. The company employs 300 men, a further six

months without pay.

Mr. Heath, excuse me, let me remind you, just a little elementary economics.

By keeping 300 men out of work for six months, we'll ultimately employ twice

that number, by paying less for the company and by cutting production costs.

Then, then we can compete more favorably and in the long run sell more goods.

All right?

Mr. Secretary?

That was the last item on the agenda, Mr. Chairman. Any further business,

gentlemen? I'd like to raise the question of the future of magazine.

Again?

Again.

Have they got a proposal in the seconder? No, Mr. Chairman, neither.

I'd be prepared to second the motion.

Oh, would you?

Keep it brief.

I'll recap for the benefit of Mr. Warburton.

Don't bother. I'm sure he'll be able to follow.

Briefly, then. I think it's time we liquidated the magazine.

Any fresh reason?

Gentlemen, this company has three subsidiaries. All bang up to date and

all doing well.

Sure, we know all that.

When you gamble those on a Victorian relic that's long outlived its

usefulness, you're speculating with shareholders' money.

Oh, you're setting yourself up now as a literary expert, an arbiter of popular

taste? The circulation figures don't need an interpreter, Mr. Chairman. They

speak for themselves.

A magazine's success lies in the hands of its advertisers.

Agreed. Oh, I'm flattered.

Now listen, another year's financing, or maybe less, and we'll make them into the

hottest publishing property in this country.

Sound as a Swiss franc.

Sorry, Mr. Chairman, I disagree.

Now this is head in the sand thinking.

I mean, any advertiser who wants figures today goes in for TV.

I mean, bang, you've got a compulsive audience of 10 million viewers, all

sitting there full of dreams and dinner. I mean, you can sell French soap to

people who didn't own a bath 10 years ago.

Cigars to monkeys.

Mr. Heath?

We are not running a television station.

It's a shame, but it's a fact.

We own a magazine, and a damn good one.

We're creating an audience, and when we get it, we'll sell it to the

advertisers. Here, here. Now, they can't wait that long. Nor can we. Look, every

copy we sell is going to cost us at least thrums.

Oh, that's only at the moment.

That moment's been going on for three years, Mr. Chairman.

Look, there used to be a circulation graph on that wall until the picture got

so sick you had to take them down.

But these are hard times.

Exactly. And they aren't going to improve, so don't toss good money after

bad. And don't you lecture me, young man, in my own boardroom.

Wipe out the magazine, and we could borrow money anywhere in the city at any

time. And what of the employees, the men you cared for so eloquently in your

previous argument?

Most of them could be assimilated. There'd be practically no redundancies.

And how do you know?

I worked it out.

Oh, did you know?

Well, listen.

I've made a lot of money for this company and for most of you by being

right.

This company started with a magazine, and by God, it'll end with one. Could be

truer than you know, Mr. Chairman.

You ungrateful puppy.

Mr. Warburton, our friend down the table here even met his dear wife when she was

on the staff. That sounds like most of the arguments we've heard. Totally

irrelevant. Mr.

Chairman... Before we close, I would like one last word.

I must warn you all that I have prepared a statement for the shareholders.

You deliberately defy the board?

Go behind our backs?

I'm doing this not as a director of the company, but as a shareholder.

Is this legal, Mr. Secretary?

Section 132, Companies Act.

Mr. Heath can try for support from one-tenth of the share voting rights.

Then what?

He can compel the secretary to convene an extraordinary general meeting.

Oh, can he?

Are you prepared to go that far?

Yes, I am.

Mr Heath, you have a five-year contract with us.

That's correct.

Then I'd recommend you to read that contract very, very carefully.

Are you threatening me?

No, this wasn't a formal motion.

Is there anybody else who has any doubts as to the future of the magazine?

Mr Reynolds?

No. Right.

In that case, I declare this meeting closed.

Mr. Chairman, what about the Garton companies? Oh, I'll attend to that. I'll

attend to the kids.

Well,

don't smile at me.

Why not?

Could be fatal.

Finished?

Almost. They look quite good.

I'll have to buy you a cine camera.

One extravagant member of the family is quite enough. You hypocrite.

I like this kimono. It does things for you.

Because you've got the wrong sort of eyes.

I'm not sure you fill it quite like the Tokyo girls.

Jack, tell me about the port meeting.

No. You've ducked it every time I brought it up.

Well, it was that kind of meeting.

Bad blood?

Reasonably so.

Was Uncle Alec Cross with you?

Reasonably so.

Jack, you are so infuriating.

Now tell me.

Well, do you remember the story of the little Dutch boy who put his arm in the

dike? Yes.

That's how I felt. Me against the sea.

Explanation. Old man Campbell's been quite a bright boy.

He still is.

Except as far as magazine is concerned, that's his blind spot.

And there's no one to tell him.

Ah, except you.

Billy Muggins in person.

Well, I thought you two were hitting it off. We were.

Sometimes I think he quite likes me. Oh, steady.

Here.

These for you.

What are these?

Photos of the company dance.

Ah.

That's a good one.

I'd trust you to get your head stuck behind a champagne bucket.

Well? Well, what?

I was right, wasn't I?

About what?

Well, you weren't wearing the diamond brooch.

I apologize.

Accepted.

Not so unobservant after all.

I guess I made a mistake.

Not like you.

Well, hell, am I supposed to remember what I wear every time I go out?

I'm sorry.

Better's quiet now.

I didn't tell you. Someone complained about last night's racket.

Colonel Martin. Who else? I told her not to play any more records until she moves

into a new room.

Hey, scrub your back.

I'll think about it.

Sayonara.

I see.

Yes, of course, I shall come straight round.

No, no, of course not.

Who shall I ask for?

Maddox?

Right.

What is it?

Bad news.

What's happened?

It's Uncle Alec.

What about him?

He's dead.

How?

Well, he... He disturbed a burglar in the penthouse. There was some sort of a

fight and... Uncle Alex was killed.

Oh, my God.

I said I'd go straight round.

Jack?

Who's Maddox?

Oh, that was the name of the policeman who phoned. I wanted to know who to ask

for.

I shan't be longer than I know.

Listen, you take the X's and the Y's over to the right-hand side.

You got that?

Good evening, Miss Reith.

No, they change.

If they're plus, they become minus at Vicky Verkey.

Letters on the left, figures on the right.

Eh?

Look, son, you better wait till I get home.

You know,

I still think we should have called the police.

Oh, Jack, at this rate, we might as well just ask them to move in with us. Well,

you can't have somebody calling you and telling you a relative's been murdered

and do nothing about it. It was supposed to be a joke.

Well, that was a joke.

Was it supposed to be?

But why?

There must be a reason. Oh, darling, who says so?

This was somebody who knew us or who had studied us.

How do you know that? I knew that Campbell was a relative.

That is a point.

Inspector Maddox.

That's what he said.

He could have made it up.

Yes, I suppose so.

You didn't mention this to anybody.

I haven't seen anybody.

Oh. And I tried to telephone you from Campbell's, and the line was engaged.

When was this?

As soon as I found out it was a hoax.

Yes, your mother telephoned. Oh, what did she want?

Uh, Greta'll get it.

She'd like us to come up for the weekend.

Now, what did you say?

I said I'd have to ask you.

You, uh, didn't tell her about Campbell.

No, I didn't. I didn't want to upset her until we had all the details.

Anyway, she doesn't like him very much.

Two gentlemen to see you from the police.

Thank you, Greta. Oh, good morning. Morning, sir.

I'm Superintendent Meredith.

This is Sergeant Landis.

I'm Jack Heath.

My wife, Diane.

How do you do?

Are you some good news for us, Superintendent?

I'm afraid not, sir. Quite the opposite.

Oh. I thought you'd be bringing my wife's jewels back.

No, sir.

I'd like you to prepare yourselves for a shock.

Well, go ahead, Superintendent.

It's your uncle, Mrs. Heath.

Alec Campbell.

He's been murdered.

What?

Is this supposed to be funny?

Beg your pardon, sir. We've had this little charade once. It wasn't funny

last night. It's even less funny today.

There must be some misunderstanding, sir. This isn't a joke.

May I see your warrant cards?

Certainly.

Quite satisfied, sir?

I'm more confused than satisfied.

I'd like to ask you a few questions.

Yes, well, go ahead. Why don't you sit down? All right.

Sergeant. Thank you, sir.

Where were you, sir, last night between ten and twelve o'clock?

I went to bed about half past ten.

After a few minutes, I had a telephone call from a police officer.

At least, he said he was a police officer.

Did he give a name?

Yes. He said his name was Maddox.

Inspector Maddox.

There's no Maddox in this division.

Go on, sir.

He said that my wife's uncle, Alec Campbell, had been murdered.

He asked me to go to Campbell's flat.

I did. When I got there, he was alive.

I told him what had happened, and then I came back here.

End of story.

Did you think of reporting it?

We thought about it.

Didn't seem to be much point.

You should have let us judge that, sir.

The voice.

Was it at all familiar?

A little muffled, perhaps, but then going from the contents of the message,

I hardly expected him to shout.

What time did you get back?

11.30.

Well, you were away about an hour. I stayed for a drink.

And how has Campbell really left him? Oh, fine. He was going to read a new

novel we just published.

Do you by any chance happen to own a Moroccan paper knife?

Why, yes, we bought it last summer. Can I see it, please?

Of course.

It's gone.

That was the object of the exercise.

I found it, Mrs Heath. Oh, where?

In Alec Campbell's back.

Well, when?

When was Campbell killed?

Well, I'm not quite sure, sir. Sometime between 11 and 3.

In view of this story you've told us, I think you'd better come down to the

station. Get it done on paper.

It's all right by me.

Do you mind going with the sergeant, sir?

Yes, of course.

Darling, I'll call you as soon as I can.

Would you mind asking your maid to come in, Mrs Heath?

Greta, would you come in the study for a moment, please?

Do you think I should call our solicitor?

Well, not unless you think he'll need him.

You sit over there, please.

Mrs. Heath, did you hear this telephone conversation?

Yes. What sort of voice was it? Could you describe it?

Women often have a better ear for voices.

Oh, well, I didn't actually hear it.

But you said you did.

Yes, but I misunderstood you. I meant I heard Jack's end of it. Oh, I see. And

where were you when the phone rang?

In the bathroom.

You did hear it ring?

Well, no, the bathwater was running, and when I came back into the bedroom...

I heard Jack talking on the telephone.

Oh, pity.

Superintendent, we were burgled Sunday evening.

Yes, I know.

Well, isn't it possible that the thief could have taken the paper knife?

Well, yes, he could, he could, but I don't think he did.

Why not?

Well, I've never heard of a thief bothering about a tourist trinket when

he's got £200 worth of jewellery, have you?

No. It's strange he should rob you on Sunday and murder your uncle on Monday.

Anyway, what was the name of this police officer who rang you?

Ah, the day's looking up.

To what do we owe this honor?

I'd like to talk to you.

For you, my love, I'm all ears.

Alone?

Have a seat.

Anyway, Angel, I'll buzz you.

Shouldn't come to the office, darling.

People will talk.

Attractive ex-model visits one of London's top colonists and most eligible

bachelors. Did you call my husband last night?

Me? Of course not. I never phone when Jack's around.

Except the other morning, and that was his fault. The man said his name was

Maddox. And you thought of me?

I'm flattered.

But there are other Maddoxes in the world, I suppose.

And where were you last night?

Oh, darling, don't be so possessive.

If you must know, I was at Brighton, opening a new gambling casino.

Here we are.

Read it for yourself.

If you thought it was me, sweetie, why didn't you call?

I did.

Well?

No answer.

There's your proof.

Why is it so important?

What did this man say?

Doesn't matter.

Ask Jack.

He took the call.

Remember, I'd rather kill you than have Jack involved.

Well, let's recap, shall we?

I thought we just had.

Let's do it again.

Tonight Porter saw you arrive at the flats and he saw you leave.

Agreed? Agreed. You were the only non-resident to visit the block last

night.

So you say.

It's in the Porter's ledger.

The doctors made the time of Campbell's death coincide approximately with your

visit. Approximately?

And the murder weapon was your paper knife.

Well, it looks bad.

Bad enough.

How do you account for Inspector Maddox?

I don't. He's your pigeon. Let's get on, shall we? Oh, Rawlings.

Yes, sir. Take these mugs if you're hungry.

Very good.

You say you had a drink with him?

Whiskey and soda.

Would you say he was the sort of man to fend for himself?

He hadn't dirtied his hands in his life.

Well, he wouldn't, for example, do his own washing up.

Never. You're sure?

Positive.

Then why didn't we find your dirty whiskey glass?

Unless you took it with you.

The murderer removed it.

Tidy murderer.

It's original.

Why?

Why?

Well, because if they thought that we were having a friendly drink, it would

be more difficult to believe that I'd killed him.

True.

Superintendent, give me credit for some intelligence.

When I do a murder, I'll plan it better than this. It's too pat.

With a knife, for example.

Among other things.

Well, perhaps you intended removing it.

I didn't put it there.

If I had done, I would have removed it. It was like leaving a visiting card.

Something panicked you.

What?

The phone rang.

Shall I answer it? No.

Someone might hear it, get inquisitive.

You're after the receiver?

Put it down.

Simple as that.

Except for one thing. The phone didn't ring.

Then why be your fingerprints on it?

I called Diane. Why?

To put her mind at rest.

That's important.

You should have told me.

Well, the number was engaged. My mother called from Harrogate.

Harrogate?

That's interesting.

According to my information, there were no long-distance calls made to your

house last night.

Well, maybe I misunderstood.

Maybe Diane made the call.

There were no calls made from the house at all.

I don't understand.

Neither do I.

Diane told me.

Why should she invent a thing like that?

Wish we knew.

Superintendent, let's stop sparring.

Do you think I did it?

Well, if you didn't, somebody's gone to great lengths to frame you.

And you'd say there was financial benefit?

Well, one doesn't like to speak ill of one's colleagues.

Quite, quite.

Definite benefit.

Campbell had no children.

It was common knowledge that the bulk of his estate would benefit his niece,

Heath's wife.

Well, surely Heath's salary and fees were sufficient to support them.

Well, they both have expensive tastes.

She was a model.

And no doubt she's used to luxury and plenty of money.

You don't like them very much.

I don't care either way.

Did Heath get on with Campbell?

No. Then why was he made a director?

It was a belated wedding present.

Oh, not strictly on merit.

That's a matter of opinion.

What's yours?

The daring young man on the family tree.

How would you describe the relationship between them?

Hostile.

It came to a head at the board meeting.

Heath virtually told Campbell he was too old to run the organization.

Did you agree?

Certainly not.

Does the name Maddox mean anything to you?

Maddox?

Maddox?

No.

Why should it?

Depends.

Excuse me.

Yes, Miss Wilding?

There's a telephone call from Brussels.

I've taken it on my phone.

Very well.

I won't be a minute, Superintendent.

Well, take your time, sir.

Do you want something?

Don't put too much emphasis on the row with Campbell.

No? If they were honest, everyone would admit disliking him.

Well, did you?

I hated him.

He was sarcastic and short-tempered.

I've heard everyone speak against him.

Including Mr Chandler?

Including him.

Well, thanks for the information, even though it did come from a biased source.

Now, Miss Marling, how did you know what we were talking about?

Well,

I'm glad it wasn't anything so old-fashioned as a keyhole.

I was coming to see you. What about?

You're on the Campbell case.

I hadn't forgotten.

I found some of the jewels stolen from the heaths on Sunday. Sorry, wrong

department. Hold on, you haven't heard it all yet.

They were on the market before the robbery took place.

Were they?

It's impossible.

I just don't believe it.

It's true.

When we came in, I saw the empty jewel case on the bed. The study window had

been forced.

We don't just come in.

Well, if your wife was selling her jewels, then claiming on the insurance.

Superintendent, you've got it all wrong.

Have I?

If my wife wants any money, she comes to me for it.

I may not be a tycoon, but I'm not a church mouse.

Ask my bank manager, my accountant, the stockbroker. Nevertheless, your wife

starts telling lies and inventing robberies.

Why?

Perhaps you'd like me to tell you the name of the man who sold the jewels.

The man?

Yes, I would, very much.

The name's Maddox.

I don't know anybody by that name.

Mrs. Heath, lying to your husband is part of being married.

Lying to me could lead to perjury.

Have another try.

All right, let me help you.

Maddox disposed of your jewelry, and it wasn't stolen.

You knew?

And you went straight to his house after my last visit.

You had me followed.

So I know Maddox.

So do millions of people that read his column.

Not as well as you do.

Would you like a drink? No, not for me, thanks.

All right.

I used to be a fashion model.

Yes, I remember your picture in the magazines.

I had...

Three or four good seasons. I worked in some of the better fashion houses.

And that's how I met Mr. Max.

He obtained some photos of me before I was well known. They were just ordinary

cheesecake pictures taken in a still session.

Until he got through with them.

What did he do to them?

Well, he had my head and shoulders grafted onto some nude photos. And then

he started to blackmail me.

Colin Maddox.

Isn't he a bit big for this?

Eminent journalist, all that?

That's how he gets his dirt snouting around the gutters of Fleet Street.

He hasn't been a name for very long.

When I first knew him, he lived in a houseboat.

Then why does he do it? The risks are tremendous.

Not for money, surely?

He's sick.

He just wants power.

Did you try to fight him?

Oh, he had it made.

You see, the church commissioners are one of my husband's best customers. They

do a lot of their printing, and he knew this.

He knew I couldn't afford to fight.

I first paid him off in cash, and when that ran out, I switched to jewelry.

Well, and the phony burglary was to alibi the loss.

Yes.

But there was a burglary.

What's that?

Well, the paper knife in the broken window.

Poor return for a burglary.

Do you have proof of these allegations?

No, Maddox was too smart for that. He never puts anything on paper. He always

phones to fix the appointments. Even his cash demands vary in size.

Mrs. Heath, do you keep your bank statements?

Yes. Should I see them, dear?

Certainly.

Here you are.

Well, thanks. I like your garden.

Do you have one? A very small one. My wife used to breed green flies.

Well, all you really need is a good insecticide.

She lost interest.

Why didn't you come to the police?

Because I was scared.

You didn't even tell your husband?

You don't know how realistic those photos are. I daren't show them to Jack,

and I couldn't tell anyone about it.

Well, let's get back to this phone call from Inspector Maddox.

You mean you think there was a phone call?

Well, let's assume there was.

My chief's expecting me to bring in a murderer. He won't settle for a

blackmailer. Did the caller volunteer his name, or did your husband ask for

it?

He... I don't remember.

Well, try.

I can't. Mrs. Heath, your husband's in trouble. It's time you helped, not made

things harder for him.

I'm sorry, Superintendent Meredith, but... Well, I just can't remember.

Well, try.

You were in the bathroom, right?

You went back into the bedroom. Your husband was on the phone. Now.

Oh.

Yes, he did ask his name because he wanted to know the name of the man to

ask for when he got there.

Good.

Well, yes, but what difference does it make? Mrs. Heath, you're making an

anonymous phone call. Suddenly, out of the blue, you're asked your name. What

would you say?

Well, I... Quickly.

Meredith. Now, supposing your husband's question caught the man in the heart.

Well, he'd mention the first name that came into his mind. Exactly.

And he wouldn't mention his own name. Of course not.

But why of all the names in the world, why choose Maddox?

Well, I don't know.

Well, I'll suggest a reason.

Because the caller was another blackmail victim, a fellow sufferer, a man whose

whole life had been warped by the one word, Maddox.

That was quite an experience. Thank you very much.

Bye.

Ah,

Superintendent Meredith.

Sorry to keep you waiting. That's all right, sir.

Welcome to the land of commercialized conceit. A wonderland of hand-to-mouth

celebrity. Thank you.

Had to lunch with one of the competitors in the London to Brighton run.

Kind of a bore.

Described every gear change he ever made.

A change of oil became a mystic experience.

Sort of Gandhi on wheels.

I'll be looking through your scrapbook, sir.

It's pretty caustic stuff for a society, Colm. It's a pretty caustic society,

superintendent.

We're all men of the soil.

Dig deep enough and you're bound to find dirt.

Yes, so I've noticed.

Say something nice and nobody will listen to you.

Make it vicious and focal cue to read the gospel.

The stories this little suit's overheard.

The cabinet minister's folly.

The shady side of Harley Street is like a portable black museum.

The gossip column sounds like a deadly weapon, sir. It is, superintendent.

Rule one, from the horse's mouth, not its tail.

Well, now, you're a very busy man, superintendent.

What's on your mind?

Two cases with one thing in common, sir, the name Maddox.

Intriguing. Tell me more.

You know Mrs.

Diane Heath?

Yes, quite well.

You've been selling some of her jewelry?

I wonder where you got that from.

Is it true?

Yes. Yes, it's true.

Cigar? No, thank you.

Might I ask why?

Certainly.

She asked me to.

Any reason?

No.

Not in any trouble, is she?

She said it was stolen.

Made a claim on the insurance.

Naughty. Didn't you wonder why she came to you?

No.

Well, yes, I did wonder, but she seemed set on the idea, so I got on with it.

You're good friends. Good acquaintances.

And yet her husband doesn't even know your name.

Well, you see, after the wedding, I covered it for the column, Hanover

Square Job.

I retired into the background.

You know, a good loser.

A smile on my face.

A winner's coat over my arm.

You know, Mr. Maddox, When a policeman gets involved in a situation like

this... Situation?

Yes, a woman parting with her jewellery and another man selling it, his

suspicious mind turns to blackmail.

Reasonable conclusion.

Frankly, though, Superintendent, if I were a blackmailer, I don't think I'd

pop the jewels myself.

No, to involve someone else only weakens the chain.

True. What would I use for bait?

Is that the word, Superintendent?

Photographs.

Of Diane?

Superintendent, you've got the wrong girl.

Morality hangs heavily on her.

She's not the sort to lie around in nothing but a nail varnish.

Well, you could have doctored the photographs.

I've been busy, haven't I?

Look, this says 3.30, tea at Carragher's. And that's where I'm going.

Here are my keys.

You turn the place over.

If you find any photos, tell me when I get back.

And don't nick my carnation. I need that for tonight.

How long's Jack been down there?

24 hours.

Well, they'll have to release him soon.

Or charge him.

Brian, tell me, do you believe that Jack's innocent?

Of course I... No, no, no, please don't. Don't be polite. I want the truth.

Well, I'd like to believe his story, but... I don't know.

What do you mean?

I can't swallow this business about the knife.

Why not?

It seems such a risk to break in here just to steal a paper knife in the vague

hope that no one will notice it's missing.

Yes, but what alternative did the murderer have? I mean, he had to find

something to frame Jack with.

I know, but, well, it's an awful long shot. You might have been here. Someone

might have seen him.

Had it been me, I wouldn't have broken in.

Well, what would you have done?

I'd have slipped it in my pocket when I was around here.

Having a drink or dinner.

Well in that case it would have been easy to pinpoint the thief couldn't have

been anybody but you Mmm, I suppose so Better stick to business

Where's

the greatest music going for blast our house could have been emptied

Have I upset her

Oh, no.

No, I don't think so.

Well, my dear, I could spend the day chatting, but the company won't run

itself. If I get any news, I'll call you, okay?

Don't hesitate.

Anything I can do, any time.

Thanks, Brian.

Going to be a scorcher.

Yes.

Bye-bye.

Cooler in here. I've got an oven in my office.

I have to get some of this weight down.

Have you seen these long-range advertising figures?

Don't start them.

They've dropped through the floor.

I don't often have a good word for Heath, poor devil.

This is a change of heart.

As costing as a fortune.

What are you laughing at?

You! Why?

You're an old hypocrite, Tony.

It was only Campbell who stopped you seeing this years ago.

Nonsense. It's these latest returns.

Tell you what, prepare some figures on redundancy pay, check on the state of

the plant and have a word with Marsh about the union.

Right, I'll get on with it straight away. And keep it to yourself.

Of course.

As soon as the word reaches the city, our shares will go up like a choir boy's

prayer.

Better turn the old man's picture to the wall.

Telegram for you, Mr. Reynolds.

Thank you.

You'll work for me till Mr. Heath gets back.

Yes, sir.

Miss Wilding, get me a call.

I'll take that, please.

Did you send the telegram?

Yes.

Why?

I was trying to help.

How?

You said the murderer might be another blackmail victim, and I thought it was

Reynolds.

Well, leave detection to those who get paid for it.

You said Maddox never put anything down on paper.

Doesn't that include telegrams?

I suppose so.

Wouldn't sound very genuine, then.

How'd you get hold of it?

From Reynolds.

He'd never heard of Maddox. So he did what most normal citizens would do.

Handed it to the police.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Waterly accounts.

Is Mr. Chandler around?

No, he's gone out.

I wanted to ask him a few financial questions.

He won't be long.

Right, I'll wait.

Hot today, isn't it?

Yes. Can I get you some tea?

No, thank you. I'll tell you what you can do. Give me a call.

Surely.

Mr. Maddox.

Mr. Colin Maddox.

With a memory like that, you should be working for the police.

Jack!

It's only me.

They've released me.

Yeah, what's happened to my pictures?

Tell me this whole thing's been on my phone.

Kiss me.

Explanations later.

Well, Superintendent, what happened?

More than we bargained for, sir.

How much more?

We've arrested Maddox.

What?

Who is he?

He was a blackmailer.

Big time.

Very big time.

This is a list of his victims.

All of them.

My name down there?

Yes.

It was some years ago, in the provinces.

I got involved with a woman.

I was caught in a raid.

Maddox knew a local reporter.

He had photos, signed statements.

The lot.

Did you go to the police?

No.

Why not?

Because I worked for him.

Last of the true blue Victorians.

One whiff of scandal and...

Why didn't you tell me this when you received the telegram?

I knew it wasn't from Maddox.

It wasn't his style.

He's too worried to go sending telegrams.

So I phoned him.

What did he say?

Give the telegram to you and bluff it out.

Bad advice.

Was it?

Read it.

Room 21.

Ware Hotel.

3 p.m. today.

Maddox.

Why call the police?

I don't follow.

Well, you might contact the GPO or possibly the hotel.

More likely you'd throw it away.

But whatever you did, you wouldn't call the police.

I suppose not.

Is that all?

Yes.

Mr. Reynolds.

I think it's about time we had the truth.

The whole truth.

What do you mean?

Maddox had more on you than that.

Like what?

Like murder.

Murder?

According to Maddox, you murdered Alec Campbell.

Me?

Fantastic!

Why should I murder him?

Well, he's got an answer here somewhere.

Oh, yes, here it is.

According to Maddox, you were going to be the company's next chairman.

True?

True. But I didn't have to kill him. All I had to do was sit and wait. Much

simpler.

Good God, Superintendent, even Heath was trying to oust him. He was calling on

the shareholders to throw him out.

Another six months, I'd have been in the chair.

Strange. But Maddox was so right about one thing, so wrong about another.

Strange also that he never mentioned it to me.

That was his skill.

The next rung on the blackmail ladder.

Pay off one thing and move on to another.

Murder. That had come more expensive.

Don't you think it'd have needed some proof?

Well, that wasn't difficult.

Even I knew you'd made a slip on Monday night when you phoned Jack Heath.

Yes, you were very foolish.

Maddox had you so worked up that when a heath asked who was calling, you

invented the name Inspector Maddox.

Doesn't sound that bad to me.

It reduced the field of potential murderers to Maddox's blackmail victims

and friends of the heaths.

You qualify on both counts.

Coincidence? You'll have to do better than that.

It's still not proof.

You visited Mrs. Heath this morning.

What was your second big mistake?

You mentioned the au pair's music.

I remember.

When did you say you heard it?

I heard it. I don't know when.

I'll tell you.

It was the Sunday night, the night you stole the paper knife.

It was the only night the record player was used.

Heath bought it on Saturday, fixed it up on Sunday.

Monday, a neighbor complained.

It wasn't used again.

Why? Campbell was going to bypass me.

What does that mean?

He was going to make Heath chairman.

No one else knew.

Even after that big row?

It was only over one issue.

Campbell admired his aggression, his youth.

I had to have the job. It was the only way I could pay Maddox off.

Another six months, I could have wiped the slate.

Murdered one rival and pinned it under another.

He'd had everything.

Wealth, position.

And Diane.

Charge him, Sergeant, and take the statement.

Sir?

You got it all down.

Thank you.

Can I call Mr. Heath?

Break the good news?

If you want to. Tell him.

I'll tell him. I'll see him.

Haven't you forgotten something?

Your medics file.

My quarterly accounts.

Oh, yes.

End of case two.

Back to case one.

Will Reynolds ever know he was bluffed?

Fricked?

Beware that we don't find Maddox.

It's the Maddox. It's not Rick Davies, sir. Got to collect some things. You

stay up here.

What did you get here?

Mrs. Heath told me about it.

Want to make a boat for it?

No.

No, not that stupid.

Not stupid at all.

You can't be stupid and be a successful blackmailer, can you?

What gives you the most satisfaction?

Big money or driving a man to murder?

How was I to know?

Could have happened to anyone.

Been pretty thorough, haven't you?

Come on.

She has a good go at a stomach pump.

The water's filthy.