Original subtitles

Excuse me.

I'm looking for Beach Avenue. I know it's supposed to be around here

someplace. Beach Avenue. No, I don't think I know it.

Excuse me, madam.

I wonder if you can help this gentleman. He's looking for Beach Avenue. Sorry to

bother you, but I seem to have lost myself.

Beach Avenue.

Yes, I think I know it.

You should go back to the main road, turn left, and go straight on to Dean's

Drive.

You okay, Chief? Of course.

Let me hear the handbrake.

Very good.

You want to remember that noise?

It's going to be very important.

Paddy, I want you to take very good care of the lady.

Trust me, like me own mother.

Good luck. Right.

All set?

Aye. How's the passenger?

Let's get weaving.

Norman should be in there by now.

Sit back, missus. You've got a long ride yet.

Nice evening now?

Yeah, very.

A glass of milk and a piece of cake, please. Oh, fruitcake or ghetto? Fruit's

today. Fruit.

Working late?

Yeah.

Then, my dear, a bit of over-tanzel was useful.

Why

not

let me help myself?

Be a lot quicker.

I know what we can sell.

You don't.

You could tell me. This way I'll never learn.

Exactly.

It's locked. Shh!

Something's gone wrong. He's late.

Keep still.

Shut up!

That wasn't on the cards.

It's good for the adrenaline.

I wouldn't know.

I'll give them another minute and then turn the alarm off.

How long have we got?

Another six minutes.

Night. See you. Night, love.

Hope she didn't hear too much of your Irish accent.

There's nothing unique about it.

Got a knife?

Preferably one with a blade.

Try the other one.

She must have fainted. Good.

Couldn't be better.

Take the rope and stop with you.

I know. I hadn't forgotten.

Let's go before she wakes up.

I don't understand it. She's never been late before.

Maybe she's not well. Got the flu or something.

It's so unlike her. I'm sure she'd have flown, Mr Reynolds.

Here he is.

No, what's all this? It's Miss Martin. She hasn't arrived yet.

If nobody did that, we can't have you hanging about all day, can we?

Come along, Jerry.

Thank you, Mr Reynolds.

Look. Look at the counter.

We've been burgled.

Now, don't panic. Mr Walters closed the shop.

Please, please.

Hello, I want to report a robbery.

Mr.

Reynolds? That's correct, yes. I'm Inspector Sparrow. This is Detective

Sergeant Reeve.

I'll wait for you in my office, Inspector.

Any luck?

Not yet.

Shout out if you find something, will you?

Now, Mr. Reynolds, about this Miss Martin, you say she's missing?

Yes, she's an elderly lady, you understand. She's been with me for many,

many years.

About 15, I think.

And when did you last see her?

I left the shop yesterday afternoon at about 5.15.

And she was still here?

Yes, she locked up. Or she was supposed to.

Well, she got keys to the shop and the safe. That's correct.

Any suggestion that she was discontented?

Short of money? None whatsoever.

She lived for her work. And there was no other set of keys?

No. She had one.

I had the other.

Have you tried contacting her?

Yes, I telephoned her, but I got no reply.

I see.

All right, well, do you think you could compile a list of the things that are

missing? I'll do it straight away. Good.

Bill, I want inquiries made of all the people that live around here.

I might have seen or heard something.

Find out who was on the beat last night, get Miss Martin's address, send somebody

around there. Very good, sir.

Don't leave any fingerprints, will you?

You know Miss Martin?

Oh, yes. I've been here nearly two years now. Any idea what she was wearing

yesterday? Or missing persons, please.

A blue-gray tweed costume.

Tailor-made, I think.

Cream-embroidered blouse.

Gray felt hat and matching handbag and gloves.

Dressed a bit like a schoolmistress.

Oh, Jeff. A sparrow here.

I'm looking for a Miss Martin.

Hmm?

Yeah, last seen 5.30 yesterday.

Well, middle-aged, spinster.

You did? When?

What was she wearing?

Grey?

Right, Jeff, be right over.

Found her?

I think so.

Mr. Reynolds?

Yes, Inspector.

I'd like you to come along with me, because of course we've found something.

Yes, I think we've found Miss Martin.

Where is she?

In the mortuary.

That's her, Inspector.

Quite sure?

Terrible.

Terrible.

She was found late last night.

How did she die?

There's no post-mortem as yet, but she probably choked.

A doctor will be able to tell us more. There doesn't need a doctor to tell me

he was responsible.

I should have locked up myself.

She was too old. I should have done it myself.

Right, sir. I'll take you back.

Sparrow's just arrived.

Send him in.

Report to the director.

Although at that time my predecessor was in command, I've now been able to look

into the case file and be enclosed to my findings.

New paragraph.

Come in.

Sparrow?

You're looking tired. How are things?

We've got a lead.

I think the woman that locked up the shop was kidnapped.

You think? Don't you know?

Well, as she's lying in the mortuary at the moment, it's not so easy to find out

how she got there.

I didn't imagine it would be.

How'd she die?

The doctor thinks she choked.

Doesn't anybody know anything?

He doesn't do his PM for another hour, sir.

What about the robbery?

Any ideas?

No fingerprints.

No forced entry.

Obviously a gang that knows its business.

Murder, too.

I don't like it.

I don't know that we can cope.

What do you mean?

Well, this is a case for Scotland Yard, isn't it?

Yes, but surely.

Yes. Well, go on. Say your piece.

This is a local crime.

We know the ground every inch of it. Exactly.

Fresh approach probably spots something we'd have missed.

We know the usual boys and where to pick them up.

The Yard could learn from us.

Take it easy, Sparrow. They're not that stupid.

But the case isn't 24 hours old yet, sir. Well, now's the time to act.

Look, this is going to be a big news story. Lots of palaver. Get the yard in

as soon as we can. While there's time. Time for what?

Time for them to start while the trail's still hot.

Play ball with them, they'll play ball with us.

Can't you give us a few days?

Sorry, this is their handwriting. I know it.

But we've never called in the yard before.

I'm not interested in what happened before.

That's your final word?

Yes. I'm going to get on to them right away. See if they can send someone down.

All right, sir.

I'll complete my report.

I'm expecting a superintendent Ireland from the yard.

I want to know immediately he gets here.

Bottom left-hand corner.

You reckon, sir?

How's it going, Dusty?

Fine.

Still got the shop?

Sure.

Drink?

Never did nothing for me, Mr. Sparrow.

Keeping in good shape?

Sure thing.

Like to be starting again, huh?

Would I?

I live with kids these days. Green as beans.

Remember your age.

Yeah, but I'm not sure that I couldn't take some of them along.

Some of these kids these days, they couldn't lick a lollipop.

Three fights, they're up for the title.

To be a contender used to mean something.

What do you want to do that for?

I want to talk to you, Dusty.

What about?

About a robbery.

Jewelry robbery.

Reynolds?

Good guess.

I saw newspapers, remember?

The kind of news I want can't be seen in a newspaper.

What are the whispers, Dusty?

It's all quiet, man.

Dead quiet.

Because of the murder?

You tell me.

I'm not window shopping this time.

I'm buying.

Five pounds?

You've got your hand held up.

Count the fingers.

It might help my memory a bit better if I could count the money.

Memory, not imagination.

Fighters haven't got no imagination, Mr Sparrow.

You ought to know that.

The word is that the same boys did another job last February.

Which one?

Barons in the West End.

Any more?

Cupboard's bare.

I'll be on my way then.

Take care of yourself.

It's good to see you. How are you? No complaints, yourself?

Fine, just fine.

I hope you didn't mind coming over here. Well, of course not. What's it all

about? It's about this Reynolds robbery.

Yes, I read about that.

I had a squeak from an informant.

Said it might be the same boys that did Barron's.

Interesting.

I've got the Barron file here.

Let's compare notes.

Yes, I knew you were on the case.

That's why I asked you over here. I wanted to know the inside story. I would

if I do.

I thought maybe you were waiting for somebody to show their hand.

You know, start spending some money. We've no idea.

Nothing? No.

No, thanks.

How did they crack the job?

Well, one of the gang broke into old man Barron's house, stole his key ring while

he was asleep, then they got on with the job at their leisure.

No one was any wiser till next morning.

It's awfully similar. First get the keys, and then open sesame.

Yes, I grant you that.

We did get one little lead.

What was that?

Well, when they got into the house, they had to force a window. They broke a

knife in the window chair. We found half a blade sticking there.

That narrows the field down in, doesn't it?

Well, we know now that one of the gang has got a broken bladed penknife.

Has or had?

There's a point.

The routine was slightly different this time.

Did they get a good haul?

Best part of 20,000.

Do you mind if I ask you a question?

No, fire away.

Well, if you had a business like that, would you trust an old lady to lock up?

Not in your life.

Reynolds himself used to do the job, but he had an illness last year.

Left him with a weak heart.

Oh? He did it there?

No, the girl in the shop.

So that's a good question Jack a very good question

Would you have one with us?

No, thank you.

Not after?

We've got the best dinner in town.

Sorry. Sounds good, but no thank you.

You don't know what you're missing.

Oh, I do. That's why I say no.

That'll be nine shillings.

All right.

Sounded a corny routine.

A cornier than most.

I think the sergeant's waiting for you.

You want to get rid of me so soon?

No. Thought you hadn't noticed.

Another minute won't kill him.

It's your day off tomorrow, isn't it?

Well?

Like a ride in the country?

Fine. Do I bring my bike?

No, I'm busting the bank. I'm hiring a car.

If only you'd given me some warning. Could have had my hair done.

Just as you are. It's fine.

Cheer up, Bill. May never happen.

It's good to see you. You've been making yourself scarce now. Not scarce enough

for some people.

How's progress?

That's a big word for it.

And all the top brass at the yard? Haven't sewn it up yet?

Not exactly. There's one or two little details to be tied up yet.

Like finding out who did it.

What's the score?

Nil-nil.

Theory at the moment is that some continental gang was flown over to do

the job and then flown out again.

Nice idea.

You believe it?

No, but it's a nice idea.

For a bunch of foreigners, they knew the way about.

I think some local obviously figured the job.

Don't worry about supposition. What about some facts?

Well, the insurance people checked up on Reynolds.

He's in the clear.

So everything in the garden's lovely.

Except for one old lady who ends up in a mortuary.

How much leave did you take?

Ten days.

Well, what are you going to do? You got any plans?

No, a bit of gardening, a bit of decorating.

Buy some clothes, you know.

No further interest in the case?

Let's just say no active interest, then.

Cheers. Cheers.

You're early.

Naturally.

Where are we going?

Somewhere nice.

So you did get your hair done.

This is a fine day out.

What are we supposed to be looking for?

I want to find out about the man who lives over there.

Well, couldn't I go up to the front door and ask?

Yes, you could.

But I've got something more subtle in mind.

Like us sitting here all day.

No, it's not going to take that long.

Excuse me.

I apologize.

Don't.

The best thing that's happened so far.

Very nice.

That's what I call a civilized way of spending a Sunday morning.

Some people are never satisfied. I'm not complaining. Just comparing.

Like to take a look?

Love to.

Who's the man?

His name is Reynolds.

Jeweler? Why didn't you say so?

I didn't think you'd be interested.

He's quite a player, isn't he?

Not bad for his age.

Sparrow. He could teach you a thing or two on a tennis court.

Perhaps.

Well, watching all this sports made me feel hungry.

Feel like a nice juicy steak.

Yes, please.

You can't tear yourself away.

Just a bit.

Did you find out what you wanted?

Maybe.

Enjoying yourself?

Immensely.

I've started to improve with the kissing.

I'll bear that in mind.

I'm sorry, but I don't recall the face.

That's because we haven't met before, Doctor.

That's a good enough reason, then.

Police, eh?

Well, Inspector, what can I do for you?

I'm working on the Reynolds robbery.

Yes, I remember it clearly.

Mr. Reynolds is one of my patients.

Now you know why I'm here.

Now, we're in a position to lay a trap for this gang.

The bait for the trap is Mr. Reynolds.

Now, it won't involve him in any personal danger. We don't work that way.

No, no, of course not.

But there will be a strain on his nerves.

The point is, is he really fit?

We don't want him passing out on us. There's no fear of that, I can assure

you.

Really? Oh, the reason I ask is that I heard that he was ill.

About a year ago.

Only a mild pleurisy, nothing serious at all.

Can I quote you on this? Chapter and verse.

He's as strong as a horse.

In that case, I won't keep you any longer, Doctor.

Oh, thank you very much for your help.

It's a pleasure.

I hope you'll get the man you're after. I'm sure we will. You've given me fresh

hope.

It's a long time since I saw that done.

And it was a long time since this place saw a good clean.

Well... I've been out a lot recently.

That's my story. You're stuck with it.

Well, do we expect an early arrest?

Any kind of arrest would be welcome at the moment.

It's a slow job.

It's like looking in a ton of sand for a grain of gold.

No gold so far.

There are one or two inconsistencies that need ironing out first.

It's good.

How?

It's my business.

To find time to clam up on me?

It'll, uh, mean bending the law a little.

I think it's better you shouldn't know.

Fair enough.

Take care.

I will.

I'm all I've got.

That's not strictly true.

You mean Mary?

No, I didn't.

But what of her? You heard any more?

No, not since I got the solicitor's letter.

Sparrow, is divorce such a bad thing for a police officer?

The worst.

You can forget promotion. It'll be the end of that.

Even if it's not your fault?

Who can ever say that?

Sparrow... But let's get washed up, shall we?

It's time you were going home.

Come through.

Mr Sparrow.

Long time?

Yes, it is.

I thought you'd gone straight.

No, you're joking. Of course.

But it's the business, you know. Full time. I mean, take this now.

In they come. Mr Larkin, for a pound could you mend it? For a pound I

couldn't give it away.

Somebody said you'd been seen near the bombed warehouse where they cut the

electrical alarm system.

It was a neat job. You would have approved.

So, of course, I told you you were busy.

How's trade? Good? Yeah, it's not bad, not bad.

I know quite a lot about electricity.

It was a neat job. Shame you couldn't see it.

Just like a post office job, remember?

No.

No. Then what's the matter, me old mate?

You're not looking too well. You're working too hard, making too much money.

All right, Mr. Spatter, you didn't come here to talk about business.

So if you think I did the job, why not say so?

I believe you.

You were babysitting for your sister-in-law that night.

It's a pretty leaky alibi, but I believe you.

Mind you, there are one or two people suspicious.

Yeah, I'm with you. Oh, no, you're not. You're not even at the starting gate.

I want you to help me.

Me? I should help you?

Yes, you owe me one or two favors. Oh, sure, sure. Who's complaining?

I want you to do a wiretapping job for me.

Oh, Mr.

Spatter. No, I don't want to see the inside of a nick again. Thank you very

much. You won't get caught. You can take my word.

No. Besides, you know I wouldn't know how to start.

Come again?

You did a wiretapping job for Scotty Gordon six years ago.

You and your little grey van.

Who told you?

He told me. You surprised?

He sang like the Luton Girls Choir.

Why didn't you run me in?

You're more valuable to us where you are.

Take you out of circulation, somebody new steps in.

Somebody we don't know.

Well, where's the telephone?

You're doing it?

So I've got an alternative?

I've been meaning to ring you up to tell you how much I admired that robbery you

done. Yeah, that way you get a cut of the proceeds plus the insurance.

Cute. Who is this?

What are you talking about?

Robbery, fraud, larceny. The police will have a word for it.

Look, if you don't tell me who you are, I'm going to put this phone down.

Hello? You made a very bad mistake, Reynolds.

You forgot to tell the doctor that you had a bad heart.

The police will be curious to know why you stopped shutting up the shop.

Might have been a crank. Happens all the time. It wasn't.

How do you know?

Because whoever it was knew that there was nothing wrong with me.

That I don't have a weak heart.

Okay, don't panic.

You know the horse and wagon?

Well, meet me there in... two hours.

Awesome wagon.

Two hours.

What are you doing, dreaming?

I thought you'd be ready by now.

Ready?

Alex's party, remember?

I hadn't forgotten.

Fine.

Now be a good boy, run along and get ready.

We'll save the baby talk for the children, shall we?

We are going to a party, darling, not a funeral.

I may have to pop out for an hour. You won't mind?

But of course I'll mind.

What is it, business?

Yes. Well, business can wait for once.

I just had a call.

I don't care how many calls you had. You just climb right back to the phone and

tell them you can't come.

I'm sure it's not so important it can't wait till tomorrow.

Well, what happened last night? You know I waited for two hours.

He had to go to a party.

Jake didn't tell me till afterwards.

He's so protective.

You sure you won't follow?

Two buses, a train and a taxi.

You must be scared, Mrs. Reynolds.

You think I'm scared?

You should see Mr. Reynolds.

Yeah, I can imagine.

Listen, this voice on the telephone said that he knew your husband wasn't sick.

So he says.

Well, just how many people know this?

Very few.

You, me and him.

That's all?

They've missed one out.

There's at least one other person.

Who?

The doctor.

That's what he said.

The voice.

Yeah?

He said how careless it was not to have told him.

He was right.

It's too easy to check up on.

Easy for whom? The police?

Oh, maybe our friend's been a bit too clever.

Either he knows your doctor, is your doctor, or he's been speaking to him.

John would have recognized his voice.

Then whoever it is must have spoken to your doctor.

Otherwise he couldn't know all this.

So what do we do?

Same as he did.

You get your precious husband to meet me.

What are you going to do?

I'm going to take him to see his doctor.

So, you see, Doctor, I thought I'd better come and explain.

That's all right.

And it intrigued me, especially this role you were supposed to be playing.

It was your intrigue. Can you imagine how I felt?

I can.

That's why you invented this illness.

Illness? The officer seemed to think that you might die on him.

I couldn't think of anything else. It was the first thing that came into my

head. Not very noble, I know, but... Discretion before valor.

Yes, every time.

Anyway, I just wanted to reassure you that I'm not going off my head or

generally disintegrating. Consider me reassured.

Yes, obviously, I want the robbery made good and the men punished, but I want to

live to see it.

I should love to know what they wanted me to do.

So would I. I was looking forward to hearing the gory details.

I suppose it was the superintendent's idea.

No, no, it was an inspector.

Sparrow.

Sparrow. Of course.

That's just the sort of trick he'd pull. But why?

To make us panic.

He guessed you'd contact me. He probably intended to follow you. Then why not

arrest me? He's got no evidence.

We know that.

What do we do now?

Now we think.

You'd better get back to the shop. We don't want people wondering where you

are. But what do I do?

You just sit tight and do as you're told. Yes, that's all very well.

But it's me that he's on to.

Then you should be very grateful we're still around.

Why are you?

When I'm out on the limb, my friend, I want you sitting there, right beside me.

You'd better go.

That's a big gun.

Pin Norman.

I never thought it was you.

Put the bottle down, Sparrow.

Then we'll talk.

That's more like it.

How's things?

Getting more interesting every minute.

You see, boys, just like I told you.

He's got style.

The old brain's racing like a dynamo, but everything's under control.

Whose idea was this, Pent?

Yours or Reynolds?

Neither.

Mrs. Reynolds.

Here's her idea.

Poor Reynolds.

Worships the ground her feet never quite touch.

Where'd she get a hold of you?

In the phone book? You should have checked her maiden name.

It's Praga.

Leo Praga's daughter? Who else?

She's grown into a very nice girl.

That old man would have been proud of her.

Yeah, if he'd lived.

How's the patient this morning?

Cramped.

You so scared of me getting away?

Never had a pair of these before.

Took them off a copper.

That's life.

No.

This is something you ought to be giving a thought to.

Me?

I never felt better.

Not even before the murder?

It was an accident.

Oh, please.

You know the law as well as I do.

Somebody's going to get topped for this.

I should hate it to be you.

Of course.

Don't you think you're overplaying your hand a bit, Sparrow? Who are you trying

to impress?

We've been one step behind you boys ever since the Baron's job.

Surprised?

When did you know it was us?

About nine o'clock the next morning.

Somebody slipped up.

Otherwise you'd been put away a long time before now, lad.

Too many lies, Sparrow.

Too, too many.

You told me last night you were surprised to see me.

You can't have it both ways.

Let's just say I'm always surprised to find a general in the front line.

Well, go on. I'm listening.

I'm giving you a good hearing, but you don't seem to be saying very much. All

right, let's cut everything except the punchlines then, shall we?

We know all about Reynolds and his phony illness.

Now, let's give you a tip. Oh, go on.

Next time you choose a cardiac, make certain he doesn't play five sets of

tennis every Sunday morning.

Yeah, that was careless.

Criminally.

Oh, and the...

The tape.

Very good of you.

Oh, I'm glad.

But terrible of Reynolds.

He was nervous. He ruined it.

Oh, I like the bit that went, um... Don't panic.

And don't mention any names.

You know the horse and wagon?

Very professional.

Why haven't the Lord done anything?

They like that.

They like to get all the eggs in one basket before they drop it.

Maybe.

Well, if you don't believe me, where are you going?

To get my hair cut.

Hello.

Long time.

Panic stations all week.

On my second pair of shoes already.

Any luck?

Not so you'd notice.

Sparrow around?

Not this time of day. No, sir.

Isn't he with you?

Well, he's on leave, didn't you know?

Have you never mentioned it to me?

When did you last see him?

The day before yesterday.

Well, you know he's been taken off the case.

I didn't until now.

Typical.

I think he's trying to crack it on his own.

Would you blame him?

No, of course not. But he might land in a lot of trouble.

With the authorities?

No,

I didn't mean that.

Suppose he found out, you know, about the gang, and suppose they found out

that he was working on his own.

You follow me?

You're sure you don't know anything?

We've got to be quick. We can't afford to be seen together.

Who's in charge of the case now?

Two men from Scotland Yard. I think one of them's a superintendent.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

When did you last see Sparrow?

About a week ago.

Cape Road Police Station.

I'd like to speak to Inspector Sparrow, please.

It's a personal matter.

Sorry, the inspector's away on leave.

Can I help?

You already have done, mate.

Is it Captain Brown?

Well, Norman here.

Now listen, Sparrow isn't, repeat, isn't on the case.

No, he's on leave.

Yes, leave.

Must have been having a snoop about in his own time.

So what do you want me to do, Matt?

Put him out of his misery?

No, don't hang up.

Go away and do it.

And you come back and kill me.

That way we'll all feel very much happier, won't we?

Hang on.

Sounded all right?

All right.

Hello? Sounded good.

How'd you do it? You got the wrong number, Pin.

It's Sparrow here.

Sparrow?

What do you mean? What happened?

Don't know what his name was, but he's dead.

Very dead.

It's Sparrow. Bill's dead.

How? How's he done it?

What do we do now? We'll have every cop in the country after him. Shut up!

Harry, you take the phone. Whatever you do, don't hang up.

That way he can't clear his line. And if he can't do that, he can't send for

help. Where are you going?

Out there to finish him off. You understand?

Sure. Right.

Norman?

Hi, Sparrow.

What do you want?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Just wondered how you were.

Still here.

How's it down your end?

You must like it.

Real quiet, isn't it? Stick a pig in, no one will hear him squeal. Same with a

man, they reckon. I wouldn't know.

But you will, Spatter.

You will.

Can I help you? Let me talk to Mr. Reynolds.

Aren't you one of the police officers? Just give the message.

Oh, yes.

Excuse me.

Well, what can I do for you, Sergeant?

Let's cut the small talk. Where's Sparrow?

Oh, Phil, I don't understand.

Don't get out of your depth, Reynolds.

It looks as if they've killed a policeman.

Killed a policeman?

I'm sorry, I didn't know.

I just don't want to get mixed up in this sort of thing.

Now, hear this, Reynolds.

It's very likely someone will get top for this little caper. Now, do yourself

a favor. Tell me where they've got Sparrow.

The farmhouse.

Heathcote Farm.

Out on the Malton Road.

I hope for your sake you're telling the truth.

You take the back.

Find anything? No, nothing.

Well, that's all.

Did you hear that?

Just a splinter. They're going to hear this for miles.

Hey, one of us better get around behind him.

Paddy, go out through the kitchen. Go copy. Make sure you get him. Right.

You better keep him occupied.

Glad to see you.

It's mutual.

Where are you headed?

Let's just say I won't be sitting at my desk for a couple of weeks.

How do you find me? Well, Sue told me what you're up to and Reynolds did the

rest. Good girl. Can you walk? As far as the charge room.