Original subtitles

The Parthenon was used as an arsenal during the Turkish occupation.

The temple dedicated to goddess Athena was hit by a shell.

The explosion, lovely building in ruin.

They are getting the regular half-hour guided tour.

Me? I'm being shown the Parthenon by an expert,

Professor Hamish Grant, head of archaeology at London University.

- Just so you won't die of thirst. - Thanks.

Shall we go on?

- Professor Grant, can I be frank? - Not at all.

I have learnt more about the Parthenon than I care to know.

Simon, my boy, now what you need is archaeological background.

I'm doing excavating at Kyros, a mountain village. It's fascinating.

- Why not come and see? - Well...

You're on holiday. You've nothing better to do. You can help with the excavations.

Come back to the hotel and I'll tell you how to get there.

- You, sirs, pretty picture. - No, thanks.

Take one of him and I'll have it.

It'll tickle my students pink, more than their relics.

A classical pose of Simon Templar.

- Going somewhere, Aristides? - Joe.

- Joe, listen, I can explain everything. - About the $15,000?

- Dan owed me the money. Honest. - So why did you steal it?

Why didn't you just ask him for it?

Dan always pays his debts.

Especially when they're legitimate.

You know, you led me quite a chase.

New York, London, Athens.

I wanted to give up but Dan says, "No, it's a question of principle."

- Where is it? - Joe, I don't have it. Honest.

Where is it?

- I spent it. - Oh, you have, huh?

Yeah.

What's this big interest in cameras all of a sudden?

- Hobby, Joe. - Yeah?

Get over and face the wall.

Move.

Clever, these Greeks.

You betcha we Greeks are clever.

(Bell tolls)

Ooh!

Papa.

- Yes, Sophia? - Put it in the till.

- Sophia, you made the old man pay? - Papa, this is a business.

My business. Melos has had a bad year. He cannot afford to buy his drinks.

Ah, but he can and he did.

- Now everyone does. You promised! - Keep your voice down.

- I won't! - Sophia, there are customers.

Customers! Ha!

You call these cronies of yours customers?

When did they last pay for a drink?

That's enough!

Oh, they'll be back, as soon as they're thirsty.

But first they can learn to use this.

The Greeks have been using it for thousands of years. We invented it.

Sophia, it isn't good to be too outspoken.

Oh, so, Niko, you give free stamps in your post office, huh?

No, I'd lose my job.

Another six months of giving credit and we'll lose this hotel.

I have to get back to work.

- You have no right to insult them. - Papa, look. Look at this place.

- What's wrong with it? - It's falling to pieces.

This is my hotel. I run it as I please!

- Sure! Run it right into the ground. - They'll hear in the square!

I don't care! We haven't got any money!

You fight with half the village, the other half are such friends, they live off you.

Am I interrupting?

- Professor Grant reserved a room. - Oh, you must be Mr Templar.

- That's right. - I'm Sophia.

- Please forgive us. A little disagreement. - Think nothing of it.

I'll take your luggage.

It's very nice.

- Are you an archaeologist too? - Heaven forbid.

I'm an old friend of Professor Grant's.

He conned me into coming here to see his excavations.

Mr Templar, I am most sorry for what happened downstairs.

- Family row? - We don't often quarrel in public.

- And it doesn't mean anything. - Oh.

You see, my father is a very generous man

and sometimes to be generous is not good for business.

I would say almost always it's not good for business.

It's not his fault. You see, he belongs to the land. He used to own a vineyard.

And all in one year, my mother died,

the whole crop was wiped out by vine pest.

- I'm sorry. - He never had the heart to replant it.

He sold out and he bought this hotel.

It was the wrong thing for him to do.

- I wouldn't say that. - He has so many debts.

It would be a miracle just to keep going.

You never know. Something may turn up.

Hey, another earthquake?

Do you still want to marry her?

Hey, what's the matter? You think I get killed?

- A telegram. - For me?

You are Stavros lonides.

It's from someone called Aristides Koralis.

Aristides Koralis...

Isn't he your nephew? The rich one from San Francisco?

Yes. He's my sister's son.

Papa? What is it?

Your cousin Aristides is back in Greece. He's arriving here tomorrow.

Cousin Aristides here? How exciting!

He's very rich. Everyone in America is rich.

- I'm not interested in his money. - Aren't you happy? He's your nephew.

Aunt Athena's son. It will be wonderful having him here.

That remains to be seen.

(Sophia) Now we must get to work. Clean the place up.

Oh, Mr Templar, you were right. Something did turn up.

Naturally, Mr Templar, it's up to you.

The other room is nice. It overlooks the square.

You want the penthouse suite for Cousin Aristides?

- He is family. - And wealthy.

It's not that. I told Sophia we got no right to ask you to move.

Think nothing of it. It's my pleasure.

Thank you. I will move everything for you. You need do nothing yourself.

Sophia, put this with the others, please.

Yes, Professor.

- Lunch at 12? - I'll bring it to the site.

Careful, lassie. I spent half the night gluing the thing together.

- You must be a wizard at jigsaw puzzles. - You all set, Simon?

- Ready and waiting. - Good.

Professor! Professor, look.

Oh, man. This is a great find.

Simon. Simon, come with me.

Ah, just as I thought.

Just as I thought.

Now, we think these fragments came from a pipe leading from a cistern here

to a communal bathhouse and judging by the contours, this is the probable site.

(Bus pulls off and engine backfires)

And if our calculations are correct, we ought to strike it rich any day now.

Unfortunately, it's rather like looking for a needle in a haystack.

- Lunchtime, Professor. - Already? The morning's flown by.

Not for me. I can't wait until Aristides gets here.

It looks like Kyros is in for an exciting time,

what with the Professor about to strike it rich and Aristides over from America.

- Am I on the right road for Kyros? - Yeah.

I'm looking for a hotel run by Stavros lonides.

(Sophia) Aristides!

- You know me, baby? - You are Aristides?

- I'm your cousin. - My cousin?

Yes. Sophia.

Oh, yeah. I remember. They showed me photographs of you.

You were just a kid but you've, er, filled out a bit since then.

We got your telegram earlier. We're expecting you.

Great. So what are we waiting for?

What's the matter? You act like you don't remember me.

I don't forget the son of my sister. You forgot me when your mother died.

- What does that mean? - I think you know.

Papa, the wine.

The drinks are on me. Care to join us, Templar?

Thanks.

Yasou.

What brings you back?

- Needed a break. - From what?

I was a partner in a jukebox outfit. I sold my shares.

- You made jukeboxes? - No, owned 'em.

Stacks of them, in places like drugstores, pool halls.

- It's quite a tough business, isn't it? - Yeah.

Looks like you need a new model. Who's top of the pops this week, Rudy Vallee?

You must be tired. I'll show you your room.

I can't wait to be shown my room.

Here.

I'm surprised you don't show him the door.

He's family.

What did you mean about being forgotten when your sister died?

I loaned her money when she emigrated to America.

Whe wrote how she was saving a little each week to repay me, then she died.

And you think Aristides helped himself?

The money was there. Somebody had it.

Aristides was always dishonest, even as a child.

- My father never talked about you much. - I'll bet.

- Pardon? - Nothing. Look, tell me about yourself.

- You got boyfriends? - One.

- What's his name? - Niko.

- What's he do? - General manager of the post office.

- Big deal. - Aristides, tell me about America.

Kid, you should see it. New York's fabulous. The dough, big cars, buildings.

Everything's done fast and efficient. Girls, clothes, the whole deal.

Look, don't get me wrong, but in New York,

a girl wouldn't be seen dead in a dress like that, know what I mean?

- Is it wrong? - No. It's all right.

Please, tell me what is wrong with it.

Well, it's a little plain. You need something to...

I've got the very thing.

Something to flash you up a little.

- Like it? - You're joking.

- Surely it isn't for me. - You turn around, baby, and see.

Oh, Aristides, it's magnificent.

You like it, huh?

Oh, Papa, look what Aristides gave me. Isn't it beautiful?

- Go downstairs, Sophia. - But look.

Downstairs at once.

- Your towels. - Sure they're not wet blankets?

- Keep your hands off her. - Take it easy, Papa.

- All I did was give her a present. - I'm warning you. Leave her alone.

Hurt that child and I kill you.

- Isn't it beautiful? - I think it's charming.

- It makes you look like a street girl. - Niko!

- It's cheap, vulgar and that's what he is. - He is not and he is my cousin.

- You oughtn't to accept gifts from him. - Stop treating me as a child.

At least Aristides knows how to give a woman a present.

Simon. Simon, I was right.

This is the greatest day of my life.

Look what we've turned up.

Almost certainly Minoan.

See? The hairstyle.

The realism. Look. The beading on her dress.

- There. - It's beautiful.

Exquisite.

- Too bad you can't keep it. - Why not? You found it.

Archaeological discoveries of value are the property of the Greek government.

She's got a lousy figure. What's it made out of?

Gold.

Gold? You're kidding.

(Professor) No, solid gold.

U' Soft piano)

Doesn't that music ruin your digestion?

Haven't you got any records out of this century, like The Twist?

- I keep asking Papa to buy some. - The gibbering of uncivilised apes.

Heaven forbid in a place like this.

- Living behind the times is your thing. - Possibly.

Tell you what. To show somebody can live it up here, how about champagne?

- To celebrate the Professor's discovery. - Wonderful.

What about you, Templar? You look like you drink champagne.

Uncle Stavros, fetch a bottle of champagne. Put it on my bill.

If we have it, it will be on the house.

Please yourself.

- Cigar? - No thanks.

Cigars, champagne.

- Nothing but the best, eh? - The US standard of living's higher.

- Besides, Big Dan always used to... - Who?

Big Dan. A friend of mine. Great party thrower.

Hey, Professor, what about the little lady on the table?

- It's her we're celebrating. Where is she? - Locked in the safe.

- Frightened somebody'll pinch her? - It's happened before.

Aristides, you haven't told us. Did you do well in your business in America?

It was easy for me. I was mixed up in a lot of important business deals.

When I left New York, I had 15,000 bucks cash.

Sounds marvellous. Like a dream.

- You're so right. - Are you going back to America?

Could be. How about a toast? To my little cousin Sophia.

(All) Sophia.

- Thank you. - How about you, Uncle Stavros?

- Life must be tough in this hick town. - Oh, I can't complain.

I had the large vineyard when everybody was paying the high prices for land here.

But I realised that it would not always be like that,

so I sold the vineyard...

And then, presently, when the prices, they start to come down,

I buy the hotel.

It gives me something to do and I enjoy it.

- I've got plenty. - Is that so?

Roughly about the same amount as you have in dollars.

450,000 drachmae.

- Papa! - We don't make a fortune from the hotel.

But we don't spend much. We don't need fine clothes and such things.

Aren't you the dark horse? Did you shove this money under the mattress?

When Sophia and Niko get married, I'll make them a present of the hotel.

Papa!

What do you plan to do, then? Retire? Travel, maybe?

Oh, no. I shall buy a piece of land on the hillside and start a new vineyard.

Around here we call it the sun's apron.

- It's an ideal spot. - Yes. Ideal.

(Aristides) What's eating her?

She thinks her father's too generous.

Crying won't help.

Stupid, empty boasting.

400,000 drachmae.

We can't even pay our bills.

Sophia, your father felt, well, on the defensive.

His pride was hurt.

Mr Templar, I love my father, but he is a fool.

A little boasting's harmless enough.

Harmless? Aristides will never help us now.

All this talk of buying a vineyard.

Lies. All stupid lies.

Aristides only had to open his eyes and look around.

What will he think of us now?

It doesn't matter what Aristides thinks.

He's a liar and a cheat.

What?

When your aunt died in America, Aristides kept money for your father.

It was a loan she intended to repay.

I don't believe it.

Your father told me.

- There you are, Professor. - Thank you.

You're giving her a bit of a shine-up, huh?

She has to look her best when she goes to Athens.

- You'd hand her to a fusty old museum? - Yes.

- Just like that? - What else would you expect?

- Prof, it's made of solid gold. - Well?

Suppose you smuggled it out of the country?

- What? - It could be melted down.

Smuggled? Melted down?

- Are you serious? - Smuggled out and sold as she is, then.

I dare say that there are crooked dealers about but...

- So what would they pay? - Thousands, I expect.

- How many thousands? - Who can say?

50? 100,000?

Phew. That much, huh?

Mr Koralis, I hope you're not serious about this.

No, Prof, just kidding.

Good night, gentlemen.

I'll leave you to the glories of ancient Greece and your keen student.

Good night.

You know your things have been moved to room six?

- Yes, thanks. Good night. - Good night.

So when will you be taking it to Athens, Prof?

At the weekend.

Good night. Thanks for the interesting information.

You're welcome. Good night.

You've finished now, Professor?

Thank you, yes. Make sure the safe's securely locked.

Don't worry. You can keep the key yourself for the next few days if you like.

- Forgive the intrusion. - What are you doing in my room?

As you probably heard, until this morning, it was my room.

- In the switch, I forgot this. - I don't remember seeing a toothbrush.

It had fallen down behind the washstand.

If you were looking through my things...

Care to go through my pockets for stolen valuables?

Sleep well.

Hold on, please.

If you don't have a booth, would you mind beating it? This is private.

Hmph.

Hello, Gorgo?

Morning.

- Good morning, your coffee. - Thank you.

The Professor left an hour ago. Are you going to the site?

No, I think I'll take a look around the village.

Oh, there's not much to see.

Aristides may be a loudmouth but he's right.

We live in a dump.

- Then why not fix it up? - I intend to. Very soon.

Mr lonides, it's none of my business and I don't mean to intrude,

but you are broke.

- Who says so? - Sophia.

She has no right to discuss my affairs.

I know, but she did. Putting two and two together, if Aristides owes you money,

why not face him with it?

You think I would crawl to him for a few hundred dollars?

A few hundred dollars would do a lot round here.

Never. If he pays, he pays.

But I don't go crawling to a man like that.

Man, is it always this hot?

Why not take your jacket off?

Like the other peasants?

Hey, Uncle Stavros, how about a nice long, cool drink?

I fix it for you.

Did I hear you mention you are going to Lakarness tomorrow?

I go there every week for supplies.

I'll pass through your old village. You want to come?

On a donkey cart? No thanks.

I reckon I'll just rest my seat right here.

- That's the number he asked me to get. - Athens, eh?

The man he spoke to seemed like an old friend.

What else did you hear? You almost had your head through the bars.

This man Gorgo is coming from Athens to meet Aristides here tonight.

Oh.

Old wartime keepsake, huh?

I might have been a partisan too if I hadn't immigrated.

- How many Nazis you kill? - I don't talk about it.

Oh? What's the idea of having it on show, then?

It's not on show.

Be careful. It's loaded.

You know something? With all that money you got, you can't be too careful.

You got any bandits left over in these parts?

We have a few bandits. How long do you intend to stay here?

- I hadn't decided. - You don't like our village or our hotel.

And yet you remain. Why?

I found Athens was a little...warm.

It's cooler up here in the mountains. At least at night.

(r Traditional Greek folk tune)

U' Swing on jukebox)

Excuse me, gentlemen. I think I'll take a walk.

Of course.

(Twig snaps)

Aristides, you look great.

I heard you were in Athens. I saw Joe Martin the other night.

He had his arm in a sling. He asked me if I'd seen you.

Of course, I said no. The truth.

He's got nothing to do with me asking you here.

So give, what's it all about?

Gold statuette. About so high.

- Solid gold, man. - You kidding?

Mm-mm. It's in a safe at my uncle's hotel.

- (Clunking) - What's that?

Shut up.

There's nothing.

- About this statuette. - My uncle's going for supplies.

The only two guests will be at the excavation site.

There's this broad Sophia. She takes them lunch at noon.

I'll go with her to make sure she doesn't come back too soon.

When she's left the hotel, you go in and bust the safe.

It's 1,000 years old, man.

Gorgo, you could crack it with a rusty fork. This is the way I see it, man.

Hey, Sophia.

- You called me? - Has your father gone to the market?

- Yes. - What about Templar?

He's gone to the excavation site.

- Come here, I want to talk to you. - What about?

We can take a walk when you take lunch to the excavation. Do you mind?

I suppose not. Why?

- I've been thinking. - Oh?

- Your father's mountain vineyard? - Yes.

- It's for sale? - Yes.

What'd you say if your father and I bought it and went into business?

That might be very good.

Good. I'd like to see the vineyard. You'll show it me?

Of course. I'll be leaving here around noon.

Great. I'll tag along.

- Sophia! - It's Niko.

Don't be all day, baby.

- Where are you going? - Delivering lunch.

- With him? - He asked if he could come.

Oh, Niko, don't be so stupid. After all, he is my cousin.

Stay as you are. It's open season on safe crackers.

Who are you? The police?

No. Just an art lover.

How did you know I would be here?

Aristides and I are working together.

We needed someone to open the safe and you were selected.

You mean we are splitting three ways?

No. Two ways.

You are being left out.

I might have known.

Spilling wine means bad luck.

Now, talk.

(Choking)

I got nothing to say.

- Maybe you'll talk to the police, then. - You wouldn't turn me in.

Why not? You've served your purpose and Aristides wants rid of you.

I might have known. Always he does that. He did the same in the States.

The same with a guy in Athens.

Joe Martin.

Suppose you tell me all about it, right from the beginning.

Hey, Aristides!

- Where's Sophia? - How should I know?

- She left with you. She should be back. - So she's late.

- Why? - I don't know.

Maybe she's picking wild flowers. Now, quit yapping at my heels.

Have a nice walk?

L, er... Sure.

What's the matter? Are you surprised at something?

No, I just thought you'd be at the excavation site. So?

No. I changed my mind. Where's Sophia?

Why does everybody ask that? How should I know?

- Are you sure you feel all right? - I feel fine.

What's that mark on your cheek?

Touch of the midday sun?

Isn't it time for lunch, Professor?

Sophia is never late.

I can't think what's held the lassie up.

UP, UP-

Professor, I think we'll go to the village for lunch.

Sophia will be here any minute.

- Professor! Professor, is Sophia here? - No. We've been waiting for her.

- She didn't come with lunch? - No.

She left an hour ago. Something's happened. I found this in the clearing.

She was with her cousin. He's done something to her. I know it!

I told you. We came up here, stopped to talk a while.

Then she went to the site, I went to the village.

- You're lying. - Watch what you say.

- Why come here? - To see the vineyard her father's buying.

- He is lying. - (Professor) Simon.

Lunch basket.

- You...you attacked her! - I did not.

All right, Aristides, then how did you get that mark on your cheek?

- I bumped it on a rock. - I'll kill you if you hurt her! I'll kill you!

I never laid a hand on her.

I don't know what's going on here. Maybe she threw them out of the basket.

There must be some explanation. Bandits or something.

Maybe she's down in the village now.

She'd better be.

- Niko, what's happened? - Sophia's disappeared.

- Disappeared? - We found these.

Bottles broken, food strewn around and her necklace. Look.

- Aristides saw her last. - I warned you, keep your hands off her.

I never touched her and I don't have to take this from all these village idiots.

Why don't we all go inside?

I had nothing to do with this, I swear. I don't know who did it, but it's not me.

- Stavros boasted he had money. - He believed him.

- So you worked out a kidnapping. - What do you mean? With who?

- With your accomplice. - What accomplice?

His name's Gorgo. Ask him.

- Why the artillery? - That's my business.

- Honest men don't carry guns. - I had nothing to do with it.

I'm a quiet businessman come to see his home town.

That's all there is to it.

We will give my nephew the benefit of the doubt. All of you, go and search.

Look on the mountain, the north clearing, the sun's apron. Get help.

Aristides, every man in this village shot traitors during the war.

We do not mind killing another.

- Anything? - No. Nothing.

We look everywhere for her.

This is like a lynch mob.

I mean, it's not justice.

Do you deserve justice?

- Doesn't everybody? - Why don't you tell them about Gorgo?

- You told him to come here. I heard you. - Why, Aristides?

There was a stranger in the village today. I saw him.

Man about so high, dark complexion?

- Bow tie? - Yes. That is the man.

So a guy came to look me up. I knew him in New York.

He was deported from the States, wasn't he?

- You crazy? - Aristides, I wish you'd stop saying that.

You're beginning to make me mad.

- You were almost deported yourself. - That's a...

- That's a lie. - Oh?

What are those?

They're clippings from American newspapers.

Aristides has quite an ego. Likes reading about himself.

Did you know he had served three terms of imprisonment?

One for graft, then another for extortion.

And one case of abduction.

- Abduction? - Attempted abduction.

They couldn't prove it. I was acquitted. It was a frame-up, just like this.

- And who is framing you, as you call it? - You are.

It's all a pack of lies!

Mr lonides, what do you think?

Take him to the square. I shoot him.

Hang him. Shooting is too good for him.

He is a kidnapper. He should die.

No. You can't mean it.

They do mean it. You should hear what they did to collaborators during the war.

- What are we waiting for? - Yes. There has been enough talk.

- He should die. - No! No, you can't!

We can and we will.

Look, I'm innocent! I swear I am!

- Don't hurt me. I'm innocent! - Hold it.

- There's a way to prove your innocence. - How?

- You pay the ransom money for Sophia. - That's all I have.

- Not quite. - It's a trick. I'm not going to pay.

All right! Wait!

I'll pay. The money's in my room in a camera.

Get it, Niko.

Mr lonides, you'll take the money to the excavation site alone.

The rest of you, you wait outside.

And if Sophia's harmed, I promise you, he's all yours.

Very narrow escape, Aristides.

It's a trick. A frame-up.

I know, but which would you prefer?

To face the villagers or Joe Martin of Athens?

- Sophia. - Hello, Papa.

- Are you all right? - Yes, of course I am.

Professor, what is the meaning of this? What is going on?

It's rather an elaborate plot, I'm afraid.

You'd better sit down. It's a long story and I have to start from the beginning.

What do you mean, you know she's safe?

She's playing cards with the Professor.

You set up this whole deal. It is a frame-up.

Let me tell you something. These hicks with the guns don't frighten me.

I'll get the money back.

- I doubt that very much. - Just wait.

You arranged to get everyone out the hotel so Gorgo could crack that safe.

You can't prove that. Ever.

I know.

So I took certain precautions.

Such as?

If you'll forgive me, I took the liberty of telling Gorgo a great deal about you.

I explained that you were a two-faced, double-crossing heel,

a liar and a cheat.

He was quite upset. In fact, he promised to do something about it.

- And what do you know? He did. - What do you mean?

Take a look.

Haven't much choice, have you, Aristides?

Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

That guy's a maniac.

He's a killer.

He really is. Templar, you've got to give me my gun.

- I'm afraid I couldn't do that. - That guy's gonna kill me!

Probably.

- What'll I do? - Get out of town.

- Past that mob? - There's a door through the kitchen.

You can get out the back way. You can be on the road to Athens in 20 minutes.

Aristides, Martin's on his way in. I don't know how long I can stall him.

Hi.

- Hi. - Is a guy named Koralis staying here?

Aristides Koralis?

What a shame. You just missed him. He left for Lakarness an hour ago.

If you hurry, you might catch up with him.

Thanks.

My daughter is safe. There's no need for any violence.

It has all been a misunderstanding.

Now, all of you, please go quietly to your homes.

Mr Templar, my daughter has told me everything.

- She's a very truthful girl, beautiful, too. - You arranged this between you.

Oh, it was my idea. I deserve the credit.

You got the money from Aristides dishonestly.

That's debatable.

Mr Templar, he wants to give it back.

Be quiet. I will not keep money that has been obtained by extortion.

But Aristides stole from you.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

I will deduct the money Aristides owes me and return the rest.

Ah. Now, that will be difficult.

- Why? - I had a long talk with Aristides.

I convinced him of the evil of his ways. He manifested a desire to reform.

I think he meant it. He left you the money as a gift.

- Left it? - Yes. Yes, he's gone.

He said you were to have the money as a present.

- Aristides said that? - On one condition.

That you give the hotel to Sophia and to Niko so they can get married

and you buy the vineyard.

But I can't believe it.

How could so evil a man suddenly become so generous?

Well, you see, I have a very good influence on people. I really do.

That's why they call me the Saint.