Original subtitles

[Cheerful 20s music]

[Suspenseful music]

[Crying]

Hold her.

[Crying]

I said hold her.

She's going to be difficult.

They always are, to begin with.

But not for long.

[Crying]

Keep her still, muldoon!

[Crying]

Well, I'm afraid Mr. Blunt

is very busy just at present, sir.

It's Scotland yard.

They've made a bloomer again.

I shall wait.

I don't hold out much hope.

If you wouldn't mind giving me your name, sir?

Gabriel stavansson.

Beg your pardon, sir?

Stavansson, Gabriel stavansson.

I'm sorry, sir, would you mind repeating that?

[Stavansson] Stavansson!

Stavansson?

The explorer!

Better fetch him in.

Right.

I would like you to tell Mr...

Ah, this gentleman's waiting to see you, Mr. Blunt.

Oh, I'm due at the Duke's at 11.

However, I think I can spare you a few moments.

What shall I tell his grace, sir?

His grace?

The Duke, sir.

He'll be getting a bit fidgety.

Tell him the duchess's tiara

will be found in the fish pond.

Her pet monkey was undoubtedly the culprit.

None of the servants is to blame.

The monkey in the fish pond.

Very good, Mr. Blunt.

This way.

Thank you, Albert.

My confidential secretary, miss Robinson.

How do you do?

Miss Robinson.

Now, sir, perhaps you will state your business.

- I have... - Beyond the fact

that it is urgent, that you came in a taxi,

that you've recently returned from the arctic,

or possibly the antarctic, I know nothing.

But this is amazing.

I thought detectives only did such things in books.

Why, your office boy did not even give you my name.

It was nothing.

No, the, erm,

the rays of the midnight sun within the arctic circle

contain certain properties and they have a peculiar action

upon the skin.

I'm writing a little monograph on the subject shortly.

However, this is wide of the point.

Perhaps you will tell me what it is

that has brought you to me in such distress of mind,

Mr. Stavansson?

- To begin with, Mr. Plant... - Blunt.

My name is Gabriel stavansson.

Ah yes of course, the well known, erm...

Explorer.

Quite so, miss Robinson.

You have recently returned from the...

The north pole, I believe.

That is so.

I landed in england only three days ago.

A friend who was cruising in northern waters

brought me back in his yacht.

Otherwise I should not have returned for another fortnight.

I see.

Now I must tell you, Mr. Plant,

blunt.

That'd before I started on this last expedition,

two years ago,

I had the great, good fortune to become engaged.

Congratulations.

To Mrs. Maurice Leigh Gordon.

Mrs. Leigh Gordon was before her marriage...

The honourable Hermione crane,

the second daughter of lord Manchester.

[Stavansson] My word.

Her first husband was killed during the war.

[Stavansson] Exactly.

-Mr. Plant, -blunt.

I am deeply impressed.

Miss Robinson enjoys my fullest confidence.

I keep nothing from her,

as you can see.

Please go on.

When Hermione and I became engaged,

I offered of course to give up my expedition,

but she would not hear a word of it, bless her.

She is the right kind of woman to be

the wife of an explorer.

This is Hermione.

She looks charming, Mr. Stavansson.

Oh, she has lovely eyes.

If anything has happened to her.

My first thought on landing was to see her.

Naturally.

I sent a telegram from southampton

and rushed up to town by the very first train.

She has been living with an aunt of hers,

lady Susan clonray, in pont street.

So of course I went straight round,

but hermie was not there.

How disappointing.

Yes, she said that hermie was away visiting friends

in northumberland.

She seemed most surprised to see me.

But I imagine that you would not expected back

for at least another fortnight, Mr. Stavansson.

I know, but when I asked for hermie's address,

lady Susan hemmed and hawed,

and said that she might be in two or three different places.

She did not know which, she did not know when.

Well, I do not mind telling you, Mr. Plant,

blunt.

She made so many difficulties

that I became distinctly annoyed.

I take it you are not on good terms with lady Susan.

Good terms?

- Yes. - Hah!

Well, no,

she and I have never got on.

She is one of those fat women.

Fat women?

Yes, you know, double chins fingers like sausages.

Well, I loathe fat women, I always have.

Fashion agrees with you, Mr. Stavansson.

On the other hand, i...

Everyone has their pet aversion.

Mine is bagpipes.

I can't stand the things.

Mind you, I am not saying that lady Susan

cannot be perfectly charming,

but I have never taken to her, nor she to me.

Well, I did not leave pont street

until I had got the names of the friends

she said hermie was staying with.

And then I took the mail train north.

I can see that you're a man of action, Mr. Stavansson.

The thing came upon me like a bomb shell, Mr. Plant,

blunt.

None of these people had seen a sign of hermie.

Of the three houses I visited,

only one had been expecting her,

and she put off her visit there by telegram.

So lady Susan...

Made a deuced odd mistake, or told me a foul pack of lies.

Have you been back to see her?

Not yet.

Coming down on the train, I read your advertisement.

I thought I would put it to you first.

What is your opinion, Mr. Plant?

What do you advise me to do?

Shall we discuss that on our way to pont street?

You intend to come with me?

Oh, of course.

I mean, we must see this charming, but large lady ourselves.

Hermione not in northumberland, you say?

How extraordinary!

More to the point, she was not even expected.

Dear, dear.

This really is most perplexing.

Lady Susan, where else do you think Hermione

might have gone?

Well, she might,

you say you're friends of my niece?

Oh, absolutely.

We've known her for ages.

She never mentioned you.

We've been abroad a good deal.

I see.

Do I take it you share Mr. Stavansson's proclivities?

[Stavansson laughs]

Good lord, no.

Nothing like the pluck.

Lady Susan, Hermione might've gone...

Well, to any one of a number of places.

She's not a child, you know?

And she has many, many friends.

For example?

For example, it's very hard to say.

Did she leave an address?

No.

No, no, she didn't.

But you told me that...

I really cannot remember what I told you, Mr. Stavansson.

Turning up as you did, throwing my house into an uproar,

- uproar? - And now you burst in again,

and cross examine me in my very own drawing room.

Now, look here...

Lady Susan is quite right.

I'm sure there is a perfectly simple

and natural explanation.

As she said, Hermione is not a silly little girl,

but an independent woman,

who's always been in the habit of making her own plans.

Why, I expect at this very moment,

she's carrying out some idea of her own.

Exactly, miss Robinson,

just what I was about to say myself.

I don't like it.

And I like it less and less.

Well, I suppose the police could always be notified.

The police?

Oh, no, Mr. Blunt.

That's the positivity dreadful idea.

Ah hah.

I merely thought...

But the publicity, the scandal.

Why should there be any scandal, lady Susan?

I, i...

[knocking on door]

Oh, yes John, what is it?

A telegram has arrived, my lady.

Oh, thank you.

Would you mind, my dear?

Thank you.

There.

What is it?

You are answered, Mr. Stavansson.

"Changed my plans, just off to monte Carlo for a week."

Hermie?

Well, I'm damned.

Quite possibly Mr. Stavansson,

but Hermione, as you see, is nothing of the kind.

Where was it sent from?

May I?

Maldon.

Maldon?

Maldon, Sussex.

First thing this morning.

Lady Susan,

it seems that I have made something of a fool of myself.

We are what the lord has made us, Mr. Stavansson.

Thank you, my dear.

And now, John will show you out.

Good morning, miss Robinson, Mr. Blunt.

Good morning.

So pleasant to have met you.

Good morning, lady Susan.

Go with them, John.

Operator.

Are you there?

Maldon, two one nine.

I want a personal call to Dr. Horriston, at the grange.

She's got a divine figure.

Oh, bit too boney, for my taste.

What do you make of it all?

The obvious explanation is that hermie,

as he likes to call her,

is afraid to see him and has done a bunk.

Which means lady Susan may be backing her up.

I say, she seemed pretty nervous.

The old lady had the wind up, all right.

Yes, I thought so too.

Could that mean hermie has another man?

It might.

I'd hate to suggest that to a fellow like stavansson.

He's a powerful chap.

And a pretty passionate one.

Capable of all manner of things, I should think.

You're not saying you suspect him?

At this stage, I suspect everyone.

Maybe we'd better cut down to maldon.

Why should she say she's gone to northumberland,

then that she's going to monte Carlo,

but in fact, want to Bury herself

in some tiny place in Sussex?

What if she didn't want to?

What'd you mean?

What if she's being kept there against her will?

- [Suspenseful music] - [Woman moaning]

Remember, you must show no pity.

What's the plan?

Split up, I think.

I'll try that shop.

Right, and I'll visit the old cock and sparrow.

Good luck, Tommy.

Good luck, old bean.

[Suspenseful music]

Good morning.

Morning.

Do you sell picture postcards?

There.

Oh, yes.

[Suspenseful music]

Are there any big houses around here?

No, apart from the grange, that is.

Oh, the grange, what's that?

Sort of hospital for nerve cases, they say.

Nerve cases?

Spooky sort of place.

It's full of raving loonies with foreign names.

Foreign names.

This telegram's got to go up there this morning.

I can hardly make it out.

Can I help?

"Reservation cancelled

"unforeseen delay"

seems quite clear.

Look at that name.

Mosgovskensky.

See what I mean?

What sort of name is that?

Who does the grange belong to?

Dr. Horriston, he calls himself.

Dr. Horriston.

Can you tell me what he looks like?

Tommy, I believe I've got it.

The grange...

Yes, I've just been hearing about it.

Do you think Mrs. Leigh Gordon's there?

I don't know.

Did you see that man driving off in the blue car?

Unpleasant looking brute, yes.

That's horriston.

He owns the grange.

So we'll have to check up on him.

We didn't need to, I know horriston.

You know him?

Yes.

Well, I met him briefly, several years ago.

My chum, poppy St. albans,

had the most frightful experience at his hands.

He used to be a bonafide doctor

and then he came a cropper of some kind,

something to do with armadillo glands.

Armadillo glands?

Yes, tried injecting people with them,

or something equally ghastly.

Anyway, he's an unscrupulous quack.

The grange?

Yes, the grange.

[Suspenseful music]

I shall have to increase the concentration.

That could be quite dangerous.

What other choice do we have?

Well, according to my analysis...

There's someone to see you, doctor.

A Mr. Beresford.

Beresford?

I don't know any beresford.

He says it's urgent.

- Do you want me to... - No, no.

Very well, show him in.

Come this way, please.

Mr. Beresford.

Tommy beresford.

Dr. Horriston, I presume?

My partner, Dr. Kleber.

How do you do.

Irma kleber,

formerly at the staatengruppe institut of Geneva.

Jolly good.

Well, it's awfully decent of you to give me your time,

Dr. Horriston.

Now what my readers really want to know...

Your readers?

Oh, didn't your man tell you?

I'm with the daily reporter,

we're doing an article on the cure of nervous diseases.

I'm sorry, Mr. Beresford, I never give interviews.

Oh, but surely...

This is a private institution.

You will leave at once.

But I've come all this way.

Muldoon!

Show Mr. Beresford out, muldoon.

Can't you just give me five minutes?

I mean, it's not often we get the chance to...

You, out.

Well, my editor's going to be very shirty.

Ah, yes.

Well, fair enough.

By the way, how's my friend Mrs. Leigh Gordon?

She's a patient here, I believe?

There is no-one here of that name.

- But she... - No-one.

That's funny, because I could have sworn,

cheerio.

Thank you!

Hello, darling!

He's lying, she's there.

I know it.

That woman's in some awful danger, I feel it in my bones.

I wish I'd gone with you.

I'm sorry, old girl.

Couldn't have risked it.

Horriston might have remembered you.

So what do we do now?

Go back to London and tell stavansson that we failed?

That goes decidedly against the grain.

Right.

So somehow, we've got to get back inside that house.

They've just seen me.

Which leaves only one alternative.

Tuppence, you can't.

I forbid it.

Tommy, I shall be perfectly safe.

But supposing horriston recognises you?

Not a chance.

He met me, remember?

Well, next time he's going to meet somebody else.

[Pompous music]

Madame Vera mosgovskensky.

Madame mosgovskensky, this is truly an honour!

Naturally.

You are Dr. Horriston?

I am.

Dr. Kleber?

Irma kleber, formally of the staatengruppe...

She being your mistress?

No, madame mosgovskensky, Dr. Kleber is my partner.

I am wondering.

Please.

Thanking you.

Ah, why you looking astonished, doctor?

Well, the truth is, madame mosgovskensky,

that having received your telegram yesterday,

I understood that you had cancelled your reservation.

Well, I am changing my mind.

It is artist's privilege, no?

Yes, but...

Ah, my suite is not prepared.

No, madame madame mosgovskensky,

that is, yes.

So, why you not understanding?

I'm sorry.

I will repeat.

After the imperial ballet, I am joining

troupe of diaghilev.

This is seven years now, but I am leaving him.

He is no good, he is charlatan.

You are totally in agreeable?

Er, yes.

So now I am forming my own company.

The ballet mosgovskensky.

But it is requiring much work,

many head pains.

Headaches.

It is the same thing.

So before starting my new glittering career,

I am in need of much rest.

Of peacefulness.

Of calm.

[Speaking in Russian]

[She chokes]

[Speaking in Russian]

I am swearing this oath.

Never am I speaking the tongue of my beloved country

until the bolsheviki, the accursed bolsheviki,

are expelled from the holy soil of mother Russia.

Quite so, madame mosgovskenky.

You must please to be remembering this.

Of course, excuse me,

but have we not met before, at some time?

Impossible.

If so, you would never forget me.

Your face is somehow familiar.

Familiar?

I am familiar with thousands, tens of thousands, doctor.

Forgive me, of course.

So now I will visit my suite.

There is a barre?

A bar?

I am afraid that alcohol is not permitted.

No, no, no, no.

I am meaning a barre for the practise.

For the suppleness of my limbs.

Ah, yes, we will have one installed.

I should jolly well be thinking so.

Now, Dr. Kleber, would you be so kind

as to conduct madame mosgovskensky to her suite?

This way, madame.

I am completely delightful.

Madame.

Delightful!

Your room is this way, madame mosgovskensky.

I'm wondering what is here?

The room of another patient.

Oh, there are many?

As you see.

In Russia only peasants sleep so close.

I hope they're not to be disturbing me.

No-one will disturb you.

- [Moaning] - Ah, what is that?

Was?

I am thinking I'm hearing some noisiness.

Be assured, madame mosgovskensky,

here you will sleep as sound as in the grave.

Now, please.

I trust you a will be comfortable.

Is adequate.

Supper will brought here for you later.

Ah, good, a little champagne and little caviar

will be bearable.

Und before going to bed,

you will be sure to take this.

What is, please?

Merely a light draught to ensure you sleep well.

Sleep well, always I sleep well.

I remember the grand Duke Dimitri, he said to me

"veruska, veruska, how can you be sleeping

"at a time like this?"

Ah, poor Dimitri.

I remember when the bolsheviki,

they're storming his palace,

they are finding him, floating.

Floating?

In his bath.

What they are doing to him is unrepeatable.

Nevertheless, you will be a sure to take this.

If you require anything else?

Nothing, there is nothing.

You are dismissed.

Good night, madame.

It's the journalist fellow I mind most about.

How did he find out we were here?

Some rumours in the village, perhaps.

Claims to be a friend of the Leigh Gordon woman.

[Kleber] That is most serious.

[Horriston] I shall increase the dosage.

[Kleber] But the risk?

[Horriston] I don't care.

[Kleber] Your mind is made up?

Yes.

[Suspenseful music]

[Groans]

What are you doing here?

[Groans]

What did you say?

[Mumbles incoherently]

What do you want with those things?

Cause this Rose, sir, and the Jasmine.

The Jasmine?

Growing wild in a fearsome tangle, it be, sir.

Threatening to choke your house with unbridled profusion.

It's a bit late for gardening, isn't it?

Ooh, the forces of nature wait for neither man nor beast.

You get off.

Do that in the morning.

Be that an order, mister?

Yes.

Yes it is.

Now get out of here, go home.

Now you rest as soft and as peacable

as a stoat in his burrow.

Or a toad in his hole, sir!

[Suspenseful music]

[Groaning]

You are out of your room, madame mosgovskensky.

I am knowing.

This is not your room.

I am knowing this also.

What is the reason for this expedition in the night?

I am troubled.

I am restless.

Troubled?

I am not used to mattress made of wood.

I see.

My magnificent body make protest,

and so I walk.

Is that all?

Is not enough?

In the morning your mattress will be changed, madame,

for the night you will have to endure.

God, always I endure.

It is the fate of the artist, no?

I could not say.

You have taken your sleeping draught?

Not yet.

Then do so,

and all your troubles will disappear.

Please.

Tell me, Dr. Kleber, you are possessing a knout?

A knout?

It is a whip, like this.

No, madame mosgovskensky,

I do not possess a knout.

How strange.

You remind me of cossack I once knew.

Good night, madame.

Good nights.

[Moaning]

[Suspenseful music]

[Sash window opening]

Take it easy, old girl!

Tommy, what are you...

Oh, you didn't think I was going to leave you all alone

in the lion's den, did you?

Darling!

Oh, you look frightful.

Oh, I say.

I thought I did rather well.

And I've got a spiffing accent, listen.

- Be that an order, mister... - Shh, shh!

- Oh. - I had an encounter

with that Dr. Kleber.

She tried to get me to drink some horrid looking medicine.

So I poured it into that plant pot.

Oh, Tommy, this place is much worse than we thought.

Have you managed to find out anything

about Mrs. Leigh Gordon?

I have a feeling they've got her locked up.

Good lord, poor creature.

I managed to sneak out into the corridor,

and I heard a noise coming from one of the rooms,

a sort of woman moaning or something.

So I tried the door, but it was locked.

Tommy, what are we going to do?

Well, there's always the police.

But we don't really have enough to go on.

Chucking our hand in now would be awful.

- Yes. - Tommy?

Oh, sorry, old girl.

- Oh, no! - Oh!

Thanks.

If only we could get into that room.

But it's locked, you say.

Yes, no sign of the key.

Hold on.

Is it on this side of the corridor?

No, on the other.

Oh, pity.

I could have always tried using my ladder.

Nevermind.

I'm afraid it means forcing that door.

- Tuppence? - Oh, sorry.

Or breaking it down.

Oh, you couldn't.

I mean, there's always someone on look out.

Dr. Kleber, or that horrid muldoon.

Then I shall just have to think

of something absolutely foolproof

that'll guarantee there's no-one about,

or it may be too late.

Tommy.

What is it?

Darling, have you thought something?

I believe, I believe I have.

It might, it just might work.

Oh, Tommy, I shall have to be frightfully brave.

[Suspenseful music]

[Moaning]

Follow me.

I'm supposed to stay here.

Not this morning.

Dr. Horriston said...

Your orders have been changed.

You are needed elsewhere.

She will give us no trouble.

Come!

I know you will be surprised

that I have summoned you here.

There is no cause for alarm,

I am authorised to announce to you that among our guests

is the distinguished Russian ballerina

madam Vera mosgovskensky.

[Polite applause]

Madame mosgovskensky has informed me

that she is graciously pleased to entertain and delight us

with a display of her art.

Yes, she will dance for us.

Madam mosgovskensky.

["Swan lake"]

My friends, beloved friends,

this morning, I am dancing for you some beautiful experts,

so sorry, I mean excerpts, from the immortal ballet,

lac De cygne.

The lake of the swans.

[Piano plays fanfare]

It is being written, as you know,

by my great countryman, the towering genius,

Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

He was a great, great composer, but also very tragic man.

I remember once in yakutsk,

but I'm sworn not to be speaking of this,

it is his music that is mattering, no?

For now, I will begin with my first sensational solo,

where as odette, the white swan's queen,

I am bringing joy to the hearts of all in the theatre,

and from the theatre, the world.

Thanking you.

[Polite applause]

[Piano plays]

But first, I must be putting you completely

in the picture.

Unless you are knowing story of the ballet,

you're not appreciating my unbelievable art.

Is true, yes.

So you must be imagining yourself

in a little village in the countryside.

After beautiful overture, the curtain is rising,

to reveal girls and boys of the village

happily frolicking with themselves.

Yes, they are gaily desporting.

And why, because the handsome prince, he is come.

And the handsome prince, his name is

prince charming.

And, he's riding for country sport,

and everyone in the village is over the moons to see him,

and his pretty companions.

He approaches the house.

[Piano plays in the distance]

But what is this?

He is shooting her!

Yes, my friends, the beautiful white swans queen.

She has fallen to the ground,

a cruel arrow from the prince charming's crossbow,

penetrating her magnificent chest.

In terrible throes of dying agony,

she does delicate dance.

[Piano plays]

However.

You must be knowing that odette is not

only beautiful swan's queen.

Oh gosh, no.

There is another, and her name is odile.

But she is a black swans.

And her mission is evil.

And why is this, my friends?

Well, I am telling you.

It is because she is under the foul influence

of the wicked magician, and his heart is black.

The wicked magician, his name is abanazerov.

And he's trying to make slave of handsome prince.

[Suspenseful music]

[Knocking on door]

Mrs. Leigh Gordon?

[Knocking on door]

Hermie!

But what shall the handsome prince do?

He believe most sincerely that he is dancing with odette,

the beautiful white swans queen.

And, oh, she is flying so graceful.

But in reality it is quite different.

It is not odette, but odile,

the black swans in disguise.

Oh dear.

What a mix-up!

[Speaking in Russian]

[Suspenseful music]

Oh, please, to listen careful, please!

Your attention.

I am now coming to most important part of the story

when the secret of the wicked magician

is about to be revealed!

[Distant crashing]

Mrs. Leigh Gordon?

[Sobbing]

My god!

And so they are united in heartbreaking happy endings.

Whole theatre is weeping, joyful tears,

the wicked magician, he marries

the prince charming's grandmother,

the swans, they fly away.

And the prince and his beloved odette,

or is it odile, or is it odette by this time?

I don't know, it is not important.

The prince and his beloved odette,

they sink beneath moonlit waters on magic lake.

And the curtain, she falls.

[Snoring]

It's beautiful, no?

Madame mosgovskensky...

Ah, you're not understanding.

You are wishing I tell story once again?

No, no.

I'm sure we all found it most illuminating.

You have some questions to ask about my childhood

in St. Petersburg, perhaps?

Madame mosgovskensky, we are waiting for you to dance.

This is natural.

Always, always they are imploring me to dance.

Then for heaven's sake, begin.

Please, to be sitting.

I am ready for grand entrance.

[Piano plays]

Nyet!

What is it now?

My wings, where are my wings?

Your wings?

How can beautiful white swan queen be flying

without her wings?

Oh, I am remembering.

They are in my room.

[Horriston] Muldoon.

Oh, no, not to trouble, I am goning in double quick time.

Everyone, everyone is to be waiting

in fever of anticipation.

- Madame mosgovskensky... - No-one,

and I mean no-one, is to leave this room.

Tuppence!

Oh, Tommy.

Did you find her?

Yes, come on.

Well, where is she?

Upstairs!

Oh, we can't just leave her!

No, I'll tell you later!

Come on!

Oi, you!

- [Tommy] Run! - Stop!

[Tense music]

Tommy!

[Shouting]

[Screaming]

Oh, no!

Quickly!

[Screaming]

Muldoon!

Darling, I can't!

Come on, darling, pull yourself together!

[Tense music]

Quickly!

[Engine stalls]

[Engine turns over]

They have failed.

Are you all right?

Just about.

My ankle hurts like blazes,

but Tommy, you were marvellous.

You were pretty handy yourself.

Where to, the police?

No.

Back to stavansson to warn him?

No.

Oh, but Mrs. Leigh Gordon!

She doesn't need us, I'm afraid.

Tommy, you don't mean she's...

No such luck.

No, she's getting thin.

What?

Thin.

She's getting thin, you know, reduction of weight.

Reduction of weight.

Remember how stavansson said that he hated fat women?

Well, in the two years he's been away,

his hermie has been putting on weight.

She got into a panic, which he heard he was coming back,

and rushed off to do this new treatment of horriston's.

It's injections of some sort.

He makes a deadly secret of it,

and charges through the nose.

Stavansson came back a fortnight too soon.

She was only just beginning of the treatment.

I know, don't tell me.

Lady Susan tried to protect her,

stavansson got suspicious...

We came down here to make blithering idiots of ourselves,

not to mention assault and battery on members of the staff.

And i'm, I'm guilty of the most apalling false pretences.

And what's worse, I've ruined a perfectly good nightdress!

[Laughing] Well, at least stavansson will be happy!

Tommy, if you ever so much as mention a word of this

to anyone...

Fair enough.

After all, we haven't exactly come well out of this case.

Getting myself up to look like the ancient mariner.

Tommy.

Yes?

You do look odd.

[She laughs]

Now, listen.

I'm sorry.

I promise I'll never, ever mention it again.

Good.

[Giggling]

[They both laugh]

[Cheerful music]