All language subtitles for Thriller (1973) S03E06 The Next Scream You Hear

(dramatic orchestral music)

(eerie music)

(phone ringing)

- Hello.

- [Man] Mrs. Peel.

- Bernard, is that you?

- [Man] No, Mrs. Peel,
I'm not your husband.

I'm just a friend, a
good friend.

- I'm sorry, I don't...

- [Man] And I'm worried about
you, about your marriage.

- What?

- [Man] Visiting your mother
aren't you, Mrs. Peel?

- Yes.

How did you...

Who is this?

- [Man] I told you, a friend.

I wouldn't stay there long, Mrs.
Peel.

I'd go home right away.

You'll find your husband
is cheating on you.

- What?

What do you mean?

(dramatic music)

Don't worry.

(orchestral swing music)

(thunder rumbling)

(thunder rumbling)

(orchestral swing music)

Bernard?

Bernard?

(thunder crackling)
(gasping)

(chattering)

- Splendid.

Let's go and see the judge.

Hello.

Excuse me.

(chattering)

- Ah.

Thank you very much.

(chattering)

- Well you've finally
persuaded me, Tulliver.

- It took two years and
an awful lot of whiskey,

but you won't regret it,
Maycroft, that I promise you.

- Well, I suppose it
was about time.

Business was getting too big,

too much for one
company to handle.

- Now there's us, my company.

With you handling Europe
and us with Southeast Asia,

the sky is the limit, Maycroft.

- I hope so.

Now, there's one man who
might not agree with you.

Bernard.

Tulliver, I'd like you
to meet Bernard Peel,

who looked after our
overseas investments.

- Bernard.
- Mr. Tulliver.

- And very efficiently too.

We were just talking
about the merits

of this merger, Bernard.

- I'd rather not comment.

- You're cautious, huh?

- Ill-informed.

I haven't seen the files yet,

I'm still working on that
Munich business.

- Oh, so you're that Bernard
Peel, the American whiz kid.

- I've been pretty well
anglicized by now.

- He's been with us
some time now.

- Oh, I'm certainly
glad you're on our side.

You really blew the lid
off that little scandal.

- It wasn't very little, Mr.
Tulliver,

it could've cost us 20 million
pounds, plus our reputation.

- But Bernard got in first, hm?

- [Bernard] With a little
expert help, my wife.

- Yes, and where is the
lovely Jennifer?

- Well, she couldn't make it.

It's her mother, you know,

she hasn't been
feeling well so...

But she sends her
apologies to you both.

- Well, give her my
regards will you?

I'm looking forward to
meeting her very soon.

- Oh by the way, Tulliver,
Bernard,

you haven't met the
man who looks

after all our security
arrangements, Matthew Earp.

- Oh, Mr. Earp, very
nice meeting you.

- No, not there, Mr. Peel, here.

- I'm sorry, I
thought you were--

- Yes, almost everyone does.

It's the name, Earp.

Everyone expects, well,
they don't expect me.

- I've heard great things
about you, Mr. Earp.

Tulliver, George Tulliver.

Mr. Maycroft tells me you're

one of the best in the business.

- Well, then Mr. Maycroft
is an unmitigated liar.

One of the best, I am the best.

I think I can modestly say
that in my chosen craft

of detective, I am
the very best.

I also grow a pretty mean rose.

(chuckling)

I heard you mention your
wife just now.

Peel, not Jennifer Peel.
- Well yes, do you know her?

- Good lord, yes.

We're sworn enemies.

We've faced each other
cross the courts many times

and she keeps on winning,
blast her.

Mr. Peel happens to be married

to one of the best female
lawyers in the country.

- Now, don't tell me you're
married to a bluestocking.

- Oh hardly, she's one
of the best lawyers,

and certainly one of the
prettiest eh, Mr. Peel?

- I must agree.
(thunder roaring)

- [Maycroft] Oh no, not
another storm.

- Yes, it was raining
when I arrived.

Forecast, gale and rain.

(wind howling)

(thunder roaring)

- [Maycroft] And you, Mr. Earp?

- I never say no to a glass
full of French bubbles.

Or a pretty girl.

- Bernard?

- No, thank you, I'm driving.

- Very puritanical.

But then that is your
reputation eh, Mr. Peel?

Clear-headed, incisive.

- Vorster, I didn't know
you were turning up.

- I was invited if that
is what you mean.

- Uh, I'd like you to
meet George Tulliver.

Karl Vorster.

Karl looks after our
German interests.

- When I'm allowed to
without interference.

- Karl, that's not fair.

You know the company rule.

Anything wrong, we have to get
an outsider to investigate.

- I only complain when the
investigation includes me.

- In your own interest,
Karl, we have to clear you.

- And we will.

I hope.

I haven't finished my audit yet.

- Gentlemen, you really
ought to sample this vintage.

The actual taste of
sunshine is a rarity.

- Well, I'm sorry but
I have to be leaving.

Jennifer's calling me a
little later.

Mr. Tulliver.

Mr. Earp.

- He's a good man.

- Yes, interesting chap.

- Well, goodnight again.

- Darling.

I'll see you later.

- I don't even know her.

- Well then your luck
is changing.

- Or the faithful Mr. Peel
is not quite so faithful.

(thunder roaring)

(ominous music)

(doorbell ringing)

(doorbell ringing)

(sighing)

(doorbell ringing)

(sighing)

(doorbell ringing)

(doorbell ringing)

- Mr. Peel?

- Yes.

- Police.

- Police?

- It's your wife we'd
like to see, sir.

- Oh yes, court business.

- Or perhaps you'd call her.

Your wife.

- I'm sorry, I'm not
myself, I just got up.

In fact, you woke me up.

She's not here at the moment.

- You just woke up, sir?

- Yes, I had a drink last night

and it went right to my head.

- You had a little party?

- Tied one on did you, sir?

- No, I just had one drink.

- Just one?

- That's what I said.

Now listen, whatever
your name is--

- Gifford.

- And I'm Hendry.

- And I said she wasn't here.

- Where is she then?

- Well as a matter of fact,
she's with her mother.

And I don't expect her home
till late this evening.

- Wasn't here last night then,
sir?

- No, she wasn't
here last night.

- And when the cat's away,
the mice will play, hm?

- What did you say?

- Tell me about this little
party you had last night.

- Oh for Pete's sakes,
it wasn't here,

it was an office party and...

Hey, what do you think
you're doing?

What, has this become a
police state or something?

(ominous music)

- Lipstick.

A lot of lipstick.

I've met your wife and I
don't think this is her style.

- And a blonde hair.

And Mrs. Peel is a
brunette isn't she, sir?

- What's happened here?

What's going on?

- You say your wife is
at her mother's.

- Yes, she's in Pulborough.

- Your wife's mother is
on the phone?

- Yes, yes.

Number's on the pad.

- Well, I'd say that a man
was entertaining a woman here,

a little tete-a-tete for two.

Then something rather
drastic happened.

Someone burst in on them.

Possibly the man's wife.

And then it all got very,
very nasty.

- Why are you here?

- Because we received
a phone call,

anonymous, someone who
said you killed your wife.

- Oh yes I see, thank you,
madam.

No, no need to be alarmed.

Goodbye.

Mrs. Peel, your wife, sir,
left her mother's home

yesterday about 4:30, she
was returning straight here.

- Yesterday?

But I expected her at
home this evening.

- She had a reason for
returning earlier,

sir, a good reason, she was
told she would find you here

with another woman.

- What?

Well, she wouldn't believe...

Now, what malicious, lying--

- We'll take a look around.

I'll do the looking.

(ominous music)

(sighing)

- You're wasting your time.

If Jenny left yesterday
and she isn't here now,

then something's
happened to her.

She's either had an
accident or--

- It certainly looks that way,
sir.

- Well then why are you
standing here?

Why don't you...

- [Gifford] I found
whiskey by your bed.

Do you always have a drink
before you go to sleep

or only when you want
to steady your nerves?

- Jennifer and I thought it was
criminal to drink and drive,

so if one of us went out,
the other one would...

Why aren't you out
looking for her?

- I am.

- You, you don't believe that
call from whoever it was.

- Well, it convinced me.

Obviously convinced
your wife too.

- What?

- Anonymous call brought
her back here.

- Give me a complete rundown
on everything you did yesterday

from, say, 4:30 onwards.

(sighing)

- [Bernard] Well, about
4:30 I was here

and I left about 6:30 for town.

- About 6:30?

- Yes.

- So you could have been
here when your wife got back.

- She didn't get back.

- Then you went to town?

- Yes, and I had a meal.

- Alone?

- Yes, and then I went
to the party.

I told you about the
office party.

I got there about, well
a little after nine.

Only stayed about a
quarter of an hour.

- And then you came back here?

- Yes.

- And no one saw you?

(sighing)

- No.

Wait a minute, wait a minute,
yes.

The man I switched cars with.

That car outside, it's not mine.

- Tell me about it.

- Well, there's nothing to tell.

Filthy night out last night.

And I turned down a lane.

There was a tree across it.

I didn't relish a 20 mile detour

when I noticed a car
that was blocked

on the other side of
the tree and the driver

was coming over to talk to me.

It was he who made the
obvious suggestion

that we switch cars.

Well, he was on the side
I wanted to go

and I was on the side
he wanted to go.

And neither one of us
relished a long detour.

And by a crazy coincidence,

it really didn't make
any difference

because we were driving
the same type of car,

same model, it was even
the same color.

So we switched cars.

I drove back here and had
a drink and went to bed.

- A tree across the road?

- Well yes.

Well, they must have moved
it or you would have seen it.

It was right across the road
right beside that signpost.

- And this man, what
was his name?

- I didn't even get his
name, I gave him my card

and he promised he'd
call me back

and we'd arrange to switch
the cars back again.

- You gave your car to
a complete stranger?

- I lent it to him.

And since they were
absolutely identical.

Well, I can identify him.

He was about six feet tall,

about 30 years, wearing a
dark overcoat.

- I'd like to look at the car.

(ominous music)

- Jennifer?

But it's not my car.

I can prove it.

The number on my car.

NMK...

One one...

Three L.

(ominous music)

- No, we're releasing nothing
to the press at the moment.

Mr. Peel is helping us with
our inquiries, that's all.

Well, of course Mrs.
Peel is definitely dead.

The cause?

We don't know yet.

- Strangled.

A scar from a stocking.

No bruises to the throat.

That's enough for the
curt assessment,

of course, but the autopsy
will confirm it, I'm sure.

- You're allowed one phone call.

If I were you, I'd
make it a lawyer.

- [Bernard] Lawyer?

- And with your wife's contacts,
you should know plenty.

- Of course, they might be a
bit reluctant to take you on,

considering the circumstances.

- A lawyer?

- Whoever you say.

- I don't want a lawyer.

I want Mr. Matthew Earp.

- Mm.

It is, indeed, a very
crazy story.

- Yes, but that car was his.

- You checked, of course,
that it wasn't

just a switch of
registration papers.

- No, even the engine and
chassis numbers tied up,

that car is his, registered
to him 18 months ago.

I'll tell you what I
think happened.

- Hm?

- He killed her.

And guilt cracked his mind.

He had to find someone
else to hang it on,

so he invented this car story.

Invented the stranger.

And now, even he believes it.

- And that's what you
think happened?

- Yes.

- And the tree across the road?

- Not a sound of it.

Nor a sound of it ever
having been there.

I've told him, he should
have a lawyer.

- You don't approve of me?

- I don't approve of
any private detective.

Private, it's you against the
full resources of the police.

Now, where's the
mileage in that?

- Well, I may start
out with one advantage,

I could believe his story.

- Oh, don't be serious.
- Thank you.

That is all for the moment.

- Well, don't you even
want to see him?

- He's just lost his wife.

I doubt he'll be making
much sense for awhile.

- And you'll charge him
a high fee, hm?

- Well as a matter of fact,
Maycroft's are meeting my bill,

the company he works for.

- Yeah, that'll push it
up even higher.

Probably more than I
earn in a year.

- I beg your pardon?

- I said, probably more
than I earn in a year.

- Oh yes, two years.

(tense music)

- It was just a tiny
detail, I'd have forgotten

all about it, except when I
read the paper this morning.

I read what Peel had done.

- Ah, just in time.

This is Mr. Vorster.

- Yes, we've met.

- He's got some interesting
information about Peel

and that office party.

It seems there was a girl.

- He was there.
- A blonde.

- He saw it too.

- Peel was seen
kissing this girl.

- I rather thought she
was kissing him.

- Well then you did see it and
you didn't mention it before.

Slip your mind, Mr. Earp?

- Nothing ever slips my mind,
Mr. Gifford.

- [Gifford] Then I'd like
to know why you didn't--

- We'll talk about that later.

I've found the tree.

The tree across the road.

Come along, I'll
drive you there.

- 50 yards up the lane?

They couldn't have moved it,
not without a lifting tackle.

I checked that area
for drag marks within--

- Well no no no no, they
didn't move the tree.

Just the signpost.

Well, that was Peel's tell
of reference, wasn't it?

The tree was by the signpost.

Well it was, except that the
signpost had been moved away

from where it should have
been, and later put back.

- [Gifford] Peel drives
up that lane every day.

- A lane is not a lane at night,

you know, they all look alike.

You see, nobody would ever
notice a tiny detail like that.

- Except possibly you.

- This is very true.

Just there.

There where they put
the signpost in,

and the tree is just beyond.

(tense music)

(tapping)

Yes?

- I checked on you,
you get paid by results

and bonus if you prove
Peel innocent.

- I can't believe it,
Bernard, I just can't.

I mean, I've known him
and Jennifer for about--

- You can know someone
all your life

and yet never know them.

- But why, why should he
want to murder his wife?

- Because he was
being unfaithful.

Because he was cheating on her.

- Cheating?

Listen, I loved Jennifer,
I loved her and I--

- And the blonde?

- What blonde?

- In the office party.

The one who kissed you.

- I don't know.

She's a stranger, I've
never seen her before.

- Your story is full
of strangers, Mr. Peel.

- But it's the truth.

- Now, the police say that
you were nursing a hangover.

When you arrived the
next morning,

you hadn't even taken
off your clothes.

- No, I don't understand.

- Neither do I.

I saw you at the office party,

you had one glass of champagne.

- And when I got home
I had a glass of scotch

Jenny had set out for me.

- Now, what about this man
that you swapped cars with?

- I've given his description.

- Yes, I've read it,
very ambage.

(sighing)

- It doesn't look good, does it?

- Well, let's put it this way,
Mr. Peel,

I'd hate to be making a
book on you at the moment,

but don't worry.

I can assure you if you
didn't kill your wife,

I'll find out.

But if you did, I'll
find that out too.

- I loved Jennifer.

- You profit from her death.

I didn't realize she
was such a rich woman.

It all comes to you now.

- I loved her.

- And I found a tree
that disappeared.

(tapping)

- His hand.

He was walking towards the car.

He ran to the side window.

And on his hand he wore a ring.

A big, gaudy ring.

With a red stone in it.

Well, does that help?

- Everything helps.

Or it doesn't.

- What do you think?

- I think he was framed,
in guilt and gold

and hung neatly on the wall.

- Why?

Well, perhaps the answer
to that one lies here.

Well, it must have been
very important.

Someone wants Peel discredited
and out of the way for good,

and they want it so
badly they were prepared

to kill his wife to achieve it.

Now, that is very important,
gentlemen.

It usually means money.

- Well, Bernard doesn't
earn all that much.

A comfortable salary, yes.

- Well, he saved the
company big money.

Like this recent German swindle.

- I thought that was
all sewn up.

- But Bernard blew the
whistle on it.

- That's true.

- It must have made him
a few enemies.

- That's true too, but all
the men involved are inside.

- All of them?

We don't know that for sure,
do we?

There might be still
one undiscovered.

- Sweating it out?

- Exactly, Mr. Tulliver,
sweating it out.

And sweat means fear,

and fear makes men do
desperate things.

- Yes, but who?

Which man?

- Well, Vorster
doesn't like Peel.

- Karl?

That's crazy.

- So is murder.

Craziest thing in the world,

especially tricky
ones like this.

Oh, a good old blunt instrument

in some dark street, now
that could be tough to solve.

But once they start getting
tricky, getting clever,

then it's just a
question of time

before someone more
clever comes along.

Someone with a touch of
brilliance, and then it all...

Yes.

- What's wrong?

- Do you know, even the
most brilliant

could overlook things,
and I very nearly did.

Nearly.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

(ominous music)

(glass shattering)

(metal clanging)

- Finished.

I do like to see a job
completed neatly.

(tense music)

- Someone work you over?

- I was not worked over.

I was bopped, very hard
and very precisely,

but that is not the point.

The point is that I had
that whiskey decanter,

which you had
neglected to check,

and it smelt and
tasted very odd.

Well, don't you see?

It was drugged.

Peel did have only one
drink and then passed out,

as he was meant to do, and
whoever it was moved in

and arranged the frame.

- You don't give up do you?

- I'm sorry?

- Trying to earn that fee.

- What a very
ordinary man you are.

Are you suggesting--

- I'm suggesting you're
ambitious, Mr. Earp.

I'm suggesting you're greedy,

and desperate to prove
Peel innocent.

Desperate to the point of trying

to persuade me by any means.

- The decanter was there,

it smelt and tasted very,
very odd.

- And now it's broken,

and you got hit by some
unknown assailant.

- Now, do you think
I'm fool enough

to attempt some illegal means--

- How did you get into
that house, hm?

We have the keys.

- The door was open,
remarkably careless of someone.

- I know how you got in
and if I could prove it,

I'd sling you in the next cell
to Peel for illegal entry.

(phone ringing)

Yeah.

Yes, all right.

Your client, he
wants to see you.

I'd rather him than me.

- You know I was framed?

- I know every fact was
artificially contrived, yes.

- Every fact?

Then I was right in calling you.

You know, I've been
thinking about that evening.

And I remember one thing.

That girl had to be part of it.

The girl, the blonde who
threw her arms around me

at the party, she had
to be part of the setup,

I'm sure of it.

- Yes, I believe it is,
very possible.

- Well, I've been trying
to remember every detail.

And I remember one thing,

she had a bag slung
over her shoulder.

One of those canvas
things you get

in a boutique with
one name on it.

- Darling.

- [Bernard] You must have
seen it, it just had one word

stenciled onto it.

- Mm, Uncles.

- Well that's right,
but what does it mean?

- It's the name of a boutique

in town that's very in
at the moment.

- Well, that's something,
that's some kind of lead.

- Mm.

(sighing)

- I know it's not much,
but would you follow it up?

Would you go there and
check it out?

(pleasant music)

- I'm looking for a
bag, a canvas, stenciled

with the name of this rather
interesting shop upon it.

- Sold out.

- Oh, congratulations.

Much must be due to
your own personal charm,

business acumen, and
driving sales attack.

- Are you some kind of freak?
- Yes, possibly.

According to Laing, you know,

we're all mad, in
varying degrees.

I don't suppose you keep
a list of customers.

Do you have that sort of thing?

- Of course not, too busy.

- Yes, yes, I feared not.

Nevertheless, perhaps someone

ordered a bag by mail,
do you see?

- [Boutique Assistant] No.

- No?

Well, if they had, you'd
have an address or--

- No.

- No?
- [Blonde] Can I help you?

- The girl from Uncle.

- What?

- We've met before.

- [Blonde] Come on now.

- Oh yes, we have.

The other day at Maycroft's.

The Maycroft office party.

Oh, you were there.

Oh yes, you were.

I never, ever forget a face.

- I suppose I was there.

- You were there.

And you were being very
provocative and very amorous.

In fact, you kissed
Bernard Peel.

- Peel?

Oh, you mean the timid man.

- Well, perhaps you
intimidated him.

- Well, it was just a joke.

Didn't it work?

- Oh yes.

Perfectly, I think.

Oh, ma'am.

Mr. Peel is now under
arrest for murder.

- You're having me on.

Now, look, I mean, I don't
know anything about it.

Look, look, I'm busy.

- I want to know
about this joke.

- I've told you, I don't
know anything about it.

- You already told me you did.

- Are you the police?

- A glance at my feet
would tell you no.

The joke.

- Can I trust you?

- Alone in my flat at 2:30 a.m.?

No.

But right now, yes, you
can trust me.

- Look, I don't know
anything about it.

- You're beginning to
bore me with that remark.

The joke.

- Well, just a chap.

Came in here and said I
looked like his friend's girl

and he wanted to play
a joke on him.

- Why?

- Well, he didn't say why,
just that I was

to go to this party,
hide myself away,

and then at the last
moment I was to go up

and, well, kiss him.

Well, he paid me 50 pounds.

- Mm, expensive joke.

- Look, I don't want to
get involved.

- What did he look like,
this man who paid you the 50?

- He was about 30, tall, dark.

Well, nothing special.

- Nothing special at all,
not a quirk of dress, style?

Personal jewelry?

- Yes, that's right.

He wore a ring.

- A big gaudy ring
with a red stone?

- Well, yes.

- If you found the girl,
Bernard's in the clear.

- She was bought for 50
pounds, Mr. Maycroft.

- Well?

- Well, the police,
that is to say Gifford,

will say that I
bought her for 100.

They don't trust me.

- Well, I saw the girl, I
could testify.

- Well go on, describe her.

- Well, she was blonde, pretty.

- [Matthew] Yes.

- Tulliver, you saw the girl
who kissed Bernard Peel.

- What?

- [Maycroft] At the party.

- Oh, yes.

- You'd know her again,
wouldn't you?

- Well, I don't know about that.

- You remembered her.

- Ah, but my business
is remembering things.

Salient things, odd
things, unconnected things.

- It seems iniquitous.

Poor Bernard, in jail,
framed for a crime he--

- No, he wasn't framed.

Well, he was and he wasn't.

- [George] You're not
making sense.

- No, all I mean is that
the frame was incidental,

a smokescreen to draw us away

from what it was
really all about.

Now, gentlemen, I have checked

and rechecked Bernard
Peel's background,

and I can find no
possible motive

for putting him in this fix.

And indeed if there were
a motive, why murder her?

Why not just go
straight to the root

of the problem and murder him?

- Jennifer.

- Was the real target.

- Why?

- If I knew that, Mr. Tulliver,
I should know who did it.

- Excuse me, Mr. Tulliver.

Is it all right if I
drive Mr. Vorster home?

- [Karl] My own driver is ill.

- [George] Yeah, sure, go ahead.

And go on home yourself after,

I won't be needing you
again today, Garfield.

- Thank you, sir.

- Earp, if your
theory is correct--

- Who was that?

- Garfield?

Well, he's just a general aide.

I brought him over with me,

he's not very bright,
but he's willing.

- Deals with all the chores

that you can't be
bothered with, is that it?

- Yes, that's right.

- Mm-hmm, where does he live,
in the butler's quarters?

- No, as a matter of fact
he's got his own apartment

across the street from mine.

(tense music)

(dramatic music)

(tires screeching)

(glass shattering)

- Yes, that's him.

He doesn't look very well.

- He feels even worse,
but that is the man?

- Yes.

- You'd swear to it?

- No.

Look, I've told you before,
I don't want to get involved.

- What are you doing for
dinner tonight?

- Look, I don't want
to be involved.

- It's only 'cause I'm busy.

If I really had time to take you

out to dinner, I'd
persuade you, eventually.

Rushed off your feet?

- [Bernard] But isn't
that all you need?

- Well, unfortunately, as
you will detect

from the odd angle of his
head, he is extremely dead.

I know it's a cliche,

but cliches generally
reflect absolute truth.

Dead men tell no tales.

- But the girl can
identify him too.

- She won't tell no
tales either.

Oh, I'd rather
Gifford did not know

just how close I was to
this man when he was killed.

He might just make
something of it.

- You're supposed to
be the best, Mr. Earp.

- Come, please, let's
drop the suppose.

- Then convince me.

- Yes, I will, but first of all
let's get back to your wife.

- Jennifer?

- At the risk of repeating
myself, she is the key.

This whole affair had
only one aim

to put her out of the way, why?

Do you believe in astrology, Mr.
Peel?

Well, I do.

Well, when the
horoscopes are good.

Now, I'm a Leo, dynamic,
a leader.

Now, we Leos are tenacious,
we do not accept failure.

Luckily, in fact, we do
not accept failure at all.

- I'm a Gemini.

- Oh dear.

I glanced at your stars today.

A long stay in
unfamiliar surroundings.

- That's just great.

- Whereas mine simply related

a happy end to your
chosen endeavors.

- Look to the future.

- [Matthew] No, it said
nothing about that.

- No, it was Jenny's watchword.

She even convinced the BOI.

- Oh yes, the Bureau
of Investments.

- Jennifer was a
criminal lawyer,

but a lot of her
work washed over

into civil cases,
company issues.

She was convinced that
company crime

would follow crime generally
as it became more international

and more diffuse, more
difficult to detect.

- Yes, I've heard her
discussing it.

She was very convincing.

- Very.

She convinced the Bureau
of Investments.

They put her on a retainer.

It's a watching brief.

She was compiling a
dossier of men,

businessmen from all
over the world

who might merit
closer attention.

Not the ones with
criminal records,

but the clever ones who may
have gotten away with it.

In some cases, there
was no evidence

at all except Jennifer's
nose for trouble.

They all went into her dossier.

- And this actually exists?

- Oh yes, of course.

I've glanced through it
a couple of times myself.

But like I said, it might
just mention a name.

Nothing more, just a
name of a man

to be watched and distrusted.

- Where is this dossier?

- It's in a safety deposit.

- And where is the key?

- Well, Gifford, he took it
from me when I was arrested.

- Oh that, Mr. Peel, is
quite, quite splendid.

- Yes, here it is.

- And it's been in your
possession since the arrest?

- Of course.

- No chance of collusion then.

- Hm?

- I want to open that safe
and I want you there with me.

- Another fool's errand?

- I may conclusively prove
that Bernard Peel was framed.

Come on.

(bell ringing)

- You have to be good, you know?

To prove it was a frame.

There's that little matter

of the switched cars
for instance.

- Oh my goodness, I had
that worked out ages ago.

The switch.

- If there was one.

- Indeed, if there was one.

It took place at the
car park at Maycroft's.

Identical car, same plate,
same color,

was put into place at Bernard's.

Bernard then drove it
to the tree,

and there was persuaded
to swap for his own car.

The body was already
in the back.

- But the number plates.

- Identical on both cars.

The one on Bernard's was
mud-splattered and it was dark.

A million to one chance
you'd notice.

Yes, I am good aren't I?

(gears whirring)

No no no no no.

If there's anything to be
found, I want you to find it.

- [Gifford] Well, this
looks like it.

- It was her hunch file.

And a watching brief
on businessmen

against whom nothing
could be proved,

but who might merit
closer attention.

- Tulliver?

- Well, the timing was right.

Just merging with Maycroft's.

- A whisper of scandal--

- Could squash the whole deal.

It's just a question of
brain cells, you see?

A few of us are more
endowed than others.

- Tulliver.

- Yes, Garfield was his man.

- [Gifford] Garfield?

- Yes, Garfield was
murdered a short time ago.

Do you know, it quite
slipped my mind to tell you.

Still, in the light of the
discovery I just led you to,

I am sure you will overlook
a tiny slip of memory.

- Let's get Tulliver.

- But this is ridiculous,
unbelievable.

Are you sure of your facts?

- Sure enough to get a
warrant against Mr. Tulliver.

- But why would I kill a
woman I've never even met?

- Well, that is the one thing

that we haven't worked out yet.

- And we're hoping you'll be
able to help us with that, sir.

- Down at the station.

- [Hendry] Sir?

- He earned his fee.

- What happened?

- Tulliver's been arrested.

- [Karl] Arrested?

- Suspected of murdering
Jennifer Peel.

- Arrested?

- Karl, we'll have to prepare
some kind of press handout,

prepare our
shareholders for the fact

that the merger will not
now take place.

- One could hardly merge

with a suspected murderer, Mr.
Vorster.

- Yes, yes of course.

So, Bernard will now go free?

- I'm happy to say so, yes.

- Then it was all for nothing.

Two days I've studied the file
on Tulliver and his company,

a wasted effort.

- I doubt if Peel
would think so.

- Wasted effort.

- I suppose I ought to
thank you, Mr. Earp.

You've done your best
by Bernard, of course,

and I'm delighted, but--

- But taking away
your new partner

is hardly a fair exchange,
is that it?

- He's crooked.

He must be to be on
Jennifer's list.

- Excuse me.

- What's the matter?

- Nothing.

I'll send my bill in due
course, Mr. Maycroft.

- [Gifford] You understand,
I'm sure.

- Yes, you were just
doing your job.

And, fortunately, Mr.
Earp was doing his.

You know, you're better
than Wyatt Earp.

- Well, I have a distinct
advantage over Wyatt,

he has been dead for an
awfully long time.

- I want to thank you again.

I owe you a drink or something.

And a lot, lot more.

- Earp, when we first met,

I said a lot of hard
things against you.

I hope you understand
that I was merely--

- I'd like to see Tulliver.

Can you arrange that?

(keys rattling)

Thank you.

- You?

Have you come to gloat or
offer your condolences?

- My services.

I came to offer my services.

You are in a bad pick,
Mr. Tulliver, very bad.

In fact, only someone superbly
brilliant can help you.

Of course, the cost of
hiring me will not be cheap,

but I'm sure we can come to
some amicable arrangement.

And once I'm working
for you, Mr. Tulliver,

I think I can guarantee
to have you out of here

in the next 24 hours.

(blues music)

Oh, excuse me.

Ah.

Thank you.

(knocking)

- Come in.

- [Maycroft] See anything
significant there?

- Only that you and Bernard
saw it first, me third.

That just about sums up
the hierarchy

around here, doesn't it?

Why?

- Earp looked at it and
then hurried off.

He didn't say where or why,
but I got the impression--

- You got the impression?

- That he isn't finished yet.

(rapiers clanging)

- [Fencer] Touche.

- I wonder if you
would oblige me.

It's been a long, long time.

You'll have to go easy with me.

En garde.

(rapiers clanging)

I'm sorry.

I should have warned you.

I never attempt anything unless
I can be superlative at it.

Oh but don't worry,
you're very good too.

Although I imagine karate
is really your sport.

Oh yes, you would have
to be an expert

to kill Garfield the way
you did, just one quick blow

in the right place, just
as he was stepping aside

to let a gentle old lady
go by and bop.

Oh yes, and you bopped me too.

- I don't know what
you're talking about.

- No?

And you don't want to be
involved either, but you are.

I suppose you had a hand in
killing Jennifer Peel too.

Or did you just train
him to do it?

Oh yes, of course,

I suppose that's where
you first met, here.

You wrestled on the mat,
found true love

and a mutual spirit of
avarice and ruthlessness,

and you cooked up this
tricky little scheme.

It's far, far too tricky,
you know.

I always said so.

- Lock the door.

(grunting)

Sorry, but one bop is enough.

A nasty business,
hitting a lady.

Still, better than killing one,
eh?

Better than killing your wife.

Of course, she had all
the money didn't she?

And if she divorced you,
you would have none.

So, frame yourself, just enough
to get yourself arrested,

but not quite enough to
make it stick.

Then throw Tulliver
into the arena.

Let all doubts and
suspicions move onto him.

And nobody would point
the finger at you again.

After all, you were the
poor fellow who was framed.

(grunting)

It always bothered me, you know,

the way you kept leading
me from clue to clue.

But the real clincher was
your own careless mouth.

And my flawless memory.

Remember the party, hm?

You said you'd rather
not comment on Tulliver.

I hadn't even seen
the files yet,

but those files were booked
out to you weeks ago.

You held them for days.

You knew all about
Tulliver and Garfield.

In fact, you picked on
Garfield as the man

you would pretend to
swap cars with.

Oh yes, and you keep
rapiers in the hall.

Those and a little poster
at Uncles led me here.

I warned you that if you didn't
kill your wife I'd find out,

or if you did.

I liked Jennifer.

(grunting)

(shouting)

(grunting)

I prefer fishing.

- It's unfortunate business, Mr.
Tulliver.

- Very.

- Still, it all ended
happily in the end, eh?

Except for you.

I'm gonna buy you dinner,
down your sorrows.

Well, Maycroft's aren't gonna
pay your fee now, are they?

You'll be out of pocket.

- Earp out of pocket?

But I'm going to--

- I'd be delighted to
let you buy me dinner.

Though I insist that you
let me choose the wine.

Well as you know, gentlemen,
I am not given to boasting,

but that's one thing that
I do know about.

(dramatic music)