Original subtitles

Company, halt!

Carpenter?

What happened?

Carpenter, hey! Carpenter!

It had... red eyes.

A monster.

There he is! Sound the alarm!

After him!

He's heading for Traitor's Gate.

You're supposed to in shape! Move!

- Well? - Nothing, sir.

There's no one here.

Down here!

Get down here! Now!

Look.

The Crown Jewels! Follow me.

Over there.

Oh, no, the crown. It's gone.

Sir, look up there. Look at that.

A Yellow Brand.

Hmm. It must hook in somewhere.

Good evening.

With you in a jiffy, old chap.

Feeling testy?

- Have you seen the papers? - I haven't had time.

Well, make time.

The crown's been stolen?

I must admit this Yellow Brand chappie goes for the high profile loot.

Doesn't he just-- The Prime Minister's furious.

I'm not surprised.

First the Turner disappears from the Tate Gallery,

then they pulled off that bomb scare last week.

He's facing stormy season parliament.

Yes, I'm sure.

So what does he decide to do?

Tells you to clean up the mess.

Precisely. But how did you guess?

My dear lad, I simply took one look at your face.

You might be able to help me on this case.

Maybe. Yellow Brand is obviously a maniac with something to prove.

I quite agree. I mean why steal the Crown of England?

Who could you sell it to?

This is just a vulgar stunt.

Yes. Pinching Her Majesty's crown shows a certain...

lack of tact.

And painting that silly graffiti on the wall. How childish.

I have it! Of course!

What, do you have, Philip?

I knew it must be the hydrogen bonding.

That's it.

Then she told me to sterilize the scalpel, so I did.

Goodnight, Dr. Vernay.

Goodnight, Miss Collins.

Goodnight, Dr. Septimus.

- Goodnight, Septimus. - Goodnight, Vernay.

- Goodnight, sergeant. - Sir.

No! No!

What the...

Oh, no.

This will make the front page for sure.

Got it.

Now then, Philip.

Allow me to introduce Inspector Kendall of Scotland Yard.

Glad to meet you, sir.

It's always a pleasure to work with the Yard.

Now, Kendall. How far have we got?

Well, sir, I have followed Dr. Vernay's movements very carefully.

Left the hospital at 11:45,

met Sergeant McMurphy on his beat

near the British Museum around midnight,

disappeared less than a minute later into thin air.

No witnesses. No trace.

All we could found was his hat.

No ransom demand, no clues.

Except for that confounded yellow scribble.

Hmm. But why would he kidnap Vernay?

It makes no sense, psychologically.

I don't believe in psychology.

- So if I may... - By all means.

Hostile. Very hostile.

He's a good officer. Put yourself in his place.

This was his case, and the Prime Minister sent in the Secret Service.

And that's why he's a bit hostile.

Huh?

- He says he needs to meet you. - Come up to Editorial. Fourth floor.

- Right away. - Just tell me where, okay? I'll be there.

Dynamite front page, isn't it, boss?

You just stop patting yourselves on the back and get down to work.

Boss, I was just...

I don't get it.

Why isn't he pleased about the story?

- What's biting him? - I know?

It'll double our circulation and he's like a bear with a boil.

Get me Calvin at the courthouse.

Yes, sir.

Judge Calvin on line two, sir.

Calvin?

Hello, Macomber.

Never mind the small talk. Did you hear about...

- Vernay. Yes, I did. - Be careful, Calvin.

Careful? Why should I be careful?

I think someone's after you.

I think someone's gunning for both of us.

Why do you think that?

The Wade case.

The Wade case? Can you prove it?

Of course not. I'm relying on my nose for news.

And there are too many coincidences.

I have to go.

Take care, please. Take care.

To whom it may concern.

That's all I know, but I swear it's true.

There.

Huh? What? What was that?

Now.

I must be imagining things.

- What on earth? - Hey!

Sir, are you all right?

Mr. Macomber, where are you?

What happened?

Huh? The Yellow Brand.

Well, poor old Macomber. Now he'll boost our circulation.

No fire escapes. No ledges.

How did he break in?

And then disappear with Macomber under his arm?

I'm totally baffled.

No human being could pull off a stunt like this.

Quite right. So what kind of being are we dealing with?

- That's the question. - What do you mean by that?

- Do you think... - I don't know at all.

But it makes me wonder.

I don't know why he was in such a foul mood.

This thing has more than doubled our circulation.

Maybe he had other things on his mind.

I think he was afraid.

Afraid, eh?

Then he must have known something.

Here's Miss Webster, sir.

Ah, Miss Webster,

is it true that Macomber telephoned Judge Calvin late last night?

Yes, captain.

That was the last call he made before...

It's horrible. Poor Mr. Macomber.

It's a nightmare.

Thanks.

Um, Miss Webster,

may I ask you a question that's a bit awkward?

Yes.

We badly need a lead.

Sometimes people, purely by accident, of course...

Did you happen to listen in on the conversation

between Macomber and the judge?

Of course I didn't.

What do you take me for?

Oh, come on, captain. She'd never do a thing like that.

Pity...

If there's nothing further...

No, that's all. Thank you.

May I go, too, then, captain?

Now what?

What say we pay a visit to Mr. Justice Calvin.

Righteo.

Yes, Macomber called me last night.

- And what did he say? - He was worried.

Did he sound frightened?

Oh, possibly.

Of what?

He must have told you.

Actually, he didn't. He was very vague indeed.

Why did he call you, sir?

We've been friends for years.

Now if you'll excuse me, gentlemen.

I have some work to do.

We are most grateful for your cooperation, my Lord.

Your testimony is priceless, I assure you.

The old fool is lying through his teeth.

Yes, but why?

He's afraid.

He knows something, but if he won't tell us, what can we do?

What possible link could there be between Vernay and Macomber,

and Calvin and the Yellow Brand?

It's beginning to smell like revenge to me.

I wish I knew why he uses that sign?

Pardon?

That Yellow Brand. The letter "Mu" in Greek.

It must mean something.

Ah, here's our stop.

By the tartan of clan MacGregor!

What's wrong?

He's put his mark on your back.

I say.

It could be any of them.

Unless he got off three stops back.

He's toying with us.

Yes, but now we know we're barking up the right tree.

I suppose that's true, for what its worth.

Well, from now on, I get around in police cars.

And let the bus system go broke?

I am going to arrange for a guard for Calvin whether he likes it or not.

Coming?

I'll head back to the Daily Mail.

I want to take a look at their back issues.

As you please.

Nothing to report, captain.

Good.

With Kendall on duty, the judge will come to no harm.

Hmm.

Freeze!

Is there a problem, inspector?

I heard a noise.

My dear man, a log fell out of the grate.

Yes, of course, I see.

Sorry I intruded.

No. Nothing there.

September '53.

Thank you, Mr. Stone.

Found it. Unless I'm much mistaken.

Look here. Vernay, Macomber,

and Calvin, all in the same boat.

"Scenes of high drama today in the notorious John Wade case.

The publisher of Wade's book, The Mega Wave,

loses the libel suit he brought against Dr. Robert Vernay

and Leslie Macomber, editor of the Daily Mail.

When Mr. Justice Calvin passed judgement,

the publisher suffered a heart attack and died."

Taking one's work to heart is all very well, but there are limits.

"The Daily Mail had published an article by Dr. Vernay

in which he wrote that Wade's book was a mishmash

produced by an inferior mind relying on non-existant research."

Indeed. Quite withering.

Dr. Septimus was the only scientist to defend the book.

I must have a chat with this Septimus.

Do you remember that case, Stone?

Certainly. It was a cause célèbre at the time.

Tell me about this John Wade?

I can't. That was a pseudonym. No one knew who he was.

Naturally. Otherwise it would be too easy.

Where could I lay hands on a copy of his book?

I wouldn't even know where to start looking.

All the copies were removed from circulation after the trial.

It's been out of print for years.

I see.

Maybe a second-hand book store?

Yes. And who's this Dr. Septimus?

I think he's a psychiatrist at Royal College Hospital.

Royal College? That's Vernay's hospital, isn't it?

Yes, that's right.

Well, well...

Calvin!

Calvin?

Yes. I noticed that all the kidnapped victims

had been deeply involved in the Wade trial

and of course I was worried.

Then why didn't you get in touch with us

instead of waiting until we came to you?

Because I wasn't sure.

And besides, Calvin only disappeared last night.

Thanks.

Thank you.

What do you think of Wade's book? You defended it at the trial.

Yes, I did. And rightly so.

The man's a genius. He's years ahead of his time.

But geniuses always frightened petty minds.

Petty minds like Vernay and Macomber?

Perhaps "petty" is too strong of a word.

But I can assure you that they're woefully conventional.

Like Calvin, who's been kidnapped too?

Poor man. I saw it in the paper.

Do you know the author?

Wade? No.

I hope you know you're taking a big risk, doctor.

What do you mean?

I'm only saying what you said yourself.

All the people involved in that trial are disappearing.

- One by one. - But...

But I defended the book as you know.

So you think the author is out for revenge?

And because you stood up for him, he won't touch you?

Of course he won't.

Look what I've found.

The Mega Wave.

So you have a copy.

Certainly.

The publisher sent it to me when I testified as an expert witness.

Naturally. May I borrow it?

If you like.

He's obviously hiding something.

Just like Calvin, he's too afraid to talk to us.

Hey, that's it.

- What else could it be? - No, look at this.

I never liked math.

Forget the math. Look at that.

The Yellow Brand.

Right, lad, an "M" in Greek.

Wade used the Greek letter "Mu" in his book

to stand for his great discovery: the Omega Wave.

Thanks, Mortimer. You've saved me a lot of time.

Now I know there's a link between Wade and the Yellow Brand.

Yes, but we still know virtually nothing about John Wade.

We worship gladly at thy shrine, thou dazzling genius.

We praise thy warm heart, open hand and great wisdom.

We would wither without thy generosity,

thy goodness, and thy understanding.

We live by thy light alone.

We are thy humble servants.

Lord, we are thy slaves.

Delighted to make your acquaintance at last, old boy.

Freeze. Or I fire.

Hold it! Hands up!

I can't believe it.

Mortimer, are you okay?

Don't worry about me. Get after him.

Captain Blake, Intelligence. Follow that man.

James, you will do no such thing.

Harold, do something.

Kindly show me your badge, officer.

Later, if you like. Not now. And step on it, James.

There, there, Agatha. Don't be afraid.

Nailed him. Good work, James.

By Jove, he escaped again.

Unbelievable

He must have a hide like a tank to flatten a bullet like this.

Or a strong field of force to protect him.

That creature is superhuman.

I've never seen anything cover the ground so fast.

That reminds me of something I read in Wade's book. I'll check.

That's odd.

I'm sure I left it on the table last night.

That's it. The Yellow Brand broke in to steal it.

I think you're right.

Every single thread we find breaks off in our hand.

Except Dr. Septimus.

And he's the only soul in the whole wide world

who knew we had that rotten book.

That's true.

I think we should keep an eye on him.

First thing tomorrow, I'll ship him to the country under guard.

You're quite sure this is this necessary?

I have a lot of work to do at the hospital.

It can wait for a day or two. We can't protect you here.

So, we're taking you to one of our safe houses in the country.

Once you're there, we can all relax.

All aboard!

I'd say.

This isn't a scheduled stop.

I'll check it out. You stay here.

What else can I do?

What's wrong? Why did we stop?

I don't know. Maybe a slower train further down the line.

Nothing serious. Don't worry.

What's he done? The fool.

Septimus!

Oh, no, not again.

Septimus! Septimus!

- Didn't you hear anything? - No, sir.

Come on.

Over here. A track. Come and look.

Fresh tire tracks.

A car drove along here not long ago.

Oh, my God!

What a nightmare, Mortimer.

We must stop this lunatic.

It'll be even harder, now that we've lost Septimus.

I don't care.

I'm going to stop the Yellow Brand, I swear I will.

I'm with you, but the first thing we have to do is find John Wade.

Vernay, Macomber,

Calvin,

and now Septimus.

Our last lead, swallowed up into thin air, like the others.

Greetings, Kendall. Glad to see you.

Compliments of the season.

Thank you. The same to you.

No luck at all, Captain Blake.

No sign of the Yellow Brand. Not a footprint. Not a clue.

Disappeared into thin air.

Where do we go from here?

Hold on.

I had a wee idea.

I talked to the man who used to do the books for Thornley.

Thornley? Who's that?

The house that published John Wade's masterpiece,

The Mega Wave.

Oh, right.

You think he might be able to tell us who John Wade really is?

Right, first shot.

What difference does that make?

10 to 1, when we know Wade's real name...

We'll know who's posing as the Yellow Brand, inspector.

This just arrived. It's addressed to you, sir.

"If you want to find out more about the Yellow Brand, I can help you.

Meet me tonight at midnight.

Limehouse Docks, Shed 22.

Come alone." It's signed "John Smith".

He wants to be incognito.

It's a trap.

You're probably right.

And if so, the best thing I can do is spring it.

We might learn something about the Yellow Brand.

Right. Let's do it.

Now what?

Attention all units, remain in position

and await my order. Over.

Blake, Kendall here. Do you read? Over.

I read you loud and clear, Kendall.

I have the target in my sights.

I'm signing off. Over and out.

Professor Mortimer?

That's right.

I'm Wilbur James.

You wanted to talk to me about the Wade case?

I do indeed. Come in.

I think I found what you're looking for.

Capital!

It's the contract that man, Wade, signed with Thornley.

It's a nasty night.

I wouldn't say no to a little nip.

Help yourself. It's over there.

Page eighteen, clause three.

Hmm.

By the tartan of clan MacGregor!

"John Wade, alias Jonathan Septimus.

5 Tavistolk Square, London."

Septimus!

I always say, for a good scotch, go to a Scotsman.

- May I? - Feel free.

Scotland Yard? Mortimer.

Put me through to Captain Blake or Inspector Kendall right away.

It's urgent.

You'll check with your superiors?

There's no time for that, you dunderhead!

What?! Go choke on a crumpet!

Stupid Sassenach!

A fine malt.

Ah, from the Hebrides.

Lock the door after you.

Be careful, professor.

Here, taxi!

Tavistock Square, and fast.

In this fog, sir? I'll do what I can.

Hmm.

I'm inside the shed.

Kendall, do you read me?

We're losing him. What's wrong with this thing?

Blake, Blake!

We'll give him five minutes, and then we move.

Smith? Smith, is that you?

Answer me.

I'm up here, Captain Blake.

I've been waiting for you.

Won't you come up and join me?

Three o'clock.

Alert all units.

- Smith? - Over here.

Up there! He's trying to get away over the roofs!

- Point those lights up! - There!

Flood the roof!

- Got him, sir. - He can't get away now.

Well, this is a real pea-souper.

We're in Regent Street. Turn left at Oxford Circus.

Station four men at that gate.

Lights at every exit.

We have him now.

I say we have a chance.

Jump him, lads.

They've got him.

I have an idea.

Nobody talks, nobody stirs.

Blake.

Don't interfere.

Please, can we talk?

I'm no threat to you.

Look, I'm not even armed.

You have nothing to fear.

Just put him down.

We can work this out.

Trust me. I promise we won't...

Patrol the banks.

I want a man posted every 30 feet.

Hold it.

Look what I've found.

Do you think he drowned?

I wouldn't believe it unless you showed me his corpse.

And even then...

All right. I'll tell them to keep looking.

He jumped into the Thames, he'll have to come out.

I mean he hasn't got gills!

Who knows what he has?

Calling all cars. This is Jenkins.

The Yellow Brand has assaulted an officer and stolen a police car.

Plate LLW-321.

Red alert! Get here, quickly! He's dangerous!

Pull over, man. I'll go the rest of the way on foot.

It'll be faster.

I'm doing the best I can in this fog.

Here you are.

Huh? He's out of his flippin' mind.

- Follow that car. - What?

- Fifty pounds. - Certainly.

Wow!

How does he drive like that? X-ray vision or what?

Possibly.

He's heading for Tavistock Square.

I'm not surprised.

Hey! Hey, you come back! You owe me fifty pounds!

Bless my plaid suspenders.

What a stink.

- You were nearly caught. - Yes, master.

- Take your place. - Yes.

You expended too much energy and failed your mission.

It is Septimus.

The mega-receiver needs recharging.

Yes, master.

I was right.

Voltage level ready, condenser ready.

Initiate procedure.

Flawless. Flawless, as usual.

How do you feel?

Fine, master.

Olrik.

That's good.

Go.

Hello, Dr. Septimus.

I'm delighted to see you escaped from your kidnappers.

Well, well, Professor Mortimer.

What a surprise.

Take him.

Macomber? Vernay? Calvin?

No, no... No!

Despite the threat of the Yellow Brand,

Londoners are determined to celebrate Christmas.

The shops are full to overflowing.

It seems Father Christmas will make his rounds this year,

as he always does.

In Yorkshire, they're digging out from a record snow storm...

That's all Mortimer said to you?

I said I had to check with my superiors

and he, well, sir, he swore and hung up.

Huh. I'm not surprised.

What could he have found out that was so important?

This is the Yellow Brand.

Do accept my best wishes for a happy holiday.

Blake here. Of course I see it.

I want a tracer on that transmitter. Now!

Yet again, the leaders of this benighted country

have shown us their utter incompetence.

They have mobilized every police officer in these British Isles

in order to capture me, the Yellow Brand.

And I have made them a laughingstock among the nations.

They haven't caught me yet, and they never will.

Now, I wish to announce another coup.

I have taken a hostage:

Father Christmas.

Oh, no, that's Mortimer.

For those of you who still believe in this bizzare person,

I have some unhappy news.

I intend to execute him tonight at midnight.

- I don't believe this. - He's out of his tree.

Merry Christmas!

And a Happy New Year!

Almost got the point of origin.

Untie him. Leave us alone.

Yes, master.

Get me out of this silly costume.

Don't you like it?

It suits you very well. And it's seasonal.

That's just one thing the Mega Wave can do, professor.

There are many others.

So, this is the famous Mega Wave that John Wade describes in his book.

An amazing achievement.

It's my book! My Mega Wave!

It's the discovery of the century!

All this and modest, too.

Why should I be modest?

With my Mega Wave, I can control minds from a distance.

I can transform absolutely anyone

into a docile slave with superhuman powers.

Anyone. Even cretins like Macomber, Vernay and Calvin.

As you discovered to your cost.

Those pinheads slandered me and I had to go into exile in Egypt.

That's where I found that poor, deluded creature.

An ideal guinea pig for my experiments.

I made him the Yellow Brand when I came back to London.

But the Yellow Brand is nothing. I am the master.

You miserable creature. You slinking worm.

Yes, master.

See that? He's a slave, a tool.

Useful, but no more.

Out of my sight.

Yes, master.

That's right.

Impressive, isn't it?

But soon I won't need him any more.

Tomorrow, all of England will be my slave.

Those vipers. I'll make them crawl to me.

And then... And then...

the whole world will acknowledge my genius.

But, you're totally mad, Septimus!

Me, mad? How dare you, you snake?

I'll make you pay for that. You'll pay.

Evening, sir. Could I ask a few questions?

On Christmas night? Good heavens, officer.

This is scandalous. Can't it wait until tomorrow.

I'm at dinner. It's a disgrace.

It's too bad they couldn't pinpoint the signal any better than that.

It's better than nothing.

And it's all we have to find Mortimer.

Power on, condenser ready.

Bring Father Christmas. It's time.

Yes, master.

Oh, wow! Look! Here we go again.

I'm Philip Mortimer.

Not Father Christmas? I'm devastated.

But I'll survive.

Dr. Septimus is holding me prisoner.

Septimus is the Yellow Brand.

I repeat, Septimus is the Yellow Brand.

Merry Christmas, chum.

Father Christmas and the Yellow Brand.

Now that's the fight of the century.

There you are, professor.

No, no!

Septimus.

You must obey me. I'm your master.

Stay away from me! You're insane!

Thirteen minutes.

We'll make it. Trust me.

Take the crown, it's yours.

No! Please don't. I'll give you everything I have.

I've waited for this moment for months.

Now it's here and I'm going to pay you back.

No, please! I beg you.

What you need is a tiny jolt of Mega Waves.

But I have no helmet. Don't do it.

I brought you out of the desert.

Yes, to make me your slave, your toy.

Wait! We could do great things together.

I have no need of you.

Ah, free. I'm free at last.

Now, I'll deal with Professor Mortimer.

Professor Mortimer! Professor Mortimer!

Where the blazes is the man?

You see, professor, I'm trying to respect Septimus' last wish.

His swan song, you might call it.

It's time we got rid of Father Christmas once and for all, don't you think?

What a totally ridiculous character.

I never believed in him. Nah.

You're free again and yet all you want to do is hurt people.

I'll dissolve you into atoms

and pour you back into the primeval soup, Mortimer.

Ah-ha! I've found it.

Well done.

Blake, be careful.

After him, lads.

Blake, wait for us.

Farewell, Mortimer.

Colonel Olrik, what an unexpected pleasure.

Hold it! Freeze!

Damn it!

Where does this door lead?

To the sewers of London, inspector.

Well, old chap, you came in the nick of time.

Then my watch must be slow.

I thought I had 20 seconds to spare.

What are these ridiculous costumes?

We look like circus performers.

I demand an explanation.

Oh, look at this.

God save the queen.

God save the queen.

Well, Blake, old chap,

I think we've seen the last of the Yellow Brand.

That's true. But perhaps not the last of Olrik.