1957 • Approved • Crime, Drama, Film-Noir • March 13, 1957 (UK)
Stars: Jack Hawkins • Arlene Dahl • Dennis Price • Christopher Lee
An insurance investigator runs into an ex-girlfriend, who is still as beautiful as he remembered her, but is now married. He soon finds himself involved in arson, blackmail, and murder.
Stars: Jack Hawkins • Arlene Dahl • Dennis Price • Christopher Lee
An insurance investigator runs into an ex-girlfriend, who is still as beautiful as he remembered her, but is now married. He soon finds himself involved in arson, blackmail, and murder.
Category
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Short filmTranscript
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00:05:01I saw Lewis Manor for the first time just before five o'clock.
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00:05:35Mr. Abercrombie?
00:05:37Well, I'm from Abercrombie and son.
00:05:39My name's Branwell.
00:05:40Oh, good. They said someone would be calling.
00:05:42Well, I'm Mr. Morton, Tracy Morton.
00:05:44Do come in.
00:05:49This is a ridiculous business.
00:05:50My fault, I suppose, really.
00:05:52Was there much damage?
00:05:53Oh, could have been a lot more.
00:05:54My wife and I were putting up the Christmas decorations yesterday,
00:05:57and as it was infernally cold in the picture gallery,
00:06:00I plugged in another electric fire.
00:06:02Whereabouts?
00:06:03Oh, just by the window.
00:06:04When was the fire discovered?
00:06:06Oh, between 3 and 4 a.m.
00:06:08Trixie workers.
00:06:10That's my wife's dog.
00:06:11They must have gone to bed and forgotten to switch the thing off.
00:06:14And afterwards, somebody must have opened that window,
00:06:17and then the wind blew all the decorations over the fire,
00:06:19and up they went.
00:06:20At least, that's how we think it happened.
00:06:22Oh, this is Clive Fisher, my cousin and neighbor.
00:06:24Mr. Egbert, the local builder.
00:06:26I don't know.
00:06:27Well, it might have been a lot worse.
00:06:29It'll all have to be rendered.
00:06:31I wouldn't complain if it wasn't for the Bonnington.
00:06:33What?
00:06:34Well, this was commissioned by my great-great-grandfather.
00:06:37That's the landscape, including this house.
00:06:39That was in 1822.
00:06:41I do beg your pardon,
00:06:42but this smoke seems to have touched up my asthma.
00:06:46Oh, that'll be my dog and Trixie.
00:06:47Excuse me.
00:06:49Well, Egbert's made out a list.
00:06:51If you want anything else, I'll be downstairs.
00:06:53I'll see you before you leave.
00:06:54Yes, of course.
00:06:55Down!
00:06:56Ranger!
00:06:57Shut up!
00:07:03Are you from the insurance company?
00:07:05Well, yes, I'm assessing the damage from the underwriters.
00:07:08I'm Mrs. Morton, Mr. Morton's mother.
00:07:10I'm afraid it was carelessness.
00:07:11Well, it quite often is, but fortunately, it was caught in time.
00:07:14Oh, yes, it was caught in time.
00:07:16My son and my daughter-in-law managed to put it out.
00:07:19Can I be of any help?
00:07:20No, thank you.
00:07:21It's quite straightforward.
00:07:23I'm sure you will be fair.
00:07:34Well, thanks.
00:07:35Just a quick one.
00:07:36Now, what's it be?
00:07:37Some sherry or scotch?
00:07:38Scotch.
00:07:39Soda or water?
00:07:40Water.
00:07:41Oh, this is Mr. Brinkle, darling,
00:07:42from the insurance company.
00:07:43And my wife.
00:07:45How do you do, Mr...
00:07:46Oh, Ranger!
00:07:48Stop it! Ranger! Ranger!
00:07:49Stop it!
00:07:53Branwell.
00:07:54What?
00:07:55Oliver Branwell.
00:07:57What did I say?
00:07:58Oh, I'm sorry.
00:08:00How do you do, Mr. Branwell?
00:08:02Those nearest to you.
00:08:03The darker ones on my side are herbal.
00:08:05Stink to high heaven
00:08:06and don't do your asthma the slightest bit of good.
00:08:08Well, I like to imagine they do.
00:08:10And you're always saying that it's a nervous complaint,
00:08:12even if it does run in the family.
00:08:14Not that I heard it before the war.
00:08:15Well, not until Burma, actually.
00:08:17You weren't in Burma.
00:08:18Yes, I was with 26 Div.
00:08:20We went into Rangoon from the sea.
00:08:21Why?
00:08:22Well, I came down inland with 4th Corps.
00:08:26Blow me down.
00:08:27Here we go.
00:08:28I warn you, Mr. Branwell,
00:08:29you're about to be invited to dinner.
00:08:31Yes, you've taken the very words out of my mouth.
00:08:33Oh, no, really.
00:08:37Oh, thank you.
00:08:38I'd like that.
00:08:39Good.
00:08:40Before the war,
00:08:41an old family still meant something.
00:08:43Well, mine has fought in every war
00:08:45since the time of Agincourt
00:08:46and a grateful government
00:08:47has left us less and less to call our own.
00:08:50Before long,
00:08:51the manor will go
00:08:52and someone will turn it into a home
00:08:54for retired boilermakers.
00:08:57And that'll be the end of a place
00:08:58where generation upon generation
00:09:00of mortons have lived graciously.
00:09:01The mortons can still do that, Tracy.
00:09:03It's an attitude of mind.
00:09:04You're an escapist, Mother.
00:09:06We're all escaping from something, Tracy.
00:09:09Mother will never agree
00:09:10that people like us have had our day.
00:09:12Haven't we, Branwell?
00:09:13Well, I don't know that I ever had a day.
00:09:15Before the war,
00:09:16I was a junior clerk
00:09:17in a tea warehouse
00:09:18at 4.17 sixpence a week.
00:09:21And how did you escape
00:09:22from tea to insurance?
00:09:25I met Michael Abercrombie
00:09:27in Hong Kong
00:09:28just after career.
00:09:29I was a port security officer.
00:09:31I was still in the army.
00:09:32I helped him to recover
00:09:33some industrial diamonds
00:09:34and, well,
00:09:35he offered me a job with his firm.
00:09:37Sarah was in Hong Kong for a time,
00:09:39weren't you, dear?
00:09:41Yes.
00:09:42For a little while.
00:09:45No, I act for the underwriters.
00:09:46I adjust the claim
00:09:47so that it's acceptable
00:09:48to both sides.
00:09:49Almost as good
00:09:50as being a detective.
00:09:51I find that most people
00:09:52are honest.
00:09:53Really?
00:09:55Good night.
00:09:57Sarah.
00:09:58No, Oliver.
00:09:59Oh, it's stopped raining.
00:10:00Oh, good.
00:10:01Now, we must see each other again.
00:10:02I was just going to suggest that.
00:10:04Well, I go up to town
00:10:05from time to time
00:10:06in search of some new cure
00:10:07and as for Sarah,
00:10:08well, she's up there for a while.
00:10:10She does fashion designing
00:10:11for Delahaye.
00:10:12I must remember that.
00:10:15Good night, Mr. Bramhall.
00:10:17Good night, Mrs. Morton.
00:10:29There was nothing I could do
00:10:30until after Christmas
00:10:32except rehearse the things
00:10:34I was going to say.
00:10:40Hello, Sarah.
00:10:42Oliver,
00:10:43what are you doing here?
00:10:45I've called you
00:10:46a half a dozen times
00:10:47at Delahaye's
00:10:48but they've all said
00:10:49you were out.
00:10:50On my instructions.
00:10:51But why?
00:10:52Meeting will get us nowhere.
00:10:53Oh, Sarah,
00:10:54just a few minutes.
00:10:55I have a train to catch.
00:10:57The next one isn't
00:10:58until 6.30.
00:10:59How do you know?
00:11:00I've looked it up.
00:11:02Come on.
00:11:03Two coffees, please.
00:11:08Well, it's been a long time.
00:11:11Is that all you have to say?
00:11:13Are you happy, Sarah?
00:11:15I always think
00:11:16that's such a silly question.
00:11:18It's not.
00:11:19It's not.
00:11:20It's not.
00:11:21It's not.
00:11:22It's not.
00:11:23It's not.
00:11:24It's not.
00:11:25It's not.
00:11:26It's not.
00:11:27It's not.
00:11:28It's not.
00:11:29It's not.
00:11:30It's not.
00:11:31It's not.
00:11:32Don't say that.
00:11:33That's such a silly question.
00:11:35What about you?
00:11:36Well, you've never had
00:11:37any serious competition
00:11:38either before or after
00:11:40you walked out on me.
00:11:41Walked out on you?
00:11:43Oliver,
00:11:44didn't you ever hear anything?
00:11:47Afterwards, I mean.
00:11:48I never moved
00:11:49in government house
00:11:50or American diplomatic circles.
00:11:52I know.
00:11:53You were a junior clerk
00:11:54in a tea warehouse
00:11:55at four pounds, seventeen,
00:11:56and nine pence a week.
00:11:57Sixpence.
00:11:58At all events,
00:11:59I wasn't good enough
00:12:00for your father.
00:12:02My father, that fine old southern gentleman.
00:12:06Between spells of being a professional guest,
00:12:10he was sometimes careless about little things
00:12:12like writing checks.
00:12:16When I went home that night, that last night, Oliver,
00:12:20I found they told him that if he left quietly,
00:12:23nothing would happen.
00:12:25He begged me to go with him.
00:12:27He broke down and cried.
00:12:30We went.
00:12:31Without a word to me.
00:12:32Well, it never occurred to me
00:12:34that you wouldn't have heard the whole miserable story.
00:12:37But why didn't you write?
00:12:38I suppose you could call it pride.
00:12:42I waited to hear from you.
00:12:44Well, I had my pride, too.
00:12:47So between us, we had enough pride
00:12:49for a dozen sensible people.
00:12:52And later on, you married Tracey Morton.
00:12:56Eventually.
00:12:58I think I'd better stop.
00:12:59Sarah.
00:13:00Don't ask me again if I'm happy, Oliver, or I'll scream.
00:13:03I never knew where I was with you,
00:13:05and I'm hanged if I do now.
00:13:07I'm married to Tracey, and we trust each other.
00:13:10But we just can't leave things like this.
00:13:12One thing's certain, we can't go back.
00:13:15Goodbye, Oliver.
00:13:17And I mean goodbye.
00:13:19The months went by.
00:13:21I did not hear of Lois Manor again
00:13:22until the case of Charles Highbury.
00:13:25Only, at the time, I didn't see the connection at all.
00:13:32Yes?
00:13:33I have a tricky assignment for you, Oliver.
00:13:35Ever heard of Charles Highbury?
00:13:37No, I haven't.
00:13:38But I'm sure you've heard of him.
00:13:40He's a good man.
00:13:41He's a good man.
00:13:42He's a good man.
00:13:43He's a good man.
00:13:44He's a good man.
00:13:45He's a good man.
00:13:46He's a good man.
00:13:47He's a good man.
00:13:48That's a nice man.
00:13:49Have you heard of highbury?
00:13:50High...
00:13:51Isn't he the fella they call The Singing Minor?
00:13:52That's right.
00:13:53He's starring in a picture here.
00:13:54He had a black-out last Tuesday.
00:13:56Knocked himself out and gave himself a black eye.
00:13:59That's his story, and it might even be true.
00:14:00I'm happy to report
00:14:02there's no doubt about the black eye.
00:14:03And what do the doctors say?
00:14:05His says he needs a month's complete rest.
00:14:07Ours says he'll be
00:14:08as fit as a fiddle by Monday.
00:14:11If you can get him back to work by then
00:14:13so that the film isn't held up,
00:14:14we might save the underwriters $30,000 or $40,000.
00:14:15Here are the particulars.
00:14:17I see. Well, where do I find him?
00:14:18At his hotel. He can't very well refuse to see you.
00:14:21For what it's worth, his wife left hurriedly for New York the same night.
00:14:29How many more times do I have to tell you?
00:14:31My doctor was quite definite about it.
00:14:34You don't expect me to kill myself, do you?
00:14:36Most certainly not, Mr. Highbury.
00:14:38And may I say the insurance company would welcome it even less.
00:14:43Well, you can tell them from me that I'm going back when I'm fit and not before.
00:14:47And if they send any more insurance types, I won't see them.
00:14:52Mrs. Litchen's on the line again, Mr. Highbury.
00:14:55Shall I put her on?
00:14:56Oh, all right.
00:14:58No, till I call her back.
00:15:00But, Mr. Highbury...
00:15:01She can wait five minutes, can't she?
00:15:03Very well, Mr. Highbury.
00:15:06Now, where was I?
00:15:08You got as far as you wouldn't see any more types like me.
00:15:11That's right.
00:15:12Why should I?
00:15:14Good day.
00:15:15I see.
00:15:16Thank you.
00:15:18Those awful people from the insurance keep on calling.
00:15:21I mean, what with the doctors and the studio frantic because he can't get back, Mrs. Litchen.
00:15:26Yes, I know, Mrs. Litchen.
00:15:28Mrs. Litchen?
00:15:30Yes, I know, Mrs. Litchen, but...
00:15:33I'd like to see Mrs. Litchen on a business matter.
00:15:36Oh, Mrs. Litchen's still asleep.
00:15:38But I'm sure she wouldn't be interested in insurance.
00:15:41Well, I'll call back later.
00:15:43Would you tell her it's about a Mr. Charles Highbury?
00:15:46Who did he say?
00:15:47What name?
00:15:48Mr. Charles Highbury.
00:15:50Mr. Highbury?
00:15:51Yes, Mr. Highbury.
00:15:52Mr. Highbury?
00:15:53Yes, Mr. Highbury.
00:15:54Mr. Highbury?
00:15:55Yes, Mr. Highbury.
00:15:56Mr. Highbury?
00:15:57Yes, Mr. Highbury.
00:15:58Mr. Highbury?
00:15:59Yes, Mr. Highbury.
00:16:00Mr. Highbury?
00:16:01Mr. Highbury!
00:16:02Tell him to come in and wait.
00:16:04Will you come in and wait, sir?
00:16:06Yes, I will come in and wait.
00:16:14Sit down, please, sir.
00:16:32Will you come in here, please, sir?
00:16:34Yes, thank you.
00:16:39Do forgive me for receiving you like this, Mr. Branwell,
00:16:42but I had a frantically late night.
00:16:44Now then, what's all this about Charlie Highbury?
00:16:46I'm investigating an insurance claim in connection with Mr. Highbury's accident.
00:16:50I see.
00:16:52Sit down.
00:16:56I heard that you were a friend of his.
00:16:58How did you hear that?
00:16:59Well, perhaps I should explain I've just left, Mr. Highbury.
00:17:03I'm surprised our songbird is uttering at all on the subject.
00:17:06He says that he won't be able to go back to work for a month because of his attack.
00:17:10Attack is right.
00:17:13Mix me a drink, would you?
00:17:15Gin and anything that's there.
00:17:17And yourself, too, Mr. Branwell.
00:17:19Oh, thank you very much.
00:17:23Look, um...
00:17:25Just what am I laying up for myself if I say anything?
00:17:28Nothing at all.
00:17:30You know that Charlie and I have been around quite a bit since he came over.
00:17:33Mm-hmm.
00:17:34Well, I went out with him that Tuesday.
00:17:37Janet, his wife, was away in Scotland.
00:17:40After dinner, Charlie asked me back to show him his press cuttings.
00:17:44I see.
00:17:45You don't. He actually showed me his press cuttings.
00:17:49You don't believe me?
00:17:51Neither did his wife.
00:17:52She came back unexpectedly and...
00:17:55And caught us deep in his scrapbook.
00:17:57Volume three.
00:17:59I was just about to summon my carriage when Janet remarked...
00:18:02Take that, you big canary, connected on Charlie with a beautiful right swing.
00:18:06Here's how.
00:18:07Ah, the black eye.
00:18:09Janet's practically a midget, but our hero went out like a light.
00:18:12Well, thank you very much, Mrs. Litchen.
00:18:15That's very satisfactory.
00:18:17Tell me, do all insurance investigators come like you?
00:18:21Big, nice hair, deep brown eyes?
00:18:24I don't know.
00:18:25I probably don't look at them from absolutely the same angle.
00:18:29I bet you could be fine if just for a couple of hours you could forget insurance risks.
00:18:34Third-party risks might be more to the point, Mrs. Litchen.
00:18:38Meaning what?
00:18:39Mr. Litchen.
00:18:40Ah, he doesn't live here anymore.
00:18:42Ah, but you never know. He may get, uh, homesick.
00:18:46Well, goodbye, ma'am. You've been most helpful and, uh, forthcoming.
00:18:52Mr. Charles Highbury went back to work on Monday.
00:18:57As I said, I didn't see any connection at all.
00:19:00But a few weeks later, by chance, or so I thought then...
00:19:10Oh, Mr. Bramwell, there's a Mr. Morton being brought in.
00:19:13Not very well.
00:19:14What is it? Is he all right?
00:19:16Oh, it's just his asthma. I hope you don't mind, Bramwell.
00:19:19I'm all right. I'm all right. Sorry.
00:19:22Tracy came up to collect some pictures.
00:19:24He'd asked me to meet him afterwards outside Barber and Curry's.
00:19:27You know, the picture restorer's just around the corner.
00:19:29But when I got there, he was lying back in his car, helpless.
00:19:32Traffic fumes, eh?
00:19:34He wanted me to phone his wife. Said you wouldn't mind if I brought him in here.
00:19:37Oh, of course.
00:19:38I'm afraid I can't.
00:19:40He wanted me to phone his wife. Said you wouldn't mind if I brought him in here.
00:19:43Oh, of course not.
00:19:45Hello? Ethel? It's Clive.
00:19:48Look, is Sarah with you?
00:19:51Oh, dear.
00:19:53Well, apparently she said she might be dropping in on you for tea.
00:19:56Oh, well. Well, never mind.
00:19:58All right. Goodbye.
00:20:01Tracy was going to take you in the Sadler's Wells Ballet with Sarah.
00:20:03Told her to be in the foyer at 7.15. Now we can't locate her.
00:20:07Perhaps Drenwall could go to the theatre.
00:20:09Explain to Sarah.
00:20:11That's an idea.
00:20:13Would you mind?
00:20:15Well, no. I suppose...
00:20:17I've got the tickets here.
00:20:19You might like to see the show.
00:20:22And then put her on the train later.
00:20:26You could have refused.
00:20:28Yes, I could have said I only had time to give you the message.
00:20:32You could still say that.
00:20:34Do you really want me to?
00:20:59Oh, for goodness sake, Oliver, get back in the car.
00:21:05Look at you, you're wet through.
00:21:07Well, that doesn't matter, as long as you're all right.
00:21:11Blasted roof.
00:21:13Oliver, look at my dress. I'm so...
00:21:15Terribly sorry.
00:21:17Oh, we'll have to skip dinner now.
00:21:20I suppose you'd better put me on an earlier train.
00:21:22But you'll catch pneumonia.
00:21:24I'm tough, I think.
00:21:26There's only one thing for it.
00:21:28We'll have to go back to my place in Newcastle.
00:21:30Well, there's no need to look at me like that.
00:21:32I didn't arrange this either.
00:21:41Ready, Sarah?
00:21:43Tinned soup and bacon are dead.
00:21:45That's what the best dinner in London's come down to.
00:21:48Mmm, smells wonderful.
00:21:50I'm starving.
00:21:52You look lovely.
00:21:54In this?
00:21:56Yes.
00:21:58In this?
00:22:00Yes.
00:22:01Sarah, do you remember that time when...
00:22:03I don't think we should go into that, Oliver.
00:22:06All I remember is that we've had a lovely evening,
00:22:09and we're not going to spoil it by remembering anything else.
00:22:12Sorry.
00:22:14All right?
00:22:16Soup.
00:22:20Have you lived in this place long, Oliver?
00:22:23Ever since I started in the insurance business.
00:22:26It certainly doesn't look very comfortable.
00:22:29Oh, I go away from it a lot.
00:22:31I don't blame you.
00:22:33It must get awfully lonely here.
00:22:35Do you think we should go into that?
00:22:39Sorry.
00:22:41Tell me about your work, Oliver.
00:22:43Do you get many fake claims?
00:22:45Some, mostly dud fires and jewellery losses.
00:22:48How can you tell they're fake?
00:22:50Oh, all kinds of ways.
00:22:52For instance, a fire has to be prepared,
00:22:54and often the floor burns through,
00:22:56and the preparations fall in the basement,
00:22:58and all that gives the game away.
00:23:00Well, in that case, it would be better to start the fire in the basement.
00:23:03Yes, and stick to old-fashioned methods
00:23:05like candles in waste paper baskets.
00:23:07How does that work?
00:23:09Have you told Tracy you knew me before?
00:23:11No. Why?
00:23:13Tell me about you and him.
00:23:15Oliver, I thought we'd agree...
00:23:17You know. Tell me.
00:23:19No.
00:23:21Do you love him?
00:23:24He needs me, Oliver.
00:23:27I told you before, we trust each other completely.
00:23:31We never did, did we?
00:23:33Our love had some guts to it.
00:23:35It didn't depend on polite exchanges.
00:23:39Yes, of course I'm jealous of him.
00:23:42Did you expect me to be otherwise?
00:23:44Do you think I'm going to enjoy the particular form of torture
00:23:47I'm going to suffer during the next few weeks?
00:23:49Do you think I can shut out the sort of image
00:23:51that's going to present itself to my mind?
00:23:53Don't.
00:23:56Don't look at me like that.
00:24:20Is that you, sir?
00:24:23Yes, Tracy.
00:24:25We were trying not to wake you.
00:24:27Well, the doctor put me to bed the moment Clive brought me home.
00:24:30So, of course, I had to wake up.
00:24:32Oh, hello, Bramall.
00:24:34Come on in.
00:24:35Oh, no, I...
00:24:37I missed my last train. There was an absolute downpour.
00:24:40Really? What bad luck.
00:24:42Oh, come on in.
00:24:44Oh, no, I don't think so. I think I...
00:24:46Nonsense. Nonsense.
00:24:48My dear fellow, I insist. Yes, but look at the time.
00:24:50That's all right.
00:24:52It's a bit of a mess, I'm afraid.
00:24:54We have the decorators moving in next week for repairs.
00:24:57There's woodworm in the balcony and heaven knows what else.
00:25:00Sarah and I are going for a vacation up in Yorkshire while they're here.
00:25:03Are you taking something, Sarah? No, thank you.
00:25:06Scotch was your poison, if I remember, Bramall.
00:25:08No, look, I really must be going.
00:25:10What, after bringing Sarah all the way home?
00:25:12And besides, you haven't seen this place by daylight.
00:25:15It's worth looking at, you know.
00:25:17Goes back the devil of a long way.
00:25:19Whom's day?
00:25:21What, Mother? It's mentioned in Doomsday Book.
00:25:24Oh, yes, you're right.
00:25:26Oh, you remember Mr. Bramall? He's staying the night.
00:25:28I remember Mr. Bramall very well.
00:25:30Tracy, you ought not to be out of bed.
00:25:32I could say the same for you, Mother.
00:25:34Oh, I never sleep nowadays.
00:25:36Well, I'll be up in a minute.
00:25:39I think I'll be going up, too.
00:25:41I'm awfully tired.
00:25:44Oh, thank you for bringing me back.
00:25:46Good night. Good night.
00:25:51Well, you'll be ready to turn in, too, I expect.
00:25:53Oh, no. No. Come on.
00:25:55Look, I'm being an awful nuisance. Nonsense.
00:25:57I've no shaving gear or toothbrush.
00:25:59Well, I'll pick you up with everything. It's perfectly easy.
00:26:01I won't take no for an answer.
00:26:03Just this way through the gallery.
00:26:05Mind those steps.
00:26:07Well, it's been hanging the lippy in the Constable.
00:26:10Barber and curry's certainly freshened them up, don't you think?
00:26:13Not that you can really tell by this light.
00:26:15We'll have another look in the morning.
00:26:17I expect you'll be wanting to talk over old times with Sarah, eh?
00:26:21What do you mean?
00:26:23Well, I gather you used to know each other in the old days.
00:26:25Who told you that?
00:26:27Oh, Sarah, of course.
00:26:29Watch your step.
00:26:31When you get into this dark corner.
00:26:40The office used to farm all this land themselves.
00:26:43But what with death duties and taxes,
00:26:45they'd either sold it or rented most of it.
00:26:48Sarah, why did you lie to me last night?
00:26:51What do you mean?
00:26:53Well, you said you'd never told Tracy we'd met before.
00:26:57I suppose I was embarrassed.
00:27:00I hate to see you lying.
00:27:02I'm a very imperfect human being, as you should have realised.
00:27:08Oliver, I don't know what to do.
00:27:11Separation hasn't worked out, has it?
00:27:13Look...
00:27:14I know you think we've made a mistake five years ago
00:27:16and we belong together, but...
00:27:18that stops being practical the minute I look at Tracy.
00:27:21Yes, I know.
00:27:23If such a thing as self-respect,
00:27:25you've got to be able to live with yourself.
00:27:28I do understand.
00:27:37And now, sir, if you'll half turn in your seat,
00:27:39you'll observe the prospect of Lois Manor from the southwest,
00:27:42as painted by Bonington in the year 1822 from this very spot.
00:27:48That's funny.
00:27:49What's that?
00:27:51Well, I've got a strange feeling I've been here before.
00:27:54Perhaps you have.
00:27:55No, never. Not up here.
00:27:57Well, you're probably thinking of our Bonington landscape.
00:28:00Oh, well, that couldn't be it.
00:28:02Why not?
00:28:03Well, it was destroyed during the fire Christmas Eve.
00:28:06Oh, yes. Of course, there was nothing left to see.
00:28:13It was not until I was driving back to London
00:28:16that I did remember.
00:28:18And if I was right...
00:28:20If I was right...
00:28:32Yes?
00:28:33Mrs. Lichard.
00:28:34She's out. Do you have an appointment?
00:28:36Yes. Branwell's the name.
00:28:39She didn't mention it.
00:28:40Oh, she said if she wasn't back, would I wait?
00:28:42She did? Oh, I guess it's okay, then.
00:28:54You have business with Mrs. Lichard?
00:28:56Yes.
00:28:57What business?
00:28:58Well, actually, I called to discuss
00:29:00increasing the insurance cover on the contents here.
00:29:03That's strange.
00:29:04Why?
00:29:05They don't belong to Mrs. Lichard.
00:29:07They don't belong to Mrs. Lichard.
00:29:09Oh, don't they?
00:29:10No, sir. They belong to me.
00:29:12This is my apartment.
00:29:14Mrs. Lichard has occupied it since I went back to the States.
00:29:17Oh, well, I must have misunderstood her.
00:29:20Yes, you must.
00:29:21My name's Craft, Wallace Craft.
00:29:24How do you do?
00:29:25I want to tell you that Mrs. Lichard
00:29:27is a very lovely lady, Mr. Branwell.
00:29:31We aim to be married in the fall.
00:29:33Congratulations.
00:29:35Well, I'm sorry to have troubled you.
00:29:39That's a very fine landscape.
00:29:42It's a Bonington, isn't it?
00:29:44That's correct.
00:29:45A Bonington.
00:29:46A very lovely painter of a very lovely period.
00:29:50Are you sure it's the original?
00:29:52I don't collect copies, sir.
00:29:55How did you manage to find it?
00:29:57A dealer I know sent a lady to me with it.
00:30:00A lady?
00:30:02She was acting for an old family that had been hit by the war.
00:30:05What was she like?
00:30:07Twenty-five, twenty-six.
00:30:09Good-looker?
00:30:10Tallish, strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes.
00:30:12What are you, a relative?
00:30:14It's just that I think I know the same dealer.
00:30:17I recollect she seemed kind of pleased
00:30:18when I told her I'd be taking that picture
00:30:20right home with me to the States.
00:30:22Of course, that was before I met Mrs. Lichard.
00:30:25That not only changed my plans,
00:30:27I guess it's changed my whole life.
00:30:30I guess it has.
00:30:31Yoo-hoo, Popsy!
00:30:41You?
00:30:42What's he doing... doing here?
00:30:44Come to think of it, I'm not entirely clear, honey.
00:30:47I called in about that matter we discussed last time
00:30:51and found Mr. Croft here.
00:30:54Oh, I see.
00:30:55When I saw Mr. Croft, I realized I'd misunderstood you
00:30:58and that our business couldn't mature.
00:31:01Well, I'm... I'm sorry if I misled you at all,
00:31:05Mr. Branwell, isn't it?
00:31:07It's perfectly all right.
00:31:09Well, good-bye.
00:31:10Good-bye.
00:31:11I'll see you to the door.
00:31:14It was naughty of you to call in without ringing me first,
00:31:16but I must say you carried it off very cleverly.
00:31:21He leaves Wednesday. I'm in the book.
00:31:25Goodbye.
00:31:29Shakespeare, Turner.
00:31:31Oh, Fred.
00:31:32Oh, hello, Oliver.
00:31:33Do you still handle Tracy Morton's business?
00:31:35Tracy Morton? Yes, why?
00:31:37Oh, it's nothing important.
00:31:38I just wondered if he'd taken my advice
00:31:40and increased the insurance on Lewis Manor lately.
00:31:42As a matter of fact, he has, by 50%.
00:31:44Oh, Mr. Conner.
00:31:45Oh.
00:31:51Morton?
00:31:52We've never had any dealings with him.
00:31:56Morton?
00:31:57We've never had any dealings with a Mr. Morton, sir.
00:31:59And you haven't restored a Constable or a Philip O'Liffey for him?
00:32:03Constable?
00:32:05No.
00:32:06We haven't touched one of either of those for anybody for some years.
00:32:14Yes?
00:32:15I have Mr. Dane for you now.
00:32:17Oh, put him on, will you?
00:32:19Mr. Dane?
00:32:20Yes, that's right.
00:32:22I think I'm on to a fraud.
00:32:24I can't talk about it yet,
00:32:25but can you put me in touch with somebody
00:32:27who can give me some elementary guidance
00:32:29on how to tell a genuine old master from a fake?
00:32:34Now, here's something about the Philip O'Liffey period.
00:32:36Genuine, of course.
00:32:38I'm taking it that a really elaborate fake
00:32:40wouldn't be necessary if they're only made to be burnt.
00:32:44Now, I want you to notice that network of fine cracks.
00:32:47Oh, yes.
00:32:48When a faker tries to imitate cracks like that,
00:32:50he often makes them too coarse, too wide.
00:32:54Another point.
00:32:55Lippy painted on wooden panels.
00:32:58In the circumstances,
00:32:59the faker may not have been too particular about aging the wood,
00:33:02probably only dirtied it down.
00:33:04Try rubbing into the solution, see if anything comes away.
00:33:07With a genuine article, nothing should happen at all.
00:33:10How about the constable?
00:33:11That's a different kettle of fish.
00:33:17Now I knew what I had to do
00:33:19and what to look for.
00:33:24I knew that Sarah and Tracey
00:33:25had planned to leave for Yorkshire that afternoon
00:33:28and drop his mother off in London
00:33:30with old Elliot to look after her.
00:33:36If I was right, I ought to find the house empty.
00:33:55CREAKING
00:34:05CREAKING
00:34:25CREAKING
00:34:43CREAKING
00:34:54CREAKING
00:35:20CREAKING
00:35:24CREAKING
00:35:41CREAKING
00:35:54CREAKING
00:36:17CREAKING
00:36:24CREAKING
00:36:54CREAKING
00:37:24CREAKING
00:37:34CREAKING
00:37:44CREAKING
00:37:55CREAKING
00:37:58What's that?
00:38:07Who is it?
00:38:11Tracey?
00:38:16Tracey!
00:38:24TRACEY
00:38:34Who's there?
00:38:55CREAKING
00:38:57CREAKING
00:39:27CREAKING
00:39:53Hello? Emergency!
00:39:55Fire! Lowest manor near Sladen.
00:39:58It's a bad one.
00:40:00Who is that? What name?
00:40:02Morton. Tracey Morton. Hurry!
00:40:25CREAKING
00:40:47CREAKING
00:40:55CREAKING
00:41:14Tracey!
00:41:25CREAKING
00:41:55CREAKING
00:42:14Sarah?
00:42:17Sarah?
00:42:25CREAKING
00:42:55CREAKING
00:43:18SCREAMING
00:43:20CREAKING
00:43:50RINGING
00:44:20RINGING CONTINUES
00:44:35RINGING CONTINUES
00:44:46Yes?
00:44:48I've been trying to get you for a quarter of an hour.
00:44:50Have you seen this morning's papers?
00:44:52Not yet. Why?
00:44:54Lowest manor was burnt down last night.
00:44:56What?
00:44:58Well, how did it happen? Was anyone there?
00:45:01Only Tracey Morton. I'm afraid he's had it, Oliver.
00:45:04Yes, they found his body.
00:45:07They think he must have smelt the smoke and run out to look over.
00:45:10There was a temporary balcony rail across and it gave way.
00:45:13Hello?
00:45:15What about his wife?
00:45:17She had gone ahead to Yorkshire, 200 miles away.
00:45:20They broke the news to her there early this morning.
00:45:23I see.
00:45:25We'll be handling the claim, no doubt.
00:45:27I thought perhaps you would like to get down there right away.
00:45:30I can't, Michael. I can't do that.
00:45:33I mean, that's why I couldn't get to the phone.
00:45:37I had sprained my ankle.
00:45:40Well, I met a man from my old regiment and we made a night of it.
00:45:45I got back here as high as a kite and fell halfway down a flight of stairs, if you must know.
00:45:50Trust you not to do things by halves.
00:45:53Well, I'll have to get down there myself, that's all.
00:45:56I'm sorry this has happened to the Mortons. I know they're friends of yours.
00:45:59I'll phone you when I get back.
00:46:01All right.
00:46:16Who's that?
00:46:21Just a minute.
00:46:33You all right, Oliver?
00:46:35Just coming.
00:46:38Hello. Come in.
00:46:40Hangover, too.
00:46:42That's right.
00:46:44I'd never have believed it of you, Oliver.
00:46:46Well, I got back early, so I thought I might just as well call in on the way.
00:46:49I'm sorry. Can I help?
00:46:51Well, you can fix us both a drink.
00:46:56Well?
00:46:58The place is a ruin.
00:47:00They saved part of one wing, that's all.
00:47:02How did it start?
00:47:04Difficult to say.
00:47:06The house had been full of workmen during the day,
00:47:08and I suppose somebody was careless, as usual.
00:47:11Writing to the family?
00:47:13Oh, his mother. Thanks.
00:47:15But was there nobody there except Tracey?
00:47:17No, and unfortunately, the gatehouse was empty.
00:47:20Well, how was that?
00:47:22There were some new tenants coming in.
00:47:24But Tracey's wife put them off until she and Tracey were due back from Yorkshire.
00:47:27Pity, as it turned out.
00:47:29It certainly was.
00:47:32Michael...
00:47:35I'd like you to carry on and finish this job, if you don't mind.
00:47:39Why?
00:47:41Well, it's just that I'd like it that way in this case.
00:47:44Very well. That will satisfy you.
00:47:46Now, do you think you can get downstairs if you lean on me?
00:47:50What?
00:47:51I'm driving you around to my physiotherapist.
00:47:53You'll fix that ankle of yours in no time.
00:47:55No, I can't do that. Why not?
00:47:57I'd tell the office I'd be here.
00:47:59Well, that's simple. I'll give them a call.
00:48:01Oh, but there's another reason.
00:48:03My own doctor's collecting me for an X-ray.
00:48:08Oh, why didn't you say so?
00:48:11Well, I must be getting back.
00:48:13Let me know if there's anything I can send you.
00:48:15Michael...
00:48:18I suppose everything will go to her.
00:48:21The insurance on the contents goes to the widow absolutely.
00:48:24Though I shouldn't think she'll stay a widow very long.
00:48:27Why do you say that?
00:48:28Well, with her looks and a small fortune.
00:48:30Well, goodbye, and keep off them stairs.
00:48:33Dear Oliver, it was kind of you to write to Tracy's mother as you did.
00:49:01I thought I'd surely see you at the inquest,
00:49:03but you were not there, and you left no word for me.
00:49:06I seem to have heard from all of my friends,
00:49:08except the one who means the most.
00:49:11A strange letter.
00:49:13Not a word about the claim.
00:49:15But why should I have looked for anything?
00:49:18What did I expect from her?
00:49:20A confession?
00:49:22I took refuge in my work.
00:49:24In due course, the claim was settled in full.
00:49:27Sarah received £30,000.
00:49:31Of course I should have spoken.
00:49:33But how could I without giving her away?
00:49:44Oliver.
00:49:46Are you looking for me?
00:49:47Do you mind?
00:49:49No.
00:49:52Do come in.
00:50:00It's more uncomfortable than ever.
00:50:03And it's not, shall we say, lowest manner,
00:50:07but the chairs are clean.
00:50:11You never came to see me.
00:50:13No, did you expect me to?
00:50:15Was that expecting too much?
00:50:17Yes.
00:50:20Obviously, I shouldn't have come.
00:50:23I thought perhaps...
00:50:24Yes, tell me that.
00:50:25Tell me just what you did think I should like to know.
00:50:31Well, I remembered before.
00:50:33Pride didn't get us anywhere.
00:50:36And I thought there might have been some scruple...
00:50:39Scruple is the word.
00:50:41What?
00:50:43Don't you have anything else to tell me?
00:50:46What do you mean?
00:50:48Oh, come off it.
00:50:49That starry-eyed innocence doesn't ring the bell anymore.
00:50:53Well, go on.
00:50:55Don't stop there.
00:50:57The truth is I felt too sick.
00:51:00Sick to the stomach to bother to see you.
00:51:04Now, I know all about the fire.
00:51:06It went wrong on the night for Tracy,
00:51:08but that didn't stop you from cashing in.
00:51:10What are you saying?
00:51:11I kept my mouth shut.
00:51:13I betrayed every principle that's supposed to govern my job.
00:51:15What more do you expect?
00:51:16Oliver.
00:51:17Oh, you're wasting your valuable time.
00:51:19I know that Bonnington was a copy,
00:51:21and I know that fire at Christmas was just a small time rehearsal
00:51:25for the big one later on.
00:51:26You and Tracy had a bit of luck then, didn't you?
00:51:28I was sent down to settle the claim.
00:51:30Nothing like an old flame to help the new fire along.
00:51:33Stop it.
00:51:34Up the garden path I trotted,
00:51:36falling for the whole elaborate, stinking piece of fiction.
00:51:40Asthma attacks.
00:51:42You can't possibly be suggesting that I...
00:51:44Suggesting, in addition to my other insulting and rightly so suggestions,
00:51:47that Mr. Tracy Morton deliberately put his charmingly cooperative wife in my way.
00:51:53I thought at first that you might be an unwilling partner,
00:51:55playing Tracy's hand because you were his wife.
00:51:57Let me go.
00:51:58Can you deny that you sold that Bonnington to an American called Willis Croft?
00:52:01Deny?
00:52:03You must be ill with suspicion and jealousy.
00:52:06If you've been keeping your mouth shut for my sake, then open it.
00:52:10Say whatever you like.
00:52:12Go to the police.
00:52:13Do whatever you want to smear Tracy.
00:52:16His memory can stand up to it.
00:52:43One.
00:52:44No drinks?
00:52:45No.
00:52:46Oh, I do have one.
00:52:52Ah.
00:52:53Have a sausage.
00:52:55Thank you.
00:52:56Mr. Croft.
00:52:59Mr. Croft.
00:53:01Hello.
00:53:03Great to have you here.
00:53:04Glad you could make it.
00:53:05Well, Jack.
00:53:06Mr. Croft.
00:53:07Mr. Croft.
00:53:09Hello.
00:53:10Great to have you here.
00:53:11Glad you could make it.
00:53:12Jack.
00:53:13Wilmer.
00:53:14Do you know Mr. Ferguson?
00:53:15No, but I...
00:53:16Oh, how are you, Mr. Ferguson?
00:53:17I just want...
00:53:18Have you kissed the bride?
00:53:19No.
00:53:20Oh, Mr. Ferguson.
00:53:21We'll see.
00:53:22Mr. Croft.
00:53:24You remember when you bought the Bonnington?
00:53:26Hmm?
00:53:27The Bonnington there.
00:53:29I was wrong.
00:53:30You're not Ferguson.
00:53:31Oh, that's right.
00:53:32Is this the woman you bought it from?
00:53:34I guess it's lacquer.
00:53:36Say, what is this?
00:53:37Congratulations, Willie's darling.
00:53:40I know you're going to be madly happy.
00:53:42Thank you.
00:53:43Hello, darling.
00:53:44Are you sure it's the same?
00:53:46Who said it was the same?
00:53:47Then it's not.
00:53:48It's the same type, sure enough.
00:53:50But it's certainly not the same girl.
00:53:52Are you positive?
00:53:53Sure, I can remember faces, even if you're not Ferguson.
00:53:57Why, your name's right on the tip of my tongue.
00:53:59Well, that's fine.
00:54:00Say, what is this?
00:54:03Oh, here's Mr. Ferguson who hasn't kissed the bride.
00:54:07Ferguson, my foot.
00:54:08It's the man from the Prudential.
00:54:12Darling, you do turn up at the most extraordinary times.
00:54:33Yes, sir?
00:54:34Mrs. Morton, number three, isn't it?
00:54:36What name is it, sir?
00:54:38What name?
00:54:45Sarah, Sarah.
00:54:47I've just seen Willis Craft and I was wrong.
00:54:49I was mistaken, but that's only a part of it.
00:54:51Now, you must listen to me.
00:54:52Are you all right, madam?
00:54:53Will you kindly show this gentleman downstairs?
00:54:55Look, I'd better talk to you if I had to take this place apart brick by brick.
00:54:59We've got to work this out.
00:55:00It's all worked out.
00:55:01Finished.
00:55:02Done.
00:55:03There's nothing more to talk about.
00:55:04Look, I've made one terrible mistake and I'm sorry.
00:55:07Can I pet someone, Mrs. Morton?
00:55:08Oh, shut up.
00:55:09But Croft did buy the Bonington.
00:55:10Probably half the pictures in Lois Manor were fakes.
00:55:13Now, look, Tracy was shamming when Fisher found him that day.
00:55:16The fire was a put-up job from start to finish.
00:55:18Are you going to leave now or are you going to wait until I have you thrown out?
00:55:22I tell you, I saw it for myself.
00:55:24I was there.
00:55:27There?
00:55:28There?
00:55:29Yes, at the fire.
00:55:32I don't believe you.
00:55:33I made that alarm call, not Tracy.
00:55:36Here's the scar where I burned myself.
00:55:38Tracy was already dead.
00:55:40That fire had been started by exactly the same method that I told you about.
00:55:45In the basement.
00:55:50Curious.
00:55:51I understand this man is annoying you, Mrs. Morton.
00:55:54What?
00:55:55Oh, no, no.
00:55:56Oh?
00:55:58You did ask me to fetch someone, madam.
00:56:00Yes, I know. It's been a mistake. I'm sorry.
00:56:03Oh, si.
00:56:04Thank you.
00:56:10Oliver, tell me.
00:56:14Tell me.
00:56:18I can see now how everything pointed to me.
00:56:22But, darling, believe me, I never said a word to Tracy about any way of starting a fire.
00:56:27It was an old enough trick.
00:56:28What were the other things?
00:56:30Well, it just wasn't one thing. It was the whole lot taken together.
00:56:34I've been a fool.
00:56:36You said that I must have been ill with suspicion and jealousy.
00:56:40I think I was.
00:56:41And you never said anything to anyone.
00:56:48Now what's to be done, Oliver?
00:56:50I must give the money back.
00:56:52Yes, that must be done.
00:56:54It's an awkward job, but I'm sure the underwriters will be sympathetic.
00:57:00Tracy.
00:57:03Strange how you think you know someone so well
00:57:07and then suddenly realize you never knew how their mind worked at all.
00:57:16Oliver, take me out somewhere where I don't have to think.
00:57:25I think that night we went slightly mad.
00:57:27A great weight had been lifted from us.
00:57:30Our problems seemed to have melted away.
00:57:33Say, Anna, will you marry me?
00:57:35Yes, Oliver.
00:57:37Soon?
00:57:38How soon?
00:57:39Saturday.
00:57:40Saturday this week or next week?
00:57:41This.
00:57:46Oliver, you're not serious.
00:57:48But I am.
00:57:50But darling, it's too soon.
00:57:52Now, if we wait, you'll change your mind.
00:57:54Don't you trust me?
00:57:55Of course not.
00:57:56Never could.
00:57:58Sarah, no.
00:58:00We've lost five years already.
00:58:02Five years wasted.
00:58:04But darling, I've nothing to wear.
00:58:06Besides, there's a little matter of 30,000 pounds to be returned
00:58:10and heaven knows what explanations.
00:58:12Michael doesn't get back until Saturday.
00:58:14We'll get married on Saturday.
00:58:17Michael doesn't get back until Saturday.
00:58:19We'll get married and see him right afterwards
00:58:21and get him to arrange about the money.
00:58:23Then in the afternoon we can fly to France.
00:58:25What do you think?
00:58:26Oh, you're not giving me time to.
00:58:28Wonderful.
00:58:32Perhaps I didn't give myself time to think either.
00:58:39You got the check?
00:58:40Yes, darling.
00:58:41Good morning.
00:58:42Good morning, sir.
00:58:43Good morning.
00:58:45Michael.
00:58:51Oh, Mr. Branwell.
00:58:52I've been trying to get you at home, but you must have been out.
00:58:55Yes, I was.
00:58:56Mr. Michael's been kept in Liverpool.
00:58:58Oh, no.
00:58:59Yes, he phoned just after ten to say his father was running a temperature
00:59:02and he felt he ought to stay with him.
00:59:04Well, when will he be back?
00:59:05Oh, not till Monday now.
00:59:07Can I give him any message while you're away, Mr. Branwell?
00:59:10What?
00:59:12Well, perhaps you'd say that Mrs. Morton and I were married this morning
00:59:16and we just called in to get his blessing.
00:59:26Darling, what are we going to do?
00:59:27We'll see him when we get back, that's all.
00:59:29I can't say another week's going to make any difference.
00:59:38And for a few wonderful days it didn't.
00:59:40Until on the Friday when the mail arrived.
00:59:48Ah, there's one for you.
00:59:51Oh.
00:59:52I wonder who this can be from.
00:59:56Maybe it's a wedding present.
01:00:02Oh, listen to this.
01:00:03It's from Michael.
01:00:05The news knocked us completely sideways.
01:00:07We never thought that you of all people would dash off and get hitched at five.
01:00:14It's from Tracy's ring.
01:00:21He always wore it.
01:00:24Always.
01:00:29We could have stayed another day, but we left for home the following morning.
01:00:38Oh, there you are, Fisher.
01:00:39Oh, hello, Branwell.
01:00:40I'm sorry, I'm a couple of minutes late.
01:00:42Oh, that's all right.
01:00:43Move, Ranger.
01:00:45Coffee?
01:00:46Thanks.
01:00:47One cappuccino.
01:00:48Thank you.
01:00:49By the way, your telegram intrigued me.
01:00:51What's it all about?
01:00:52Well, first of all, Sarah doesn't know that I'm meeting you.
01:00:56Oh, I won't split.
01:00:58If I remember rightly, you identified Tracy Morton.
01:01:03Yes, I did, poor fellow.
01:01:04Why?
01:01:05Is this his ring?
01:01:09Yes.
01:01:10Yes, that's his, all right.
01:01:11Was it still on his finger when you saw the body?
01:01:14Yes, of course.
01:01:15You seem very positive.
01:01:16Well, it was one of the means of identification.
01:01:20Why, what's the matter?
01:01:21Someone sent it to Sarah when we were in France.
01:01:23Just the ring, nothing else.
01:01:26Oh.
01:01:27Shows a very warped sense of humor.
01:01:29If sense of humor is the right term.
01:01:31Yes, the work of a very unpleasant man.
01:01:34I don't like the way you're looking at me, Brad.
01:01:36Well, you don't think I'd do a thing like that just because...
01:01:38No, no, no, no.
01:01:40I should think not.
01:01:41I just want to know who sent it.
01:01:43Of course.
01:01:44Who knew where you were staying?
01:01:45Isn't that a point?
01:01:46No, it doesn't apply.
01:01:47It was just sent to my office marked, please forward.
01:01:50Well, I wish I could help.
01:01:53Excuse me.
01:01:54Would you pass the sugar, please?
01:01:55Thank you.
01:01:57You say that you had to identify Tracy Morton.
01:02:01You say that you had to identify Tracy by objects.
01:02:05That's true.
01:02:06You meant that the body wasn't recognizable.
01:02:09I'm afraid it wasn't.
01:02:15I see.
01:02:30Hello, darling.
01:02:34Well, there's nothing much in the papers.
01:02:36The world seems to have gone in the same way since we've been away.
01:02:40Yes.
01:02:42Been out?
01:02:43No.
01:02:45Well, how about a drink?
01:02:46A glass of sherry?
01:02:49No, thanks.
01:02:52I've just had tea.
01:02:54Oh.
01:02:56Tea for two and...
01:02:57Two for tea.
01:02:59What?
01:03:01What happened?
01:03:02Oh, Oliver, I wasn't going to tell you.
01:03:07It happened just after you'd left.
01:03:11The telephone rang.
01:03:12I answered it.
01:03:14And a voice said,
01:03:16I'm having tea downstairs, Mrs. Branwell.
01:03:19And I thought you might like to join me.
01:03:21Just like that.
01:03:23Well, I said, who is it?
01:03:25He said his name is Mr. Jerome.
01:03:29He wanted to talk to me about the fire at Lowe's Manor.
01:03:34He said I'd regret it very much
01:03:36if I missed an opportunity to have a little chat.
01:03:41He was a polite, harmless-looking man
01:03:46eating buttered toast.
01:03:51Good afternoon, Mrs. Branwell.
01:03:53Good afternoon, Mrs. Branwell.
01:03:55How very nice of you to come now.
01:03:57Take a seat, will you?
01:03:59I've taken the liberty of ordering a pot for two.
01:04:02What do you want?
01:04:04Not what I want, Mrs. Branwell.
01:04:05It's what my client wants.
01:04:08I've no idea what you're talking about.
01:04:10Oh, there's no need to pretend with me, Mrs. Branwell.
01:04:14Certain monies have come into your hands
01:04:17as a result of the unfortunate fire in which...
01:04:20Shall I be mother?
01:04:23In which your late, unfortunate husband met his death.
01:04:27To wit, 30,000 pounds.
01:04:32Well?
01:04:33My client has proof that that fire was not accidental.
01:04:38Two lumps.
01:04:39If that's the case,
01:04:40then why hasn't your client gone to the police?
01:04:43Can you see the police handing over a cheque for 15,000 pounds?
01:04:4715,000 pounds?
01:04:49Half of 30.
01:04:53My client would undertake to leave you
01:04:55in undisturbed enjoyment of the other half.
01:05:00I see.
01:05:03I'm not used to talking blackmail over tea and buttered toast.
01:05:08Really, Mrs. Branwell,
01:05:09I take the keenest exception to that remark.
01:05:11You mean it's only blackmail when someone else does it?
01:05:14I'm merely presenting the bill.
01:05:15My client would say nothing at all about the fraud.
01:05:17Fraud?
01:05:18Oh, come, come, Mrs. Branwell.
01:05:19Come, come, come.
01:05:20We have proof that you were in it as well
01:05:23and that your present husband was an accessory after the fact.
01:05:27Indeed.
01:05:28Well, he's not likely to be frightened by anonymous blackmail either.
01:05:32Nothing like whistling to keep your courage up, is there?
01:05:35You have a talk to hubby, by all means,
01:05:38and I'll come back here at nine o'clock tonight for your answer.
01:05:43Good night.
01:05:45One must live, you know.
01:05:48Why?
01:05:56I tried so hard not to show how frightened I really was.
01:06:00There.
01:06:01You said all the right things.
01:06:03I wonder who his client can be.
01:06:06I don't know.
01:06:08Anyway, we're together now.
01:06:10They can't take that away from us, can they?
01:06:17Can they?
01:06:20Sarah.
01:06:23That night of the fire, I didn't tell you,
01:06:27but I thought I heard someone in the dark.
01:06:31But you said he was dead when you found him.
01:06:34I was sure he was dead.
01:06:43If Tracey sent the ring...
01:06:45Sarah.
01:06:47If... If Tracey sent...
01:06:50Stop it, Sarah. Of course he didn't.
01:06:56I'm sorry.
01:06:57Of course he didn't.
01:07:01It was Tracey.
01:07:03Oliver, I know it was Tracey.
01:07:05Sarah, you must keep your head.
01:07:07Now, look. Jerome is the way we can find out.
01:07:10You must keep that appointment at nine.
01:07:12Now, you must keep it. You must.
01:07:27Good evening.
01:07:57Is it any use waiting any longer?
01:08:26He's probably seen you through the window and thought it was a trap.
01:08:29Maybe he's waiting outside.
01:08:31I think I'll take Trixie for a walk around the block.
01:08:33All right. Don't be long.
01:08:50Mr. Oliver Branwell?
01:08:52Yes.
01:08:53Mr. Jerome?
01:08:56No, sir. The name's Barnes. Detective Inspector Barnes.
01:09:00Is there any way we could go for a little chat, sir?
01:09:02What about?
01:09:03It's to do with the fire at Lois Manor a few months back.
01:09:07Oh, yes. I suppose we'd better go up to the apartment.
01:09:11I'll just leave a message for my wife.
01:09:14When Mrs. Branwell gets back,
01:09:16will you say that I've taken Detective Inspector Barnes
01:09:20Detective Constable Watson.
01:09:22Good evening, sir.
01:09:23Good evening. I'll leave the word.
01:09:28Well, in what way can I help you?
01:09:30I don't quite know, sir. Yet.
01:09:33Would you care for a drink, gentlemen?
01:09:35Not on duty, if you don't mind.
01:09:37I believe you are a friend of Mr. Tracey Morton.
01:09:40I was on quite friendly terms with him, yes.
01:09:43Oh, I see.
01:09:46I was on quite friendly terms with him, yes.
01:09:49No, thank you, sir. Thanks awfully. In training, you know.
01:09:52And the family generally? I take it that's not too much to assume?
01:09:56In view of the fact that I married the widow?
01:09:58I wasn't going to say that, sir.
01:10:00Well, I said it for you.
01:10:02Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.
01:10:05Oh, do sit down.
01:10:07Thank you.
01:10:08Thank you, sir.
01:10:11Could you tell me when you first met Mr. Morton, sir?
01:10:14Nearly a year ago, when my firm sent me down to Lois Manor. Why?
01:10:19Oh, it's just a matter of tying up a few loose ends.
01:10:22You'd never met him before?
01:10:24No. Never.
01:10:27And the same would hold good for Mrs. Tracey Morton?
01:10:30What?
01:10:31Your wife, sir. Had you ever met her before?
01:10:35Well, yes. As a matter of fact, I had.
01:10:37Oh. When would that have been, sir?
01:10:40Old.
01:10:42Must be five years ago, when I was in Hong Kong.
01:10:47Did you know her well, sir?
01:10:49Yes.
01:10:51I see.
01:10:52So, naturally, you kept in touch?
01:10:56No.
01:10:58No?
01:10:59No.
01:11:00Sir.
01:11:01I was eavesdropping.
01:11:03Then who wouldn't?
01:11:04When one gets a message that you're here with a real, live police inspector.
01:11:08Oh, this is my wife.
01:11:10How do you do?
01:11:11And just why is Mr. Barnes so interested in our ancient history?
01:11:16Oh, just tying up a few loose ends.
01:11:20Well, just to tie up one loose end very firmly, we lost complete touch after Hong Kong.
01:11:27You mean, sir, that it was just a coincidence that you happened to meet again at Lois Manor?
01:11:31Of course it was.
01:11:32My dear, he's only doing his job.
01:11:34Yes, but what precisely is his job just now?
01:11:37Well, Mrs. Branwell, our file on the Lois Manor case isn't quite tidy enough for our liking.
01:11:43Oh.
01:11:45And just how is it untidy?
01:11:48Well, Mr.
01:11:49I'm sorry, sir.
01:11:50Mr. Morton was supposed to have telephoned the alarm 12 minutes before the fireman arrived.
01:11:55Then he ran out to look down over the balcony and the temporary rail broke.
01:11:59And?
01:12:00Well, that was the theory, but in the first place, there wasn't any telephone upstairs at all.
01:12:05What?
01:12:06Apparently that didn't emerge at the inquest, so nobody put two and two together.
01:12:10Making them five?
01:12:12I haven't mentioned any score yet, Mrs. Branwell.
01:12:16But by any arithmetic, it seems untidy for an asthmatic to have telephoned from a downstairs room,
01:12:23then run up the staircase, and in the end been found dead downstairs.
01:12:29And what do you deduce from that?
01:12:32Well, sir, we think that someone else may have been in the house and done the phoning.
01:12:38Why?
01:12:41I suppose you were in London on the night of the fire, sir. Do you happen to remember?
01:12:45Yes, I remember it very well.
01:12:48As a matter of fact, I slipped on the stairs and sprained my ankle.
01:12:53Anyone with you?
01:12:54No.
01:12:55I suppose you telephoned your Mrs. Branwell after the fire.
01:13:00We had no contact at all until two weeks ago.
01:13:04You mean to say you didn't even correspond with her for five months after the fire?
01:13:08Are you accusing my wife of lying?
01:13:11No, sir.
01:13:12Dear, he's only doing his job.
01:13:17Well, I think that's all for just now.
01:13:19Thanks for your help, and you too, ma'am.
01:13:22No pleasure.
01:13:25You'll be staying here for some time?
01:13:28Oh, yes, until we can find a place of our own.
01:13:31Yes, apartments aren't easy, are they?
01:13:36Oh, by the way, sir, is that your car outside?
01:13:40Which one?
01:13:42The black sports car.
01:13:43Yes.
01:13:45Does she go all right?
01:13:47Fine.
01:13:49Good.
01:13:50Good night.
01:13:51Good night, sir.
01:13:53Good night, madam.
01:13:58He thinks you and I conspired to commit an insurance fraud,
01:14:02and that I probably killed Tracy.
01:14:05No.
01:14:06Do you see what this means?
01:14:08When I go back to the office tomorrow, I can't tell Michael Abercrombie now.
01:14:12It'll be like saying,
01:14:13here's 30,000 pounds, take it quick before they arrest me, it's hot.
01:14:18We're stuck with that money, Sarah.
01:14:21Saddle with it.
01:14:29Hello, Fred.
01:14:30Oh, back I see.
01:14:32I hear from Barclay Rickett that you're still holding up a settlement
01:14:35on the Calandi first claim.
01:14:37Well, I think Calandi ought to produce his books.
01:14:39Oh, is that so?
01:14:40Now, listen, Fred, I'm not just trying to be awkward.
01:14:43You think he's a swindler, do you?
01:14:45Frankly, yes.
01:14:48Well, no one can say that yours isn't a swindler, can they?
01:14:51Well, no one can say that yours isn't a swindler, can they?
01:14:53Well, no one can say that yours isn't a swindler, can they?
01:14:55Well, no one can say that yours isn't a swindler, can they?
01:14:57Well, no one can say that yours isn't an expert opinion.
01:15:00What do you mean by that?
01:15:02Why, do I have to explain?
01:15:11You haven't heard the last of this, not by a long chalk.
01:15:15I didn't want to worry you about a ridiculous rumour on your first day back.
01:15:19Dad and I have paid no attention to it at all, I assure you.
01:15:22Thank you, Michael.
01:15:23All the same, you shouldn't have hit Connor.
01:15:25It only caused trouble.
01:15:26Yes, I know. I'm sorry.
01:15:30What ridiculous rumours has he been spreading?
01:15:33Do we have to go into that?
01:15:34No one who knows you believes it for one moment.
01:15:36No one who knows you believes it for one moment.
01:15:38No one who knows you believes it for one moment.
01:15:40No one who knows you believes it for one moment.
01:15:42No one who knows you believes it for one moment.
01:15:44Some folk have a peculiar way of showing it.
01:15:46Barclay Rickett, for one.
01:15:47This morning he looked at me as though there was a bad smell in the neighbourhood.
01:15:50I always thought that was his normal expression.
01:15:52Perhaps I'd better ask him.
01:15:54Well, if you must know,
01:15:58the story is that your car was seen outside Lois Manor on the night of the fire.
01:16:02I know it's ridiculous,
01:16:04but of course, events have taken place which make one understand how these...
01:16:08PHONE RINGS
01:16:11Hello, yes?
01:16:13Who wants him?
01:16:15It's a Mr Jerome for you, Oliver.
01:16:17Do you know him?
01:16:18Yes.
01:16:19Put him on.
01:16:26Hello, Branwell speaking.
01:16:30Oh, good day.
01:16:31I've been telephoning your wife, but she's out and it's very urgent.
01:16:36I'm afraid I was unable to keep my appointment last night
01:16:39owing to a nasty bilious attack.
01:16:41I'm afraid I ate something that didn't agree with me.
01:16:44Something on the toast, it was.
01:16:46Can you come to the point, Mr Jerome?
01:16:48Well, the point is that my client is pressing.
01:16:51Your wife must meet me tonight with the money
01:16:54or I'm afraid I can't answer for the consequences.
01:16:57I doubt whether that kind of threat
01:17:00will advance the settlement of your claim.
01:17:03I'm only passing on a message, you know.
01:17:06All right, name a time and place.
01:17:08By the bandstand in the Embankment Gardens.
01:17:11I'll be in front of the Burns statue,
01:17:13nine o'clock sharp again.
01:17:15All right, Mr Jerome.
01:18:08All right.
01:18:39Taxi!
01:18:44There's one.
01:19:08No, you'd better stay here in the cab.
01:19:24Oliver, I must know who it is.
01:19:30Two and a half, please.
01:20:00What are you doing here? You know I...
01:20:02Now, shut up. Get out. Get out of here.
01:20:04I must warn you, you're committing a trespass.
01:20:06I thought when we didn't show up, you'd report to the boss, Jerome.
01:20:09Who is he? Who copied those pictures?
01:20:11Get out of here.
01:20:14The same type, but not the same girl.
01:20:16What?
01:20:17Strawberry blonde and blue eyes.
01:20:19You don't get out of here. I'll call the police.
01:20:20I wouldn't do that.
01:20:21I think the police might be very interested in a girl
01:20:23who sold a Bonington to an American called Willis Croft.
01:20:26Oliver, look.
01:20:28Another copy of the lippy.
01:20:30Oh, no.
01:20:32Portrait of the artist as a young woman.
01:20:34You copied those pictures.
01:20:36Who paid you for them?
01:20:38Listen.
01:20:42Keep quiet, the pair of you.
01:20:44Stay where you are, Jerome.
01:20:59Clive.
01:21:01I couldn't help him, Mr. Fisher.
01:21:03I waited an hour.
01:21:05They must have followed me.
01:21:06You bilious ass.
01:21:08So it was you.
01:21:10You all the time.
01:21:12Do you know what you've done to Sarah?
01:21:14As they used to say a few years back, is my face red?
01:21:17Oliver, do you realize? It was only Clive.
01:21:20Yes, I suppose you thought you'd cash in on Tracy's plan.
01:21:22It wasn't Tracy's plan. It was mine, most of it.
01:21:25What's the matter with you?
01:21:27I'm not feeling very well, Mr. Fisher.
01:21:30The nervous excitement, I think.
01:21:32Well, crawl off to the appropriate place and be sick.
01:21:36One has to do absolutely everything oneself nowadays.
01:21:40Ambrosine, I could do with a drink.
01:21:43Darn silly name, Ambrosine.
01:21:46Did you bring the money with you?
01:21:47What, after this?
01:21:49You must be crazy, Clive.
01:21:51Well, you may be.
01:21:52Well, you may have pulled my whiskers off,
01:21:53but I can't see that it makes any basic difference.
01:21:55Well, you won't get it.
01:21:57We're making a full statement to the police.
01:22:00What?
01:22:02Good heavens, what bare-faced effrontery.
01:22:05You're trying to put your hat on my head.
01:22:08You cottoned on to Tracy's little plan
01:22:10and came to an arrangement with Sarah.
01:22:12Poor old Tracy went over the balcony.
01:22:14You assisted him, for all I know.
01:22:16And a very sordid story it is, too.
01:22:19Even if I am prepared to overlook it for 15,000.
01:22:21You were at Loewy's Manor that night.
01:22:23I heard you.
01:22:24I wasn't even in England.
01:22:25I was in France on a wine-tasting trip
01:22:27and I had a flyback to identify him.
01:22:29You can't prove that.
01:22:30Of course I can.
01:22:32Ask the secretary of the wine fellowship.
01:22:35Well, don't stand there staring at me like a couple of idiots.
01:22:38I'd lie myself blue in the face if necessary,
01:22:40but I'm not lying now.
01:22:42I'm just a single-minded fellow
01:22:44with one aim in mind.
01:22:46I'm just a single-minded fellow
01:22:48with one aim in view.
01:22:5015,000 pounds.
01:22:52Thank you, my dear.
01:22:54Then, if it wasn't you I heard that night,
01:22:57who was it?
01:22:59Nobody.
01:23:01But you sent me Tracy's ring.
01:23:04It was you, wasn't it, Clive?
01:23:06I've told your new husband already, no.
01:23:09I don't know anything about it.
01:23:11I wouldn't do a thing like that.
01:23:14Look out for her.
01:23:15Sarah!
01:23:17Here.
01:23:18You'd better give her this.
01:23:24All right.
01:23:25Now, take it gently.
01:23:30Oliver, what are we going to do?
01:23:32Fisher can't touch us without giving himself away.
01:23:35I don't mean that.
01:23:36Now, now, you sit here for a bit.
01:23:38Look, we are not going to talk about it anymore,
01:23:41and not tonight.
01:23:42Now, you must sleep.
01:23:46I'll get you something.
01:23:54Oliver.
01:23:55Yeah?
01:23:58Trixie's gone.
01:24:00Oh, she's probably in the bedroom.
01:24:02No, I shut the door.
01:24:04Well, you stay there.
01:24:07Trixie?
01:24:09Trixie!
01:24:16She's not there.
01:24:19No, she must have got out.
01:24:21Or maybe she was barking and the porter took her downstairs.
01:24:25It was always Trixie she liked best.
01:24:34William Baker.
01:24:36The next day, everything came to a head.
01:24:39Mr. Abercrombie, they called me in the room.
01:24:41You wanted me.
01:24:42Would you come back to the office, Oliver?
01:24:44There's something we must discuss urgently.
01:24:49Very well, Mr. Abercrombie, I'll come along immediately.
01:24:57Good afternoon.
01:25:06You will let us know if you change your address, won't you, Mr. Branwell?
01:25:10Yes.
01:25:15I know why you sent for me, and I don't blame you.
01:25:19We intended telling you the whole story and returning the money
01:25:22the day you couldn't get back from Liverpool.
01:25:24I've been carrying Sarah's cheque about with me ever since.
01:25:26You'd better take it now.
01:25:28Well, you can see the date.
01:25:30But then you can put any date you like on a cheque, can't you?
01:25:33So it doesn't mean a thing.
01:25:35Yes, I was at Lewis Manor that night.
01:25:38It was bound to come out sometime.
01:25:40I'm only sorry it didn't.
01:25:42It's bound to come out sometime.
01:25:43I'm only sorry you had to hear it from Barnes first.
01:25:47We didn't hear anything from Barnes.
01:25:51What?
01:25:52He merely asked me if it was true that I'd seen you the day after the fire,
01:25:56and if I could confirm that you'd sprained your ankle.
01:25:58I answered yes to each question.
01:26:00We added we had complete confidence in your integrity.
01:26:03Well, you can see how mistaken you were.
01:26:05I'm afraid you're not a very good picker, Michael.
01:26:07I've kept my mouth shut when I should have spoken,
01:26:09and I've lied to you both since.
01:26:11But, although I can't expect anybody in their right mind to believe it,
01:26:15I was not a party to the fraud, and I had nothing to do with Morton's death.
01:26:19If you'll take my advice, you won't make the mistake of trying to defend me.
01:26:23You'll just bury me as decently and as quietly as possible.
01:26:42Oh!
01:26:54Sarah?
01:26:56Sarah?
01:27:02Darling, I tried to get you at the office.
01:27:05I thought of something.
01:27:07I'm going down to Lois Manor.
01:27:09Please don't try to follow me.
01:27:11This is something I must do alone.
01:27:39Oh!
01:28:03Bark! Bark!
01:28:06Bark!
01:28:09Bark!
01:28:39Bark! Bark!
01:28:57No! You must...
01:28:59Think about it.
01:29:06You've come at the end of a battle, Mr. Bramble.
01:29:10I'm tired of fighting, so I've lost.
01:29:13What?
01:29:14I found that cigarette, Oliver, and then it came to me.
01:29:17I thought of the breathing, and I remembered that she used to be an asthmatic, too.
01:29:21Your wife has been an hour persuading me, dictating terms.
01:29:24Oh, no!
01:29:25I'm to make a statement. I'm to denounce my dead son.
01:29:28I'm to shout our disgrace from the housetops.
01:29:31Yes, Oliver.
01:29:32She took Trixie. She sent the ring.
01:29:35Because you were disloyal to Tracy.
01:29:39Where was Tracy's loyalty to me? And yours?
01:29:42When you suspected that he arranged the first fire, did you tell me?
01:29:46Did either of you do anything but hide the truth?
01:29:49Did you?
01:29:51No.
01:29:53You're right.
01:29:54You're right.
01:29:57In my heart, I was always afraid that he might try again.
01:30:02And when he arranged so carefully for us all to be away, I knew.
01:30:09What happened, Mrs. Morton?
01:30:12I left London that night and came back alone.
01:30:15When I got here, Tracy had his coat on and was going to get the car out.
01:30:20I could tell by his face at once when he saw me.
01:30:24So I told him why I had returned.
01:30:27At first, he laughed and said I was crazy.
01:30:30Then, he suddenly lost his temper.
01:30:33Shouted at me that it was true, but that it was too late.
01:30:37The fire was already alight.
01:30:39Then he ran up the stairs in a rage like a madman.
01:30:42Tore down the curtains and started to throw them down into the hall.
01:30:47I clung to him to stop him.
01:30:49But he wrenched himself away and fell back against the balcony rail where it was being repaired.
01:30:58I heard it break away.
01:31:01He screamed!
01:31:08Then I think I must have fainted.
01:31:14The next thing I remember,
01:31:16the next thing I remember,
01:31:19someone was moving about, coming up the stairs.
01:31:23I was frightened.
01:31:26I thought I could hardly get my breath.
01:31:29But somehow I managed to get away.
01:31:35Since then, I've been as you see me now.
01:31:42I understand, Mrs. Morton, you're willing to make the same statement elsewhere.
01:31:46Thank you, Mrs. Morton.
01:31:47Thank you, Mr. Morton.
01:31:48Thank you.
01:31:59The war changed Tracy.
01:32:02You wouldn't have known him before.
01:32:04One must learn to forgive the times one lives in.
01:32:09Well, gentlemen, this surely puts a very different complexion on the matter.
01:32:13I entirely agree.
01:32:14The money's been returned and the criminal brought to book.
01:32:16And since I started this, I should like to say...
01:32:18Bramwell's conduct may have been irregular.
01:32:19Irregular, I should say so.
01:32:20The point is, Bramwell's said nothing about this for five months.
01:32:24Exactly, exactly.
01:32:25Well, how could he say anything?
01:32:26Well, I started this and I'm...
01:32:27If he'd said anything...
01:32:28One moment, gentlemen.
01:32:29On a point of order, gentlemen.
01:32:32Thank you, Michael.
01:32:33Thank you.
01:32:34On a point of order, gentlemen.
01:32:37Thank you, Michael.
01:32:39You're very generous, Fred.
01:32:41I just want to say this for myself.
01:32:43Any decision this inquiry comes to must be mine, too.
01:32:46Now, that's not egotism or just old back.
01:32:49Because in the last resort, it's one's own opinion of oneself that really counts.
01:32:52And in my opinion, I don't come out of this very well.
01:32:55I've failed as an adjuster because I failed to see where my first duty lay.
01:32:59I've failed as an ordinary citizen because a private loyalty isn't enough
01:33:03to keep a business founded on trust.
01:33:05I'm resigning because it seems to me to be the only honorable thing to do.
01:33:14Thank you.
01:33:21Well, there you are, you see, Buckley. You see what happens.
01:33:23Well, I started all this.
01:33:28It was not until we were walking away through the market afterwards
01:33:31that I realized how much of my heart was in my job and how much I loved it.
01:33:36But I told myself my mind was made up.
01:33:39I told Fred Conner, too.
01:33:41And Michael.
01:33:42And Barclay Rickett.
01:33:44They said, couldn't we talk it over quietly?
01:33:46I told them no.
01:33:48But then Sarah said, surely there couldn't be any harm in just discussing it.
01:33:54And...
01:33:55Well, there couldn't be any harm in just discussing it.
01:33:59Good day.
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