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deaddogsdam
  • 21/05/2025
First broadcast 4th December 1983.

The American ambassador hires the Beresfords to investigate a mystery.

Francesca Annis as Tuppence Beresford
James Warwick as Tommy Beresford
Reece Dinsdale as Albert Batt
Moira Brooker as Tilly
Michael Carter as Rodriguez
Arthur Cox as Inspector Marriott
Tricia George as Poppy St Albans
Jennie Linden as Cicely March
T.P. McKenna as Randolph Wilmot
Clive Merrison as Richards
Jo Ross as Gwen Foster
Catherine Schell as Virma La Strange
Norma West as Estelle Blaney
Vera Jakob as Manners
Anna Sharkey as Madame Beatrice
Judy Gridley as Nightclub Dancer
Linda Sands as Girl on Bridge
Stephen Rashbrook as Boy on Bridge

Category

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TV
Transcript
01:00Cheers.
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02:02Cheers.
02:03Very well.
02:04What a way!
02:06Ah…
02:07Oh hello there!
02:08It's good to see you!
02:11Yes!
02:12You know...
02:13you know in the bag when I went to the austronomy thing.
02:15You sent your man around for my bag and you got this steak.
02:20Ha-ha-ha.
02:21No no.
02:23No, you got the wrong one.
02:27What?
02:28buses. so once again my darlings thank you. thank you. please don't thank us
02:39anymore miss L'Estrange. we really were only doing our job. work that became the
02:44greatest of pleasures miss L'Estrange. and for you to invite us here to the
02:50embassy garden party. well more than kind. foolish darling how easily you are
03:02pleased. my country only wanted to repay you for rescuing one of its humble
03:08citizens from who knows. ah but here comes its representative. Randolph
03:15darling I should like you to meet a man responsible for rescuing your poor
03:19Werner from the kidnappers. may I present the ambassador of the United
03:24States mr. Willmott. and this is mr. Blunt the famous private
03:28investigator. how do you do sir? delighted mr. Blunt. oh yes and this is
03:36his little assistant miss Robin. son Robin son. again a pleasure. and now you
03:52must please excuse me I must go to a fitting for my crown. crown? for the
03:57Mary Queen of Scots. oh your fill. last of the heather. so sad. and then tomorrow I
04:08lose my head. imagine. yes.
04:14adieu my friends. we will meet again.
04:20isn't she splendid. yes. we are very proud to welcome miss Lestrange. one of our
04:35newer citizens. and we are very grateful to you both for helping her avoid
04:40abduction. we aim satisfy in the shortest space of time. still miss Robinson 24
04:48hours is quite a record. it has impressed me sufficiently to the extent that I'd
04:54like to present you with another little matter that is. a professional matter.
05:01well it's probably nothing. it's just that well are you free tomorrow at 320?
05:08yes. good good. shall we come to the embassy sir? no no I'd rather like to
05:17take a look inside our British private investigators office. I'll pay you a visit.
05:24thank you. thank you.
05:28as I was about to say there's nothing in it to trouble Scotland Yard about. I'm not any worse in any way. and it's all probably due to a simple mistake. but all the same I don't see how that
05:57mistake arose. nothing criminal in it I dare say. no no my dear never touch them.
06:02but I just like to get things straightened out. makes me mad not to be
06:07able to see the whys and wherefores. quite so. now to recap. you arrived by the
06:16liner nomadic a week ago. in some way your kit bag and the kit bag of another
06:21gentleman mr. Ralph Westerham whose initials are the same as yours got mixed
06:26up. you took mr. Westerham's kit bag and he took yours. mr. Westerham discovered
06:31the mistake immediately sent round the bag to the embassy and took away his own.
06:37quite right miss Robinson. perfect. the two bags must have been practically
06:44identical. and with the initials RW being the same in both cases it's not
06:49difficult to understand that an error might have been made. I myself was not
06:53aware of what had happened until my valet informed me of the mistake and that mr.
06:58Westerham oh he is a senator. a man for whom I have a great admiration had sent
07:03round for his bag and returned mine. then I don't see... oh but you will mr. Blunt.
07:09you will. yesterday at our little party and just before I joined you and your
07:16charming miss Robinson I ran up against senator Westerham. I mentioned the matter
07:22to him jestingly and to my great surprise he didn't seem to know just
07:27what I was talking about. when I explained he denied the story absolutely.
07:32he had not taken the bag off the ship in mistake for his own. in fact he had not
07:37traveled with such an article amongst his luggage. what an extraordinary thing.
07:42mr. Blunt it is an extraordinary thing. there seems no rhyme or reason in it. why
07:46if anyone wanted to steal my kit bag he could have done so easily enough without
07:50resorting to all this roundabout business. and anyway it was not stolen
07:54but returned to you. on the other hand if it was a mistake why use senator
08:02Westerham's name? it's a crazy business my dear but just for curiosity I mean to
08:08get to the bottom of it. you say nothing was missing from your bag when it came
08:12back into your possession. my man says not he would know. what was in it if I
08:19may ask? of course you may miss Robbins. my bag contained boots. boots? yes boots.
08:29odd isn't it? hmm now um who came for the bag the other bag I mean? supposed to be
08:37one of Westerham's servants. quite an ordinary man so I understand. my valet
08:42saw nothing wrong with him. had it been unpacked at all? not that I know. I
08:46presume not but perhaps you'd like to question my valet.
08:51Mr. Richards. just Richards sir. good well shall we sit down?
09:19thank you sir. it's about this matter of a kit bag full of boots. his excellency
09:25informed me that you'd be calling but I doubt if I can tell you anything new.
09:29mr. Wilmot was rather upset over the affair I know that sir but I can hardly
09:34see why since no harm was done. can you be sure of that Richards? none that I
09:39know of sir. I certainly understood from the man who called for the bag that it
09:43belonged to senator Westerham but of course I may have been mistaken. what
09:46kind of man was he? middle-aged gray hair very good class I should say.
09:53most respectable. I understood he was senator Westerham's valet. he just left
09:58mr. Wilmot's bag took away the other. had it been unpacked at all? which one sir?
10:05well I meant the bag you brought from the boat but I should like to know about
10:09the other bag as well mr. Wilmot's own. had that been unpacked at all do you
10:14fancy? well I should say not sir. no it was just as I strapped it up on the boat.
10:19no I should say the gentleman whoever he was he just opened it realized it
10:25wasn't his and shut it up again. nothing missing? no small article? don't think so
10:33sir. in fact I'm quite sure. what about the other bag? had you started to unpack
10:40that? as a matter of fact sir I was just opening it at the very moment the
10:45senator Westerham's man arrived. I'd just undone the straps. did you see inside the
10:50bag at all? no we just we unfastened it together sir to be sure no mistake had
10:57been made this time. the man said it was all right. he strapped it up took it away.
11:04boots was it? none sir. in the bag? oh no sir. what then? well I didn't really notice
11:16much. um toilet things I fancy. I think I saw a tin of bath salt. and you never saw
11:27anyone tampering with anything in your master's cabin on board ship I suppose?
11:30no sir. nothing suspicious of any kind? no. just a minute sir something's coming
11:43back to me. yes what? well I don't think it could have anything to do with it um
11:49but there was a young lady. she was taken queer just outside mr.
11:55Woolmut's cabin. the sea was cutting her rough and she looked so frail. I took her
12:01inside so she might recover herself. she asked me to fetch a doctor. so I left
12:07her there whilst I went off to find him. by the time I got back she seemed almost
12:12all right again. did you discover the young lady's name? mm-hmm Eileen O'Hara.
12:20not tall with dark hair just a little foreign-looking. you don't think sir? I
12:29don't know what to think Richards. was this miss O'Hara traveling alone? I
12:35believe so sir. and you haven't seen her since you landed? no sir. very well that
12:44will be all for now Richards. thank you. for now sir. well I may wish to question
12:49you again. after all Eileen O'Hara came back to you didn't she?
13:02Eileen as well as O'Hara? oh my dear Tommy that's too impossibly Irish for
13:07words. and the sudden fainting won't do. too suspicious. she's probably a German
13:14spy like Alice Terry in Mare Nostrum. she did it for love. they're not all bad
13:22you know guv. I'm very glad to hear it Albert. do you think it's too... too... not
13:31enough might be a better description. oh Tommy you're so stuffy. it's the latest
13:36thing and I haven't a stitch to wear. I wasn't aware we were going out tonight.
13:40me not we. Albert pop down and stop me a taxi will you? Albert. right away miss.
13:50just a minute. what is all this about darling? work Tommy. oh work work work.
13:58oh I'm sorry I forgot to tell you. while you were at his embassy he telephoned and
14:04asked us to join him at the Savoy for dinner. good. ah my turn to do a little
14:09detection work on my own. after all you did take Werner Losrange to the Ritz
14:13twice. not to mention the Green Parrot. and anyway I thought you were off
14:18dancing. too tiring.
14:39I break your heart. you'll have to forgive an old man for not being quite up to your standard.
15:03not at all your excellency. you dance very well. I thought we got past the
15:10excellency stage. I'd like you to call me Randy. I'd be delighted. why don't you call me
15:17Tubbens. Tubbens? like in your currency. the same. how unusual. but charming.
15:28ah. well how's about another glass of bubbly Tubbens? thank you. that would be nice.
15:40well sadly an enlightening environment your Green Parrot. I'm indebted to you
15:54for introducing me to it. Tubbens. I'm only sorry that your friends weren't able to come over. yes that was a shame wasn't it. still I was determined. it's
16:06important for an ambassador to be aware of just how British society enjoys itself.
16:11I'm just sorry mr. Blunt couldn't make it tonight. so is he. he'll be so glad to learn that you like it here.
16:19it's fun isn't it? mr. Blunt absolutely insisted that I brought you. of course we're here all the time.
16:26but surely you have places like this in Washington. Washington may well have places like this but in
16:32common with the rest of America it also has prohibition. hardly suitable for a diplomat to be seen in our speakeasy.
16:41hardly. anyway Edith. that's mrs. Wilmot. she shouldn't drink. it overstimulates her libido.
16:55she's the second mrs. Wilmot to understand. I see. she's in America at present. uh-huh visiting her mother in Maine.
17:07isn't that the place I'd rather like England. well but climate can be similar. tell me did mrs. Wilmot leave this country
17:23after your return from the United States? no no we crossed together spent two weeks in Washington
17:31then she went on to Maine and I returned here alone. are you gonna continue with this interrogation?
17:37you won't allow me to pull the wool over your eyes. but I really must be allowed to do a little work if I'm to justify being here.
17:48as far as I'm concerned my dear you don't need any justification. fire away. thank you. were you involved with anyone on board? a woman for instance?
18:01I mean what I meant was I mean well anyone suspicious trying to get to know you that sort of thing. no one in particular. there were a few rather high-spirited kids as I recall.
18:19yes every night in the ballroom they would cause some sort of exhibition. drinking here? yes but more than that they seemed to be desperate somehow as if
18:30they were living a separate experience. one night they learnt who I was I fancy they surrounded my table and just wouldn't leave. I dined in my cabin after that.
18:40and that was all? that's all I can remember. what about Eileen O'Hara? did Richards tell you about her? funny thing you know she'd almost slipped my
18:56memories. but I don't see how she could have anything to do with it. fact of the matter is I only met her by chance. apparently she'd collapsed outside the cabin. Richards had shown her in then gone for a doctor. I'd forgotten my cigar case and returned to
19:14collect it to find a young woman sitting in my cabin. Richards then appeared with a doctor. she said she felt better and didn't need it.
19:23Richards then helped her to her cabin. well that was the last I saw her. how did you learn her name? I always make a point of us obtaining the name of any person whom I have contact with. you don't think she was just
19:44intending to be sick do you? it has been known. but I think mr. Blunt will want to speak to your Richard. of course. time to go your excellency. oh poor kid. you know I hate to see that. if that's what drink can do to a young woman then perhaps our
20:03prohibition laws are correct. I think she's taking a little more than an hour.
20:33Oh George be compact!
21:03I'm sure he'll be very upset.
21:32what about poor Richards? can't you spare any sympathy for him darling? oh yes of
21:37course. I mean he threw away his life and that's a tragedy of unhappiness and
21:42waste. must have felt pretty guilty about something there. at least seems satisfied
21:47that the balance of his mind was disturbed. precisely. it's with what it
21:52was disturbed and by whom that we have to find out. oh and how do you propose we
21:56go about it Watson? you're Watson. I'm Holmes in this instance. and how is that?
22:02because I already happen to know the identity of whom. and whom? I mean who is
22:08it? can't you guess? possibly but I'd hate to be wrong.
22:15Tuppence stop being so mysterious. if you think you know who caused Richard's
22:20death kindly tell me. don't think darling I'm certain. it was you. oh thank
22:28you very much. sorry Elsing. price of our professional prodding. you obviously lit
22:33the blue touch paper and it was a very short fuse. stop talking like a cheap
22:37detective story. Richards told me nothing that he hadn't already told the
22:40ambassador. and the only new information that he volunteered volunteered was
22:45about that girl. Eileen O'Hara. and do you not think that she might never have
22:50remembered her had the ambassador not come back for his cigar case and find
22:53them together. and that sooner or later the ambassador himself would also
22:58remember her and mention her to us. she's the one Tommy. find her and you'll find
23:04the reason behind the kit bag switch and poor Richard's suicide. very good
23:09Watson. very good. I'm so awfully pleased to have my own hypothesis confirmed.
23:21any information respecting miss Eileen O'Hara known to have traveled from New
23:27York to Southampton on board the nomadic on its last crossing contact blunt.
23:33detective agency immediately. 28 Hailham Street. I placed it yesterday after
23:42leaving the embassy. I'm lunching at Poppy's and Albans. she's invited the
23:51girls. we may go shopping afterwards. I may be late. gosh what a bore for you.
23:57I'm sorry. well having to sit there whilst those girls rake over those
24:02horial chestnuts about wartime experiences and the VAD. it may be a bore
24:07for you Tommy but it isn't for me. we're rather proud of the contribution we made
24:13to the voluntary aid detachment. oh I say. and it's rather nice occasionally to spend time in the
24:19company of one that appreciates us. enjoy your sandwiches Tommy darling. but
24:24what happens I didn't really mean to...
24:35go to rat.
24:39Eileen O'Hara. not tall. with dark hair. just a little foreign looking.
25:39I can't go on anymore Albert. I've got a whole afternoon's typing to do. I'm worn out.
26:02all right Tilly. it'll do for today. I feel my shadowing techniques improve no end.
26:07here. how many times you notice me following you? four. no five times I think.
26:14you think? five times. really Albert this is supposed to be my lunch break. anyway
26:23how many times did you show yourself? well I was always visible. just blending
26:30in the background. pictures tonight. not that cowboy film again. I thought you
26:37enjoyed it. not much. not even the first time. I consider it a major step forward
26:44in the art of motion picture form. those posters will be glad you agree with them.
26:48anyway how else am I gonna pick up tips on lassoing? I don't know. there's not
26:53many Catwin, Beth nor Green to practice on even if you could. I already can. just
26:58want to be the best that's all. how little you understand the need for
27:02different skills in my profession. who are they? two o'clock. what? see you.
27:08Lyons corner house outside quarter past six. why so early? so we can see it round twice.
27:16Oh
27:30mr. Blunt
27:36I didn't hear you come in. evidently. a difficult case last night.
27:46you know how these things catch up on one. why don't you take a seat. thank you.
27:51well then tell me how you think I may be able to help you. I saw your advertisement
27:57in today's paper. I was on board the nomadic during the crossing that you
28:01mentioned. so this is the office of mr. busybody Blunt. hands up or I shoot!
28:08this lady will come with me please. yes you will my dear. you have never seen me
28:13before but that doesn't matter. I kind of my plans ruined by a silly little
28:18cheat like you. I seem to remember seeing you on board the nomadic. you must have
28:24been peering into things that didn't concern you. but I have no intentions of
28:29letting you blab any secrets to mr. Blunt here. a very clever gentleman mr.
28:36Blunt with his fancy advertisements. but as it happens I keep an eye on the
28:44advertisement columns. that's how I got wise to his little gun. you interest me
28:50exceedingly. won't you go on? she won't help you mr. Blunt. from now on you're a
28:58marked man. give up this investigation we leave you alone.
29:03otherwise God help you. death comes swiftly to those who thwart our plans.
29:10no! I've got him sir! I've lassoed him. been practicing with me lassoing me spare time sir.
29:18could you give me a hand? he's very violent. you damn idiot Albert! why didn't you go for the police?
29:23this fool's pair of yours if he knows anything plug me through the head. it's a jolly
29:27lucky escape. lassoed him in the nick of time I did. oh he till he could only see
29:31me now. it's wonderful what those chaps can do in the prairies sir. yes well we're
29:34not on the prairies Albert. we happen to be in a highly civilized city. now then
29:39my dear sir what are we going to do with you? I don't understand a word of what
29:47you're saying. I suspect it's not the kind of language to use in front of a
29:50lady. you will excuse him please won't you miss. you know in the heat of this
29:56little upset I've completely forgotten your name. March. I beg your pardon.
30:00Cicely March. oh I see. what are you going to do with him?
30:04fetch a bobby knife sir. no no I shall let him go this time. nevertheless I shall
30:13give myself the pleasure of kicking him down the stairs if only to teach him
30:17manners to a lady.
30:26are you... did he... did you hurt him? I hope so but probably less than he made out.
30:40shall we go back into my office miss? March and resume our conversation. I
30:45don't think we should be interrupted again. I have me lasso ready sir. just in
30:51case. put it away Albert.
30:57now miss March. oh I don't quite know where to begin. as that dreadful man said
31:06I was a passenger on the nomadic. the lady you advertised about miss O'Hara
31:12she was also on board. exactly. now that we know already but I suspect you know
31:18something of her doings on board ship. otherwise that picturesque gentleman
31:23would not have been in such a hurry to intervene. I will tell you everything
31:26that I know. good. the American ambassador was on board. one day I was passing his
31:34cabin and I happened to glance through the window and I saw this woman inside.
31:38she was doing something so extraordinary that I stopped to watch. she had a man's
31:46boot in her hand and with a little pair of scissors she was slitting the lining.
31:50then she appeared to push something inside. well just at that moment the
31:54ambassador returned and she immediately dropped back onto the couch and
31:58pretended to faint. then a doctor appeared followed by another man and I
32:03passed on. I said pretended to faint because when I first caught sight of her
32:10she was obviously feeling nothing of the kind. go on. I'd rather hate to tell you
32:16the next part. I was curious and also I'd been reading very silly books. I
32:22wondered if she'd put a bomb or a poison needle or something like that into mr.
32:28Wilmot's boot. well I know it sounds absurd but I did think so. anyway when I
32:34next passed the empty cabin I slipped in and had a look at the boot.
32:40I drew out from the lining a piece of paper just as I had it in my hand. I
32:46heard the steward returning so I had it out so as not to be caught. the folded
32:50paper was still in my hand. when I got back to my own cabin I examined it. mr.
32:59Blunt it was nothing but some verses from the Bible. verses from the Bible?
33:04at least I thought so at the time. I couldn't understand it. I thought perhaps
33:08it was the work of a religious maniac. anyway I didn't think it worth my while
33:11replacing it. so I kept it and I thought nothing about it until yesterday.
33:18yesterday? I used it to make a paper boat for my little nephew to sail in his bath.
33:24as the paper got wet I saw a queer kind of design coming out all over it.
33:35the water had brought out a hidden message. it was a kind of tracing and
33:41looked like the mouth of a harbour.
33:48anyway it was immediately after that that I read your advertisement. oh but
33:56this is most important. yes I see it all now. now that tracing was probably the
34:03plan of some important harbour defenses. it had been stolen by this woman. she was
34:08afraid that someone was on her track and not daring to keep it amongst her own
34:12possessions contrived this hiding place. later when she obtained possession of
34:16the bag in which the boot was packed she discovered the paper had vanished.
34:20miss March have you brought this paper with you? no it's at my place of business.
34:25I run a beauty parlor just off Bond Street. I'm really the agent for
34:29sicklemen preparations in New York. that is why I've just been over there. I thought
34:33the paper might be important so I locked it away in the safe before coming out.
34:37ought not Scotland Yard to know about this. yes indeed. well shall we go there
34:41now get the paper and take it straight round to Scotland Yard? I'm afraid I'm
34:44very busy this afternoon. the Bishop of London has asked me to call in on a case.
34:48a curious problem concerning some vestments and two curates. in that case I
34:52will go alone. but as I was about to say miss March the Bishop must wait. I will
34:57just leave a few words with Albert. I am very much afraid that until that paper
35:02is safely deposited in the hands of Scotland Yard you are in very active
35:08danger. do you think so? I'm afraid I'm certain of it. shall we go?
35:27are you a good walker miss March? yes. why? ought not we to get that taxi? it
35:39would be quicker. perhaps you did not notice. that taxi driver has just refused
35:44a fare lower down the street. your enemies are on the lookout. he was
35:48waiting for us. I think if you feel equal to it it might be better if we walked to
35:53Bond Street. they'll not be able to attempt much in Crowded Street. very well.
36:23it's no good your protesting Tuppence. it's the unvarnished truth. your life is
36:29full and mine's empty. oh nonsense Pop. look at your home. so much to keep. why?
36:35isn't there's Pongo to look after? I hear that he may be promoted following the next
36:40cabinet shuffle. how do you Estelle? how clever of you. I hear nothing. he's hardly
36:47home at all and when he is he falls asleep over his food. straight into his
36:51savoury last night. Manners was furious when she came to clear. chap works hard.
36:55he's entitled to snooze where he wants to. mind you catch me nodding off into
37:00one of Estelle's little concoctions. never the last of it. no you wouldn't.
37:04the trouble is I'm so bored. oh and I know it's ungrateful of me when I have
37:10all this. and one reads about the poorer classes who have absolutely nothing. they
37:17have one another Poppy dear. that's very true my dear. very very true. the curse of
37:23our class. loneliness. superior intelligence you see. can't be lonely if
37:30you don't have a brain. the war I miss. Poppy Red. oh no not the fighting and those
37:35poor boys. the danger and the excitement. you can hardly take up nursing again just
37:42to stifle boredom. surely there wasn't much danger in driving generals from the
37:46war office to the Savoy dear. only to the pedestrians and other drivers. most
37:50unfair. I was an extremely skillful driver. it was remarked upon just because
37:55you got stuck on heavy goods. actually I did not. you did. let's not argue. we all
38:01did our bit for the VAD and I think I know what Poppy means. it's the
38:06companionship she misses. the feeling of all being in it together against a
38:10common enemy. yes that's it. I must admit I've missed it too sometimes. even
38:16having dear Tommy. yes Estelle. even having dear Tommy. I think he's felt the
38:22same. poor sweet. been rather sharp with him lately. can't think why. not easy.
38:29thrown together all the time. in your work I mean. no no I don't think it's
38:35that exactly. it's just that... no girls just a minute. message from mrs. Beresford.
38:44said it was urgent. Albert was here? didn't catch the name madam. asked me if I'd seen a
38:49cowboy film with the Ritz. Albert? said he had to get back to the office but that
38:53note was a matter of life and death. oh what is it Tuppence? yes I'm rather afraid there is.
39:02Tommy's life may be in danger. I'll call the police. manners the telephone. no no
39:07time. I'm afraid I'll have to go right away. got a motor Poppy? well of course
39:11but it's all loaded up with jumble for the poor of Kensington and I told
39:15Wilkins I wouldn't need him again this afternoon. no more will you. we're all
39:18drivers here. come on St. Albans. you said your life lacked excitement. well now
39:22you're slap up against it. plus a chance to help out a chums better half. you
39:27mean? yes dear. we are coming with you.
40:27do you think it's safe to leave yet mr. Blunt? I haven't noticed anyone suspicious
40:34since we ducked in here and that was ten minutes ago. nearer 15 I think. good then
40:41I think we may safely assume that we've shaken them off.
41:27now if you'll be kind enough to take a seat I'll see if Rodrigo can fit you in.
41:42I not have the time to waste. now please.
41:48has anyone strange been in? no my dear. no stranger than usual. there was a sudden
41:54rush of custom but we had some cancellations so we were able to
41:59accommodate most of it. Rodrigo is able to manage? oh yes madam. splendid I'm
42:05taking this gentleman through to my office. perhaps you would inform me if
42:08anybody unusual attempts to enter the premises. good idea.
42:12names Blunt by the way just in case anyone comes asking. though I doubt that
42:16they will in here. I have made a note monsieur. I'm afraid mr. Blunt we have
42:23to go through the treatment room to get to my office.
42:53quite a contrast in decorative styles you have here miss March. oh yes. but then
43:08one can hardly expect women who wish to be one thing but in reality are another
43:11to entrust themselves to an establishment that look like this
43:14throughout. good one. isn't that what your profession is all about miss March?
43:19hiding the truth? no I mean cosmetic deception. you know I should be
43:26fascinated to learn what it is that attracts a young woman into such a
43:31falsifying type of work. why money mr. Blunt?
43:38a great deal of money. far too much to be made sacrifice to the haphazard
43:45investigations of a dilettante English private investigator. and you miss March
43:51are not English I take it. there perhaps you prefer to answer to O'Hara although
43:57we're not convinced that you're Irish either. we? oh forgive me I am not
44:02convinced. my wife is quite certain. Eileen O'Hara to impossibly Irish for
44:11words is how she put it. she seems to have more perception than you mr. Blunt.
44:16well in matters concerning women she just cannot be deceived. she taught me
44:21how to tell a peroxide blonde from a natural one. golden hair has to be the
44:26genuine article to take me in. so I didn't deceive you after all.
44:34I'm afraid there will be no office boy to help you this time mr. Blunt. there's
44:39the van in the rear. good. cotton wool has far more uses than for just removing
44:46face cream. yes chloroform mr. Blunt. you won't feel a thing once you lose
44:51consciousness and you'll be past feeling anything at all by the time you slip
44:55into the river. Rodriguez would you like to administer it?
45:09where is he? Tommy. are you all right? yes fine I'll be. here administer this to our
45:16foreigner friend would you? hold your breath girls.
45:25hello Tommy dear. hello Estelle.
45:39I thought we'd shut up shop for the day.
45:48come on inspector. this is the place.
46:03very glad to get hold of that gentleman. he's wanted badly.
46:07well done sir. I hardly recognized you at that get-up mr. Uphamson. I'm rather glad
46:16inspector. not here by chance I guess. certainly not. each move carefully
46:24coordinated as ever. teamwork is everything. don't you agree inspector?
46:28most certainly. yes and we couldn't have done it without the help of the girls.
46:31well it was just like the war. the war? VAD. we were all in it together. used to
46:37drive ambulances. that's all. only the uniforms were different. yes I've been
46:42meaning to ask you about those. Bobby's jumble. they're what the poor of
46:45Kensington are going to do with Paris gowns. I'm not quite sure. I thought it
46:49might cheer them up. take their minds off them. anyway they weren't really me. nor
46:55is that mud pack dear. mine's set like the rock of Gibraltar. time you washed
46:59it off then. Topper's dear should you need us we'll be outside.
47:04if there's nothing further sir ma'am I'll return to the office. several
47:12matters arose in your absence which require my preliminary attention. good
47:17day inspector. that young chap's got his head screwed on the right way. acted
47:26promptly once he got your wife's telephone call. told me he'd had the
47:31place under surveillance for quite a while. mind you we never had cause to
47:35suspect it. thought it was a genuine beauty shop. which it is. I'm sure it is
47:40but what else beside? you see inspector this is where one has to be so very
47:45careful. things that look one way are often the other. I asked myself why
47:52should anyone want the ambassador's bag for an hour or so? I put the question the
47:56other way around and seemed to find my answer. supposing it was the other bag
48:01that was the important one. someone wanted that bag to be in the
48:06ambassador's possession for an hour or so. much more illuminating. quite. a
48:13diplomatic luggage. not subjected to the indignities of customs examinations.
48:19clearly a case of smuggling. the safe Tubbins. Richards let something slip when
48:26I interviewed him. miss March? who? oh come now. Richards the ambassador's valet.
48:32the man you and your organization were blackmailing. the man you drove to
48:38suicide. it's a curious thing you know that when people are desperate on the
48:45brink like Richards they find it very hard not to tell the truth no matter how
48:50much they try not to. Richards was specific about one thing that he'd seen
48:56in the second bag miss March. that one thing stuck up here. Tubbins let's see if
49:05I'm right. bath salts eh? just as poor Richard said. bath salts is one of our
49:17best-selling lines. uncut diamonds. could be. let's find out.
49:31genuine bath crystal eh? nothing more deadly than carbonate of soda. I told you
49:36they were genuine. indeed you did and so they are. but is bath salts all that is
49:40in the tin? Tubbins?
49:48here miss. thank you inspector.
49:59talcum this much?
50:12I think not.
50:15cocaine is it sir? good lord there must be 50 tins in there. we knew there was a
50:27distributing area somewhere near here handed to the West End and all the
50:31bright young things but we haven't been able to find a clue. often easier working
50:35undercover inspector. I'm sure mr. Blunt would like to explain how we worked it
50:41out. clearly a case of smuggling. oh yes but smuggling of what? a curious comedy
50:51is enacted in my office. they'd read my advertisement and wanted to put me off
50:54the scent or failing that out of the way altogether. so I played the part of the
50:59credulous sleuth with all my might. swallowed this charming lady's impossible
51:04story and permitted myself to be lured here leaving behind with Albert specific
51:09instructions for dealing with a situation. you see? perfect coordination.
51:16well many congratulations. this is another fine coup you two have made. I
51:24don't know how to thank you enough. please don't inspector. just put it down to one
51:30more triumph for teamwork. the teamwork?
52:00you