"Waiter!" " What's that?" " Oh my God." "Hi." " Madam." " Thank you." "Woman:" "Hang on one second." " Well, yes." "Hang on one second." "One second." "Hi." "Sorry I'm late." "Cassie Jay, I'm the features editor at the paper." "We spoke on the phone earlier." "It's, um..." "Laura Quinn." "Robin, go ahead." "I got front page?" "Perfect." "Thanks." "Thanks, bye." "Whoo!" "We should be careful what we wish for." "Hmm." "Having it all at 25 cannot be biologically correct." "So, thank you for contacting us." "As you know, we're running a series of features called "Women Who Led,"" "all about the everyday women who back in the late '50s, the early '60s, started breaking the boundaries, really inventing the modern woman." "A lot of people who turned up in our research turned out to be dead, but you're... alive, so that's great." "I, um, I need to paint a picture." "You're hired by the London Diamond Corporation." "It's number one in the world." "But it's the '50s." "It's a fiercely male-dominated environment." "You take on the men." "You battle your way up and become... a manager." "Well, that's not going to impress anyone these days, but you were the only female manager that had ever existed in that company and I want to know your story." "You know, I haven't set foot in this city as a free woman in over 40 years." " Really?" " It's changed." "It's an exceptional piece, isn't it?" "168 carats, 58 facets... very rare." "I stole it... from London Diamond." "A good deal took place at London Diamond that may not be in your notes." "You've been in prison." "That's where you've been." " Good morning, gentlemen." " Miss Quinn, good morning." "Good morning, Miss Quinn." " Good morning, Miss Quinn." " Good morning, Mr. Hobbs." "Aiming to beat the sunrise, Miss Quinn?" "Obliterate, Henry." "Obliterate." "No more blood for diamonds!" "I see our fan club has assembled." "Murderer!" "Murderers!" "Good morning, Sir Milton." "Good morning, Sir Milton." "Morning, gents." "Good morning." "I'm sure by now you're all aware tensions reached a head yesterday in Kimstad." " What are the final figures?" " What do you mean?" " Dead?" "How many dead?" " 100, give or take," " Most of them on our payroll." " It is a cock-up." "Everyone is pointing their fingers at us." "Christ Almighty!" "The whole pissing South African regime is our fault." "What are the Soviets saying?" "I'm afraid the Russians are leading the charge." " They're pressing for UN sanctions." " They're going to war with us the week that we are renewing their contracts." " We don't need the Russians." " With respect, sir, if the Soviets broke away, it would be disastrous." "They could align with Botswana," "Sierra Leone or even Angola." "Combined production would exceed our own." "We would no longer control global supply." "The cartel collapses and prices would free fall." "The Russians are paid well above market." "They won't break ranks." "In any case, officials from the Soviet Diamond Trading Organization are en route as we speak." "Precisely." "To end our relationship." "Very well." "Now we have two days-- two days to find a solution." " Wait wait, uh, um... one final item." "I'd like you to join me in congratulating our newest managing director, who, God willing, will keep us afloat in Cape Town," "Mr. Peter Boland." "Congratulations." "Well done." "I'm speechless." "Boland over you?" "The old man is losing his mind." "No, he's thinking straight." "In addition to being several years my senior," "Boland's experience is far better suited to the position." "Besides, they're doing me a favor." "Didn't you know?" "Cape Town's a furnace in the summer." "I hope that they've got something better lined up for you." ""Lon Di subsidiaries worldwide, 1 ,223;" "female managing directors, 0."" ""Don't give up." "Work harder." "You will win."" "You forgot again." " Lunch?" " Lunch?" "It's a holiday-- middle of the day." "People meet, unwind, buy makeup, plot against men." " Oh, it's all the rage." " I'm so sorry." "Look, it's one crisis after another." "Can we reschedule?" "Tuesday it is, but not with me, with Kenneth Pearson, a friend of mine that would like to meet you." "Judy, it's so kind, but I really don't like the name Kenneth." "Don't leave it too long, Laura." "There won't be any plots left." "Oh, working late again, Miss Quinn?" "Always the first to arrive and the last to leave." "Your colleagues must value your dedication." "What's that bit from the, uh, from the Bible?" "You know, "He who is last shall be first and he who is first shall be last."" " Is that how it goes?" " Yeah." "What a load of rubbish." "We all know you take what you desire." "Fortune favors the bold." "Take those South Africans, for example." "Do you think we should hand them their freedom or let them seize it for themselves?" "Well, that's an interesting debate-- a dangerous one maybe." "But for my money," "I'd say things are never as simple as they seem." "I'm sure you're right, Miss Quinn." "You're the one with the suit." "Good night." "Good luck." "Living dangerously, Miss Quinn?" "Recklessly, Henry." "Recklessly." "Sir Milton:" "Something troubling you, Miss Quinn?" "The existing Russian contract:" "I propose we simply extend it." "I'm sorry." "You've lost me." "Was it not you who suggested the Russians were on their way here to sever all ties?" "If we allow the Soviets to publicly disassociate with London Diamond, let them pound the table at the UN, denounce racist capitalism and so on and so on, but secretly we extend our contract and keep it a strictly private matter," "at least until the storm has passed over." "While they continue to wholesale diamonds at a magnificent price." "That's not bad." "That's not bad at all." "Who else have you told about this?" "Man:" "He's much better at the job than Albert ever was." "In such a short time." "Laura, is that you?" "Harold Reynolds, good God." "Gentlemen, this lady is the cleverest person" "I've ever met-- and she's American." "Ran circles around the lot of us at Oxford." "Of course I don't talk to her anymore." "She turned me down for dinner three times." "I was just testing his resolve." "If he had tried one more time, I would have said yes." "I'm at Allied Banking heading up syndications." "We've just been sweating over your accounts, a lot of ice down there." "No doubt impressive, but it's making people nervous." "But now I know you're here, I can sleep a little easier." "Um, unless of course you're considering a career change?" "At Allied Banking world domination can also be arranged." "Henry:" "Earliest and brightest as usual, Miss Quinn." "Oh, I do my best, Henry." "Thank you." ""No, you won't"?" "Miss Quinn." "Miss Quinn." "Why don't we sit in there?" " Mr. Hobbs?" " Yes." "Mr. Hobbs, I'm flattered, but I'm" " I'm" " I'm really not looking" "Oh, please-- please don't panic, Miss Quinn." "I'm" " I'm a happily married man." "And I wouldn't be so courageous." "I" " I have a proposal to put to you." "It's-- it's a trifle." "Just give me five minutes." "Please." "Come and sit." "It's something I do to get sympathy." "War wound-- the Blitz." "My wife and I, we went for some music at Wilton's." "Very explosive peftormance." "Anyway, we both survived that one, only to find out that my wife was living on borrowed time." "I thought you were happily married?" "Oh, I am, Miss Quinn, and I always will be." "Are you always in the habit of reading private correspondence?" "Would you hold these for me, please?" "Correspondence?" "This is more like a diary of frustration." ""Number of Lon Di subsidiaries worldwide, 1 ,223;" "number of female managing directors, 0."" "That first number is not correct." "It's 1 ,224 now, but the other number, that is quite accurate." "You've succeeded in arousing my curiosity." "Now I'm wondering what it is you want." "Well, I" " I think the question is, Miss Quinn, is what is it that you want?" "Hey, this is ridiculous." "They're-- they're going to knock over a bank in the middle of London in broad daylight." "I could have yourjob for this." "Yeah, and they might just give it to you." "I know that you've been passed over six times in the last three years for someone less qualified than you." "You know this has been illuminating," " But I am really am very very busy." " Miss Quinn, please." "Please sit down." "Please sit down." "Please." "I" " I haven't got to my point yet." " They're going to fire you." " Excuse me?" "Yes, your ingenious Russian proposal." "How do you know about that?" "How do you know all of my business?" " Shh!" " Shh!" "I'm only trying to help." "You know, it's extraordinary the conversations people will have in front of the cleaners." "It's like-- like we don't exist." "What conversations?" "Well, I'm no businessman, but I certainly got the gist of it." "What conversations?" "Well, the Russians won't accept your plan unless it's kept secret among senior staff and only the senior staff." "They don't seem to think that you qualify." "Well, I don't believe you." "Well, uh, you-- you're probably right." "The ramblings of an old man, eh?" "Who would notice?" "Hey, this is a good bit." "Look there." "Would you like a peanut?" "Oh, is MKA in?" " He's just left." " That's odd." "Someone from the prime minister's office is in the lobby." " Says he has an appointment." " Hmm." "Oh no, that's not right at all." "Ahem." "Well, I seem to be the envy of the whole restaurant." "You look wondeftul." "Well, I heard reinvention was the latest craze." "Thought I'd try it on for size." "Thank you for seeing me." "Well, don't thank me too quickly." "Um, ahem." "It's bad news, I'm afraid." "We can't offer you a position." "Really, why not?" "There's a conflict of interests." "Lon Di is our largest client, back to the Boer War." "We funded Ernest Ashtoncroft's first diamond mine 70 years ago." "Well, it's done all the time." "You simply ask their permission to speak with me, say I know nothing about it-- unsolicited," " That sort of thing." " I did." "Look, and I tell you this in confidence as an old friend, but they're saying you're grossly incompetent-- claim you botched their relations with the Russians." "That is absolutely ridiculous." "I am sorry." "Word came down quietly you are not to be touched by us, or in all likelihood by anyone doing business with Lon Di." "Well, that's every last company on earth." "You said you, um, had something else to discuss." "Well, I..." "I feel stupid now." "I was going to finally accept your offer of dinner." "Well, that, um, would have to be unadventurous." "Married now five years, three rather boisterous girls to prove it." "You should come over one Sunday." "Mmm, good soup." "Early lunch, Miss Quinn?" "Very early and very long." "I'm taking the afternoon off." " Placed a bet, Miss Quinn?" " Oh, I never gamble." "Not on dogs, cards or strangers." "You were right." "Was I?" "Why do you want to steal from the company?" " Who said I did?" " Hypothetically." "War and plunder, the two most reliable sources of income." "I didn't realize." "Are we at war?" "In six months' time" "I shall retire to a hearty pat on the back and a not-to-hearty pension, a situation in dire need of attention." "So money, plain and simple?" "Suppose I wanted to do something for my wife." "Your wife who died 15 years ago?" "The one you're happily married to?" "Lovely." "You did your homework." "I guess you would." " What else did you uncover?" " That you're far from stupid, and you were forced to apprentice under your father-- a plumber with a drinking problem." "Oh, yes, married at 21 ." "And years later when your wife became ill, you took the night job at London Diamond so you could spend your days by her side." "You never did use those qualifications." "Clever, Miss Quinn." "Clever." "How do you know I won't turn you in?" "Are we still speaking hypothetically?" "What makes you think you could pull off such a thing?" "Well, simply because I have a plan." "What I propose involves the least possible risk because we don't have to change our normal routines." "Each night at 9:00 they lock the front doors, which means that for 10 hours no one can go in or out of the building." "They increase the security on the main floor, but on the lower floor they just keep these two guards, here and here by the lift, which is the sole point of access." "You intend to go for the vault?" " That's where the diamonds are." " You can't be serious." "Generally, each evening I start on the fourth floor and work me way down, see?" "Nice day today." "Hobbs:" "Once through the upper floors" "I'm escorted to the sub-basement." "The next few hours are spent on rubbish collection, mopping, waxing, minor repair and maintenance." "During that time I work mostly unattended." "Once an hour or so someone checks up on me." "Otherwise I'm left entirely to myself." "I mean, in theory," "I could take off all my clothes and walk around naked." "A frightening thought, Miss Quinn." "Don't dwell on it." "I'll try not to." "I save the vault hallway for last-- the long corridor that leads to a circular door behind which lies one of the largest single deposits of riches on earth." "For 16 years I've been working within a hair's breadth of that door and for 16 years I've never opened it, not once." "You couldn't if you wanted to, not without the codes." "The codes are changed weekly and entrusted to only two people." "Mr. Eaton, lifelong company servant, portrait of reliability." "Rumor has it that the Swiss use his pulse to set their clocks by;" "And, of course, Sir Milton Kendrick Ashtoncroft, aging ruler of everything that daylight touches." "And you plan to obtain the codes how?" "That's where you come in, Miss Quinn." "Until recently, this was supposed to be a solo operation." "A year ago, quite by accident," "I discovered that Sir Milton kept the codes concealed in his desk." "Then some months back, they were gone." "Night after night I searched the office, but they never turned up." "Why'd you wait?" "Why not do it while you had the chance?" "Oh, I've asked myself that question a thousand times." "I told you, I'm-- I'm not courageous." "But my hesitating will be your gain." "Will it?" "And what will that require?" "Here, proof of conviction." "You are on the, uh, guest list, are you?" "It's business." "I'm expected." "We're entertaining the Russians." "You suspect he keeps the codes at home?" "On Saturday, go to his study and look under the center drawer in his desk." "This is ridiculous." "Say I did find the codes and you were able to slip in and out of the vault undetected." "How would you get the diamonds out of the building?" "How much will it hold?" "How much would you like it to hold?" "What's the price of revenge?" "Difficult, eh?" "Would £1 million do?" "Each?" "I should think so." "They wouldn't even notice that much." "Well, by then..." "I'll be retired and you'll have been let go." " Why should I trust you?" " The same reason I have to trust you." "We have the same objective." "Oh, you make it all sound so easy." "ls that a yes?" "No, it isn't." "Be sure to wear something nice." "Good evening, sir." "Sir Milton:" "Welcome, Clifton." "Come on in." "Clifton:" "The Russians here?" "Man:" "To pressurized carbon." "Hear hear!" "Now that's a sight worth seeing." "Sir Clifton Sinclair, our very own insurance man, making a rare trip down from his ivory tower at Kings Row." "No doubt losing sleep over our somewhat top-heavy inventory." "Oh, I don't think Sinclair's the type to lose sleep." "It's rather unnerving to consider a man with that history as London Diamond's greatest guarantor." "Ooh, you didn't know." "He was mixed up in all those insurance scandals before the National Health Service." "But of course he's completely innocent or he was never prosecuted." "Otherwise we wouldn't do business together." "Allow me to present Vladimir Dmitriev, head of the Soviet Diamond Authority." "Mr. Jameson, my second in command." "How do you do?" "And Miss Laura Quinn, one of our brightest gems." "Ballet, vodka, diamonds-- the three things closest to the Russian soul." "And which do you prefer?" "Diamonds, of course." "I'll drink to that." "My Lord!" "And what would you have done had I said ballet?" "I would ask you to dance." "Of course, I have ulterior motives." "And, um, what makes you think I don't?" "I shall miss her." "How's the old man bearing up?" "Oh, I expect he'll outlive us all." "Well, I only ask because I should think hoarding basically a worthless commodity would be very bad for his heart." "What am I doing?" "I ask myself that repeatedly." "I'm sorry." "I didn't see you." "Purely by design." "You've stumbled into my lair, my sanctuary of sorts." "Yes, I think I know what you mean." "At least the evening is a success." "Your father's spared no expense." "Never does, always first class-- so long as it's discreet and doesn't attract attention." "Yes, he's famous for his discretion." "ls it true he paid £100 to the families of the miners who died in protest?" "Anonymously." "Bought the bullets and the caskets." "Should be a discount for that." "What sort of man does such a thing?" "A man of conscience?" "Quinn:" "Mr. Hobbs?" "I'm having trouble with the heat in my office." "Uh, Miss Quinn, do you want more or less heat in your office?" "If we do this, I want to know every last detail." "Understand?" "Okay." "Now if you just lock it off under there." "We have to call it off." "They've installed security cameras, closed-circuit television monitoring everything." "I've been with them all morning showing interest." " Cameras in the building?" " Yes, inside, outside, halls, lobby." " In the vault?" " No, but the vault corridor." "They don't want security guards staring at mounds of diamonds all day." "Can you blame them?" "Oh, security cameras, goodness gracious." "What will they think of next?" " Is there any way around them?" " No, absolutely not." " No?" " There are eight separate cameras covering the entire sub-basement, including one dedicated to the vault corridor." "The cameras link to the guard station, and Eaton has a man on watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week." "Basement's here." "We've got reception, the boardroom, the corridor." "So you'll just have to reconsider that pension of yours." "So it's foolproof, eh?" "And you came all the way over to the wrong side of town to tell me... when you could've told me tonight." "You've seen a way, haven't you?" "I have not, Mr. Hobbs." "Your tenacity reminds me of my wife." "Why are you being so persistent?" "Because I hate English winters." "Now tell me how it can be done." "All right." "There's one possibility, but I'm telling you, it won't work." "Although there are eight cameras in the sub-basement, only four images are on screen at any one time-- four on and four off." "And since the images cycle in 15-second intervals, they reappear in the order they leave." " So each image is off-screen for..." " 60 seconds, yeah?" "Yeah, 60 seconds, but that's not enough time." "Enough time?" "I'll be in that vault in 10 seconds flat." "You can't be standing outside the vault when the image goes off screen and be nowhere in sight when it reappears." "You have to start at the end of the corridor, and that's 40 yards long." "Well, I don't have a problem with that." "With all due respect, Mr. Hobbs, you can hardly walk, let alone run." "I'm telling you I can do it." "This has gone too far." "I'm sorry." "You're involved now, whether you like it or not." "I beg your pardon." "You gave me the code, Miss Quinn, so you're involved." "Make no mistake," "I'm going through with this." "And don't you pretend to me that you don't want it because you want it more than I do." "You want a life that means something and adds up." "And you know that this is the only way you're going to get it." "Miss Quinn, you said it yourself, they're never going to notice it." "This is how it'll work." "Tomorrow we'll synchronize our watches, but it has to be tomorrow before they realize the flaw in the system." "At the exact moment you're at the vault corridor," "I'll call the guard station." "That should buy you at least 30 more seconds." "When this is over, I think best we not speak again." "Evening, Miss Quinn." "Evening, Henry." "Albert." "Evening, Miss Quinn." "May I?" " What's the word, Henry?" " Ask me again on Friday." " Good night, sir." " Good night." "Ah!" "Damn it." "Lewis." "Hello." "Hello?" "Henry:" "Hobbs!" "I'm afraid there's a problem." "If you wouldn't mind coming back in?" "Open up!" "The, uh..." "Mr. Lewis, I'm afraid." "God knows what that man ingests." "Would you mind?" "I'll, uh, leave you to it." " Mr. Hobbs." " Morning, Miss Quinn." "How are things this morning, Henry?" "In a word, dull." " Isn't there a sight next week?" " Fifth Monday." "That's very odd." "The sorters have gone home." " Is he here yet?" "MKA-- is he here yet?" " No, sir." "Mr. Jameson, what happened?" "What is so important?" " Miss Quinn?" "Miss Quinn, you in there?" "I need not remind you we're all bound by the strictest confidentiality." "Under no circumstances will you discuss the incident." "Any act to the contrary will result in the severest consequences." " Is that clear?" " Yes, of course." "The elevator's the single point of entry, no underground tunnels, three narrow ventilation ducts, all of which lead nowhere." "The entire sub-basement is encased in concrete, marble and an outer casing of solid steel." "This has to be the most secure facility in all of Europe." "That's certainly what we believed." "Besides which there were nearly two tons of diamonds." "You would need an army of men and several vehicles." "Sir Milton:" "Now you all know Sir Clifton Sinclair, from Kings Row, our underwriters." "Well, we've talked it through and we have agreed that our utmost priority must be the appearance of business as usual." "In any police investigation the subsequent publicity would be a disaster, just like that all confidence gone." "So we handle the matter privately." "Sinclair." "As you all know Kings Row have been behind" "London Diamond for the last 70 years." "And today is no exception." "With that in mind, I'd like to introduce you to Sir Gavin Finch, our chief insurance investigator." "Mr. Finch." "Good morning, everyone." "Please, there is no need to panic." "We will find your diamonds." "No need to panic?" "The world's supply of diamonds have vanished into thin air and there's no need to panic?" "I will see inside the vault now and if the night staff could be called back?" "Thank you." "What have you done?" "It's all in hand, Miss Quinn." "In hand?" "In hand?" "The contents of a thermos, you said." "When you're finished, meet me at the café at the corner of Hatton Ground." "Mr. Hobbs." "Yes." "This way, please." "Not one of your better ideas, Miss Quinn." "I suggest we cut this short." "What have you done with the diamonds?" "I want answers and I want them now." "You're gonna get them all in good time." " Oh my God!" " I insist that you remain calm." "What did you say to Finch?" "I told him I went on shift as normal." "I waxed the floors for a while." "I emptied the rubbish-- a normal night." "l-l lied." "I want you to go back to work, do exactly what we discussed, keep to your routine and we'll talk again." "Okay?" "This is where I'll be tomorrow." "Miss Quinn?" "Sir Milton's office is asking for you urgently." "Man:" "Should you elect to purchase the goods you must notify me by week's end." "It's my understanding that specifics as to the inventory and the purchase terms are explicitly set forth in this letter." "lmportantly, I'm not to be made privy to any arrangement between my client and yourself." "You are simply to alert me to your intentions at which point I will provide instructions regarding method of payment." "My client will then convey where you may take possession of the goods." "Mr. Boyle, are we to understand the identity of your client is unknown to you?" " That's correct." " As is the nature of this inventory?" " Also correct." "Excuse me, but there's a call for Mr. Boyle from his office." "What in the name of God is all this?" ""Now available, a selection of uncut diamonds, market price:" "£100 million sterling."" "ls that it?" "ls that all it says?" ""Payable within 48 hours."" "We've been hijacked by madmen!" "Shouldn't this man be detained?" "I'm afraid Mr. Boyle has told us all he knows." "Pardon the interruption." "ls there anything further?" "I will await your call." "Good day." "The South African Star." "Get Sinclair back." "Now!" "Ah, Miss Quinn, may I?" "I'm working my way through personnel." " Yes, please." " Thank you." "Take a seat." "Would you care for a cigarette?" "No, thank you." "Thank you." "Now..." "Miss Quinn... you're American, but you were educated at Oxford." "You have been working here for 15 years and you are now a senior negotiator." "That's right." "Would you say you have done well for yourself?" "Yes." " Not married?" " No." "And you are 38?" "That's right, Mr. Finch." "I certainly hope that's not a crime." " Do you have any leads?" " Ahem." "Now in your professional capacity, Miss Quinn, who would you say were London Diamond's enemies?" "It's potentially a long list." "We are a major global business." "Why do you think there could be more to this than money?" "The diamond that Mr. Boyle has left, the..." "The Kimberly 4." "530 carats, the fourth largest cut diamond in the world." "If they were motivated by money, it's unlikely it would still be in our possession." "Are you saying it's symbolic?" "It's also known as the South African Star." "Thank you, Miss Quinn." "That'll be all for now." "Oh, uh... that Mr. Hobbs, you're on good terms with him?" "I suppose so." "He's one of the night janitors." "Always seems quite jovial." "You were speaking to him today in the corridor." "Yes, I've been having problems with my radiator." "I asked him if he could come and look at it." "It's erratic-- temperaturewise." "And did he manage to solve the problem?" "I believe he was going to try and find some time this week." "Good." "Thank you again, Miss Quinn." "Thank you, gentlemen, for the instruction." "I'll get back to you in 24 hours." "Gentlemen, thank you." " Good morning." " Miss Quinn, good morning." "You seem bright and breezy this morning." "I'd like to be given authority to liaise with Mr. Finch on the investigation." " Why?" " With the time pressure we're under we all need to be communicating as efficiently as we're able." "And..." "And?" " Finch was hired by Sinclair." " Well, I don't see why not." "There's a whole explosion of nothing downstairs." "I see the Kings Row lawyers are back." "Surely they're not prepared to pay the ransom on our behalf?" "Not if Sinclair has anything to do with it." "He's already lobbied the other members of the syndicate against settling the claim, saying the, uh, the deadlines are unreasonable." "But of course he would, wouldn't he?" "He's the majority shareholder." "His life would return to zero, where he started." " They're not bound by contract?" " Miss Quinn, as I'm sure you're aware, where large personal fortunes are concerned, contracts have a habit of developing loopholes." "And if that happened, then we're insolvent." "No diamonds." "No sight." "The world knows." "All hell breaks loose." "You'll speak to Mr. Finch?" "Tell him that I'll be assisting." "It's our official company position." "Well, you seem terribly keen." "Well, my job is at stake." "All of ours are." "All right." "I'll speak to him right now." "This has just come through, Mr. Finch." " Miss Quinn." " Mr. Jameson may have spoken to you." "Uh, I'm to assist you in any way I can with the investigation." "Yes, he told me." "I'm going down to the vault now." " Oh, these monitors?" " The new security system." "Well, actually, not very secure." "Every 60 seconds each corridor is left totally unobserved for one full minute." "Well, one minute, that's not very much time." "Time enough to pass undetected." "The lift is the single point of entry." "But the diamonds were not removed by way of the lift." "Each activation is recorded, prompting an electronic time stamp." "As usual, there were three trips that night." "In each instance the lift returned at once to the main level." "So the lift was never stationary long enough in the sub-basement to load the contents of the vault." "That's right." "You may need these." "Excuse me." "Steel, three inches thick, floor, ceiling, walls." "But to get the diamonds out they must have penetrated it somewhere." " Finch:" "No forced entry." " They knew the combination." "So, all things considered, Mr. Finch, what conclusions have you arrived at?" "lsn't it obvious what conclusions I've arrived at, Miss Quinn?" "A woman of your intelligence must surely have guessed." "2:00, I believe we're expected upstairs." "A stopgap to restore diamond inventories to an acceptable level." "£5 million, that is what you've come up with, eh?" "Fencing the stones is impossible." "You control all the major trading centers across the planet." "When the first diamond turns up, within hours you'll get the rest." "Sinclair, we are the sole supplier of diamonds to six continents." "Any hint we can no longer supply would be catastrophic." "Money is no substitute for diamonds." "Miss Quinn is here with Mr. Finch, sir." "Paying the ransom won't guarantee your diamonds back and will make it more difficult to apprehend those responsible." "That is your problem, not mine." "Ah, Mr. Finch." "I believe Mr. Finch has got something to tell us which may alter all our perspectives." "I am now in no doubt that the crime was perpetrated by either one or a number of London Diamond employees." "I believe also that the perpetrator obtained the codes to the vault from Sir Milton's residence, most likely last Saturday evening during a party." "A team has been sent over to the house to dust for prints." "Mr. Finch, you said that you deemed the motive for the robbery to be political." "Were it crime for profit, a single handful of diamonds would do." "Now, Mr. Finch, in your opinion, who are the most likely political factions?" "The Soviets and the South African rebels would top the list." "And are there any members of personnel in London Diamond who might be associated with, uh, these political factions?" "Well, there was one name that came to the surface." "Ahem." "Oliver Ashtoncroft, age 20, arrested at Oxford whilst attending a Marxist Leninist rally." "This is ridiculous." "That was nearly two decades ago." "Just because I don't advocate everything that goes on at this company does not make me a communist or a thief." "That is enough!" "You really have sunk to the dregs this time, eh?" "Well, I'm sorry, but unless we can remove even the slightest hint of fraud," "Kings Row will not even consider full settlement." "Sinclair, as the syndicate's largest underwriter you stand to lose a great deal of your ill-gotten fortune." "Or do I overstate?" "lll-gotten?" "Well, now that is rich, coming from a de facto dictator of an entire slave nation." "For 30 years we have paid you inordinate sums of money for your security." "We have done so in the hope that one day we may receive something in return." "Well, that day has come, Sinclair, and what, eh?" "Nothing?" "I will crush you, Sinclair." "I will take everything you have and then I will piss on your fucking grave." "How'd you do it, Mr. Hobbs?" "How'd you get them out?" "Do you know what the hardest substance in the world is?" " And who's really behind this?" " The diamond." "You rub it with a cloth, it lets off a charge." "You put it in water, it comes up dry." "Its only enemy is another diamond." "You do know you've rendered the stones worthless?" "All of them." "They can't be sold." "London Diamond's the only buyer on earth." "Precisely." "And to that end, we have demanded a ransom." "We?" "No, there is no "we."" "They won't pay." "They couldn't if they wanted." "There's no money." "And that investigator Finch, he saw us talking." "He will find out, I have absolutely no doubt." "Have you ever thought about your plans, like?" "No, I mean, when you get your share, what are you gonna do with your life?" "I mean, are you gonna be a giver or a taker?" "Oh, you stupid old man!" "Wake up!" "Don't you understand that the only life for us is one behind bars?" "Okay, look." "I can negotiate our way out of this." "I'll go to Ashtoncroft, offer him the diamonds in exchange for our freedom and our silence." "He'll-- he'll accept the deal." "His terror of publicity will see to it." "All you have to do is tell me where the diamonds are." "I'm" " I'm sorry, Miss Quinn." "I" " I'd like to help, but I do not intend to negotiate." "Well, then I have no option but to turn myself in." "Oh, really?" "Is that what you're gonna do, eh?" "After all these years clawing your way up, laughing at men's jokes, subservient, neglecting your opportunities, giving up on love, no time for the simple, the decent, doing all the dirty work" "you're really going to throw all that away just to spite me?" "I require the money in full." "And yes, they can pay it." "It is precisely what they are insured for." "As you wish." "Then I shall find the diamonds myself." " Oh, is that a fact?" " Oh, it certainly is." "I shall find the diamonds, make no mistake about it." " Is this a bad time?" " No no, not at all." "It's just a formality, you understand?" "And we have requested the same from all employees who were present at Sir Milton's party." "A set of fingerprints?" "Of course." "May I?" "There's really nothing to worry about." "It's simply to rule you out conclusively from our investigations." "Sorry, it's quite warm in here." "lsn't it?" "Now if you'll allow me." "Are you really considering Ollie to be your prime suspect?" "What?" "Mmm." "Wouldn't you say he had the greatest facility to obtain the codes?" "But does he have the courage?" "The requisite spine of ambition?" "It's hard to imagine anyone capable of so audacious a crime." "Audacious orjust ambitious?" "Ambition is something you understand, Miss Quinn." "No longer married, Mr. Finch?" "No, I'm not." "She tire of all your investigating?" "Yes, she did." "I'm sorry." "Here." "Thank you." "Oh, and just one last thing, Miss Quinn" "I need your assistance downstairs." "Could you?" "It's just a matter of a few minutes." "Certainly." "Now I want you to tell me in your opinion, Miss Quinn, if this man is lying." "Mr. Hobbs, I believe you know Miss Quinn." "Uh, third floor, second office from the lift, yes." "She's been kind enough to act as my second set of ears." "Uh, are we still discussing Tuesday night, sir?" "I would like to revisit the period in the sub-basement from 3:00-6:00 AM-- three hours, the bulk of which is unaccounted for." "The nature of my job, sir, is somewhat solitary." "Now you stated earlier these hours were spent waxing and polishing floors." "Yeah, mostly." "Yeah." "That's a great deal of time devoted to polishing floors." "Well, marble is very particular, sir." "It requires a certain type of polish and a lot of time to set." "At what time did you tend to the vault corridor?" "At the very end." " Between 5:00 and 6:00 AM?" " Yes." "Why then?" "Why wait until the end?" "Oh, it's-- it's a cherished task." "It's akin to tending the palace throne, I imagine." "I always save the best till last." "Hmm." "Any hobbies, Mr. Hobbs, leisure-time activities?" "Yes, I" " I read a good book now and then." "Anything in particular?" "Graham Greene, uh, HG Wells, sometimes Emily Dickinson." "Nothing more radical?" "No Soviet literature in your collection, Mr. Hobbs?" "Oh, l-l tried "War and Peace," but I couldn't finish it." "You frequent greyhound races." "You like to watch dogs run around in circles?" "And I also wash my smalls on Thursdays, if you're interested." "Now I see your wife died some years back of cancer." " Her name was..." " Margaret." "That's right." "It must have been excruciating for you-- sitting by, watching her wither away, taken in the very prime of life." "Mr. Finch, you sound like a man who's lost something." "Perhaps if you were to tell me what it was, I could help you locate it." " Mr. Finch?" " Yes?" "We have something that may be of interest." "Excuse me." "That'll be all for now, Mr. Hobbs." "I will see you later, Miss Quinn." "In Ashtoncroft's study I used a handkerchief, but in the heat of the moment I may have left a fingerprint." "I know why you did this." "I know it's not about the money." "Nothing important ever is." "I understand you have political convictions, but you have to know Kings Row is trying every tactic not to pay." "And I have a feeling they're going to succeed." "Our only way out of this is to negotiate." "They never found the diamonds then." "You'll get nothing, absolutely nothing, just a lifetime in jail." "ls this cause of yours worth it?" "I mean, would the cause do the same for you?" "This time tomorrow morning this will all be over." "What's that old phrase about two wrongs a right do not make?" "That's nonsense." "Sometimes to make something right you have to do something just as wrong." "Oh-- oh, yes, my cause." "It's worth 100 lifetimes in jail for me, Miss Quinn." "Someday you will understand." "Maybe it will inspire you to look beyond these marble walls." "There's a remarkable world out there." "Oh, and if it's any consolation," "I never really intended to involve you." "Get the forensic department to verify it." "Yes, sir." "What about the dog track?" "Anything?" "Yes, um... this one here." "I'm pretty certain that's him, sir-- the janitor." "Christ, Hobbs!" "How did you do it?" "I'm telling you, we have no more time." "Taking on Ashtoncroft when his back is to the wall will lead to a blood-bath." "Someone's going to be ruined." " And what about Finch?" " He says he has some leads." "I don't think we can rely on him." "We don't have any choice." "Make sure that he comes up with something and quickly." "What the hell do you think I have been doing?" "Contact the syndicate members, all of them." "Convene a meeting tonight." "And tell them what?" "Tell them... tell them... tell them if they do not come here with their wallets open to pay me everything they owe me, I will dedicate my remaining years on this earth to ruining every last one of them." "Tell them that, word for word." "Woman:" ""London Evening News."" "Put me through to the news desk, please." "I was looking for you." "I need some air." "Will you have a drink with me?" "You know you're quite someone, Miss Quinn." "A true maverick." "Why was it again no one married you?" "My mother said, "Beating the boys won't make you popular or happy."" "It turns out she was right." "We're the same, you and I-- outsiders, loners." "We could almost be brilliant." "But what would we achieve with all the hours we put in?" "Absolutely nothing." "Man:" "Anything else, sir?" " Come in." "Sir, the press are outside." "The press?" "What do they want?" "I'm not sure, sir." "I'll speak to them." "Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, please." "Sir Milton Ashtoncroft is not available at the moment." "Sir Milton!" "Sir Milton!" "So, Miss Quinn... are you going to tell me how you did it?" "Remove £100 million of diamonds past cameras, walls of steel, security guards and sealed doorways?" "For the life of me I can't unravel it." "I wish I could help you, but I'm really not that clever." "Maybe you struck a deal with the Russians." "Who knows?" "You could look after their new cartel once Lon Di hits the scrap heap." "Do I appear so diabolical?" "We've seen a photo of you at the racetrack with Mr. Hobbs." "You must be mistaken." "I never gamble." "We also found some fingerprints at the Ashtoncroft mansion." "By midnight we shall have conclusive results." "Oh, and, um... did you know my fee is 5% of recovered goods?" "I understand what you're doing, Mr. Finch." "You're testing me, measuring my reactions, my stimulus responses." "But the truth is you haven't arrested me because you have no evidence because I've committed no crime." "Perhaps I haven't arrested you because I'm waiting for you to reveal who's really behind all this." "Sir, there's been an incident." "News of the robbery has leaked to the press." "Mr. Ashtoncroft has had a heart attack." " Is-- is he all right?" " I'm afraid not, madam." "The board are reconvening back at the office." "I hope you have no intentions of leaving town, Miss Quinn." "Shit." "Ohh." "Hobbs:" "Aren't you a picture?" "Clever girl, eh?" "Filthy, but clever." "Ashtoncroft's dead, or was that all a part of your plan, Mr. Hobbs?" "I'm going back and telling them everything." "I'm afraid I can't let you go, Miss Quinn." "You see, the deadline for the ransom's in about an hour and I'm guarding the entrance to Aladdin's cave in case someone's smart enough to figure it out." "Like you." "You're quite an asset to the company, aren't you, Miss Quinn?" "They're not going to pay and you're insane to think they would!" "Oh, they will, I'm sure of that." "Ever think what you're going to do when all of this is over?" "Ugh!" "Ugh!" "You know, you remind me so much of my wife." "Once she got her teeth into something..." " Did I ever tell you how she died?" " Cancer." "At first they said that not only was her cancer operable, but it had been caught early and she had an excellent chance." "But you see, we'd paid what little money we had into a private hospital policy." "But then the insurance company told her that she had to wait her turn for a stay in hospital." "So we pleaded our case all the way up to the chairman of the company." "But he said it wasn't an emergency." "So, you know, by the time she was admitted to the hospital, well, it-- it was-- she was too far gone then." " It's Sinclair." " Yeah." "At that time Clifton Sinclair was the biggest seller of private hospital policies to the British underprivileged." "And he used that money to establish himself..." "As London Diamond's largest insurance underwriter." "Individual participants in Kings Row syndicates are liable to the full extent of their private wealth." " What is the meaning of this?" "What the hell are you doing here?" " We've been discussing the situation." " What situation?" "The impossible situation that you've got us into." " What are you talking about?" " In case you didn't know, we own 75% of "The London Evening News." I believe you spoke with them earlier." " Yes." " Going to the press means you don't have to come up with a quick settlement." "The scandalous news, your time is bought, that was the plan, wasn't it?" "Mr. Ashtoncroft has, however, agreed to dismiss all charges pending an immediate settlement of the claim" " Which I have just authorized." " You have what?" "Kings Row signifies one thing:" " Reliability." " Now just" "Our business was built on it." "Our reputation demands it." "You will never ever get the money back!" "It's for a ransom, for Christ's sake!" "Are you telling me you waited 15 years for the absolute right moment?" "All this to punish one man?" "Patience, they say, is a virtue." "Hobbs:" "He took from me the one thing in this world that I truly loved." "Mr. Hobbs, this was for her." "No." "I did it for me." "How did you solve it?" "My clumsiness and your background." "Come on, come on." "Here it is, sir." "Thank you." "This is a telex from the bank confirming that the deposit has been made corresponding to the exact amount as requested by your client." "Everything looks to be in order." "Ugh!" "Location of the inventory list." "What does it say?" "Would you call security, please?" " I don't understand." " Blank!" "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" "I believe it means the diamonds are not being returned." "Night then." "The South African Star-- so it wasn't a message?" "Small complication." "Would you mind?" "I'll, uh, leave you to it." "Boyle:" "My client will then convey where you may take possession of the goods." "Excuse me, but there's a call for Mr. Boyle from his office." "Yes?" "Has there been a delivery?" "May I give you some advice, Miss Quinn?" "Well, you are the one holding the gun." "Life is for living." "It's there for the taking." "Grant yourself no regrets." "Go on, put it down." "You don't have it in you." "It was never loaded." "It doesn't matter now." "All done." " Workmen:" "All right, as we go." " Watch your step." " How many more?" " Steady." "Depends on exactly how much is in each box." "Steady with that." "Mr. Hopkins." "Finch:" "Miss Quinn." "Mr. Finch." "Congratulations." "The idea came when you dropped an earring in a sink, is that right?" "I'm sorry I lost you your finder's fee." "We didn't find prints on Sir Milton's safe." "We found them on the opera glasses in his office." "They were inconclusive." "Mr. Finch" "Whatever it is you have to say, Miss Quinn, now is not the right time to say it." "Maybe there will never be a right time." "As strange as it may sound..." "I can't bear the thought of you spending the rest of your life behind bars." "Naturally you'll have to agree to assist the investigation." "With your all-round experience, you are... perfectly situated to do so." "Goodbye, Miss Quinn." "It has been widely reported that a large-scale theft has taken place on these premises." "As you can see, that is not the case." "Quinn:" "Ollie took over the company and became everything his father had ever hoped." "I was more fortunate." "Dmitriev:" "We look forward to a long and prosperous... and... confidential relationship." "Quinn:" "After an extensive investigation, it was determined that Mr. Hobbs had somehow acted alone." "They never found him." "A month later I was passed over again and tendered my resignation the following day." "Cassie Jay:" "Well, forgive me for being sensational, but I really need to know:" "What happened with the money?" "Mr. Hobbs?" "Well, Mr. Hobbs-- well, we never spoke again, but I did receive a letter from a bank in Switzerland informing me a deposit had been made to a numbered account on my behalf." "The sum of £100 million." "Everything." "And that's where my real story begins." "Your article-- it's called "Women Who Led."" "That's right, isn't it?" "I hope you're inspired." "I hope you can inspire others." "You can contact me." "My details are on the back." "Quinn: "l never intended this to happen, but the burden of Hobbs' money sent me in a different direction." "I discovered the world and through it, I discovered myself." "You'd be surprised how long it takes to give away £100 million." "It's taken me 40 years." "And just today... today I gave away the last penny." "I'm free at last."" "God damn it." ""Except... except for that jewel that you held in your hand." "That I've been saving for a rainy day." "Or perhaps... or perhaps it's the last little piece of vanity that I have left.""