"So how did you fall off a balcony, Jeff?" " It seemed to come pretty naturally." " What were you doing?" " Trying to catch him in the safe!" " The police were waiting!" "Marty, I didn't know that." " You got a ride in a police car." " Big deal." "That makes a change." " Well, that's another case ruined." " What do you mean "ruined"?" " We won't get the reward now." " I see you've come to cheer me up!" "You nagged me when I was alive" " but I never failed like this." " Never?" "When you look back on it, I was pretty good." " You were a terrible detective!" " I was a what?" "Well, maybe not terrible but you weren't a natural." "I never fell off a balcony - when I slipped I got killed!" "You couldn't fall off a tram." "Anyway, who solved our biggest case - alone?" " Biggest case?" " I never told you that story, did I?" "(Sighs ) Not lately, Marty." "No, I didn't." "You were in Scotland, you were away for a fortnight after those peasant phoachers - I mean pheasant poachers." " The Tartan case." " I was in the office, just routine, but even then the story was unfolding." "In the corridors of power, people were talking." " Where?" " The corridors of power!" "Anyway, in the corridors of power, things were happening." "AR Palmer, Enquiry Service." "Pennington Investigations." "Randall and Hopkirk." " Randall?" "." " Yes." " Jeffrey Randall?" "." " That's right." "Do you know him?" "He was in my unit." "Yes, it must be the same man." "He'd be ideal." " Shall I?" " Why not?" "(Rings )" "Hello, Randall and Hopkirk." "Hopkirk speaking." " May I speak to Mr Randall, please?" " Sorry, he's not here at the moment." "He's away for a week." "Can I help?" "Randall's away for a week or more." " We'd better use someone we know." " Wait." " Is it his partner?" " Yes, Hopkirk." " Hello?" " That might be even better." "Yes, yes, I could..." "Hopkirk is exactly the man we want." " When am I gonna get out of here?" " When you're better." "(Blows )" " I thought they'd never go." " I wish they hadn't." " Where was I?" " On the phone, remember?" "Of course, I was making sure you were listening." " I'd arranged an appointment..." " With who?" " I'm coming to that." "Can I go on?" " Sure, I'm not going anywhere." "I'd arranged this appointment and I was on my way back to tell Jeannie." " (Hopkirk) Hey!" " (Door slams )" "(Randall) 'What was Jeannie doing in the office?" "'" "(Hopkirk) 'Answering the telephone - you were away in Scotland.'" "Hello, darling." " Oh." "Good news?" " I'll say it is." "Mrs Crowther phoned, looks like a job." "Not interested." " Not interested?" "Marty!" " Forget her." " Darling, what's happened?" " What time is it?" "10:30." "Why are you wearing your best suit?" " Good." "Mustn't be late." " Late?" "Late for what?" "Oh, nothing." "I have an appointment with MI5, that's all." "Marty, have you been drinking?" "No." "I am seeing Sir Basil Duggan in his office at 11:30 today." " Duggan?" "That's one of the top men!" " Deputy chief." "And he wants me to do a job for him." "This is the biggest thing we've had." "Aren't you gonna congratulate me?" "Darling, that's wonderful!" "Mm!" " Must we have the love interest?" " Love interest?" "She's my wife." " Besides, I was enjoying it." " (Sighs )" " Anyway..." " Congratulations." "What about Mrs Crowther?" " Forget her." " (Phone rings )" "Tell them I'm on government business." "Yes, darling..." "I mean "sir"." "Hello, Randall and Hopkirk." "Sir Basil?" "." "My appointment with Mr Hopkirk - I'm afraid I shall have to cancel it." "Oh, I see." "Er, yes." "Yes, I'll tell him." "Fine." "Thank you." "Goodbye." " Jeannie, what is it?" " The appointment's been cancelled." "Oh, no!" "Oh!" "Where's that note from Mrs Crowther?" "Marty..." "Marty!" "Marty?" "I should have said "postponed"." "It's at two o'clock at his club." "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" "Two o'clock?" "Where's his club?" " Can I help you?" " I'm here to see Sir Basil Duggan." " Mr Hopkirk?" " That's right." "This way." "Sir Basil, Mr Hopkirk." "Ah!" "Sit down, Hopkirk!" " Get you a drink?" " Yes, er, thank you." " Tomato juice." " Groves." "Tomato juice." "And a large whisky for me." "Hmm." "Hmm." " I knew your partner in the army." " That's why you...?" " Good chap." "Reliable." " Yes, he is." " You stand for the Queen?" " What?" " National anthem." " Oh, yes, I do." "Good." "That's the test." "Not many people do, not these days." " I've got references." " We've checked." "This is top secret." "Can't be too careful." " Cheers." " Cheers." " I expect you're wondering what..." " Yes, I am." "The details of our Middle East agents have disappeared from my office." "I want them back before they're sent abroad." " You know where they are?" " I do." "They're in the safe of a subordinate of mine, fellow named Thompson." "What?" "If he's stolen them, why don't you arrest him?" " He's a spy but not the top man." " Ah, I see." " Arrest him and the top man escapes." " And the rest of them go to ground." "When we move in, we want the lot." "Why me?" "Surely your own men could do the job?" "Two reasons." "Thompson's not the only spy in the service." "We daren't risk a leak." "I see." "Hmm." " Oh, you said you had two reasons?" " Yes." "If you're caught, there's no connection with the department." " I'll be on my own?" " No alternative." "Of course, I'll be able to pull some strings, get you out of jail, maybe even square it with the police so you can continue your business." "I don't know, it sounds a bit dodgy." "It's for your country, Hopkirk!" "Randall wouldn't have hesitated." "So you've agreed?" "When do you do it?" " Tonight." " Tonight?" " Marty, you can't open a safe." " No, but I know someone who can." " Sure there's no one home?" " Positive." " Alarms?" " We'll have to be careful, Joe." " I wouldn't do it for anyone." " It's for our country." "So you said." "I don't like traitors," "I only hope I don't end up in the same cell with one." "(Clock ticking)" " Where is it?" " Behind this picture." "Hold it, hold it." "There's a wire." "The brass clip makes the connection." "Break that and the balloon'll go up." " Can you handle it?" " What do you think I am, an amateur?" " Come on, Joe." "Hurry up!" " Shut up." "Right." "Hey, look at this." " Put them back." " Look here..." " That's not what we came for." " Payment for national secrets." "Well, we just came for the papers." "Come on, Joe, put them back!" "OK." "If you say so." "Here it is." "Shove these back in the safe." "Let's get out of here." " You can drop me off here." " Oh." "Right." "And thanks, Joe." " Wait, Joe, your money!" " Seeing as it was for my country..." "Joe, I'm proud of you." "You took those diamonds!" "Here, give me that." "No wonder you're a detective." "You've got a nasty, suspicious mind." "Did you get it?" "That's what you paid me for." "Yes, this is it." "Good work, man." "Here's the rest of your money." "No trouble?" " It went like clockwork." " Splendid, splendid." "I can't promise you any medals but your country will not forget you." "Good night." "(Marty ) Good night." " Jeff, are you awake?" " Mm?" " Are you sure?" " I'm agog, Marty." "Agog." "You'd just written down a car number, right?" "Why?" " Because I'm a good detective." " Oh, I see." "What happened next?" "Um, well..." "Well, nothing, really, until next morning." " (Yawns )" " Good morning, darling." "Why didn't you lie in?" "You were awfully late last night." "It's all right, I'm not tired." "(Sighs )" "There." "Did it go all right last night?" "What did Sir Basil say?" "(Gasps ) I'll tell you as soon as I finish this coffee." " Marty, look at this!" " What?" " Look!" " But..." ""Secret information was stolen last night" ""from the house of Major-General Hickson, chief of MI5."" " (Dialling)" " Calling Sir Basil?" "." " What about the necklace?" " Hey?" "A diamond necklace was stolen, too." "Hello?" "Sir Basil Duggan, please." "My name's Hopkirk." "Oh." "Oh, I see." "Where can I get hold of him?" " Right, thanks." " (Receiver slams down )" " Not there?" " No." "I'll try his club." "Yes, sir?" " I want to see Sir Basil Duggan." " Is he expecting you?" " Yes, he is." " This way, sir." "Gentleman to see you, sir." "Yes?" "Yes?" "What do you want?" "I don't remember - have I had the pleasure of meeting you before?" " (Knock at door)" " Come in!" "Aha." "(Arab accent) Change of course, we're putting into London." "Oh, come on, Marty, how could you know that happened?" " It must have done." " Why?" " It'll fall into place in a minute." " Right, tell it your way." "I'm trying to!" "Anyway, what were you doing while all this was going on?" "Well, I was still shattered at the military club." " Where's the man from yesterday?" " I was here, sir." " Who else?" " I'm sorry." " I was here and I saw another man!" " Get lost." " Why didn't you go after him?" " He wouldn't have talked." " How do you know?" " My super deductive powers told me." " I'm not going on with this story." " Oh..." " And I was just getting interested." " Really?" "You were saying how great a detective you were." "So far you've been briefed by an impostor, stolen state secrets and given them to an enemy agent." "Not bad." " None of us are perfect!" " What happened next?" " I'm not telling." " Oh, come on..." " Promise not to interrupt." " I won't." " Promise?" " Promise." " No, I'm not gonna tell you." " Please yourself." "Well, anyway, we were... (Phone ringing)" "Hello?" "Who?" " I told you never to call me here." " Hopkirk's been here again." " He saw Sir Basil." " You were right to let me know." "Thanks." "They're rerouting the ship." "Be in London docks tonight." "Good." "Everything's OK?" "Mm?" "Oh, yes." "As long as Hopkirk doesn't dig too deep." "He's been asking questions." "Well, it shouldn't be too difficult to get rid of him." " Yes?" " Where is he?" " Mr Hopkirk?" " Who else?" "He should be back by now." " He hasn't scarpered?" " "Scarpered"?" " Run away." "He would if he was wise." " Who are you?" "Who am I?" "I'm just the guy he made a monkey out of!" "That spiel about helping my country!" "Oh, that!" "He made a mistake, he didn't..." "Yes, he made a mistake!" "Well, he got the wrong man, I'm patriotic." "You can tell him from me..." "Don't bother, I'll tell him." "Joe, look, I've been meaning to..." "Where are they - the papers?" " I handed them over." " Well, get them back!" "What about the diamond necklace?" " What's that got to do with it?" " "What's that got to do with it"?" "That was just a good honest robbery." " Joe..." " 24 hours." "You've got 24 hours to get them back or me and the boys'll be after you." "Oh, Jeannie, what a mess." "Marty, what's happened?" "The man who gave us the job wasn't Sir Basil Duggan." "He wasn't?" "!" "Who was he?" "I don't know." "Someone who knew Jeff in the army, like he said." " What did he look like?" " Tall, thin, grey hair, moustache." "Jeff's got a photograph of his old unit!" " Has he?" " Yes, in his apartment." "Can you go round there and try and find it for me?" "Marty, I don't have a key." "The porter will let you in - it's a matter of life and death." "This man probably isn't even in the photograph." "Yes, but it's worth a try, isn't it!" "Marty, you're such a worrier." "Well, I've got something to worry about!" "There's treason..." "Jeannie..." "I've got his car number!" "I took it down..." "Can you try and trace it for me?" "There's a fella called Brinkley in Records, he's a friend of Jeff's." "Of course, but what about you?" "I'll go to the club" " I've got to try and see that porter I saw yesterday." " Let's hope he's there." " Marty?" "Oh." "I see." "Well, I was on the way to the club." "I shouldn't - it's members only." " So where to?" " You choose." "Any place you'd like a last look at?" " Scotland Yard?" " Sorry." "I don't have a licence for this gun." " You could get arrested." " That's it." "So let's not take any chances." "Drive us somewhere quiet." "Right." " (Knock at door)" " Come in." "Yes?" "Chief Inspector Horner, Special Branch." " Inspector, what can I do for you?" " It's about the robbery." " At Major-General Hickson's?" " Yes." " I'm hoping you can help me." " Me?" "I don't understand." "It's routine, sir." "We have to question everyone." "I see." "Well, what do you want to know?" "Is there anyone in the department whose loyalty is suspect?" " Certainly not!" " No unauthorised persons around?" " Not to my knowledge." " Nothing you know that might help?" "I don't think so." " If you think of anything..." " Of course." "No, er...no leads?" "The man who did the job was an experienced safebreaker." "They all have their own methods - we should be able to trace him." "This'll do, pull up here." "Anything you say." "(Brakes squeal)" "You should've put your seat belt on." " It must've been very hard." " I expected him to go right through." "He could be suffering from concussion." " Serves him right." " He's got a very bad cut here." "Jeannie, darling, he was trying to kill me." " Did you get that photo from Jeff's?" " Oh, yes, I did." "Here." "That's the one." "Yes, I'm sure." " That doesn't help." " Why not?" "No names!" "You still don't know who it is." " Maybe I should take it to the club." " Now?" "Yeah." " What about him?" " He's unconscious." "Well..." "Marty, why can't we just phone the police and tell them?" "Darling, I haven't got any proof - and I did the robbery!" "If I don't sort this out, I'm gonna get 30 years." " Shall I stay with him?" " Yes, but I wish Jeff was here." "I'll be all right." "You'd better tie him up, though." "I was going to." "And I'll leave you the gun." "Make it tight, Marty." "You will be back as quickly as you can?" "Of course." "Now listen, Jeannie, don't take any chances." "Thanks, Jeannie." "(Door closes )" "You left Jeannie alone?" " What else could I have done?" " What happened?" " Hey!" "Oh!" " Struggling won't do any good." " You're hurting me!" " That's nothing." "Now come on!" " (Gasps )" " Untie me." "Come on!" "Jackson, is Major Brenan there?" "Er, no." "What is it?" "What?" "You've let him escape?" "Yes, yes, that's Major Brenan, sir." " You're sure?" " I think so, sir." " Do you know where he lives?" " I'm afraid not, sir, but his address should be in the club register." "Could you page Major Brenan?" "It's rather urgent." "Paging Major Brenan!" "Paging Major Brenan!" "Major Brenan!" "Major Brenan!" " Major Brenan?" " Er, no." "Major Brenan, please." "(Page ) Major Brenan." "Major Brenan, please." "Major Brenan, please!" " Major Brenan?" " Here." "Sir, could you phone Mr Parker when you can." "All right." "Thanks." "Well, if it isn't Sir Basil Duggan." "What?" "!" "What are you doing here?" " Never mind that." " Wait a minute..." "No arguments, we're going to the police." "Come on." "It's Hopkirk - get him!" "We've got to get him out." " Oh, getting far too hot for me." " And for me." "Oh, it's not too bad." "(Door closes )" "Heat's a bit strong, isn't it?" " All right." " Only a couple left." "How do you want him?" "Medium or well done?" "Things look pretty black, Marty." "There's Jean..." "And you..." "What happened next?" "As if I didn't know." " You're not going, are you?" " Pardon?" " I know it's hot but..." " Hot?" "(Laughs )" "Marvellous!" "Reminds me of my service in Africa." "Oh!" "You see, I can't get out of here." "They're waiting for me, but they won't come in while you're here." " What's that?" " If I step outside, I'm a dead man." " I say, is this heat getting to you?" " No, no!" "I've known fellas in the tropics go to pieces." "No, it's not the heat!" "You see it's..." "No, I'll have to take you into my confidence." " I see." " The men waiting outside are spies." " Spies?" " Yeah, spies." "But I can't go to the police because they think I am." " Am what?" "I mean..." " A spy!" "You see, I stole these secret papers." " And they're waiting to kill you?" " Good." "Now you're catching on." "If we left together, they won't try anything." " Yes." " And I can round up Major Brenan and sort everything out." "What?" "Oh!" "Bravo, bravo." " Mind if I take a look first?" " No, no, go ahead." " Right." " Right." "Be careful!" "Good Lord." "Don't go, please!" "Come back!" "You look warm - but you'll soon cool off." "In the mortuary." "Make a good job of it." "Come on, Hopkirk." "Ah, you've got him - this is the fellow, Doctor." "Fully-clothed, telling me everyone was a spy." "Sounds serious." "All right, I'll take over." "I'll get him to the hospital." "Come along, old man, nothing to worry about." "Not now there isn't!" "Thank you!" "Oh, that's better." "I'm sorry I let him get away." "It's my fault." "I should never have left you." "What are we going to do?" " I don't know." " (Phone )" "Hello." "Yes?" "They've traced that car - they've found Brenan's address." " That was lucky." " Lucky?" "!" "I took his number down!" "All right, if you say so." "I left Jeannie in the apartment, got in my car and sped to the address." " (Knock at door)" " Come in." " Ahh, Mr Brenan." " Captain Rashid." "Everything as planned, eh?" " Not quite." " Oh." " But you have the papers?" " Oh, yes." "Good." "My government will be very happy." "I'm sure." "What time do you sail?" "." "We have missed the tide, we cannot leave before 11am tomorrow." "Why?" " I'm sailing with you." " Ahh!" " You have trouble, hmm?" " Yes." "The police will be after me soon, if they're not already." "So you will find a new home in my country, hmm?" " I hope so." " I'll put the papers somewhere safe." "Of course." "Splendid." "We drink a toast, eh?" "Thank you." "To my country - your country too now, hm?" "To our country." "(Hopkirk) 'Anyway, I was just gonna leave the ship to get the police, 'when suddenly..." "I turned and there were these eight sailors!" "'" "(Randall) 'Wait a minute, how many?" "'" " Five." " Five?" "Two." " Who is he?" " The man I employed to..." "We'll hear the story later." "Lock him up." "We'll see he gives you no more trouble." "(Hopkirk) 'So I was a prisoner and I knew I had to get out of there.'" "So...what happens now?" "Don't tell me, Marty, I think I know." " You do?" " Yeah." "(Imitating cavalry charge )" "# Da-dat, da-dat, da-dat dah!" "#" " You're not taking me seriously." " What makes you think that?" " Shall I go on or not?" " Go on, go on." "Right." "I managed to get the ropes off and I went over to have a look at the door." "I found a spring clip to use as a screwdriver and slowly I took the screws out." "And although I didn't know it, Jeannie was with Inspector Horner." "I'm sure there's some mistake." "It's no use, miss." "They caught me with the diamonds." "That's your affair." "Marty..." "Mr Hopkirk went for the papers." " Where is he?" " He went after Brenan." " Brenan?" " The man who commissioned him." " He said he was Sir Basil Duggan." " I told you." "Mr Hopkirk thought he was working in the national interest!" " And Hopkirk went after Brenan?" " Yes." "I can check that." "May I use your phone?" "Of course." "Inspector, he should've been back ages ago." "I'm sure he's in some sort of danger." "Is Major Brenan there?" "Do you know where he is?" "All right, I'll try his home." "Hello, this is an emergency." "Hello, um, mayday, mayday." "SOS." "I've got an urgent message." "You must tell the police." "Mayday, mayday." "Our clearance." "Take that to the port office." " Brenan's disappeared." " Now do you believe me?" "(Phone )" "Randall and Hopkirk." "Oh, one moment, please." " It's your office." " Thank you." "Horner speaking." "A message?" "From the British Broadcasting Corporation?" "(Ship's horn honking)" "We shall be away in five minutes." "We have to take a pilot onboard." "I'd better get out of sight." "Major Brenan?" " Planning a sea trip?" " And that was that." "It didn't make the newspapers for security reasons," " otherwise I'd be a national hero." " But of course." " It proves a point." " Does it?" "There's a visitor for you, Mr Randall." "I'll put the flowers in a vase for you." " Hello, Jeff." "How are you feeling?" " Much better." " I brought a few things for you." " You spoil me." " Well, you can do something for me." " Yeah?" "What?" "Just tell me something - how did you fall off the balcony?" "I was thinking about how Marty would have handled it." "Looking back, he was a pretty good detective." "She's taken the words right out of my mouth." " Do you remember that case...?" " Very well, Jeannie." "He never did tell you that story, did he?" "Yes, he did - in detail!" "You were in Scotland - poaching or something like that." " The Tartan case." " This is where I came in." "Anyway..." "I was helping Marty in the office, routine day, not much happening," " but the story was unfolding." " In the corridors of power." " The where?" " Nothing." "Look, Jeff, please don't interrupt." "After all, who's telling this story?" "You are, Marty..." "I mean, Jeannie." "Yes, well, I was helping in the office and you were away..."