"Pony, pony, how do we get in?" "(PEOPLE SCREAM)" "Here, boy." "You help us fight them off." "(GROWLING)" "(SNARLING GROWL)" "(COLE) Don't be afeared, Master Kay." "You see these things only because I'm here." "Ah, but it's like old times to me." "I've had fine times on winter nights when the wolves were after the stock." "But I hoped you'd come, because other wolves are running, and they're running after me, and they're running me very close." " What do they want?" " Not me." "They want my Box of Delights that I showed you at the inn." "I've not had it long." "It is Master Arnold's box, not mine, and though I've sought him and called him, I've not found him." "Gone a long way back, has Master Arnold." "Excuse me, but doesn't the box protect you from the wolves?" "They run me close with their new magic, which I can't guard myself against - not any more - because I'm old now and only know the old magic." "No, Master Kay... ..I look to you." "Will you keep it, and see that they never get it?" "Of course." "I'll keep anything you want kept, but if you're in danger, shouldn't you go to the police?" "The police don't heed the kind of wolf that's after me." " Now, let me show you..." " (EERIE HOWL AND PEOPLE SHOUTING)" "There are three things you must know about this box." "Mr Hawlings, don't you think perhaps your magic is fading?" "You open it like this..." "If you push this to the right, you can go small." "If you press it to the left, you can go swift." "Yes, yes." "Will you keep it for me until I'm able to claim it, if I ever may be able, or until Master Arnold comes back out of the old time for it?" "Yes, I promise I will, but who is Master Arnold?" "(COLE'S VOICE ECHOES) Keep the box from them." "Above all, keep it from themI" "Make your way out here towards dawn, with your friend Peter for safety, and you may see what comes to me." " Mr Hawlings!" " Don't be afeared." "Press to the left and go swiftI" "Whoosh!" "(KAY WHIMPERS)" "Kay?" "What's the matter?" "Peter?" "Nothing." "Go back to sleep." "I must have been dreaming." "(KAY) King Arthur's Camp." "Towards dawn." "(PETER) Getting up before it's light on the first day of the holidays!" "It's the purple pim!" "Ssh!" "Aren't we having a secret breakfast?" "Here." "And won't we have a proper breakfast later on as well?" " I suppose so." " Well, stop grumbling, then." "All very well, but what are we going out for?" "Oh, explore, hunt." "You see all sorts of things at this time of day you never see normally." "Come on." "(KAY) There's King Arthur's Camp, but it's just a mound of earth." "(PETER) Told you." "There's nothing there." "Come on." "Let's go exploring." "Kay!" "Get him, chaps!" "(MAN) Grab him!" "They've got him, but what can we do?" "Mind your head." "(CHUGGING CAR ENGINE BECOMES WHIRRING DRONE)" " That's an aeroplane!" " What the dickens...?" "Well, they scrobbled the old man." "I'm sure it was old Mr Hawlings." "Our Punch and Judy man?" "It looked jolly like him." "But who are they?" " And what would they want him for?" " I wonder." "Hey, I'm glad I came!" "What shall we do?" "We're going to have to report it to the police." "An aeroplane?" "Hmm..." "You haven't been around to see my rabbits, Master Harker." " I've been away at school, Inspector." " Ah." "An aeroplane?" "At Bottler's Down." "Near King Arthur's Camp." "Have you seen the latest issue of "The Magician", Master Harker?" "There's a very good conjuring trick." "Hard-boiled eggs." "The inspector and I are both interested in magic." "No, I haven't." "You take six hard-boiled eggs..." "It wouldn't do for you to take them without your guardian's permission." "Far be it from me, as a man of the law, to encourage..." "Ah..." "An aeroplane?" "I should hate anything to happen to old Mr Hawlings." "That aeroplane..." "That aeroplane..." "That was those young officers from the aerodrome having a bit of a frolic." " It didn't look like a frolic." " I'm sure it wasn't a government plane." "Besides, it's such a lonely place." " And so early in the morning." " What were you doing there at that time?" "I hope you weren't trespassing." " No." "No, of course we weren't." " We were exploring." "Ah!" "Now, then, did this old man struggle at all or cry out?" "(KAY) No, he didn't have a chance to." " Did any of them see you?" " They couldn't." "Not from where we were." "Did you shout or otherwise try to raise an alarm?" "I'm afraid we didn't." "We were flummoxed." "Flabbergasted." "It happened in an instant." "Well, it sounds like the aerodrome to me." "Those young fellows serving their country, away from the civilising influence of their mothers - full of spirits." "The spit of what I was at their age." "It was a bit of a Christmas ragging." " I'm sure they weren't..." " The law isn't like ordinary things." "Sometimes the law has to put its foot down, and sometimes the law has to shut its eyes." "And the law makes much of what is called "motive"." "What's prank when meant as prank may become felony when meant as felony, and what you saw was no more than a prank." "All the same, I'm obliged to you, Master Harker." "We in the law are always grateful for evidence from one who knows what's what." "So, I'll keep my eyes and ears open, and I'll ask what aeroplanes were around that way this morning." "Did you get close enough to recognise any of the parties?" "Well, as I told you, we think - we're sure - the old man kidnapped was old Mr Hawlings who gave his Punch and Judy show at my house yesterday evening." "I shall make...a note." "(TELEPHONE RINGS)" "That'll be all, young gentlemen." "Condicote 7000." "Yes." "I see." "Hold on." "Hold on." "Now... that is what we call in the law, a coin-ci-dence." "Our officer in Tatchester's enquiring about your Punch and Judy man - was it Mr Hawlings?" " Has he been reported missing?" " Not at all." "He's at Tatchester police station to show his licence." "Our officer wants to know if he's suitable to perform before the bishop." " Oh, yes." " He's splendiferous." "Hello." "I have every reason to suppose, from information received, that Hawlings can be trusted not to shock the company." "Is he there?" "Could I...?" "Please?" "Would you bring Mr Hawlings to the telephone?" "A young gentleman would like a word with him." "Hello." "Mr Hawlings?" "Are you any the worse for your little trip in the aeroplane?" "He says none the worse." "Ooh, Mr Hawlings, who was it put you in the aeroplane?" "He says some young friends with more fun than sense." "Mr Hawlings, what brought you out to Bottler's Down in the snow?" "Ah..." "He says it's the only flat bit where he could meet the aeroplane." " (CRACKLING) - (WOMAN) Pottington two five." "(OLD MAN'S VOICE) Hello?" "(MAN) Go on with the belladonna." " Hello?" "Mr Hawlings?" "Are you all right?" " (OLD MAN'S VOICE) Perfectly fine, thank you." "You really are Mr Hawlings?" "The one who found my ticket, and was scrobbled into the aeroplane?" "(OLD MAN'S VOICE) The very same, young master." "Goodbye." "Goodbye." "So, that is that." "Now, that is how science helps the law." "You thought your friend was scrobbled, and now you hear by science and the law, from his own lips, that all is well." " I'm very glad...if he's safe." " We're sorry for taking up your time." "A public man's time is the public's." "It's my duty to listen to all and sundry." "Sometimes, there isn't enough for the law to go on, but any tale that's first-hand evidence, you bring it to the law, and depend upon it, murder will out." "However dark the deed, we bloodhounds of the law, as they call us," " will bring it into the limelight." " Yes, sir." "Thank you, sir." "And, over Christmas, you must come and see my rabbits, and I'll demonstrate that trick with the 'ard-boiled "heggs"." "Bloodhound of the law (!" ")" " Was that really old Cole on the telephone?" " It sounded like him." "(MARIA) Hurry up, you two!" "(KAY) A snowman!" "(SUSAN) Will these do for his eyes?" "(PETER) I'll shape the head." "(MARIA) I found an old clay pipe." " Oh, this is one of your hats?" " (KAY) Yes, a rather good one, in fact." "(MARIA) Fine." "(JEMIMA) Oh, dear." "Trouble." "You're all getting wet through!" " (KAY) It's all right, Ellen." " No, Master Kay." " With Miss Caroline Louisa away..." " (KAY) Have you had any message?" " Is she coming home?" " No." "Telephone's not working." "Are they doing their best (?" ") They always say they're doing their best." "Miss Maria!" "Miss Susan, just look at you." "Miss Jemima, you really are old enough to know better!" "(JEMIMA) Come on." "Inside." "(KAY) Come on, Peter." "There's too much discipline here altogether." "Why are we out here again?" "I can't help feeling we'll find out more if we have another look." "Hey, look!" "I know them." "They were on the train yesterday on the way home from school." " I've a suspicion they picked my pockets." " Curates?" "Picking pockets?" "IF they're curates." "You mean they're disguised?" "This holiday's turning out to be better than expected!" "What are they doing?" "(KAY) Looking for something they expected to find on the old man." "It's not here, Joe." "Come on." "Well, they've given up." "Come on." "Let's follow them." "Oh, well." "Let's go home." "(CHUGGING CAR ENGINE)" "(WHIRRING DRONE)" "(ELLEN) Master Kay!" "I've got something to do." "There in a minute!" "Press to open." "(BIRDSONG)" "Are you Herne the Hunter?" "Kay!" "Are you coming into my wild wood?" "Yes, please!" "Now...be a stag in the wild wood with me." "(HORN-LIKE CALL)" "(HORN-LIKE CALL)" "(HERNE) Did you see the wolves in the wood?" "(KAY) No." "That is why we became wild duck." " Did you see the hawks in the air?" " No." "That is why we became fish in the pool." "Now do you see the pike in the weeds?" "(HORN-LIKE CALL)" "I wonder how long all that took?" "Ten to eleven?" "All that took only two minutes?" "Ten to eleven." "Abner Brown and the Rat!" "If I push it to the right, I can go small." "(MOUSE HUMMING)" " Hello, Kay." " Hello, Mouse." "Mouse, do you know these underground alleyways?" "Could I get to the Prince Rupert Arms from here?" "Yes, but it's a bit of a peradventure." "There are some very terrible fellows between here and there." "But I must get there quickly - by 11 o'clock - and it's almost that now." " Won't you show me the way?" " Don't ask me." "Please don't ask me." "There's too much danger in it." "Hold tight to my hand, Mouse, and if we're threatened, I'll find a way." "(DISTANT, DRUNKEN SINGING)" "Let's go back." "They're pirates - pirates, the lot of them!" "(DRUNKEN SINGING)" "Don't make me." "Please don't make me." "They'll see us!" "# Over the side and take a dive Make them walk the planksie!" "# Over the side and take a dive" "# Diddle-dee-do, diddle-dee-do Over the side and take a dive... #" "(PIRATE RAT) Get 'em, lads!" "(KAY) Push to the left to go swift." "(MOUSE) The Prince Rupert's Arms." "(ABNER) Where is he, that Rat?" "And where is the box?" "As for the boy... ..that interfering, overreaching boy... reporting to the police, talking on telephones." "What I won't do to that boy (!" ")"