"Thank you." " Just these." " Right." " What train, sir?" " 7:55 to Nottingham." " There's a reservation for Dr Radcliffe." " Yes, sir." "'The 7:55 express leaving platform 13 'will stop at Rugby, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield.'" " Thank you very much indeed." " Thank you, sir." " All right?" " Yes, thank you." "Well, have a good holiday, and Henderson will meet you." " Yes." "Yes." " Right." "Bye." "'..." "leaving platform 13 'will stop at Rugby, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield.'" "All aboard." "Dr Radcliffe, you forgot your camera?" "Where's Dr Radcliffe?" "Morning." "You should get up in the morning." "20 minutes late you are, you know." " Anything new?" " It's all in the report." "And it's neat and tidy - unlike some." "You ought to remember you're still in the army, boyo." "I'll tell you what, you remember for me." "9:45am, postal delivery." "The postman was your man Haggerty, delivered two packets and four letters." "9:56am, the baker's van called." "Left two large brown and a sliced white." "They had an extra pint of milk which either means there are more people there or they're drinking more tea." "What are you doing here?" "You're not due on for hours yet." "Ross wants you." "So old muggins here has to come down and relieve you." " What does he want?" "Did he tell you?" " No." "Didn't he say anything?" "Yes." "I'm in his full confidence, I am." "Blast you and blast old Ross." " You know what?" " No, what?" "You've got some wiping to do - that tape's still running." "Good morning." " Morning." " Morning, sir." " Thank you." " Thank you." "Come on, little pigeons." "Come in, Palmer." " Sergeant Palmer reporting as ordered." " Close the door." "And don't slouch into my office like a pregnant camel." "Stand to attention." "At ease." "Is that my B-107, sir?" "As if you didn't know." "And it makes awful reading, Palmer." "You just love the army, don't you?" "Oh, yes, sir." "I just love the army, sir." "We may find you a better audience for your jokes." " I'm transferring you to Major Dalby." " Oh." "What will be my job, sir?" "It could give your peculiar talents more scope than observation duties." " At least you won't be stuck in an attic." " Er, is this a promotion, sir?" " Sort of." " Any more money?" "Let's see." "You're on 1300 pay and allowances." "Yes, sir." " I'll try and get you 1400." " Oh, thank you, sir." " Now I can get that new infrared grill." " Save your money." "You won't have much time for cooking." "Dalby works his men." "And he doesn't have my sense of humour." "Yes, sir." "I will miss that, sir." "All right, come on, I'll take you over." "Er, the B-107, must that go with us?" "I'm afraid so." "Come along, Palmer." "...to take any old job no, not weekends." "Oh." "Good morning, sir." "The butler you asked for is upstairs waiting to be interviewed." "Just go through the door, along the passage and up the stairs." " Got it?" " Er, yes, thank you." "Do you mind waiting?" "Sir." "...I don't think I'm difficult, it's just these jobs." "Well, I mean..." "Good morning, Dalby." " Good morning sir." " I've just read your T-104." "I thought that might speed your arrival." "It did." "It's a pity you lost Radcliffe." "We were expecting something like that." "I hope you're not imputing negligence." "My dear chap, there's no question of that." "Let me put you in the picture, Dalby." "The killing of Radcliffe's guard has verified our suspicions." "For some time we've had a section investigating the brain drain." "Too many government scientists are leaving their jobs at the peak of their careers - they cease to function." " You've checked on them, of course?" " Naturally." "We checked on them all." "126 have left in the past two years." "107 had fair enough reasons to go - better facilities, better pay." "Three defected to the other side." " And the other 16?" " 17 with Radcliffe. 17 top men." "What defies probability is that none of them had a rational explanation for quitting." "But Radcliffe didn't quit." " He was lifted." " Exactly." "Now we think we've got our first real lead." "And I want you to get Radcliffe back." " I'll try, of course." " That's not good enough." "If you don't get him back, the people upstairs might have to close you down." "Now wait a minute." "This department was set up for counterespionage not security grade one surveillance on people like Radcliffe." "Neither were Wilson's or Roberts's departments but I put them on S1 duties." "They were War Office, I'm Home Office." "I'm aware of that, Dalby." "I set you up, remember?" "You have a very good job for a passed-over major, haven't you?" "Hm." "I've brought you a replacement for Taylor." "Hm?" "What's he like?" "A little insubordinate but a good man." "Sergeant Palmer." " That's it, Mrs Norman." " It's not much." "After doing Lyons Corner House you can't expect me to clean a pub." " It's a good hotel." " I don't know." "I'd do better at the labour exchange." "Yes, sir?" "You can go up now." "Good luck, Palmer." "And don't forget your mop." " Good morning, sir." " Morning." "Through the door, along the passage and up the stairs." "Got it!" "Shut the door." "It isn't usual to read a B-107 to its subject, Palmer, but I'm going to put you straight." ""Insubordinate," ""insolent..." ""and a trickster..." ""perhaps with criminal tendencies. "" "Yes, that's a pretty fair appraisal." " Sir." " Good." "That last quality might be useful." "But if I have any trouble with you, I shall bite you, Palmer, and I shall bite you so hard you'll go right back to where Ross found you." "Come with me." "A word in your shell-like ear." "If there's anything to be reported to Ross, I report it." " Understand?" " Yes, sir." "Thank you for a wonderful evening." "Spare us the jokes, Palmer, I don't have Colonel Ross's sense of humour." "Yes, I will miss that, sir." "The fella whose job I'm taking, will he show me the ropes?" " Only if you're in touch with the spirits." " I beg your pardon?" "He was shot this morning." " Good morning, sir." " Morning." "Morning, sir." "Murray." "Palmer." " Hi." " Hi." "Give him your gun." "Issue him with a Colt. 32." " Do you know how to use this?" " Colt. 32?" "Yes." " I'd sooner have my automatic." " Use the Colt." "I'll use the Colt." " Morning, sir." " Good morning." " Morning, sir." " Good morning." "Morning." " Thank you." " Here's the file on Bluejay, sir." " You won't need that." " No..." "Oh, come in, Palmer." "Yes, I understand." "I see." "I'll be going down there." "Yes, if you will." "Oh, yes." "Excuse me." "Did you go over there last night?" "How did it turn out?" "This morning our S1, Radcliffe, was lifted and Taylor killed." "It has been put to me that if we don't get Radcliffe back, this department will be closed down." "Message received and understood." "Palmer." "This is Palmer, Taylor's replacement." "Chilcott-Oakes." " Hello." " Carswell." "Gray, Edwards and Courtney." "You know Alice, of course." "Now, then..." "Oh, you may sit down." "There are only two people in Europe operating on a scale large enough to market Radcliffe." "One, codenamed Sparrow, whom I've just been told by the French Sûreté, was arrested two months ago and they're still holding." "So, we are left with Erik Ashley Grantby, codename Bluejay, born Albania 1918." "Thank you, Chico." "The one in the hat is Bluejay, the bald one is his chief of staff, codenamed Housemartin." "This was taken in Stockholm two years ago." "Here is a more recent film of Bluejay in Vienna last October." "Since then, it would appear, he's been lying low." "Alice has done a breakdown of all his known haunts in and around London." "I want them all checked." " Jock, take these." " Sir." " Gray." " Sir." " Edwards." " Sir." " Chico." " Thank you, sir." "Palmer." "Lastly, if Bluejay has Radcliffe, he'll sell to the highest bidder and that's got to be us." "Whoever contacts him must let him know that we're in the market." "Right, get on with it." "Courtney, I'd like a word with you." "I say, er, my name's Harry." " I'm Jock." " Hi." " Is that his bird?" " No!" "Oh." "That parade-ground manner of his doesn't work with women." " He gave you the treatment, eh?" " I'll say." "He does that to everyone." "Still, he's not a bad bloke really." "Go ahead." "This'll be your desk." " Don't smoke a pipe, do you?" " No." "Mr Taylor was scared of cancer." "Combined clearing house reports, your equipment requisitions, expense allowance indent, motor pool chit - yours is a blue Zodiac." "Log book, insurance, civilian driving licence and form L-101." "What is form L-101?" "Field report." "You have to make one out after every job." "It makes Dalby happy." "I've got to ask about Grantby in 19 different places and then make out 19 silly answers?" "That's about it, laddie." "This job's nearly all legwork." "It may be Dalby's way of doing things but it isn't mine." " See you, Jock." " Aye, cheerio." "I'm always doing you favours." " We're mates." " How about doing me a favour for once?" "Sure, Pat." "I'd do anything for you." " Afternoon, Inspector." " Afternoon." " What's his name again?" " Erik Ashley Grantby." " See what we've got." " You've got a green card on him." "Won't take a moment, sir." " Now..." " Yes?" "That blonde bird you was with the other evening." " Rita?" " What's her phone number?" "You dirty old man." "Well, you scratch my back and I'll scratch hers." " You ought to be locked up." " I know." " Here we are, sir." " Thank you." "Ah..." "Grantby." "A right master criminal." "Well, there you are, Harry." "Scrutinise that." "Three parking tickets." "Thurlow Gardens." "Thurlow Gardens." "Thurlow Gardens." "The last one only two weeks ago." "Ah!" "Registration number." " Can I borrow that?" " Go ahead." "Four-one-seven..." "F" " L-U." " Thank you, Pat." " What about her telephone number?" "Oh!" "Disconnected." "Get me Wilson's Metal Fatigue And Stress Engineering." "Yes, certainly." "Mr Grantby?" "Mr Grantby, we are looking for an important piece of scientific equipment." "It was lost on a train." "We think that you might be able to help us get it back." "Shh." "We would be willing to do a deal." "Call me, after six." "Operator, I'm getting unobtainable on Knightsbridge 2149, could you check it for me, please?" "'That line is discontinued, caller. '" "Grantby." "Right, gentlemen, sit down." "All right, let's hear what you have to say." "Carswell?" "Er, no luck sir, I drew a blank." " Chico?" " No joy at all." "I'm awfully sorry, sir." "There's no use being sorry, is there?" "Didn't anyone contact him?" "Er, I did." "In the Science Museum library." "And?" "All he gave me was a discontinued telephone number." " Did you follow him?" " Yes, and I lost him." " You lost him?" " Yes." "You idiot." "Let's see it." "All right, put it on your report." "I want your L-101 s as quickly as possible, however feeble they may be." "And then you can all get out and start looking for Grantby again." "Alice." "Don't worry, man, you were the only one to come up with anything." " He seemed very pleased." " He's got a comical way of showing it." " You know this is unauthorised?" " My mother gave it to me for Christmas." "You're supposed to be at work." "Oh, you are, of course?" "Dalby likes to know about his new boys." " Have you seen everything?" " Yes, thank you." "Then you know where the... whisky is." " Yes." " Fix us both one, will you?" "Thank you." "Cheers." "Do you like music?" " Yes." " Why don't you put a record on?" "Mozart." "Music to cook by!" "What are you gonna tell Dalby in your L-101?" "That you like girls." "You got that right." "You're not the tearaway he thinks you are." "You also like books, music, cooking." "I like birds best." " How did you get into this game?" " My husband was in it." "He was killed in Tokyo." "I'm sorry." "So they gave me a job." "You were bailed out of detention barracks." "Yes, I was." " So what bailed you in?" " Er..." "I was stationed in Berlin and I was making rather a lot of money out of the German army and they insisted that the British army made an example of me." " What did you do?" " It's very complicated." " It impressed Ross." " It impressed me." "Boy, has he got me by the short hairs for it." "Still, it's better than two years in the nick." "The food's terrible." " You're very professional." " Yeah, so are you." "Do you need all that?" "It's as easy to cook for two as it is for one." "I thought you might join me." "No, thanks." "I'm not hungry." " You got to have..." " You show me." "It's easy." "Cut this first thing out for a start." "Get that, will you?" " Forget it, we'll go to lunch." " Right, in a minute." " Duty officer, please." " 'Who wants him?" "'" " Special Branch." " Ah!" "Pat, it's Harry." "Hello!" "I think we might have something for you." "Shoreditch have picked up a bloke we're holding a red card on." " Codename Housemartin." " We'll be right down." " Palmer." " Mr Palmer's just left, sir." "He said he'd be back soon." "Would you like to wait?" "Everything's under control, sir." "I'm Palmer." "Get the keys." "This way, sir." "Right, on your feet." "He's dead, sir." "Looks as if Bluejay beat us to it." "I want to see his charge sheet." "That's the one, sir." ""Charged with unlawful possession of a suitcase."" " Where's the suitcase?" " The other gentleman took it." " Did you see what was in it?" " Electrical equipment." ""Arrested near Sandersons." What's Sandersons?" "It's a disused factory, sir." " Is that an outside phone?" " Yes, sir." " 225 Wellington Street." " Calling Dalby?" "Up Dalby." "I need a TX-82." "You'll never get it, man." "I did learn something working for Ross." " Keightley." " 'Hello, Pat." " 'It's Harry Palmer.'" " What's up?" "I want your help." "Housemartin's dead and I need a TX-82." "You need a 3H security clearance." "What's your authority?" "Authority?" "CC1." "CC1?" "All right, Harry, if you say so." "Give me the time and place." "2:30." "They're late." " Palmer?" " I'm Palmer." "All right, let's get on with it." "Come on, let's go." " The men are in position." " Get them away from the door." "Having fun, Inspector?" "Did you call this TX-82?" " Yes, sir." "I think Radcliffe's in there." " Really?" "Get on with it, then." "Lose that door, will you?" "All right, split up." "Get some light in here, will you?" " I wonder what sort of factory this was." " Search me." "No one here, sir." " Get the men out of here." " Right, sir." "Get back in your cars." "Come on, let's go." "Come on, get moving." "It looks as if all this has been for nothing." "That's not good enough." "Come on, let's have you." "This operation was timed to start at 2:25, you started at 2:35, that's not good enough." "Good afternoon." "Thank you." "The next time you use CC1 authority, just you make sure you have it." "You know, it's funny." "If Radcliffe had been here, I'd have been... a hero." "He wasn't and you're not." "Major." "This stove's still warm." "I found this in it." "A piece of recording tape." " "Ipcress. "" " What?" "It's got "Ipcress" written on it." "See what Chilcott-Oakes can make of it." "This might be something." "Yes, Palmer, it might." " By the way, have you had lunch?" " No." "No, sir." "I'll buy you some." "And what do you make of that?" "If I could have a bit more equipment, I might be able to make something out." "Well, keep it within reason." "Well, it must mean something." "Hardly worth a TX-82 though, was it?" " Open a file on it." " Right, sir." " Chico, why..." " And we still have to find Radcliffe." "That means more legwork and fewer hunches." "Get on with it." "Oh." "Good morning, sir." ""Champignons. "" "You're paying ten pence more for a fancy French label." "If you want mushrooms, you'd get better value on the next shelf." "It's not just the label, these do have a better flavour." "Of course." "You're quite a gourmet, aren't you?" "Beefaroni?" "Extraordinary." " I haven't seen you here before, sir." " No, I don't... really care for these American shopping methods." "One has to move with the times, I suppose." "Hm?" " Yes, that's very nice." " Is it really?" "Mm." " Settled down with Dalby, have you?" " Yes, sir." " And the girl Courtney." " You didn't come..." " Excuse me." " Sorry." "You didn't come to talk about..." "Oh, you men!" "...button mushrooms and birds." " Perceptive of you." "May I?" "That, erm, tape." "You must have a pretty thick file on it now."