"Good morning, Mr Briggs." "The man you're looking at is Alex Lowell, a promoter of several large investment trusts." "A few weeks ago, Lowell's trusts gained control of a majority of the shares in Sud-Aero, a foreign company which manufactures some of NATO's top-secret defence hardware." "Lowell immediately transferred the stock into his own name and with it, left for South America, out of our reach." "We believe he intends to put" "Sud-Aero's secret patents up for sale to the highest bidder." "Jan Vornitz, an agent for an unfriendly country, is the most interested and most likely customer." "Your mission, Dan, should you decide to accept it, is to stop Lowell before he has a chance to sell the patents, and make sure he does not remain in control of the company." "As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions." "This recording will self-destruct five seconds after the speaker has been replaced." "Good luck, Dan." "Just getting the stock certificates isn't enough." "He has to endorse them or they're no good to us." "How do we get him to do that?" "Lowell's a gambler." "Has been all his life." "He got his start when he won a wildcat oil well in a crap game in Oklahoma." "You think he'll gamble with $80 million worth of stock?" "He will once you set him up." " How do we get in?" " Judge Chase knows him well." "All Washington does." "He's a con-man and a cheat." "He'll make friends with anybody he can use." " What about our edge?" " See for yourself." " Where are the other four cards?" " Right here." "Good." "It works perfectly." " Provided Barney gets it in place." " I will." "Where are you?" "I was just testing my hiding place." "Incredible." "It's an old carnival trick." "Didn't you ever see the headless lady?" "That's done with mirrors, too." "This is a drawing of the house." "A big rambling place." "The garage is here, main living room here." "This is the card room." "Lowell always sits here." "Rollin will sit opposite him." "As you can see, there's no place to hide, no place to go." "That's why Barney needs the mirror." "A chair and an end table, positioned like that one." "All the windows are burglar alarmed." "You got the detonator for Cinnamon?" " Sound activated." " That's it, then." "$80 million." "It's real, too." "If you can tell the difference, so can Lowell." " Will you get the patents?" " I told you I'd deliver." " I will." " When?" "It's a matter of weeks now." "What about your countrymen?" "Legally, unless I go back to the States, they can't do a thing to stop me." "You will soon be a very rich man, Mr Lowell." "Mr Vornitz, I'm already a very rich man." "I'll just be a little richer, that's all." "Gin." "10, 16, 19, 21." "I never know whether you are stacking the deck" " or whether I'm getting a fair deal." " What's the difference?" "You'll lose anyway." "All right, Tak, take it easy." "My name is Miller." " How'd you get in here?" " What difference does it make?" "I have an important business deal for you." "Really?" "And what might that be?" "I represent a group of men who want to buy some stock of yours." " Like Swiss Sud-Aero?" " Uh-huh." "And they're willing to take everything you've got." " Either they're crazy or you are." " Why do you say that?" "I've got a cheque right here for $80 million." "Look, mister, that stock is not for sale." "And I've got a feeling that your group should know about that." "If they don't, they do now." "Now clear out of here." "These men I represent want to do business." " You know what I mean." " I told you I'm not interested." " Now I want to see you leave." " Tell you what." "You think it over and I'll drop back this afternoon." "Forget it." "I'm entertaining friends this afternoon." "So you'll have one more guest." "Do you know this group he was talking about?" "It feels to me like it might be the syndicate." "They can be rough." "I do not like it." "Relax." "I've never been in a game that wasn't rough." "You'll get what you're after." "Play." "Barney, we've got enough blue backs." "Let's start on the reds." "How do you know that he uses that brand of cards?" "We know a lot about him and a lot about his friends." "Cinnamon, you mean that you memorised all of these?" "Those and more." "Cinnamon knows more about Lowell's friends than he does." " How'd it go?" " Just like we figured." "He won't sell." "Cinnamon, you and the Judge had better get ready." "I'll raise it $5,000." "Ed, play these out for me." " Judge." " How are you, Alex?" " Couldn't be better." " This is Janet Marwood." " Miss Marwood?" " How do you do?" "Be careful of what you're thinking, Alex." "Miss Marwood is the famous psychic." "Yes, of course." "I've heard about your extraordinary predictions." " Fantastic." " Thank you." "Come on, you could both use a drink." " I'm glad you had time to stop in, Judge." " I'm not sure I should have, Alex." "What do you mean?" "Well, there are some ugly rumours about you going around Washington." "Oh, you're talking about the Sud-Aero deal?" "And the Sud-Aero patents." "Well, Judge, I assure you they're nothing but rumours and lies." "There were other people trying to get into Sud-Aero, you know." "They're just bad losers." "Selling those patents would be against the best interests of the United States." "You know that, Alex." "I've played rough in my time, I admit that." "But I'm no traitor." "Well, I'll drink to that." "What are you doing in there?" "Señor, the garage sent me out to put in a new battery." " That is not a new battery." " I know, Señor." "There was nothing wrong with the old one." "Just a loose cable." "But if you would like to use the car, I will be through very quickly." "No, that's all right." "We're not going anywhere." "The name is Miller." "He's expecting me." "Excuse me." "Mr Lowell, let's talk." " I told you I'd be back." " Not for long." "Excuse me a moment." "Come with me." "Now get this." "You were told to stay away from here." "You're being told again." "This time you'd better understand it." "You can play as tough as you want to, Lowell." " But it won't end here." " Get him out of here." "You're making a big mistake." "And you might not live to regret it." " Your party's getting livelier." " Oh, I'm sorry about that interruption." "Just a small-time businessman trying to make good." "Not so small-time, I'm afraid." "Janet, I know how you can really liven up this party." " How's that?" " How about doing a reading?" " I bet Alex would be fascinated." " Would you mind?" " No." "I wouldn't mind at all." " I'll see if I can find a crystal ball." "That won't be necessary." "Just gather everyone around the fireplace and draw the drapes." "Done!" "Try to keep your minds open." "Let your thoughts wander." "Relax." "Now, if you will excuse me a moment, I need a moment of total solitude." "I want to wish you bon voyage." "You'll be travelling within the week." "Extraordinary." "Where am I going?" "I see tall buildings." "No." "The Eiffel Tower, Paris." "She's right." "I'm leaving the day after tomorrow." "The ladies wonder about romance." "You will be married within three months." "The groom will not be the gentleman you're here with today." " Who will it be?" " He's someone you already know." "His name is Seagrin." "William Seagrin." "But I haven't seen Bill in three years." " He's still in Baltimore." " His work will bring him here." "He is an engineer." "He will be transferred to this city." "That's all very interesting, Miss Marwood, but like most fortune tellers, aren't you just guessing?" "I'm not a fortune teller, Mr Lowell." "Judge Chase, how much change do you have in your pocket?" "I have no idea." "You have exactly $1.32 in American coins." "Three quarters, three dimes, three nickels and..." "No, that's not right." "One quarter, three dimes, three nickels and two pennies." "You have exactly 72 cents in American coins and two 10 peso coins." "Well, let's take a look." "Very good, Janet." "Now perhaps you'll tell Alex something about his own future." "I'm sorry." "I never read for my host." "Of course you do." "Why only last week at my home, why..." "Please." "I'd rather not." "Let's just say that I see nothing at all for Mr Lowell." "Well, very interesting, as always." "I've got to catch that plane." " I'll have Ed drive you." " No, would you take me?" "There's something I'd like to talk to you about." "Fine." "Come on." "The car's in the garage." "Don't go." "Janet, what do you mean?" "I did see something for you in there." "I don't like to tell people things like this." "I saw an explosion." "Possible death." " You can't be serious." " I am." " I've seen things like this before." " Nonsense." "Better listen to her." "She's seldom wrong." "I saw something else." "I saw arches." "Arches and a car." "All right, Miss Marwood." "I promise you we'll be careful." "But the Judge does have to catch a plane." "The arches." "Judge, you don't really believe all that gibberish, do you?" "I believe Janet Marwood, Alex." "You remember what she said?" "She's never wrong, Alex." "What is it, Alex?" "I don't know what it is myself for sure, but she did say arches and a car." "Guess it won't hurt to play it safe." "Everything's all right." "No one's hurt." "Ed, the blast must have set off the alarm." " Go up to the house and turn it off." " Yes, sir." " How did you know?" " I don't know how." "I just know." "Party's over." "Sorry everybody." "Alex, we..." "I had seen a man in here earlier." "He said the garage had sent him." "I suppose I should have told you." "Yeah." "Yeah, but it's too late now." "Alex, I'll say one thing for you." "Life around here is never dull." "If I were you, I'd get Janet to look into her crystal ball again" " and tell you what else she sees." " I intend to." "Listen, I've got to catch my plane." "Do you mind if I don't ride to the airport with you?" "My driver will take you out in the station wagon." " Not at all." "Goodbye, Janet." " Bye." "Listen to her, Alex." "She's a remarkable woman." "Goodbye, Judge." "Have a good trip." "That should do it, Mr Lowell." "Have your men keep an eye on the house tonight." "I don't want Miller to get another chance." "He will try again, won't he, Miss Marwood?" "I don't think he will, Mr Lowell." "I find that difficult to believe." "A man tries to kill me, and you say he won't try again." "That man will never bother you again, Mr Lowell." "I know it." "What else do you know, Miss Marwood?" " I know you lied to Judge Chase." " I did?" "You lied about the stock." "You lied about the patents." "I know you're evil, corrupt and dishonest." " You'll do anything for money." " You don't approve of me, do you?" "How could I disapprove of a man who is simply following his destiny?" "Mr Lowell!" "He made a mistake, Mr Lowell." "A bad one." "He shouldn't have tried any rough stuff with a man like you." "You won't need that, Mr Lowell." "You won't be bothered again." "I give you my word." "My name is Frank Davis." "I made a mistake sending Miller here to buy the stock." "I should have come myself." "That stock, Mr Davis, is not for sale." "Not to you, not to anybody." "Oh, I see you have company." "Let's you and I talk this over later tonight, shall we?" "Like gentlemen." "See you later, Mr Lowell." "Well, Miss Marwood, you were right again." "I know." "Quiet, Tak." "Quiet!" "Quiet, Tak!" "What's the matter?" "I see something, Mr Lowell." "I can't concentrate." "All right, come on, Tak." "Ed!" "Miss Marwood, what did you see?" "Is it about Davis?" "I see two men playing cards." "Yes." "You and Frank Davis." " You'll play for the stock." " An $80 million card game?" "Why would I do that?" "Because you know you'll win." "And why would Davis play for those stakes?" "He'd be crazy." "He intends to cheat and is sure he'll win." "But he won't." "I'm sorry, Miss Marwood, but this time I'm afraid you're wrong." "I'm a gambler, but I wouldn't play anyone for those stakes." " Not even with my own cards." " You will play tonight." " And with his cards." " With his cards." " I wouldn't bet on that, Miss Marwood." " I would." "Now, I think I'll go out near the pool, if that's all right." "Would you invite me to stay for dinner, so that I can see if my predictions come true?" "Consider yourself invited." "Back to the house." "There's no doubt about it, he came in this window." "He couldn't have." "My men were all over the garden." " Well, obviously he got past them." " According to your men, there does not seem to be anything missing." "No one breaks into a house for no reason." "Now, what did he want?" " What is it?" "Is something missing?" " No, nothing." "She said I'd play with his cards." "This deck has been opened and resealed." "Yeah." "So has this one." "They're not marked." "What is it?" "They're strippers." "Shuffle them." "Give them a good shuffle." "All right, that's fine." "Let me cut them." "Deal them." "Two hands." "Showdown." "Ace." "Ace, 10." "Two jacks." "Aces, 10's." "Two pair." "Three jacks." "Full house." "That's very neat." "We're playing with what are supposed to be my cards." "I deal and shuffle." "All Davis does is cut, and he wins $80 million." "I do not understand it." "If you shuffle..." "I can shuffle all night, he'll still win." "Unless..." "Everything Janet Marwood has said has come true." "She says I'm going to win." "You are not going to play him for the stock?" "There's nothing easier than cheating a cheater." " Good evening." " Good evening." " Drink?" " No, thank you." " Sit down." " Thank you." "You are an extraordinary woman, Miss Marwood." "The way you see things." "It is uncanny." "There was an intruder in the house." "Am I right?" "Yes." "He exchanged Davis' cards for mine." "Miss Marwood, think hard." "Are you absolutely certain I'm going to win?" "You will win." "Mr Davis is here." "Stick close." "And if he should win," "I don't want him to walk out of this house." "You understand?" "I understand." " Mr Davis." "Good evening." " Good evening." "Come right on in." "Thank you." " Nice place." " Thank you." "This is Miss Marwood, Mr Vornitz." "Mr Frank Davis." "How do you do?" "I thought we'd be able to talk alone." "No, I have no secrets from Mr Vornitz or my secretary." "Very well." "My partners and I are willing to offer you" "$80 million for your stock." "That's a very fair price if I wanted to sell, but I don't." "Oh, that's a great deal of money, Mr Lowell." "Much more than the stock is actually worth." "The reason we're being so generous is because we have to turn some of our surplus money into a legitimate business." "Sud-Aero is just what we're looking for." "Well, that's too bad, because the stock is not for sale." "Not at any price." "I think we can come to some sort of a deal, Mr Lowell." "I don't know what that might be, Mr Davis." "I hear you're quite a card player." "Big stakes." "Yes, I've played some no-limit games in my own time." "Let's you and I play the biggest hand of showdown in history." "That cheque for your stock." "Five cards." "Winner take all." " Ed, get the stock." " Alex." "Pardon the window." "We had a visit from a prowler this afternoon." "Sit down." "Take your pick." "Cut." "Five card, straight poker, nothing wild." "Showdown." "Ace of diamonds." "A jack." "Two aces." "Jack, 10." "Ten." "Two jacks." "Third ace." "Three jacks." "Five of clubs." "Second 10, full house." "That wasn't the top card, Lowell." "Put them back in the middle of the table." "Excuse me." "I'll be in the other room." "You cheated, Lowell." " You're a dead man." " I don't think so." "I think when your partners find out you've lost their $80 million, you'll be the one who'll be dead." " Throw him out." " I'll get you, Lowell." "I swear, I'll get you!" " They've been switched." " The woman." " Ed!" "Miss Marwood, where is she?" " I don't know." "The stockholders of Lowell's investment funds will be glad to get these back." "You don't think they'll mind that the game was fixed?" "That's right." "What if Lowell comes back to the United States and presses charges?" "He could, you know." "After serving 99 years or so for embezzlement." "We'll worry about it then, okay?"