"Get your evening paper." "Evening paper." "Get your evening paper." "Star, News and Standard." "Get your evening paper." "Star, News and Standard." "Get your evening paper." "Star, News and Standard." " Good night." " Good night." " Good night, Mr. Cummings." " Good night." "I wish some nice man would drive me home." "You stick to buses, Peggy." "They're safer." "Stats." "Statistics, old boy." "It's a breakdown of my territory." "I know just where my casual and my regular buyers are." "I've been wanting to get my teeth into something like this." "You ought to try bringing sandwiches." "It's the age of science, John." "You should take an interest in these." "I've been getting along all right without them." "Have you, old boy?" "Old boy, I've never had it so good." "Alfie, listen." "I parked my car across the road." "You saw it when I bought my paper." "My new Anglia." "What's that you saying?" "You saw me park it over there." "It's gone!" "It may have been taken by mistake." "Listen to me, Alfie, did you see anyone near it?" "No, no." "I've been too busy." " Star." " Here." "Surely you must have..." "I parked it over there." "I shouldn't worry too much, sir." "We recover 80% of all stolen cars within 48 hours." " Ford Anglia, you said." " What about the others?" "There are people who make a business of converting cars, you know." " Sometimes they get away with it." " What happens?" "They change the look of your car and supply it with the log book and number plates of a smashed-up car of the same make." " It's a well-organized business." " I may never get it back." "I suppose that's why you insure them." "Now, sir, have you a phone at your home address?" "Johnny?" "One of our most expensive free samples." "You still have to pay me for it." " Had a good day?" " Yeah, not bad." " Are they asleep?" " It's after 8:00." "Daddy." " I thought so." " Daddy." "Hey, you should be asleep!" "After they landed on the moon, Daddy, what happened?" " I'll tell you tomorrow." " But did they get back to Earth?" " Yes, of course." " How?" " In their metalated dioxide plastic suits." " Oh, I see." "Come on, Sandra's asleep." "Mustn't wake her." " Bed now, story tomorrow." " Good night, Daddy." "Night night." "I hope you can get them back to Earth for your sake." "Anne." " Anne, leave that." " What's the matter?" " The Anglia's gone." " Don't be silly." "Taken from outside Berger's." "Stolen." "I've been to the police." "Johnny, are you sure?" "I left it outside Berger's." "A couple of hours later, it was gone." "But someone might've taken it by mistake." "The only mistake was that I never..." " Haven't we got any cigarettes?" " We smoked that tin last night." "What did the police say?" "They said we had a good chance of getting it back... eventually." "You need it this week." "Well, couldn't you manage to hire a car or something?" "At least till we get the Anglia back or you collect the insurance." "We couldn't even afford to hire a bicycle." "Mommy, can I have a drink of water?" "No, you can't." "Get back to bed." "Go on." "A late spring, but the cigarettes are coming up all right." "Darling, you gave me a fright about the car." "I thought for a moment that..." "We'll manage somehow." "We always manage in the end." "Yeah." "Even though we've had to walk it." "Good morning, my love." "You look like the very breath of spring." "You should see me at 5:30." " Rear Admiral Pennington on deck?" " Just leaving." "Good morning, Mr. Pennington." "The buses are impossible, that's why I brought..." "It's not just the buses..." "Always pleased to see you, Mr. Cummings, on time..." "I'm really sorry about the hold-up, Mr. Pennington." "What is it you want to show me?" "Something really out of the ordinary." "My sample case went astray." "I've got one here somewhere." "Here it is." "Easy Squeeze Shampoo, you see?" "This is something out of the ordinary in the way of packaging." "Berger's, I suppose you'd say, they've always been rather conservative." "I suppose that's the word." "Thank you, Mr. Cummings." "Thank you." "Any literature?" "Yes, but I'd like to add a point or two." "This shampoo, or rather its packaging..." "Mr. Cummings, I haven't got very much time." "Might I make just one point?" "We know each other well." "Please don't try to sell me so hard." " I'm sorry if I gave you that impression." " Don't apologize, please." "Just don't be late next time." "You know as well as I do there are half a dozen new shampoos on the market." " And one's as good as another." " Yes, but I..." "All right, I'd like to try Berger's." "You've given me a sample, now let's have the leaflet." "There we are." " Good day, Mr. Cummings." " Good day, Mr. Pennington." "Not many orders today, Arthur." "I thought I'd make it easy for you." "Mr. Cummings, Mr. Berger Jr. wants to see you." "He's been waiting." "What are you waiting for, Cummings?" "Come along in." "You wanted to see me, Mr. Berger?" "I won't ask you to sit down." "I shan't keep you long." ""Live on our feet," the salesman's motto." "Cummings, I'm virtually taking over the sales and production side from my father." "He's not retiring?" "Well, he'll be doing board meetings and so on." "You won't be seeing very much of him." "The point is, Cummings, I think I can get quite a bit more out of our sales division." "I'm sure there's nothing I can't cope with, Mr. Berger." "Those are your sales figures for last month." "A difficult month in my area, Mr. Berger." "It's not so wealthy as some of the others." "They spend a lot at Christmas and then they go cold." "Those are your pre-Christmas sales." "Not much better." " I think I can surprise you, Mr. Berger." " We've had a lot of complaints." "Complaints?" "You've been late for appointments." "It has happened, I know, Mr. Berger." "Once or twice." "It's difficult getting around these days..." "It's not just the question of getting around, there are new methods of salesmanship today." "Convincing people to buy instead of trying to pressure..." " I know." "I know..." " We've got to be twice as effective." "There are a number of very astute young men coming forward in this business." "Quick, confident." " I know, I realize..." " Because we can't stand still." "We've got to do better." "Move faster, even to keep up." "Exactly, Mr. Berger." "Exactly." "That's why I bought a car." "Well, that's a step in the right direction." "When did you get it?" " Last week." " Good." "It'll make all the difference, Mr. Berger." "I hope so, Cummings." "We can't any of us afford to stand still." "Well, that's all." "Good night, Cummings." "Good night, Mr. Berger." "Hello, Sergeant." "This is Cummings here." "Any news?" "News about my car." "Sorry, old boy." "Sorry." "Gonna have me working overtime again, Mr. Spink." "Sorry." "But you just can't help selling this Easy Squeeze." " I'll try again." " Scientifically, though." "Scientifically." "Paper." "Star, News, Standard." "Paper." "Paper, sir?" "Star, News, Standard." "Star, News, Standard." "Paper." "Star, News, Standard." "Paper." "Paper, Sir." "Star, News, Standard." "Star, News, Standard." "Who's there?" "You." "Oh, it's you, is it?" "I've already told you." "I didn't see nothing." "I don't know nothing." "Yes, but I thought I'd ask you again, Alfie." "You... you've no right in here if I don't want you." "I know, I know, Alfie." "But you're the only one that can help me." "Anyway, I don't know what you're making all the fuss about." "I reckon you've got a nice cushy number over at Berger's." "They'll buy you another car, so what's the difference?" "Don't be bloody silly." "I'm not someone working my own pitch." "Anytime they like, they can..." " What's that you're giving them?" " It's special stuff they eat." " They're nice." " I've got something better than that." "Look, a terrapin, you see." "They're better than fish." "They can walk." "If I was to tell you anything, you'd only have the police around." "No, I wouldn't, Alfie." "I wouldn't." "I wouldn't tell anyone." "Anyway, I'm not saying I know nothing." "I never saw who took your car." "But you could try asking down at the Victory Café." "Asking who?" "Asking who, Alfie?" "Asking who?" " Would you like a cup of tea?" " Yes, please." " Sugar?" " Yes, please." "Fourpence, please." "Thank you." "Excuse me." "Do you happen to know where I can find Tommy Towers?" "I'm Tommy Towers." "Who are you?" "The man from the YMCA?" " No, I'm afraid not." " Hello, lads." "Let's have a look here." "Berger's speciality soap." "All the best tarts in town use this." "Fred." "He wants to know what sort of lipstick we use." "No offense, mister, no offense." "Now, what do you want to see me about?" "It's about my car." "I wondered if you could help me." "Oh, you've got a car, have you?" "Yes." "You see, I work at Berger's down the road." "I parked it there yesterday afternoon and when I came out, it was gone." "Well, I mean, what was it?" "A small car with four wheels and a little engine at the front?" "That's right." "I confess, guv'nor." "I stole it to rob a bank." "We was gonna put it back, but the coppers was after us." "Chased us all the way up to Scotland." "Then we ran out of petrol." "Go on, then what happened?" "Well, the law gave us a lift back to town and the old car's still up there, mate." "Come on, lads." "All right, very funny, but I happen to be serious." "Is that so?" "I don't even know this crumb and he starts accusing me of pinching his car." "I've never seen your rotten car." "And if you think so, you'd better tell the coppers, but don't tell me." "Johnny?" "Hello, love." " Given me up for lost?" " It's after 9:00." "Fourteen-hour day." "I must speak to the union about it." "Berger called me in tonight." " Told me I was no bloody good." " Did you tell him you had a car?" "Yes, sure." "He was delighted." "I didn't tell him I'd lost the bloody thing." "My sample case was in it, too." "I phoned the police three times." "Not a sign." " Well, they haven't had much time." " I don't think they're interested." "They said they get nearly all of them back." "Anyway, there's no need to take it so hard." "If that old car doesn't turn up, we can simply claim the insurance and buy another one." "That'll fix Berger." "Well, won't we?" "Johnny." "But you can't drive a car without insuring it." "Yes, you can." "Anyone can drive a car anywhere." "Third-party risk is all you need in case you knock some old codger down in the street." " Johnny, but why didn't...?" " That's all we had." "If I'd insured fully comprehensive, it would've cost another L17,10 and I thought we'd save it." "Not even that's true." "There wasn't L17,10 in the kitty." "So we'll be paying out 20 quid a month to the bank till God knows when for... for nothing." " What the hell are we going to do?" " We just wait, I suppose." "Give it a few days." "It may be all right." "That's the trouble." "The longer we wait, the less chance there is of getting it back." "What else can we do?" " I don't know." " Well, we can't get it back." "I don't know." "Johnny." "What are you thinking about?" "Johnny?" "There's something you haven't told me about, isn't there?" "Alfie, are you all right?" "Who did it, Alfie?" "Was it that boy Towers?" "Was it Tommy Towers?" "Listen, Alfie." "We can't help you if you won't help us." "Stay with him till the doctor's seen him." "Right, sir." "He may decide to talk later on, or he may not." "But surely you see why this was done..." "I see that the old man isn't going to make a statement now." " Inspector, he's talked to me." " Now he wishes he hadn't." "I've given you a direct lead to my car." "This proves that Towers must've had something to do with it." "You've been very helpful, Mr. Cummings, but proof means witnesses, evidence and statements." " But surely it must've been Towers." " I'll question him." " How long will that take?" " Call for you, Inspector." "They found some of the stuff from Sheldon's Warehouse." "It's Thomas here." "You'll be hearing from us in due course, Mr. Cummings." "Yes?" "Where is it from?" "Are you quite sure?" "Yes." " What's up?" " The police." "They're down at Alfie's." " Is anybody serving here?" " Yes." "Miss Gerrard, 4:15." "Rather late, I'm afraid." "Traffic jammed up everywhere." "I would've taken a taxi..." "Mr. Silverstone told me to tell you he won't be seeing you this morning." "I have an appointment with him." "He's got to see me." "Got to?" "If he's here, he surely can spare me a few minutes." "You're an hour late." "Mr. Silverstone's a very busy man." " I told you." "I've had a hell of a job..." " And so am I." "And you look it!" "I told you not to go to other garages, Mrs. Hurst, didn't I?" "I mean, a car like this, you want to keep nice." "You want to keep it with people who really care about the job, see?" "Cliff, when can we give Mrs. Hurst's Jaguar a service?" "Full up, Lionel, till Tuesday." "But on Tuesday, I have to be at Newmarket." "Surely we can fit an old customer like Mrs. Hurst in." "Don't worry, dear." "Bring it in first thing tomorrow morning." "I'll manage it somehow." " Thank you so much, Mr. Meadows." " It's a great pleasure." "Great pleasure." "Ten gallons." "Charge to account, Cliff." " Hello, kid." " Won't you come in?" " When you getting out of here?" " You tell me, then we'll both know." "I told you." "I told you, anytime." "I know I'm not supposed to come round here, Mr. Meadows, but something's happened." "Well, you're a big boy, Tommy." "You're a working man." "Gotta use your own judgment sometimes." "Business, Jackie." "Out." "Yes." "Jackie, darling, how many times have I told you?" "Don't smoke before you've had your breakfast." "It's bad for your health." "You never listen, do you?" "Naughty." "Now then, Tommy, what's this something that's happened?" "Well, a fellow came round to Victory last night." "A right crumb he was." "Then Freddie comes round and he said he'd seen him yakking to Alfie." "You know, that old codger that sells the papers outside The George." "Well, we went round to Alfie's and after a bit of an up and a downer, he admits this fellow's the owner of that new Anglia I stole." " So what?" " So we done Alfie." "I mean, we done his room, Mr. Meadows." "We didn't hurt the old codger." "Just done his place over a bit, you know." "Tore it up a bit." "Now the coppers have been round there this morning with this peanut." " What peanut?" " The bloke whose car I nicked." "How could Alfie put him on to you, Tommy?" "'Cause he saw me nick his car." "I took it from outside Berger's." "Come here, Tommy." " I thought you were a big boy." " But Alfie won't say..." "I thought I told you never to lift anything within five miles around here!" "Don't you ever learn?" "Now, look at that." "Right on the veneer." "You'd never believe it, would you?" "Some of these young tarts, they just don't bloody care." " Pick it up, Tommy." " Yes, sure, Mr. Meadows." "You see, they never learn." "They all think they know better than I do." "But you've only got to look at them and look at me, haven't you?" "You see, I've..." "I've got a legitimate business here, Tommy." "I've got nearly 200 account customers, and I've got twice as much cash on the side." "Why?" "Because I've learned that money makes money, Tommy boy." "Never do anything silly and you could be all right." "Your trouble is you just don't think." "You wanna think, listen, learn." "Don't go doing anything silly again, you see." "Bye-bye, Tommy." "I thought I said out, Jackie." " You're a bastard." " Language, darling." "It doesn't come nice from a young girl like you." "If he wants to live, he's gonna get hurt sometime." "Anyway, why should you worry?" "You'll always do what I say, won't you, Jackie?" "Because I know how to handle people, you see?" "Clean this place up for me, Jackie, will you?" "I like to see everything nice and clean and tidy." "Hello, Lionel." "A nice stinking mess you keep this place in." "I make do." "Anything you want, Lionel?" " No, just passing." "Where's the Anglia?" " Which one?" "The one that Towers kid got." "Right there." " What have you done with it?" " Nothing yet." "You're working to rule, then, are you?" "You wanna get organized, boy, organized." " What are you gonna do on it?" " The usual: plates, tires, engine number." " Spray?" " Spray?" "What for?" " There's thousands of them that color." " Spray it, boy." "Spray it." "Listen, Regan, you don't do this week what you did last, do you?" "You wanna think, boy." "Get moving, keep organized." "See you." "Get your evening paper." "Evening paper." "Get your evening paper." " Your usual, Mr. Meadows?" " Right." " Ice?" " Yes." "Keep it for me, will you, love?" "I'm just gonna water the horse." "John." "Berger said he wanted to see you as soon as you came in." "What does he want?" "Didn't say." "But I fancy it's about Silverstone." "I heard them on the phone." "He really blew his top." " All right, I'll go." " I'd go now, if I were you." "You're trying to say it isn't fair." "I know it isn't, Alfie." "I know." "But I ain't said nothing about you." "No, I know, Alfie." "And you won't say anything, will you?" " To anybody." "Anymore." " Nothing." "No." "Because, you see, you're just a useless old man." "You understand, Alfie?" "You mustn't go bothering people." "Never." "Because nobody wants you, not even that nosy bastard from Berger's." "You're finished, Alfie." "You've no more use in this world... than these." "After that Silverstone business, I've no alternative." "We can't afford to offend people." "You'll have to make way for somebody who can do the job with confidence." "But, Mr. Berger, Spink doesn't know the people." "I'm sorry." "You can fill in in the Dispatch Department for a week or two... until you find another job." "That's the best I can offer." "Get me the export file, will you?" ""C" to "G."" "Yes, Mr. Berger." "Berger says you'll be taking over my area." "Yes." "Sorry about that." " Will you be getting another one?" " No." "Not right away." "Well, it shouldn't take long to put me in the picture." "No time like the present." "Shall I sit down?" "Hey, Lionel, the law." "I recognize one of them." "Inspector at the local station." "Well, open the door and let them in, Cliff." " Mr. Meadows?" " In the office." " Good evening, gentlemen." " A busy day, Mr. Meadows?" "Well, the usual." "Still I've always got time to do somebody a favor." "If you want any petrol, he'll fix it for you." "My name's Thomas, Gate End Station." "This is Mr. Cummings." "He works for Berger's." "Do you know the place?" "Berger's, opposite The George." "Just a routine inquiry." "Mr. Cummings saw you talking to the newspaper seller," "Alfie Barnes this evening outside The George." "This is the man you saw, Mr. Cummings?" "Yes." "And I recognize that car." "Things slack at Berger's these days?" "Yes, I was there." "I go there quite often." "Can I buy you a drink sometime?" "I should explain, Mr. Meadows." "I'm making inquiries about a car theft." "I wanted a statement from Alfie Barnes, and I can't get that statement because Alfie's dead." "Gassed himself this evening, short after you spoke to him." "Maybe I could have a word with you." "Yes, of course you can have a word with me, yes." "Won't you come in?" "Nothing's for sale here." "Anytime." "Anytime at all, Inspector, that I can be of any help, don't you hesitate to drop in." "I'm usually here, and if there's any..." " Good night, Mr. Meadows." " Good night, Inspector." "All right, all right." "I'll tell him." "Inspector, aren't you gonna search the place?" " No, I'm not." " But you can't leave it at that." " I'm not leaving it anywhere." " But he was with Alfie." "He says he often bought a paper there." "Does he know Tommy Towers?" "He sells him petrol regularly." "Sir, can I interrupt?" "But I told you." "I saw his car, the same car that was at the café, where I spoke to Towers." "The whole thing fits." "It's obvious." "There are a few points that haven't escaped me." "I know that he went for Alfie and I know he's got my car." "You know nothing." "I know nothing yet." "I think you should let me deal with this in my own way." "Inspector, the check on Meadows just came through, sir." "No record and nothing known." "Can I give you a lift, Mr. Cummings?" "No, thanks, Inspector." " Where's the Greyhound Express?" " It's where you left it." "I told you I don't like you drinking." "Why don't you leave it alone?" "You don't try and learn, kid." "That's your trouble." "Somehow you just don't try and learn, do you?" "What are you after, Jackie?" "I've given you this place, haven't I?" "Where would you be if I hadn't found you?" "I'd be back in the Remand Home." "Yes." "You don't want that, do you?" "Sometimes I think I'd be better off there." " What's the matter, darling?" " I'm bored." " What do you want?" " I want another drink." "You know, Jackie..." "Kid, you don't need to be bored with me." "Come on, Jackie." "Come on, darling." "Come on." " Keep knocking next time." " Sorry." "I thought you'd want to know." "He's still outside." "Who's still outside?" "That little nark who brought the coppers here." "What do you want?" "I want my car." "Do you think I've got it?" "I know you've got it." " The police don't think so, do they, Cliff?" " No." "They will by the time I've finished." "You realize I could have you for breaking and entering, don't you?" "I should think you'll probably get about two years." "Still, I'm a reasonable sort of a fellow, you know." "Have a look around for your car." "Go on." "Try and find it." "Go on." "Right." "Are you satisfied?" "Now, get out." "Cliff..." "Not on the face, Cliff." "Use your loaf." "He broke into Meadow's garage." "I was shown a broken door panel and they claimed he attacked one of them." "Are you joking?" "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cummings, but I'm afraid he walked right into it." " I went back to get my car." " And it wasn't worth it." "Your husband thinks this man Meadows has got his car." "He may be right, but he's made a ruddy mess of things by interfering." "I'm sorry this had to happen." "I've sent for a doctor." "Keep your husband quiet and keep him at home and out of trouble." "I can find my own way out." "Good night." "Good night." "Johnny, you shouldn't be getting up." "The doctor said two days at least, and then..." "Pity he didn't suggest a couple of months in the south of France." " I've got to get back to Berger's." " No, you don't." "I'm practically out of a job now." "I've got to hang on to what's left." " I'll ring Berger's." " No, don't go." "Wait." "Wait a minute." "I wanna talk to you." "Give me a light." "I want to tell you about last night." "Please, Johnny, it doesn't matter." "I don't care about that old car, not now." "You don't care about it." "Well, I do." "It's right there in front of my eyes." "Don't you remember all the time and effort and hard cash we put into getting that car?" "That's why I went back to Meadows' Garage." "Because that car is worth it." "I have to have it, Anne, don't you understand?" "It's going to make all the difference." "I know I'm right." "And the damn thing's right there, in front of me all the time." "Yes, Johnny, I can see it all right." "If you want to know, I see a whole lot more than one car." "I see a whole procession of cars." "Everything in life you ever wanted that was going to make all the difference." "What do you mean?" "Pipe dreams, Johnny." "It's like those glasses you wear." "You don't really need them." "They're no more real than that photographic studio you were going to start." "Every penny you ever got from the army thrown away." "But, wait a minute, Anne." "That's not fair." "You always said yourself it was a good idea." "If only I'd gone into it alone, instead of taking on a partner." "No, Johnny, it didn't work." "Wasn't practical." "It's like our cottage in the country." "Every summer, a new plan, a new set of drawings, another dream." "This one is going to turn into a nightmare." "Let it go, Johnny, before something worse happens to you... and to us." "Anne, you don't understand." "I could've done these things." "I only made one mistake." "I didn't hang on." "I didn't see it through." "Because you're not made that way." "You're not tough enough, Johnny." "You're not meant to push and shove your way through life." "And I don't want you to, Johnny." "I love you just as you are." "I don't want anything more." "I'll have to get down to Berger's." "Look at the time." "I'll get something to eat later on." "Harry, we'll need another ten gross of that lotion." "Right." "Hello, old boy." "Sorry to bother you." "I've been getting rid of so much stuff I've used up my samples." "You should know what I need, old boy." "Can you oblige me?" " One of these?" " That's right." " A full one?" " That's the ticket." "And you can tell Berger he can have his bloody job as well." "Darling." "How much longer are you gonna be?" "You're not even dressed yet." "Didn't I tell you we're going out tonight?" "I don't wanna go to that club anymore." "What's wrong with the club?" "Those tarts are too fat to trot around with nothing on." "Cut it out, will you?" "I've told you I don't like you drinking that stuff." " It's so bad for the health." " Grow up, will you?" "Look, kid, doesn't it mean anything to you that I wanna take you out?" "Listen to me." "Don't you wanna have fun like we used to?" "Don't you wanna look nice?" " Now what?" " I've got some log books for you." "Why didn't you give them to Cliff downstairs?" "He wants cash for them." "What do you mean cash?" "You get paid when they're fixed." "I've got to pack it in for a few days." "I need the money." "What's this?" "Six?" "You getting a better price somewhere else?" "No." "Honest." "I couldn't get no more." "The coppers are all around the yards." "Something's stirred them up." "They're all over the place." "Honest." "A mate of mine got pulled in." "Gate End Station." "He won't talk, but..." "Yes, yes." "All right." "Take him downstairs, Cliff, and give him the cash." "And clear out of here, see." "Out." "And keep right away till you hear from me." " Where did you get this?" " I don't know." "I've got lots of stuff." "With Berger's printed all over it?" "Berger's!" "Berger's!" "Berger's!" "Every time something goes wrong, that bloody salesman crops up." "Where did you get it?" "Tommy gave it to me." "He found a whole box in that car he took." "You bloody little fool." "What are you trying to do?" "You, Tommy and that creeping salesman?" "You're gonna ruin me between you." "Don't you realize this stuff could be traced?" " What's it to me?" " What's it to you?" "You?" "What are you, Jackie, without me?" "I'll tell you what." "You'd be doing time for running away from that home." "You'd be on your back in some cheap kip." "You'd be trotting around some crummy club, like one of those tarts you don't want to go and see." "Stay there, Jackie." "There!" "That's where you belong." "Well, never mind." "A job will turn up." ""Representative wanted." "With car." "Salesman." "With car."" " Okay, Ron, time to pack up." " Right." "I see you're keeping open house, Regan." " What's this, a help-yourself place?" " I got everything under control." "How many waiting?" "Two nearly done, and seven makes nine." "How long before they're ready?" " A couple of weeks..." " You're still working to rule?" "What's the trouble, Lionel?" "All I want is for you not to waste any time." "I want this lot finished quick and out." " What's the trouble?" " There's no trouble, boy." "I'm looking after you, telling you what to do." "And looking after Mr. Lionel Meadows." "Oh, no." "No, not me, boy." "I'm in the clear." "All the time." "This is your racket, Regan." "Me, I'm in the garage business." "Legitimate business." "What are you waiting for?" "Relax." "Have a fag." "You asked me." "You said I could come any time." "Sure, sure." "You're gonna stay." " What'll he do when he finds out?" " He doesn't own you." "I'll tell him where he gets off." "I won't let him touch you." " Who is it?" " It's Cummings." "Look who's here." "The lipstick man." "What do you want?" " I want to talk to you about my car." " Why don't you get out?" "That old man Alfie told me you took it." "And look what happened to him." "A decent old man is dead and you're in it." "Get out of here." "Not until you've told me where my car is and who's got it." "I have to tell the police, but I'll keep you out." "Look, mister, I'm no grass and I don't split on anybody." "It was Meadows, wasn't it?" "Leave me alone." "Get out of here!" "Jackie!" "Come on, I know he's inside." "Come on in." "Out." "Not you." "Get down the car." "Come on." "You can take this with you when you go." "I'm in the way, aren't I?" "He said you had a little boy and a girl." "On the way in the taxi, he told me." "Anne, she'll have to stay the night." "I had to help her, whoever she was." "Or were you thinking that she might help you?" "Well, yes, she might." " Why didn't you take her to the police?" " Because she wouldn't go." "She's as scared of them as she is of Meadows." "Meadows will be looking for her and you bring her here." "Maybe he doesn't know where she is." "Johnny, I'll give her this tea, then you've got to talk to her." "She can't stay here." "Nice place you've got here." "What do you pay?" "Fourpence a week?" "You get out of here." "You should know better, taking young girls for taxi rides." "You ought to come work for me, I need a boy to sweep out." " You're just about the right size." " You get out or I'll call the police!" "No, you won't." "You'll go and fetch that girl." "Help!" "Help, someone." "Help!" "Help!" "Now you go to sleep." "Where's your Teddy?" "Where's your bear?" "There he is." "There." "Teddy wants to go to sleep." " Daddy." " Martin, go to sleep." "Daddy, I was dreaming." "Come on now, turn over and go back to sleep." "Yes, Inspector, he's gone now." "All right." "I'm getting out, Mrs. Cummings." "I mean it." "I heard you talking to the police." "Jackie, where are you going?" "Anne!" "I'm not going back to Lionel Meadows'." "You can tell him that." "Another busy day, Mr. Meadows?" "You must be coining some brass." " What is it this time?" " It's about a girl." "Don't tell me that crazy little lipstick peddler has been shooting his mouth off about me again." "So far, I've only spoken to his wife." "And all I've come to say to you is this..." "If there's any more violence or threats of violence to anyone," "I'll take you in." "On the word of a rat?" "Inspector, do I have to spend the rest of my life answering for that loose-mouthed little salesman?" "Why don't you lay off me?" "There's only one fact about this case, and that is that this here is a legitimate business." "And I don't know, I would've thought that it was your job to protect all legitimate business." "My advice to you, Mr. Meadows, is to stick pretty close to your legitimate business from now on." "No, Johnny, I'm gonna have my say now." "I spoke to the Inspector on the phone, and he said he wouldn't be responsible for any of us if you continue to interfere." "Interfere?" "Interfere with what?" "What the hell does he mean?" "He said he was gonna put an end to the whole business." "Exactly." "That's just it." "Don't you see?" "The whole business is all that interests him." "He doesn't give a damn about our car." "I don't give a damn about our car." "Listen, Johnny, I've tried to tell you as clearly as I could." "I'll take you without the car, without a job." "But I'm not taking this." "If you don't promise me not to go near Meadows or any of them ever again, I'm taking the children away." "I'm getting out." "Do you understand?" "Don't go near Meadows again." "Jean, where are you?" "Jean?" "Tommy?" "Tommy!" "Go away." "Get back to Meadows." "Open the door, Tommy." " Tommy." " He went for me." "He tried to get my face." "That lousy Len and Pete." "Not one of them came back." "I came back." "I said I wouldn't let him touch you." "But I didn't..." "I didn't know what to do." "What did you come back for, Jackie?" "Where have you been?" "At that fella's place, Cummings." "He was outside." "You've been to Peanut's?" "He got me away from Meadows." "You shouldn't have done that, Jackie." "He's in with the coppers." "He's crazy." "What if he is?" "He's the only one that's ever helped me." "You think I'm a peanut, don't you?" "What are we gonna do, Jackie?" "You know more than me." "Do I?" "That isn't what you used to say, Tommy." "I find I don't know too much." "Why did you come back to me, Jackie?" "Are you staying?" "That's up to you, Tommy." " Is that Mr. Cummings?" " Yes, it is." "I'll come right over." "Yes, now." "They are going to tell me all they know about Meadows." "They must know where he's got the car." "You're not going." "You're not going, Johnny." "Anne, please, give me this one chance." "After this, I'll do whatever you want." "I'll call in the police." "Once I know for sure." "It'll be too late then." "But, darling, this may be my last chance." "I've got to take it." "This time, I've got to hang on." "I've got to see it through." "I won't be here when you come back." "I mean it, Johnny." "Tommy!" "Tommy!" "All right." "If that's the way you want it, don't say I haven't warned you." "You know Meadows." "You're in dead trouble now, boy." "Where the hell have you been?" "I said we'd tell him, we'd tell him all about Meadows, the whole lot, if he left us out of it." "Why did you do that?" "Because he can help us." "Cummings... he couldn't even help himself." "Meadows'll cut him to pieces, you heard Cliff." "What are we gonna do?" "Cummings can go to the police and he can have Meadows put away." "He's our only chance, Tommy." "Well, I've found Jackie." "She's back at Tommy's." "And that's not all;" "I've seen her on the phone, and that little nark's just got there, too." "Well, they're gonna shop us, Lionel." "Listen, do you think I'm gonna let a couple of little kids and a lousy lipstick peddler take apart everything I've got?" "Do you think that, do you, Cliff?" "Do you know how many years I spent planning and fixing this business?" "I'm not a one-timer, you know?" "I'm not a chancer." "I'm in business, boy." "I'm in big business." "And I'm not gonna let any lousy bastard pull me down." "All right." "Go easy." "Get round to Regan's and get every car out of there." "Doesn't matter where you drive them." "Just drive 'em out." "I'll get MacKinnon on the phone and tell him to get out of town." "MacKinnon, I can put you inside whenever I like and I can make it as tough as I like." "Are you trying to threaten me?" "Come off it." "I know Meadows is behind this car racket." "I know you've had dealings with him." "You make a complete statement, I'll make it easier for you." "I don't think I heard you quite right." " How do I know..." " Don't waste my time." "You'll have to talk sooner or later." "I've made you an offer." "Think it over." "Sorry, sir, but Mr. Cummings is waiting outside." "Says it's most urgent." "Stay with him, Sergeant." "He's got some thinking to do." "Good day, Mr. Cummings." "Something that can't wait?" "Here's an address for you." "The workshop that deals in stolen cars." "After you've dumped that, come back and help me here." "Right." "No, I want MacKinnon." "Oh, he left, did he?" "When?" "Oh, I see." "No." "No, there's no message." "Good morning." "Is there anything you want?" "Some of you boys are not doing so well, Mr. Regan." "Do you know Mr. Lionel Meadows?" "You seem to know me, mister." "Inspector Thomas, Gate End Station." "It's drafty in here." "Perhaps you'd come along to my office and answer some questions." "You wouldn't want any grease on your nice upholstery." "I'll overlook it." "Okay." "Someone's tipped them off." "They must've done." "Hey, Lionel." "I just saw a police car go down to Regan's." "You what?" "Yeah." "It's okay if they go in because we've got everything away." "Just a couple of wrecks left there." "Is this one Regan's?" "Did you bring this here?" "Yeah." "I dumped it up the street." " I had to drive..." " Get it out of here." " But you can't leave it outside!" " Get this car out of here!" "Okay." "Jackie, they're on to him." "Early closing Saturday, Mr. Regan?" "You see, everyone knows me." "I give Mr. Regan jobs..." "panel beating, spraying." "I'm glad somebody looks after him." "I'll help you any time I can, Inspector." "But if you wanna talk with me, get him out of here." "Mr. Meadows, I've come here to give you a warning." "Don't leave this district until you hear from me." "Don't you worry yourself about me, Inspector." "You can afford to waste your time with your little friend here." "I've got my work to see to." "That's all, Mr. Meadows." "Aren't you going in there?" "Get that bastard out of here!" "I'll come in with you, Inspector." "My car must be in there." "Look, I'll tell you." "In 24 hours I'm going to have enough information to put Meadows away on a dozen char..." " What about my car?" " I'm not just working for you." "If it's in there, it must be evidence." " I'm going to get all the evidence I want." " About my car..." "I'm going to get Meadows for 100 cars." "Yes, you're gonna wrap up the whole business." "You've been helpful and I've acted on your information." "Now will you please leave this to me?" "To hell with leaving it to you." "I'll never see my car again." "So what?" "So what makes your car so important?" "I'm holding a man who's going to talk." "Talk about every stolen car Meadows ever handled." "I couldn't care less about your car." "My job is to go for the major charge." "I'm not going to put Meadows away for six months when by waiting a few hours, I can get him for six years." "All right, you've said it." "You've said it now." "I know what you want." "A big haul." "Legitimate promotion." "I'm not going to argue with you." "And I'll tell you something else." "Stay away from here or I'll take you in as well." "All right, Dawson." " I'll get this out." " Leave it where it is." " But why..." " I'll tell you why." "Because he thinks it's here." "That stupid little bastard thinks it's here." "And he's gonna come back for it." "And this time, I'll kill him." "Wait a minute." "I'll stick his body in his precious car, set fire to it, and I'll dump the whole bloody lot!" "Tommy, we've got to get out of here." "Do you think we can just take off?" "Get on a bike and go home to Mum?" "We've got nowhere to go." "A cup of tea?" "Lionel, tell me what you're gonna do." "I wanna know, mate." "Listen to me, Lionel." "What about the car?" "Either we go to get it out of here or we've gotta go." "It'll be dark soon." "Let me drive it out." "It's staying here!" "What's the matter with you?" "You scared?" "You're scared of what that lipstick peddler can do?" "You don't need to worry, Cliff boy." "I'm getting another garage next year, didn't I tell you?" "You could be manager." "Think of that, manager." "Perks and a percentage." "No." "No, you wanna get out, don't you?" "You wanna get back and run with the mob." "Well, go on, then, you useless slob." "I don't need you." "Your kind's ten a penny." "Get out of my place." " He's still in there." " He won't do anything." "He's too scared, just like we are." "Meadows talked his way out of it." "He always will." "What if we went to the police, Tommy?" "Then you'd be inside." "And what would I say?" ""Please, Inspector, I stole a car." "Lock me up if you can't touch Meadows."" "It's no use, Jackie." "It won't work." " You waiting for somebody?" " No." "I heard what the boys are saying." "You want your car." "It's none of my business, but you should leave these people alone." "The police will catch up with them." "It's nothing to be afraid." "I'm afraid of these people." "They care for nobody." "They will destroy themselves." "You should go home." "I could've done these things." "I only made one mistake." "I didn't hang on." "I didn't see it through." "This time, I've got to hang on." "I've got to see it through." "I won't be here when you come back." "I mean it, Johnny." "I'll tell you why." "Because he thinks it's here." "That stupid little bastard thinks it's here!" "And he's gonna come back for it." "And this time, I'll kill him." "I'll stick his body in his precious car, set fire to it, and I'll dump the whole bloody lot!" " Stop him." " Don't tell me what to do." "Go and get the police!" "All right, little man." "There it is." "Well, what are you waiting for?" "!" "Get back." "Here he is." "And here's your evidence." "I'll leave you to get the other 99." "Let the kid go." "How about opening those doors?" "I'm going home." "Dawson." "Anne." "Anne!"