The Persuaders (1971) s01e05 Episode Script

You're better off.
You wouldn't have liked me anyway.
Hello, Jenny.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to startle you.
You're very like her, same eyes.
Who are you? What are you doing here? It hasn't changed much.
Different wall covering.
Used to be green.
And this wasn't here.
New? Oh, no.
Now I remember.
It used to be in the hall.
Strange how things start to come back.
Who are you? Isn't there anything of them in me, Jenny? Am I so different? It can't be.
No, it's not possible.
It's true.
I'm your brother, Jenny.
I'm Mark.
No.
No, Mark is dead.
He's dead, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead! Alive, Jenny.
You're going to find out I'm very much alive.
Here I am.
Quicker than you thought.
Who the devil Oh, it's you.
- How are you? - Why are you late? - I was at a party.
- At nine in the morning? - I didn't wanna leave first.
- Where's Brett? We'll meet him later.
You have something in mind? - Take a look at that paper.
- Right, OK.
- Well, it's three months old.
- Read the headlines! "The High Court today ruled Mark Lindley, believed dead, "proved his identity beyond a shadow of a doubt and is the rightful heir "of the Lindley fortune of several million pounds!" - What about it? - Let me give you the background.
You'd better hurry up cos I'm double-parked.
This is confidential if you don't mind.
Can't hear a sound without that.
Robert and Patricia Lindley were very dear friends of mine.
They were killed in an aeroplane accident.
There were two children.
Mark, five, and Jenny, who was three months.
The children were split up.
Mark, due to his health, to Rhodesia.
Jenny, to a relative here in England.
When he was 20, Mark went on a hunting trip and never returned.
Some bodies were found, but they were never identified.
But there was never any doubt that he perished.
- Argh! What are you doing? - Sorry.
Now, the girl was the sole inheritor and along comes the brother and he inherits everything, right? Jenny and the estate administrators insist that he was an impostor.
The matter went to court and Mark produced mountains of evidence that he was indeed the person who he claimed to be.
Well, you read the verdict.
- Did you shave me? - Right.
- How's my throat? - Not bad.
- How was that? - Well, I'm in a hurry.
I've got a plane to catch and I've got to meet Brett.
There must be a reason you had me come here and told me the story.
In spite of the legal judgement and the learned opinions, I still believe it possible that Mark Lindley is an impostor.
I don't seem to have any change, can you settle with him? That's the worst coffee I ever tasted in my whole life.
- It's tea.
- I apologise, it's the worst tea.
Are you really going to the House of Lords today? If I ever finish dressing.
- You were saying, Judge? - I just want to know if you'll help.
You want us to find out if Mark Lindley is a phony or not? Simply that.
Hark, he cometh! I'll say! Your starness, you're so bright.
Your carriage awaits.
Cos I'm not walking with him dressed like that.
It's got a hat.
Look at him, isn't he beautiful? Let me carry your train for you.
You really do bring a fresh meaning to the word "peasant".
Your Dukeship, you really look wonderful.
It's merely required regalia for a peer of the realm on state occasions.
I wouldn't walk around the Bronx like that.
- What's your decision? - We wanna get married.
Stop play-acting, I'm in a hurry! - OK, it's not our cup of tea.
- And you? I'm inclined to agree with Daniel.
It's really a specialist job.
I'm sorry to hear you say that, because instinctively I feel there's something wrong.
Well, I must go.
I can't force you into this, but you can do me one favour.
Will you talk to Jenny Lindley? - OK.
- Thank you.
She's the one person who'll never believe in Mark.
She keeps pushing and probing I shouldn't be surprised she's onto something.
- Why? - Because someone tried to kill her.
Do you mean nobody left you anything? My father died before he could change his will.
Instead of the estate shared between us, Mark inherited everything.
Well, what about the house? I have to be out by the end of the month.
He's going to sell it.
The same way as he's going to sell everything else.
Jenny, Mark has the full strength of the law on his side.
Is there any solid fact that convinces you he's an impostor? I just know it, as surely as the fact that my own brother is dead.
The man who says he's Mark is a liar.
Listen, knowing isn't enough.
You need some facts.
Well help me prove it.
Not just for my sake, so many people are going to be affected.
Please help me.
David Conron's our family lawyer.
He's been handling our affairs since before I was born.
We started looking for servants who were here when Mark was a baby.
- Get anywhere? - We found a few, but they were no When you've finished, why not join me at the terrace Don't just stand there, open it.
- Do you see anything? - Nothing.
We should make for those bushes.
But let's split up.
One of us should go first.
- Why? - To draw his fire, go on.
What did you say? See what I mean? See you later.
Is he hurt? No, he's lucky - they hit him in the head.
I'll get a doctor.
If it's all the same to you, I'll have a large brandy.
- Were you awake when I carried you? - Yes, but tired.
- Does that hurt? - Agony.
Good, good.
- Did you get a look at him? - Didn't see anything.
You? No.
Weren't you going to get me a large brandy? Make it two three.
First thing tomorrow, we are going to start asking a lot of questions about Mr Mark Lindley.
All right.
All right.
I'm coming.
- Hi.
How are you doing? - Fine.
You've arrived late, everyone's gone.
Oh! You really had a party here last night.
- Did you have a good time? - Lovely party! - Have a drink.
- Yeah.
I wanna show you something.
Oh? A beautiful day.
You've got a guest that stayed over.
I don't know who he is.
I I'll bet Maggie Trenton could use a little help and affection, huh? Oh! Could she? Oh, Seltzer, please.
OK.
Lot of people here last night? Oh, lots, lots of people.
- At least 70.
- 70? - Oh, yes.
- Was Mark here? Mark? Mark Lindley? - Right.
- Yes, he was here.
Stay till about 11.
30, did he? - You ask a lot of questions.
- Yes, I do.
- I'm very curious.
Always asking - You should, I'm a smart girl.
How smart? For instance, why don't you ask me to name The Seven Wonders of the World? - You know that? - Yes! Well, I'm not gonna ask you that.
The only thing I can remember and nobody asks me.
Are you really a friend of Mark Lindley? - Mm, I am.
- One more question.
- Do I get a prize? - Here it is.
Could he have slipped out of here last night at any time? Uh-uh.
No chance, no.
I'm the clinging type.
Now wait, there's 70 people here, he could at some point No, no.
I had him in my arms, here.
Right there, all night.
Lucky Mark.
Yeah.
Goodbye, I'm going.
You certainly keep nice empties.
- Yes! - Goodbye, Maggie.
Thank you.
Ciao.
Mmm That's good.
Did you hear? Enough.
- Who was he? - I don't know.
But I'm gonna find out.
Somebody working for Jenny, I imagine.
She doesn't give up very easily, does she? Would you give up a chance of seven million? Nor would I.
Nobody's gonna take that away from me.
Nobody.
I see.
Come in, it's open.
Yes, well, you let me know if you find anything.
Thank you, goodbye.
I'll keep in touch.
- Who's that supposed to be? - It's you, to a tee.
It don't look like me at all.
- Did you find anything? - He was at a party last night and there's 70 people that swear he never left.
- You know, you're right.
- What? Your mouth's weaker and the chin's wrong.
- What else did you do? - I spoke to the police.
They found a shell on the lawn from a single-shot target pistol.
- A professional gun.
- Good thinking.
So Mark Lindley has now hired himself a gun.
I tell you, he's up to here in his alibis.
So we must look for a professional.
I know somebody who could help us.
What was that? Who was that? Who was that? Mandy? She's my cleaning lady.
Does a little shopping - You aristocrats! - Nice girl, a little careless Keep your apartment dirty, she'll clean more often.
- I'll get you one.
- Now? We're going to see a man about a gun.
- Why d'you stop at a park? - A brisk trot gives you an appetite.
You trot, I've got the appetite.
No, we're going to see the Farmer, he buys and sells - Vegetables, fruit? - No, information.
He can't afford a farm, this is his office.
- There's our party now.
- Is this the Farmer? - Good morning, Farmer.
- Morning, your Lordship.
- How's the harvest coming? - Very slow.
Cold spell ruined it.
I'd like you to meet a friend.
- Mr Danny Wilde.
- Enchanté.
American.
Sometimes has money, sometimes hasn't.
Lives so well that nobody knows which.
- Really? Who's been talking to you? - He's been reading your mail! Knowing things is my business.
What can I do for you? - Who are the hired guns in the town? - Plenty of hooligans round here will pull a trigger for fun, but very undependable.
If you want a quality assassin, it becomes expensive.
But worth every penny - they seldom miss.
- This one did.
- We all have off days.
We'd like you to find out who took a shot at Jenny Lindley.
- Usual terms? - 100 guineas.
Inflation, ruining the country.
- It's ruining me.
Cash on delivery.
- Be in touch, sir.
- Thank you, Farmer.
- Goodbye, Farmer.
By the way, did you know you were being followed? - By whom? - Chap on the bench.
Came down the path after you and has been watching ever since.
For another five guineas, I'll tell you who he is.
Put it on the bill.
Private detective, name of Peter Hayward.
In a very small way has ambitions to be big.
Dangerous quality, ambition.
That's true, Farmer.
Look at Brutus.
Good report, very comprehensive.
Thank you, Mr Lindley.
Are you satisfied Wilde and Sinclair are working for my sister? I'm certain of it.
All right, I'll let you know how I want to handle things.
Meanwhile, keep tabs on them.
You better phone me every hour.
It may be necessary to do something about it tonight.
Mark? Don't do anything risky, don't take chances.
You've proved yourself in a court of law, you're in the right.
Why go on defending yourself? As long as Jenny keeps questioning, there'll be doubt.
No matter what the court says, mud sticks.
And she's slinging mud.
- It can't harm you.
- Yes it can.
People are saying I'm a phony, lucky to get away with it.
- What does it matter? - It matters to me.
Mark, I've never asked you before and you've not told me, but Even you? Whatever you tell me, I'll believe you.
Maggie, I am Mark Lindley.
I don't believe it.
I never have and never will.
He's an impostor.
Are you sure that the evidence is watertight? Yes, unfortunately.
The case is too perfect.
Not a single point was overlooked.
He was just like an actor, totally rehearsed in his role.
Have you made any progress at all? Nothing worth a damn in a court of law.
Well, they tried to kill her twice.
You must be hitting a nerve.
If we could prove he's behind those attempts, we'd be in business.
That's what we're trying to do.
What line are you following? Our best chance was a Miss Walters.
She was Mark's nurse until he was five, then she took care of Jenny.
- She could be very useful.
- Unfortunately not.
She was killed in a car crash shortly before the hearing.
Did she leave any relatives, friends? Anybody she confided in? That might be worth looking into.
Yes, I'll let you know of any progress I make.
- Thank you.
- Just one small thing.
Who's paying? - I beg your pardon? - Jenny doesn't have any money.
And this operation looks like it costs a lot of bread.
Any costs incurred I pay myself.
Why? I represented Lindley Industries.
I was paid a lot of money.
The man called Mark Lindley fired me.
- Are you satisfied? - Yes, I'm satisfied.
Thank you.
- May I take this? - Of course.
Goodbye.
We'll keep in touch.
I appreciate what you're doing.
Goodbye.
Thank you.
All right, what was that all about? What's better than a big fat retainer? - Go on.
- Half of seven million.
- What are you talking about? - Conron's been the lawyer for years.
He knows the insides and outsides of this estate.
He teaches a guy to be Mark Lindley, gives him the documents, the works.
It's a little far out.
Conron will cross-examine him.
He'll ask questions that he knows the answer to.
That's normal procedure.
What about questions they don't ask? - I think it's a little strong.
- It's a possibility, right? Yes a possibility.
But why is he still helping Jenny? Because by knowing what she's doing, he can block any moves she makes.
I suppose it could fit.
Even the attempts on Jenny's life.
Exactly.
With her dead there ain't nobody gonna ask any questions, papa.
- Until now.
- Why until now? Because if you are right, they're gonna have to take care of us.
It's not much but I call it home.
Don't trip on the throne.
- I did not leave the lights on.
- You have guests.
Hayward had a skeleton key, seemed pointless to wait outside.
You don't mind, do you? - What do you want? - That's nicely to the point.
Daniel, can you think of a reason why I shouldn't heave them out? - That's a fair reason.
- This won't take long.
- We hope not.
- Hayward's been following you.
- He's not very good at it.
- We would never have guessed.
You've been checking on me, talking to my friends.
I don't like that.
Stay out of my affairs, do you understand? You missed something - "or else".
You always finish a sentence like that with "or else".
Then I won't disappoint you.
Or else I'll do something about it.
- What have you got in mind? - So far, everything's been legal.
I can get a court injunction, ordering you to stay out of my affairs.
You might as well check the legality of your friend carrying a pistol.
I won't warn you again.
Stay out of my affairs.
And stay out of Jenny's affairs.
Yes, she'll be staying with me for a few days.
Jenny doesn't interest me at all.
Not very gallant.
Who are you? You're awfully hard to convince, Jenny.
I'm your brother.
Unless you're planning on staying the night, I suggest you leave now.
I think that calls for a drink, Daniel.
Will you do the honours? - I'll attend to the phone messages.
- What would you like? - Scotch.
- Same for me.
'Good evening.
My name is Angela and you've been selected to receive 'a free Watusi lesson at the Leonard Langley School of Dance.
' He can certainly use it, you ought to see him in his clubs.
Clumsy? 'Brett, where have you been? I'm waiting.
Come round.
' My accountant.
'This is the Farmer.
I've got the information you want.
'I'll be in Alexander Place about midnight.
'Try and make it.
Goodbye.
' We've just got time.
Jenny, this could be important.
Your room is through there.
And don't let anyone in - anyone.
See you later.
Farmer.
Lovely night, sir.
Poachers' weather.
- Who is he? - Calls himself the Major.
Used to be in the Commandos.
Kills for money, big money.
I also understand he enjoys the work.
- Where can we find him? - There, house on the corner.
- Is he there now? - Been there for the last few hours.
Thank you, Farmer.
Begging your pardon, sir.
My terms are strictly cash on delivery.
Pay the Farmer.
Are you sure you're not related? - Thank you, sir.
- Thank you.
One thing - be careful of this chap, he's a bad one.
Yeah, you heard the Farmer.
Be careful.
We'll be here when you get back.
How are crops this year, huh? Are apples good? Tomatoes Silly place to put a bell.
How was I to know? You find out these things before you break in.
In British public schools, breaking and entering is not on the curriculum.
Get in there.
- Why is the door open? - Maybe he's expecting us.
What do we do now? We go in.
I'm not going in there! - That's why we came here.
- Well, we go in together.
- Fine, after you.
- OK.
Shh.
There's someone in this room.
I think you're right.
Daniel! Yes, Sinclair.
Good afternoon, this is David Conron's secretary.
He asked me to tell you he located a relative of Miss Walters.
Miss Walters? That was Mark Lindley's nurse, right? That's right.
Apparently Miss Walters kept diaries.
He's gone to have a look.
If you have a pencil I'll give you the address.
Yes, I've got one right here.
Go ahead.
Harvester's Farm Church Lane, near Godalming, Surrey.
Yes.
How long ago did Mr Conron leave? About an hour ago.
An hour or so? Thank you very much.
Goodbye.
Now, what on earth is that? - Lunch.
Cooked by my own hands.
- That's lucky.
- What's lucky? - I don't have time to eat it.
Conron might have found something.
I'm going down to join him.
It ruins Danny's theory about Mark and Conron.
Not really.
Why tell us if he was onto something? It's a good cover story.
This way, he tells us everything, gets an hour's start so he can destroy the evidence before I arrive.
Contact Danny.
Tell him where I am.
Keep meaning to clear this place out, but you always think something might come in useful.
I'm glad you kept Miss Walters' diaries.
I thought they might amuse my grandchildren one day.
How long did your aunt live with you? Five or six years.
Strange old lady.
Very secretive.
Would you? The biggest surprise was when she died.
I inherited quite a lot of money.
Oh? I can't imagine how she managed to save, being a children's nanny.
Nor could I.
But every quarter she received a large cheque.
Well, there we are.
Diaries of an English nanny.
Perhaps I should send them to a publisher.
Those, er, cheques she got - any idea who they came from? No.
Some family she once worked for, I imagine.
Well, there you are.
Should keep you busy for days.
Thank you.
At least I know the years I want to look at.
- I'll be around if you need me.
- I'm very grateful.
Thank you.
- You all right? - Yeah.
- Where's your phone? - In the house.
Look after him, I'll get help.
' as it seemed urgent.
I've gone down to the house to meet him.
' - Hello? - Daniel? Yes, I'm at the farm.
I've had a run-in with Mark's detective.
- He tried to kill Conron.
- Mark's detective? That cinches it.
Listen, I gotta tell you something.
'I got a message from Jenny, she's on the way to meet Mark.
' She's taking a terrible chance.
You better get after her.
I'll be there as soon as I can.
Right.
See you later.
Oh, Mandy? Could I talk to you for a minute? Is this it? Yes.
I found something, it's absolutely vital.
There, look at that.
- That changes everything.
- More than you know.
Mark called Jenny and said to meet him urgently at the house.
- She's gone there now.
- What? I'm going too.
You've got to stop her.
You've got to! Mark? Mark? Well? - You're early.
- It's a habit.
- Do you want a drink? - No.
I didn't think you'd mind if I had one.
- After all, it is all yours now.
- You're getting used to the idea? Oh, no.
No, I'll never get used to the idea.
You don't know what it's like, Mark, one day to have everything, the next nothing.
It didn't have to be like that.
I offered you an income.
You could have kept the house.
Income! House! I had it all.
Everything.
- I don't want your charity.
- It wasn't charity, Jenny.
I want it all, Mark.
Not just bits and pieces.
Everything.
- It belongs to me.
- It does not belong to you.
How can I make you believe me? I am Mark Lindley.
I know.
I've always known.
It's because you are that I have to kill you.
Always known? Those attempts on your life they were faked? You have to admit, they were very convincing.
But this is stupid.
How will you explain my death? Everyone believes you're trying to kill me.
I told them you asked me to meet you here.
We struggled and the gun went off.
It's no good, Mark.
I'll find you.
Let me go.
Let me go! - Are you all right? - Yes, I think so.
He was waiting for me.
He tried to kill me.
- This tells it all.
- What is it? Your nanny's diary.
This is your cousin, Jean Fallon.
- Your sister died over 20 years ago.
- It's a lie! - Would you like to tell it? - It's all lies! When your parents died, Jenny was taken to your aunt, Mrs Fallon.
She had a daughter, Jean.
Much the same age as Jenny.
Stop it, it's not true! Unfortunately, your sister died before she was 12 months old.
No! So your aunt decided to raise her daughter as Jenny.
Nobody ever questioned it.
The nanny was the only one who knew.
It is true, isn't it? I've been Jenny Lindley for 20 years, all my life.
It was Jean who died.
My mother used to tell me all the time, Jean is dead, she's dead, she's dead! She wanted you to get the Lindley fortune.
And why shouldn't I? I deserve it.
I kept Jenny alive.
There is no Jean Fallon.
The only problem was that Mark inherited the fortune.
Hi.
Miss anything, did I? Only the end of something.
- Hey, what happened to you? - No, not the end.
It can still be mine, all mine.
She's right.
I told you.
I told you it wasn't finished.
Have you been working for her all the time? Money buys an awful lot of loyalty.
- Right, what's happening? - I'll explain later.
- Why - Believe me, they intend to kill us.
- What? Why would they kill - Sit down! - Why would they wanna kill us? - They have no choice.
Oh, I see.
- Oh, I did as you told me.
- What was that? Told the cops to follow me here.
- That was very thoughtful.
- They got the place surrounded Oh, I can hear them coming.
Come in, Inspector.
You don't like that one.
How about the Sit down.
Will you sit down?! Her money and my loyalty just ran out.
Thank you, Doctor.
How is it you get to fight with girls? - Well, I like the odds better.
- You do, huh? To tell the truth, these little guns don't carry many bullets.
I counted on her having used them all.
This is the point where the gun usually goes off.
Not wishing to change the subject, when you used that old gag "Come in, Inspector" I distinctly heard footsteps.
You know, it's funny, I always hear footsteps when I say "Come in, Inspector".
Mandy? What's she doing here? Mandy, my dear, his Lordship and I would like some brandy.
It's in the cabinet.
- Would you tell me why she's here? - I might as well tell you.
I've hired her as my butler, maid, cook, gardener I've come to expect your under-handed treachery.
I won't say I'm angry, just terribly hurt.
You'll get over it.
- There has to be winners and losers.
- Yes, there does.
- Thank you very much.
- Thank you, Mandy.
If I were as treacherous as you, I wouldn't tell you about the fighter.
- What fighter is that? - European heavyweight contender.
- I don't know him Who is he? - Terribly jealous.
- Her husband.
- Oh, I see.
You're fired, Mandy.