The Persuaders (1971) s01e08 Episode Script

Let's see - six races, six bets, six losers.
They don't call us the bookmaker's friends for nothing.
We'll try to back winners from now on.
Talk about winners! Look at that little Pocahontas.
Whoa! Stop the car.
Stop the car! Take it back.
Don't move.
My dear, is there any possible way that I can help you? No.
Would you like to reconsider that answer? - No.
- No.
Excuse me.
Excuse me, somebody's screaming.
Excuse me, young lady, I'd love to know something.
What you said to my friend to get rid of him so quickly? Brett! Brett! Oh.
Excuse me.
Hurry up.
Come on.
I want you to see something.
Hold it.
- You lost your girl.
- Come on, I'll show you a man.
- A man? - A red-headed man.
With a Viva Zapata moustache.
There's one distinctive feature about him.
He happens to be dead.
- Dead? - Dead.
Lead on.
Daniel, what's the hurry? If he's dead, he's not going anywhere.
Come on, will you? Here.
Take a look.
Behind that tree.
He's dead all right.
But no Viva Zapata moustache.
- Oh, Danny.
- I'm not crazy and I'm not drunk.
Last time I mistook a man for a rabbit was in a Playboy club.
While drunk.
- I didn't say anything.
- But you shook your stupid head.
I'm telling you, I saw a stiff, as clearly as I'm seeing you.
Can I imagine anything so stupid? You might, Daniel.
Like I'm imagining seeing a man behind you now with a hat and little moustache, and a big shotgun.
You are crazy.
You're imagining things.
I warn you, he's alive.
Take a look.
Oh! Stay put, the both of you.
I'm not afraid to use this.
- Good afternoon.
- Wait a minute.
You got a licence for that? You're trespassing.
I'm taking you to Lord Croxley.
Get moving! Don't try to get out of it Daniel, save your breath.
Do what the nice man asks.
- Come on.
- Well.
Great Scott! Brett Sinclair, John Croxley.
Your keeper caught us trespassing so brought us along to see you.
All right.
Thompson, I'll handle these desperados.
Yes, m'lord.
You must forgive Thompson.
We have the devil of a time with poachers.
My dear Brett, it's marvellous to see you again.
I'm sorry, a friend of mine, Danny Wilde.
- Are those the men? - Yes.
But they're old friends.
- They're lucky.
- That's a laugh.
How absolutely riveting! We haven't had a body in the woods since dear old Grandad dropped dead after drinking three bottles of port.
- Do you believe it? - Are you sure the johnny was dead? Yes, the johnny was dead, believe me.
Well, if you say so, old boy.
Pity we can't dig up the body.
Maybe you can't, but I think that's what you and I are gonna do, right? Ahem.
My lord, Mr Teed asked me to tell you he's leaving.
Leaving? Is he in a fit state to drive? - I think so, my lord.
- Do you know old Richard Teed? The political journalist? Yes, I've met him.
He stayed the night.
I took a couple of hundred off him at backgammon, so he sunk a bottle of brandy at lunchtime to drown his sorrows.
I'd better bid him a fond farewell.
Have a pot shot or two.
Thank you very much.
- Is he the same rank as you? - Nearly.
Really? He's cute.
He doesn't even blink when you tell him somebody may have been murdered on his land.
- British reserve, I love it.
- Oh, is that what you call it? Throw.
Nicely done.
I didn't know you had it in you.
This Lord Croxley - is that his name? - John Croxley.
- John Croxley.
Does he run the interests of your country in the House of Lords? I doubt whether he ever goes near the place.
In fact, I doubt if he has any interest in politics.
Which makes me wonder what he's doing with Teed.
If it makes you wonder, it makes me wonder.
Thank you.
That's Lord Sinclair.
Wave goodbye.
- Who is this guy Teed? - I only know him slightly.
He's a red-hot dedicated political journalist.
Losing 200 quid at backgammon doesn't sound like him.
- Doesn't it? - Unless he had a reason.
Well, as we're here, we might as well let Croxley give us a drink.
- He has a fine wine cellar.
- I think that's a terrific idea.
Come on, Danny, snap out of it.
Admit you made a mistake.
All right, I agree you saw a man, but he fainted or hurt something.
- He wasn't dead.
- He was dead and somebody moved him.
That girl.
She had something to do with it.
- She couldn't have done it.
- Maybe not.
But she left in a hurry.
Somebody's had trouble.
Isn't that the car we saw at your friend Lord Croxley's? Teed's.
Yes, looks like it.
Hold it.
See if he's got any identification.
The name's Teed, Officer.
A London journalist.
- That's Teed? - Yes, Daniel.
Let me ask, on average, how many times a day can a guy die? What are you raving about? That's the guy I found dead three hours ago.
Teed was freelance, Lord Sinclair.
And a loner.
Once he got on to a story, he played it close to his chest.
- Do you know what he was working on? - No.
But my guess is it was big.
- Why? - He's been busy for months.
A story that takes that long has to be big.
- A political story, of course.
- Undoubtedly.
Politics was his speciality, and always very top-level stuff.
He knew most of Europe's political leaders personally.
He was honest and I think they respected him for it.
- How about his private life? - Loner again.
Married to his work.
- Thank you, Sir Robert.
- Nothing.
- Let me freshen that up.
- No more for me, thank you.
Am I allowed to ask the reason for your interest? Of course.
If I have anything to say, you'll be the first to know? Thanks.
What about Teed? Was he a heavy drinker? You're joking.
Ulcers.
Never touched a drop.
Excuse me, young lady.
I wonder if you could spare me a moment? It'll only take a second.
- What does that say? - You've 15 minutes to go.
Thank you.
Then what, pray, is this? Nothing to do with me.
Sorry you've been bothered.
William the Conqueror built the Tower of London to protect and control the city.
It has been a fortress, a palace and a prison.
It has been considered the strongest fortress in the land and from the time it was built Surprise, surprise.
I assume this isn't a lucky coincidence.
The postcard was from you? Right.
I'm sorry for this cloak and dagger approach.
- I don't want to be seen with you.
- They all say that.
By the way, we never introduced ourselves.
- You can call me Marie.
- Then you can call me Brett.
I won't tell you my last name either.
I want you to listen, Lord Sinclair, not ask questions.
Can I ask one question? Would you mind if we walked? I'm a little chilly.
And I promise to listen.
- Stop nosing around.
- Nosing around what? That wasn't a social visit to Fleet Street.
I thought I was doing the listening.
For your own sake, don't interfere with matters which don't concern you.
- That sounds like a threat.
- It isn't.
If it's of any interest, I'm taking an awful chance talking to you.
I'm flattered, but why? - Because.
- Because what? Just because.
Because you don't approve of murder either, perhaps? There was no murder.
It was an accident.
On which occasion? In the water or woods? So your friend did recognise Teed.
That was silly of me, wasn't it? If that's what you came to find out, you succeeded.
Yes, he did.
I know it must seem inexplicable, but keep out of it, both of you.
Apart from saving our skins, give me one other reason why we should.
You'll probably laugh.
It's not just for your sake.
It's for the good of this country.
Are you suggesting that Teed was a traitor? I'm suggesting, explaining or answering nothing.
Just accept what I say.
You'll know the answer soon enough.
All right.
You'll drop it? You won't regret this in the long run.
You'll see.
Don't try and follow me.
Not if you promise we'll meet again.
in which we'll see the dreaded Traitors' Gate.
Through this arch passed many of the most famous names in British history.
Thomas More, Queen Anne, Lady Jane Grey, the Duke of Monmouth, some to find it a prison, others to meet their death.
Taxi! Can I give you a lift? Explanation, please.
Hmm? You and Sinclair.
- I was warning him.
- Of what? Telling him to keep out of it.
- He'd been to Fleet Street.
- I know what he's been doing.
- I think he got the message.
- That's comforting.
The American did recognise Teed as the man in the wood.
It never occurred to me he was either blind or stupid.
- Any other revelations? - No.
But there's a good chance they'll forget about it.
Understand this, Marie, I'm quite capable of dealing with them and will do so.
- I - We're not playing games! There's no room for emotional or independent action.
In future, act only on specific orders.
I - Good morning.
- Good morning, sir.
I'm looking for Mr Teed, Mr Richard Teed's flat.
I'm afraid I know.
Inspector Carruthers, Scotland Yard.
May I see his apartment, please? Oh, yes sir.
Certainly, sir.
If you'll come this way, Inspector.
I think we'll take the stairs.
It's only on the first floor.
Of course.
A little stroll wouldn't hurt.
- Nobody in the flat, I suppose? - No, sir.
Nobody since the accident.
Splendid.
Such a nice, quiet chap, Mr Teed.
Shocking business.
- Shocking, shocking.
- Here we are, sir.
Thank you.
Will you require me any further, Inspector? I don't think so.
I've got a couple of those myself.
- Good show.
- Oh, really? Which have you got? Safe A safe.
Beautiful.
I love it.
Safe.
Key Key.
Two more of your chaps, Inspector.
- My chaps? - From the station, down the road.
What about them? They're here.
Inspector Riley and Sergeant Smart.
- Right, Porter.
We shan't need you.
- Right, sir.
He did tell me your name, but I forget.
- Carruthers, yeah.
- Oh, yes.
Of course, that's it.
Well, with you here, I'll go down to the Yard.
Oh, no.
Please carry on.
After all, six eyes are better than four.
I see you've found the safe.
- Locked.
- They usually are.
Sergeant.
Hello, you've got the key.
Teed had it on him when he was killed.
- Oh, good thinking.
- How were you going to open it? I was just doing a routine check.
Good, you've got it open.
Thank you.
Good.
Is that the Teed story? Perhaps I'll take it down to the office.
- We'll keep it for the moment.
- Just a quick look.
- That won't be necessary.
- If that's the case, I'll leave.
You're not going anywhere.
You wanna bet? Hold it, Wilde! Frisk him! Watch him.
Hey, Bogart Who's paying you? Shut your face.
Ryder here.
We've got it.
And Wilde.
Yeah.
Yeah, understood.
Will do.
Hmm.
By the way, he's left his car outside the building.
Will you see to it? Fine, bye.
All right, you can get up now.
But take it easy.
- Give me that.
- What do you think I am, nuts? We're taking you out of here.
You'll be covered all the way.
You make one move out of line We don't want to worry the porter.
You sure do a good imitation of the fuzz.
Years of watching television.
Car keys.
Please.
My car? - Porter.
- Yes, sir? Someone will call and collect these car keys.
Hand them over.
If anyone should call for me, tell him I had to leave.
Certainly, sir.
Oh, Inspector You didn't tell me the name of the chap - Porter.
- Yes, sir? The gentleman in the blue raincoat, that just left with the policeman, was he under arrest? Arrest? He's an inspector from Scotland Yard.
The other two are from the station down the road.
Oh, I see.
Thank you.
Police station coming up.
Slow down.
Easy.
Easy.
Hey! - Yes, miss.
- I've come to collect some car keys.
Excuse me, have you seen a blue Corsair? No.
Nothing's come past here, not in the last ten minutes.
Smells good.
What, uh, year is it? No year.
Low octane, but you'll burn nicely.
If you don't mind, I'd like a couple of bottles of sleeping pills.
I'll do it myself.
We wouldn't like to put you to that sort of trouble.
Let's get the cans in the car.
- Problems? - Nothing.
- I suppose this is necessary.
- Ours is not to reason.
Haven't you learnt that yet? Have you got the stuff? Get his car turned round, come back and give me a hand.
Right.
If it isn't the vanishing lady.
Come sit in the hay.
- You're a fool.
- Why? I warned Sinclair.
If only you'd stayed out of it for 24 hours longer.
- Then what? - There'd have been no need for this.
If it's going to be over soon, just lock me up for a while.
We've had our orders.
Get on with it.
You're not getting on with anything.
Hold him! Right, let's get started.
Marie, you wait here.
That's enough.
Give me a hand.
Let's get him out.
Let's get out! Danny! Danny! Danny! You smell like you've been at a mess party.
Come on.
Come on.
Easy! Looks like she's gone.
She can't have gone far without any transport.
Light that lamp.
Let's take a look around.
- Ouch.
- What's the matter? She was here a few minutes ago.
It's hot.
You figure that out by yourself? If you're up here, don't jump me.
Hello? By the way, did you get a look at that thing in Teed's safe? No, I didn't.
Oh, wait a minute! I found a piece of paper from his desk.
- I did Fu Man Chu.
- What are you talking about? - I rubbed my finger on the carbon - I know what you mean.
- What does it say, sir? - "Meetings.
" - Meetings? - LC Club.
- Club.
- Coal club? Coalition club.
- Do you know that place? - Only by reputation.
- London's most exclusive club.
- How come you never took me there? I'm not a member.
It's invitation only.
- I see.
- Founded by your friend Croxley.
- He is not my friend.
- You drank his wine.
That doesn't mean anything.
What does the LC? Lord Croxley.
I think we should pay a visit.
- Uninvited and by the back door.
- OK.
Follow me.
Lord Croxley's establishment.
- Cosy little place.
- It has a romantic history.
It was built by George III for the woman he loved.
She was a commoner, but he wanted to marry her.
Did he? - No.
- She didn't have royal blood.
No, it wasn't that.
His wife, the Queen, didn't approve.
- Let's find our way into the back.
- Let me get my case.
- This should do nicely.
- Spread this paper on the ground.
Old buddy of mine, a cat burglar, taught me this.
- What's in the tin? - This is syrup.
- Treacle.
- Right.
What are we doing? Making waffles? Just shut your mouth and pay attention.
Pour the syrup on the paper like that Keep your finger out of it! Don't eat it.
Mmm Haven't had that since I was a child.
Come on, spread this on the paper.
Right along the paper like that.
- And mess my fingers up? - Come on.
Get it all flat.
Easy.
- That's enough.
- Take it up here.
Cover the top pane.
Go ahead.
- That's it.
Perfect.
- Fascinating.
- Crow taught me this.
- Now what do you do? Now we break the glass and the glass sticks - How do we break it? - With my boot, you dumb-dumb.
- Don't say anything.
- Stay like that, Daniel.
Thank you.
There.
That's the lot.
Musty in here.
I'll open the window.
Looks like rain.
- Can I ask an important question? - Yes, Daniel.
What are we searching for? I haven't the faintest idea.
But if you find it, you tell me.
- Hey, Brett.
- What is it? Chicken.
You want some? Want some ham? How about a drink? - You wanna go to a television show? - What are you talking about? A show called "Man To Man".
Is that a talk show? - If they get prizes, I want to go.
- I thought you would.
Get yourself something to eat.
Let's get out of here.
- Come on.
- What's the hurry? The last time I tried to break in anyplace, they tried to set me on fire, remember? - If you'd like to wait here, sir.
- Thank you.
Sorry to have kept you, Marsden, but as you might imagine there have been one or two things to attend to.
- This is for you.
- Thanks.
- Any questions, any worries? - Oh, no, sir.
I don't think so.
Good chap.
These are the passes to get you in to the television studio.
I'll see you there.
You make sure you see me.
Don't want you making any mistakes, do we? - You can depend on me, sir.
- Right.
You'd better be going.
One thing.
If by any mischance you should be arrested after your action - you'll be released within 48 hours.
- Thank you.
You'll be writing yourself into history.
What was all that about? Haven't a clue.
But something's gonna happen, and at the television studio.
Come on.
I wanna go to a TV show.
There's a thousand of them! Not there.
Couldn't agree with you more.
I bagged a couple of dozen brace last weekend.
I don't think there's a bird left on my estate.
Very bad season.
I don't understand what you get out of slaughtering of birds.
- Damn fine meal.
- I enjoy a well hung pheasant.
What was it Oscar Wilde said? "The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable.
" I know what they're doing.
They're picking the British Olympic Boring Team.
Gentlemen Gentlemen, the end to which you've all been working is now only hours away.
Not before time.
The last few days have seen problems.
Was this journalist Teed one of the problems? - Yes? - Were you responsible for that? We're collectively responsible.
I was the instrument.
We agreed this should be bloodless.
Come along.
One man dead, possibly a few more like him.
We agreed there might be up to 100 deaths and for a coup d'état that is bloodless.
- Croxley.
- Yes.
Could that window be closed? There's a terrible draught.
I'll shut it.
Does anybody have any doubts before we take irrevocable action? Very well, then.
We'll all be ministers in the new government at noon tomorrow.
A state of emergency and the curfew will remain in force for three days.
During that time, no one is to make any public statement.
- Do you know any of 'em? - Some of them.
All influential but not on my guest list.
Between us we represent the highest level of public life.
The armed forces, the press, the civil services, et cetera.
Nine men with the power to command and influence thousands of others.
Nine men who can overturn Government and alter the destiny of this country.
This is the general text of my impromptu speech.
The theme will be anarchy, strikes, demonstrations, civil disorders, but the key line, the cue for action, is when I say that we have lived in a society for too long that permits, even condones, violence, and we must once again establish the rule of law.
We shall be ready to play our part.
We can be in a state of nationwide martial law within hours.
Gentlemen.
We're not going to hear any more.
Let's go.
Whatever it is, the television studio's where it's at.
What are you waiting for, wings? Come on, Daniel.
Oh, Daniel.
Here, allow me.
- You tore my coat.
Oh, you can see! - You can always go to a tailor.
Yeah? You're not going anywhere.
That's right, you're not.
It was a mistake leaving your car so close to the club.
And you told me not to follow you.
Charming.
Charming.
Thank you very much indeed.
Good evening and welcome once again to "Man To Man".
The Government's proposed law and order bill is perhaps the most controversial piece of legislation of this century.
Its opponents have called it "the death of democracy".
Its proponents claim it as a return to sanity.
Tonight, talking about it man to man, we have, opposing the bill, Mr William Denton.
And making one of his rare but nevertheless welcome ventures into the field of politics and demanding even sterner measures than those proposed, Lord Croxley.
And in the hot, hot seat, we are very honoured to welcome Her Majesty's Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Norman Russell.
Prime Minister, I'm going to ask you to start the ball rolling, if I may, by outlining the main aims of your bill.
'I think nobody will deny that in the last ten years 'there's been an increasing temperature of violence.
'Not between the great powers, 'but here, within our own national boundaries.
' Turn down the sound.
This is nonsense.
' political opinion is shown through acts of terrorism and sabotage.
' Is that how it's to start - by killing the Prime Minister? - Hmm? - Yes.
It will happen in front of 15 million viewers.
There'll be such a wave of outrage that when Croxley makes a demand for strong action, the people will not only approve a new government, they'll demand it.
By morning what you've found out won't be a secret any longer.
You may not have to be killed.
That's nice.
As the poor Prime Minister is going to be eliminated for his views, could we hear what he has to say? ' the ballot boxes.
They are changed by the people, in honest elections.
' Hear, hear.
It is our intention to ensure that the privilege of an opinion is not the exclusive right of those with the loudest voices.
Rubbish! All you want is a police state! - That's what we're trying to avoid.
- Police state! We want freedom to think for ourselves! Ladies and gentlemen, please.
It's beginning.
'You can give your opinions and ask questions later.
' 'That seems to be one small triumph for law and order.
Prime Minister? ' 'lf we permit the violence to continue, 'we play into the hands of those who'd impose a police state.
' Oh, something's wrong with the set, Stanley.
- Come back here.
- Fix it, will you? - Daniel, open it, will you, please? - Chicken in the basket.
The police state! See what I mean! The police state! That, perhaps, was a good example of the passion this bill engenders.
Hear, hear.
- How much further? - About a mile and a half.
You better slow down or you'll overshoot the field.
Hello, could I have the police? Bill Benton is an all-out opponent of the act.
Tell us why.
Well, I'm all for law and order, but I think this bill goes too far, and starts to strike at the fundamental right of every citizen to express his views.
This we will not accept.
Lord Croxley? I'm sorry, but I don't think the bill goes far enough.
I want to see a much firmer hand taken before this country goes completely to the dogs.
I don't want to see a thousand years of the world's finest democratic system destroyed by an undisciplined rabble.
- Here! You can't leave that there.
- Have a word with the directors! doing what is right for their country at the cost of losing the support of the people.
The government must have the power to enforce the will of its people and I believe it is the will of the ordinary people of this country.
That group that has been so aptly named the silent majority that this power should be unlimited.
Every man should have the right to choose for himself.
The right to go to work and earn a decent living.
Hear, hear.
End the anarchy! We must seek out and destroy those who would see us destroyed.
We have lived too long in a society that permits, even condones violence and we must once again establish the rule of law.
Brett! What are you doing after the show? Sorry about that, sir.
But it should make good headlines.
British peer brings down Prime Minister.