The Persuaders (1971) s01e10 Episode Script

Mr Ryker! If you'd like to rest in my office, we'll get a car to take you home.
Here we are Please don't worry, ladies and gentlemen.
Just carry on with the game.
I was right.
Police.
Special Branch.
What time is the contact due? Midnight, precisely.
That's only a couple of minutes.
Don't panic, we'll make the payment, just as arranged.
- With him around? - Take him out the back way, find somewhere quiet and lose him.
I'll look after things here.
- Good luck, sir.
- Thanks.
This is what we do.
We play for a half-hour.
- Win, lose, whatever, we quit.
- All right.
But this is only half an hour for me.
You do what you wish, I'm going back to the hotel for some sleep.
You deserve it.
£200, please.
Look at this club, really jumping, huh? - Good evening.
- Good evening.
My friend has an irresistible urge to gamble.
- Roulette? - Of course.
Ask for anything you want.
Good luck.
I've got a system, I play all the odd red numbers.
- This way, sir.
- Thank you.
- Bon soir.
- Monsieur.
- Sil vous plait.
- 19.
Make it 7.
I mean 19.
Dix-neuf, monsieur.
Dix-neuf, rouge.
- £525.
- I love it, I love it.
Hmm? Oh! Double it.
Look at that.
Blackjack.
Bully boys.
- 3,500 francs.
- Thank you.
Daniel, have you found a way of cheating at roulette? I can't do any wrong.
Watch this.
Er Nine.
- Nine! Bravo, bravo.
- We should leave We're not leaving! - Why don't you end up a winner? - I am a winner.
You've broken the laws of science, physics, magic and chance.
- Tomorrow you'll thank me.
- Let's play a little longer.
For once I'd like to see someone with a perfect record pick up their money and leave.
- OK, OK, calm down.
- I am calm.
Take these, will you? We'll just make a little bet for tips.
- Excusez-moi.
25, please.
- 25, sir.
No more bets.
- Say thank you to the croupier.
- I'm gonna marry him.
- Your winnings, sir.
- I beg your pardon? - 26.
- No, I bet 25.
I misheard, I accepted your bet for 26.
Thank you.
I don't believe it.
- Let me help you, sir.
- Yes, please.
This is for the boys.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
- Er, yeah, thank you very much.
- Cash all these in, please.
Hello? I have identified the contact.
He'll be leaving in a minute.
- Thank you.
- And 200.
- Everything in order, sir? - Perfect, thank you.
- Good night.
Good night.
- Good night.
He did warn you.
Cab, gentlemen? - A good win.
- Hmm.
- Good evening, sir.
- Are you the manager? - Yes.
Can I help? - My name is Heather.
- I'm a little late.
- There's plenty of time, sir.
Enjoy yourself, and good luck.
I've got a system, I play all the odd red numbers.
We've all got our own systems.
- Did you say you were late? - Yes.
I also said I play all the odd red numbers.
- What time were you due? - Midnight.
- Into my office, quickly.
- You fool! Do as I say.
- Get after that American! - Why? Just get after him! I think I'm gonna buy a bank.
You could buy Brighton if you wanted.
- You did what?! - I paid him out.
I just followed my instructions.
He gave the key phrase.
"I've got a system, I play all the odd red numbers.
" But the second phrase! "19.
Make it 7.
I mean 19.
" He used it, word for word.
- You should have checked! - How? How? I don't know anybody.
I don't know you.
We're not even supposed to talk! Just let me tell you what you've done.
- You were late - Shut up! By collecting a big win here, I would identify myself as the Network Paymaster.
Somebody was watching for me.
They would then contact me and name the place where I am to meet all our key agents in Britain.
- But you didn't collect.
- But the American did.
They'll tell him.
Can't you get it into your head? You've not only lost £50,000, you've blown our entire network.
Lordship, we ought to have a party.
You know any girls here in Brighton? - Give or take 100, about 50.
- 50? Huh! It'll be a small party, just you, me and 50 girls.
Why are you sitting down? What are you gonna do? - Removing my shoes.
- Are you going to bed? Exactly.
But we're supposed to celebrate.
Daniel, it took the Romans - to bring about their decline.
- So what? What took them 1,000 years is taking us three days and three nights.
- Where's your stiff upper lip? - Right below my bloodshot eyes.
- What took you so long? - I had to get this from the car.
- Which is the American's? - Here.
- But he's still in there.
- Get the door open.
- Did you call Ryker? - Yes.
He'll be out front in about five minutes.
I'll fix the bug.
You take care of this.
What are you doing? I am picking up my pills.
What are you taking a pill for? - To sleep.
- Sleep?! Mm-hm, I am going to have solid, tranquil hours What about the party? Well, you you start without me.
- What are you looking for now? - My pyjamas.
Over there.
How the mighty have fallen.
Whatever happened to you? Remember the good old days? You were an eagle, soaring.
- No jim-jams.
- Now you're a chicken.
That should do it.
Why are we going to all this trouble? Couldn't we just fix him? It's vital we find the contact.
Vital to the whole network.
Once we know, the American must be eliminated.
What about the money? That must look like straightforward robbery.
Ryker's outside.
I'll just check this.
All set, just waiting for him.
'lf you're receiving, flash your lights.
' That's OK.
Get ready.
Here you are, my pal.
Take this.
Salut.
Oh, tragic.
Shame.
Oh, well.
You can't win 'em all, I guess.
Good night, sweet prince, Your Lordship.
Rest well.
See you in the morning.
Don't let the bed bugs bite.
Quiet in there, Daniel, I'm trying to go to sleep.
I don't wish to come to your party! Brett! Brett! Brett! - Danny, I - Oof! Wait a minute, will you please look at me when I'm talking to Oh! There are staff problems everywhere today.
Now is no time to go to sleep.
Hey! Hey, Your Lordship? Will you wake up? Come on.
There's no place to fall asleep.
Come on.
- I don't want to! - Beddy-byes.
Let's go.
Let me get you to your room.
Mr Wilde? Uh, y-yes.
Room service must have sent you.
Let me get rid of this bundle and I'll be back.
Just don't leave.
Hello! Sorry about the mess but that's the way it goes.
- But all this money? - Easy come, easy go.
Now what can I do for you? - You know who I am, don't you? - Tell me.
I am section seven.
Section seven? Oh, nice.
Nice to meet you section seven.
- You do understand? - I understand everything, darling.
- Take off your scarf and stay.
- There is no time for that.
- Oh, I see.
- Here is our schedule.
Schedule? We're working to a schedule? Of course.
We're efficient but this is ridiculous.
Tomorrow I will give you instructions.
Er, I don't need instructions.
- Thanks, but - How else will you know what to do? Er, I don't think we're talking about the same thing.
Sit down.
'There is no time.
Read the schedule then destroy it.
' Would you like me to eat it? Old-fashioned but effective.
That's me, old-fashioned but effective.
Please, we have no time for frivolous bourgeois relationships.
- We don't? - No.
It is not permitted between your rank and a section seven.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
- I must go.
Yes I'll take you to the elevator.
Will you, er? Wait a minute.
Go to the entrance and follow the girl.
He's baffled for the moment.
But it won't take him long to work it out.
- What should we do? - Eliminate.
It's all we can do.
- Is the explosive in position? - Yes.
Give me the detonator.
Section seven, please, listen I'm section eight! Hey, come on.
Wake up.
Wake up.
- I'm locked out.
- You can't sleep here.
- Where are we going? - I'll take you to my room No, no, Daniel, there's far too much noise.
What are you talking about? It's as quiet as a graveyard.
Brett! You know your problem? You need a good night's sleep.
I'd get one if someone wasn't trying to kill me.
- I don't think it's personal.
- Oh, good.
It's money.
Someone bombed me out of a room for money? - Good point.
What about the girl? - Section seven? - What did she want? - It's all crazy.
I don't understand.
Well, next time they try to kill you, we'll ask them.
I'm not gonna wait for anybody to try to kill me again.
- I don't think you'll have to wait.
- No? Don't look around.
I said don't! Two men have been following us since we left.
- Look casual.
- Is this casual enough for you? Not that casual.
Look out to sea.
- Beautiful view.
- Yeah, beautiful.
On second thoughts, I think it might be a good idea if we talked to them.
- I will.
- Not here.
Follow me.
Democrat.
Well done, Daniel.
Hold it! "Sussex County Constabulary.
" Daniel! Daniel! - The fuzz! - Where?! Here! Here! Oh I'm terribly sorry.
I really didn't mean anything by that, it was just You were following us.
I was keeping observation until you got to your meeting! - What meeting? - The one we're taking you to now.
- Shall we go? - By all means.
Terribly sorry.
- Lead on.
- By Thank you.
- Any further we'll be in France.
- Here we are.
Inside.
Thank you.
Excuse us, won't you? - Dustin Hoffman.
- Martha Raye.
She's prettier than him.
I'll tell you something You look better in the mirror.
- How do you do! Good of you to come.
- Hello.
- Dean.
Sir Maxwell Dean.
- Wilde.
Sinclair.
Here, have some of these.
Enjoy yourselves.
Did you have us brought here? Not brought, dear chap, invited.
Try the crane, or the ice hockey machine.
Great fun.
What kind of fuzz are you? Oh, a bit of everything.
We wanted a chat about your visit to the club.
Any money I win in England gambling is tax-free, buddy.
Lucky chap.
But will you live to enjoy it? Excuse me, if you know this much, why aren't you arresting people? No evidence.
Things didn't quite work out last night.
- Somebody goofed, huh? - Yes.
You, Mr Wilde.
Me? The money you won should've been paid to a foreign agent, a man known only as the Paymaster.
He would distribute the cash to a network of agents.
Somebody's been mistaking me for this Paymaster? Yes.
By the time they discovered their mistake it was too late.
A pity.
A great pity.
Forgive me if I jump to conclusions and correct me if I'm wrong, as I'm sure you will, your intention was, or is, to follow the Paymaster and thereby get the whole network? Something like that.
Unfortunately, our man in the club was found dead this morning.
A carefully staged accident.
Now we have only one possible lead.
Forget it, I'm not leading anyone anywhere anytime.
You don't appreciate your importance in this.
- Oh.
- These men work in cells.
The men who run the club wouldn't know the other agents.
Last night a stranger identified you as the Paymaster because you won.
- They will make contact.
- Has made contact.
Really? - A girl.
- Hey, whose side are you on anyway? England's.
Don't listen to him.
You've got the wrong guy.
I could get killed.
Almost certainly.
The real Paymaster will try to eliminate you.
Then why are you standing playing this machine? Go and arrest him! We will.
Unfortunately, we won't know who he is until he's killed you.
Oh! Do you hear this? Excuse me, but I'm leaving the country.
We do need your help and I can offer protection.
No.
I must warn you, you'll be a target.
The fastest moving target you ever saw.
Adios, amigos! Not very British.
Understandable.
From the colonies, you know.
- You will let me know where you are? - Yeah.
You gonna stay? Of course, you know my curiosity.
Yeah.
When you find out what it's all about let me know.
Drive carefully and remember the left side Don't move.
Just keep absolutely still.
Don't turn on your engine.
What is it? Have you had any work done on this car? No, why? Open your bonnet very carefully, I want to see the engine.
It's not a bonnet, it's a hood.
- You're a hood.
Would you open it? - Yeah, but it's in the back.
Foreign cars What is it? Daniel, er, I have some bad news for you.
- What? - Be brave and take it like a man.
My living stereo is dead, huh? You're sitting in an enormous bomb.
Sit still! I don't know how it's wired in yet.
There may be a trembler.
I'll say there's a trembler.
It's me.
There's lots of electronic equipment.
- Go and get an expert.
- There may not be time.
By turning on the ignition you may have activated the fuse.
It could be any one of a dozen systems.
All I have to do is find the detonator.
Do you know anything about this? Well, I, er, I took a course once in the army.
- How did you do? - I failed.
Oh.
Why don't you run for your life? Get out of here.
Will you beat it? Daniel, I've got it! Now, it's just a question of whether I turn it right or left.
What do you think? Well, er, I think right.
- Turn it left.
- All right.
Brace yourself.
I feel rather faint.
You can get out now.
That's it! One bomb was all right, but two makes me mad! I'm staying! - To work for Sir Maxwell? - No, for myself! Here.
Oh! I should have let him drive off.
That moron of yours should have tailed the girl.
She's smart.
She spotted him right away.
All right.
We'll need to change plans slightly.
Leave Wilde alive a little longer.
Just as well, that cat's got nine lives.
I must know the contact before I move.
- How? - There is a way.
Leave it to me.
After that, Wilde dies.
And I'll make a proper job of it this time.
It doesn't make any sense to me.
This just is a list of names of towns.
It could be in code.
No, she said it was a schedule.
Maybe you have to visit them.
It'd take a week and a half.
Besides - What are you supposed to be? - A brain surgeon.
- You look like a window cleaner.
- Ha ha! That's what you're supposed to be? Well, people who don't know you will recognise you! That's the point, nobody looks at window cleaners and I have to get into that club.
- I'll come with you.
- You can't! If that girl wishes to make contact this is the only place she'll come.
I made a copy of this list for you, see if you can make some sense out of it.
Sherlock, take the first letter of each town and maybe you can make a name of it.
Here, let me open that See you later, kid.
"Areckershufunt!" Heather's taking a stupid chance.
Not really.
Wilde's expecting somebody.
He'll be expecting the girl.
So he'll say there's a change of plan.
I'll tell you something.
Heather's a pro, he'll handle Wilde.
We'll know soon enough.
He should be at the hotel by now.
Where are you going? Across to the hotel, to see how things are going on.
- You gonna be here? - Suppose so.
I'll call if anything comes up.
Just one moment.
No, no, no, no, I cannot speak any louder.
I do not have laryngitis.
Sani-Phone.
All your germs is gone when you use Sani-Phone.
Hello? Yes, yes.
It's for you.
Ryker! Lose your ladder? Legend overleaf Southampton Blackmoor Bridgwater Isn't this going a bit too far? I was going to tip you.
Stand up, Mr Wilde.
Now sit down.
Keep your hands in sight.
Good.
Now we'll wait for your contact to arrive.
And when she does? Your part in this will come to an abrupt and tragic end.
I'm just gonna put this away.
Gentlemen, you you really should stop worrying.
You'll end up with ulcers.
My great uncle, the 17th or was it 16th? Anyway I'd appreciate it if you'd stop talking.
You sound like my friend Danny Wilde.
Anyway, the 17th Duke was Aah You're even beginning act like Danny.
The money? Oh, it's right here.
Thank you.
It's all there, I didn't spend any.
A couple of tips, that's all.
Are you the guy that was supposed to collect it? Yes, I was delayed.
Well, no hard feelings, then, let's shake hands and That would be nice but I wouldn't know where to go.
That's the beauty of the cell system.
I can't give anyone away.
I'm in the hands of my contact.
What happens if my contact doesn't show? She just showed.
Right, let's get this clear, you open the door and then stand to one side.
Hurry, we have little time.
Yes, I'll just tidy up.
We'll go right along, absolutely.
That'll teach you to fool around.
- What are you doing? - I kill him.
- No, why would you kill him? - To kill him is better.
Where did you learn these kind of things? Hold this.
Killing and shooting, you're crazy There you again.
Didn't you have dolls when you were a kid? Guns, you're crazy! And when they opened the old duke up, it wasn't ulcers, - he was really a duchess! - Bring the car around.
It was a freak of nature.
Is this what they say is "it"? I'm afraid so.
I don't have time for a short but passionate plea about man's inhumanity to man? - I'd rather you didn't.
- Well, in that case Awfully bad form, hitting a handcuffed prisoner.
Snap - or hadn't you noticed? Would you do me the honours? - How did you know I was here? - I've known for hours.
I couldn't move until your friend left.
- Is he on his way? - The car's under surveillance.
They're professionals, the girl won't have a clue she's being followed.
We are being followed.
You think it's that van? I'll lose them.
I'm very expert.
You certainly are.
She's spotted the tail.
Green Dolphin to Blue Whale.
She's seen you.
Drop out.
Red Mullet, stand by and take over.
You lost them.
Capitalist intelligence services are inferior.
I'll say.
Will you tell me, please, where we're going? 'Red Mullet to Green Dolphin, am trailing subject south.
' Green Dolphin to Red Mullet, stay in position until next intersection.
Golden Carp, stand by to take over.
She can't move without us knowing.
It's odd.
They're staying in the town limits.
- You said they'd have a rendezvous.
- I'm certain.
'Golden Carp to Green Dolphin, subjects have not entered my area.
' All units, anybody in contact? - 'Negative.
' - 'No contact.
' What was your last position? That's it, they lost your tail here and made for the railway station.
This is Green Dolphin.
Converge on Brighton Central.
Check all trains for suspects - fast! Now this makes sense, it's a list of railway stations.
Brighton, Chichester, Havant, Fareham The Exeter line.
When is the next train? - Why didn't you give me this before? - Well, I was a PoW at the time.
A moving train the perfect rendezvous.
Exeter train left two minutes ago, sir.
Get me Whitehall.
Recall all units! Cover the Exeter lines.
- Yes, sir.
- Quick as you can! Now you'll see just how efficient we can be.
Oh, damn it, now we've lost him.
Comrade, or may I call you section seven? You may call me Lyn, short for Natashalyn.
Natashalyn, am I the senior comrade here? - Of course.
- Put that down.
Where are we going, and don't do that.
- Very well, we are going nowhere.
- Where? - I explain.
We are already there.
- There? Where? - Here! - Oh.
You are very curious man, Mr Wilde, for an agent, I mean.
Well, it's, er, part of my cover.
I mean, who would take me for a spy? True.
But you seem to have such capitalist tastes.
You live in luxury hotel, drink champagne, have expensive clothes You think I enjoy it? Travelling first class, eating in the finest restaurants, driving expensive cars.
I hate it.
It's torture.
Torture! I do it for the cause.
It must be terrible.
Well, I try to be brave.
Time to go.
Go where? There.
Oh, a Chinese restaurant! - Comrade! - Comrade.
- This is our comrade from the north.
- It is an honour.
Thank you so much.
The others will be here at 30-second intervals.
- Yes, comrade.
- Comrade, wonderful to see you.
Excuse me, madam.
That looks like a lot of chicken feed.
I have a list of amounts for our people.
- I will pay them as they arrive.
- Right, comrade.
Absolutely.
- Then you can begin your briefing.
- My briefing? We are looking forward to that.
I'm looking forward to my briefing as well.
This is our comrade from the north.
- Comrade.
- Comrade.
About time you visited us.
I try to meet everybody.
Nice to meet you, kid.
Nice to meet you.
What's this? He's a Yank.
I think you mean our comrade appears to be an American.
Oh, yeah.
Just the same, I don't like breaking cover.
I don't like it myself, to tell you the truth.
Better be worth it.
You're right, it better be worth it.
Comrade! - Delighted, old boy.
- Delighted.
- This is our comrade from London.
- Well, where else? Dreadful train.
Food's appalling.
And as for the service.
It's about time we had another rail strike.
You think so, huh? Not today though.
I mean today we're on the train and we're on time.
Oh, I see! Five, four, three, two, one Punctuality.
I I like that.
Will there be changes in our targets this year or will it be the same? No, they should be the same, give or take a little.
- What, comrade? - Give or take just a little.
But I thought I'm sorry.
- What about our effort? - Excellent.
- Not bad for a small unit? - Wonderful for a small unit.
That's a lot of men lost.
Not to mention the exports.
- The exports? - Yeah.
- What do you mean? - The exports versus the imports.
The logistics of the economy, balancing - You have a point.
- Absolutely.
Here's another comrade.
Excuse me.
- Comrade! - Comrade! - Watch your head.
- Comrade! He's the last one, you can begin your briefing.
Right.
Why don't you say a few words before my briefing? And so I give you comrade Brad! Bravo, comrade.
- Comrades.
- Comrades! Comrades, comrades This is a moving moment for me, believe me.
It's a great honour to be here.
Up till now you've been nothing but numbers, numbers in a file, 603, 907 Now you're real and live.
Brothers, sisters, comrades! Comrades! Comrade, you should begin your briefing now.
We have little time.
What briefing? Oh, the briefing, yes, of course, the briefing.
Sorry, this is the end of the train, sir.
Oh.
See that? That's the end of my fist.
Thank you, you've saved me the trouble.
Up slowly.
Now, unlock the door.
Try harder.
Whatever you're doing, try harder.
If you're striking, strike harder Don't move! There is only one Network Paymaster and I am he.
- This is the Paymaster! - You don't really believe that? She believes it! - Leave me alone! - Get him! - Need any help? - No.
What are you doing? You don't have to thank me for being on the right train at the right time.
You're slowing up a bit.
Don't stand there! Help me in! I don't think we'll need that again.
- Put down the axe.
What did I do? - That's a very good question.
Think of the mess it'll make.
- There, there, feel better? - They're extraordinary creatures.
We've never met, actually