Randall Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969) s01e22 Episode Script
It's Supposed to be Thicker Than Water
Nineteen pound, nine and five.
Thirty-six, eighteen two.
Which adds up to Far too much! Ole! You called, Jeff? No, Marty, I didn't.
Since you're here you can look at those books.
- Are they bad? - Bad? Worst month since we went into business.
- Where are you going? - Out.
Alone.
Mr.
Randall? Yes, that's my name.
Mr.
Joshua Crackan would like a word with you.
Would he? - He's waiting.
- Well, he can go on waiting.
Mr.
Crackan is not accustomed to being kept waiting.
Why does he want to see me? It's an opportunity to earn money, Mr.
Randall.
Quite a lot of money.
You're talking to the right man.
Where is your friend Crackan? Mr.
Joshua Crackan is my employer, sir, not my friend.
He's over there.
Mr.
Crackan? - Is it him? - It is, sir.
All right, Hodder, he'll do.
this envelope to my nephew, - Mr.
John Crackan.
- And? Just deliver it, that's all.
It contains something to his advantage.
Will you do it? - For 50 pounds? - For 50 pounds.
You've talked me into it.
Excellent, my address is on the envelope.
Come for your fee when you've completed the task.
Good night.
Just a minute, this John Crackan, where do I find him? I haven't an idea, Mr.
Randall.
My nephew escaped from prison six weeks ago.
He's on the run.
- You're not being very helpful.
- I've got a busy day in front of me.
I'm not stupid, I know the trouble I'd buy if I shopped Johnny.
- Sure.
- So all that's left is the favour.
Look, Randall, you're making a lot of noise.
I can't hear the radio.
'9-2, Funker.
'Same price, 9-2' I thought any job would be welcome now! I've been asked to trace an escaped convict.
So? So if the police think I've found him without telling them I'll be out of business.
But if you turn down the 50 pounds and you don't get that Then I still go out of business.
Yeah.
So I suppose you don't have much of a choice, really.
Randall and Hopkirk.
- 'Randall?' - Speaking.
'You were looking for Johnny Crackan.
' That's right.
Go to the Deptford warehouse, southern docks.
Ask Harry Dawson about him.
Anyone about? Who are you? Randall.
- I'm looking for Harry Dawson.
- Go on.
Are you Dawson? If I were, what would you want with me? Well, if you were I'd want you to deliver a message to Johnny Crackan.
- I wouldn't know how.
- I've heard different.
His Uncle Joshua wants to contact him.
Uh-huh.
Something to his advantage, as they say.
OK, mister, I'll take your message.
How do I know it'll get to Johnny Crackan? It already has.
- Thank you, Mr.
Randall.
- Thank you.
It's the easiest 50 I've earnt in a very long time.
Mr.
Joshua Crackan is a very generous employer.
You can say that again.
Now I can pay some bills.
Just a moment.
- Did he do it? - Er, yes, sir.
Excellent.
Come back tomorrow, Mr.
Randall, there'll be some more work for you.
Not bad.
- You want me to go?! - No! Not in so many words.
Well, what's worrying you, Jeff? I'm worried about this kind of life.
It can't go on.
Try and understand, I've just finished a job - alone, just like it used to be in the old days, following leads, asking questions.
I found Johnny Crackan by myself, I can still do it! You do want me to go don't you, Jeff? No.
Not forever.
Invited for Christmases and birthday parties, am I? - Don't be like that.
- I have helped.
I know you have.
Even saved your life.
Lots of times - if it wasn't for you I'd be as dead as you are.
On the other hand, you kept putting me on the spot in the first place.
Well, I don't know where I'll spend the next hundred years.
You'll think of something.
Go for a cruise - see the world.
- "Go for a cruise"? - You'll enjoy it, I know you will.
You do understand what I'm trying to say? I don't want a ghost haunting me.
I want to lead a normal life.
Yeah.
Yeah, I understand, Jeff.
I'll look after Jeannie, I promise.
Goodbye, Jeff.
Marty? Marty? 'Goodbye, Jeff!' Marty! You're quite clear about your duties? Yeah.
I allow in only those with printed invitations, patrol the grounds and make sure we have no unauthorised visitors.
- Good.
- Hodder? I still don't know what it's all about.
Mr.
Crackan sees no reason why you should.
Senor Ramon Burgos y Crackan.
- Crackan? - Si, Burgos y Crackan.
Fine.
Straight up to the house.
- La casa, arriba.
- Ah, si.
Gracias, gracias.
De nada.
Marty? Is that you? You know what I said.
You know what we agreed! Do you usually talk to yourself? Keep doing that and I might start getting ideas about you.
Er, I was just getting something off my chest.
- A sort of therapy, eh? - Er, right.
Well, we've all got problems.
Mine's money.
- What's yours? - Money.
So we start off with something in common.
- With millions of others.
- What's your name? - Jeff Randall.
- Fay.
- Crackan? - That's right.
- You got a little white card? - My invitation.
Excuse me.
- Randall.
- Mr.
Randall Take a look on the west boundary, about 100 yards from the lodge.
We have an intruder.
All right, Jeff, you're on your own.
Crackan! If it isn't our friend with the invitation.
Why the back gate? The invitation lets you in the front.
Straight into what? Some kind of family reunion.
Joshua's your uncle, isn't he? Uncle? Never seen him before in my life.
- Well, you going up to the house? - I'll take a look around first.
Suit yourself.
Hey! Can I have your invitation? Ta.
You know this old guy, you work for him.
Is he on the level? He doesn't say much but he pays well.
Good.
I'm beginning to get that old family feeling.
He's dead.
Well, someone's got to ask the $64,000 question.
Did he fall or was he pushed? I don't mind telling you, Mr.
Crackan, I don't like it.
I see.
What you're trying to tell me is that your professional experience leads you to consider that this might not have been an accident.
Grown, sober men do not walk out of windows.
- Even in strange houses? - Even in strange houses.
Then let's leave it to the coroner to decide between an accident and something more serious.
Hodder, it's time for my turn round the gardens.
Yes, sir.
I don't much like him.
But I do like his style.
You come for that little chat? I'm not exactly weighed down with information.
- Have you got anything? - I've met some long-lost relatives.
It seems we were flung all across the earth.
- All across the world? - That's about it.
The Reverend Henry Crackan of Ithaca, New York.
Crackan Sung Lee of the of the ex-patriot Singapore branch, Chinese.
- And what are you all doing here? - We're invited to a birthday party.
Joshua's 80 tomorrow.
You can't say he doesn't look it.
It's all this high living.
Let me guess which branch of show business you're from.
I'll save you the bother.
I do the halls, theatres, clubs - speciality acts.
- Knife-throwing, telepathy, magic - All that? No, but I assist people who do.
And I thought you were the star of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Cousin Johnny Crackan.
- You pulling out? - I'll be back for the party.
You're not the drive-in-the-country type.
Only while the cops check the accident to our continental cousin.
Whilst you drive around in his car.
It's an ill wind, Randall.
See you at the party.
Marty! Marty! Come on, I know it's you! Sorry, Jeff, it slipped.
I don't care, I wanna know what you're doing here.
- I made myself clear the other day! - You're being very pig-headed.
- Am I? - Two people killed? Get out of here.
I plan to, my stint as doorman finishes in a few hours.
Then I collect my 100 pounds and that's that.
- So you want me to go? - We've been through that.
You wanna break up the partnership? Marty, you're my best friend, you always will be, but our partnership was broken the day you got murdered.
You're not making it any easier.
All right, Jeff, all right.
If that's what you really want.
- I do, Marty, I do.
- All right, if that's Thank you.
Well, 80 years.
Happy birthday, Joshua! Thank you, thank you.
May you have many more, Mr.
Crackan.
Uh, yes.
I've waited a long time to be surrounded by all the surviving members of the Crackan family.
We're not, of course, a very close family but my advertisement was answered by all of you.
We're very touched that you went to all this trouble.
It's not, as you might suppose, a matter of pure sentimentality.
It is, as a matter of fact, a detail of the entail on the Crackan estate.
The property must pass to a surviving Crackan.
You are here for me to choose.
Miss Fay, the Reverend Henry or Mr.
Sung Lee.
I just don't believe it! It's a very gracious home.
Hodder We'll take coffee in the drawing room.
Yes, sir.
Poison? Ramon, Johnny, now Sung Lee.
After tonight's revelations it's clear why.
- The estate.
- Sure.
Providing it's not you, that points the finger at Reverend Henry.
- That's hard to buy.
- I suppose so.
What am I gonna do, Jeff? I can't make your mind up for you on this but if you go, you risk a two to one chance of inheriting the estate.
But if I stay You think this is best thing? Tell Joshua I'm available to discuss the inheritance.
- OK.
You gonna be all right? - Why not? No one else knows I'm staying here.
- Shall I check you in? - Don't worry.
I can manage.
- Good night, Jeff.
Thanks.
- Sure.
Come in.
How did you know I was staying here? After the happenings at Crackan Manor, I didn't think you'd be prepared to stay there.
So you followed me here? In a manner of speaking.
I'm staying here myself.
As a matter of fact, I have the room next door.
I see.
Well, if you don't mind, I've had a hard day.
I mean, I'd better get some sleep.
Yes, of course.
Look, do I have to spell it out? I want you to go.
After all, as I understand it, we appear to be rivals.
Well we've nothing to talk about.
Yes? Mr.
Randall? Downstairs? Send him right up - now.
It's Mr.
Randall.
It seems I left something in his car.
Then perhaps we should have our discussion later, Miss Fay.
- Jeff, is that you? - Shall I leave the bag here? No! Oh! - I've had welcomes but - Listen It's him, I'm certain.
- Him? - The Reverend Henry, he was in here! - What? - Claims to be staying next door.
- Sinister, I tell you.
- Let's start at the beginning.
You think he's responsible for the deaths? I'm the next and the last.
Then Crackan Manor must be his.
It's hard to believe.
- Go and see him.
Face him with it! - Fay, be reasonable.
I am! Either I'm the murderer or that phony minister is.
Phony? How many ministers murder their flock? All right, but I'm not coming straight out with it.
- Come straight back.
- Sure.
- You will come straight back? - Promise.
It was a sad thing about the Reverend Henry.
It was you who discovered the body, I understand? To the intense interest of the local CID, yes.
Yes, I know.
And our catalogue of misfortunes doesn't end there.
Miss Fay has disappeared, I understand.
- Are you surprised? - No, perhaps not but I shall need your help again, Mr.
Randall.
- My help? - To find her.
To tell her that Crackan Manor is hers if she cares to come back again.
Do you think she will? Perhaps not but I think I owe it to her to make the effort.
Will you trace her for me? I think you've found the recompense satisfactory so far.
I don't want the money, Mr.
Crackan, but I'll try and find her.
To tell her that the estate goes to her.
The estate goes to her, Mr.
Randall, if she comes back.
Yeah, well, thanks anyway.
Good heavens! Here, I'll take some of those.
- Any luck? - No, none at all.
I phoned all the theatrical agents, no Fay Crackan.
- She probably uses a stage name.
- Probably.
What are those? The local press of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Whatever for? Local press covers local entertainments.
If you're lucky you get a photograph.
So we have to wade through all that lot? Well, there's no other way.
Oh, isn't there? I didn't hear anything.
Yeah.
For my last feat, my famous Indian scarf trick.
Very good indeed, George.
If only you had a boy who could climb up it at the end it'd be great.
Thank you very much for coming, I enjoyed it very much indeed.
Now, what's next? Oh, Mesmero? Mesmero? Wonderful to see you, thanks for coming.
Just walk the act through for now and I'll get the feel of it.
Give us an idea of the length, we can tighten up as we go.
It doesn't matter if you make mistakes What makes you think she started working straightaway? - She was broke.
- She told you that? We had it in common.
Someone must have left that door open again.
Oh, yeah? Oh, it's a freak.
Jeff, look! It's on the very top newspaper! "Assisted by Fay at the New Hampstead Theatre.
" That could be the one.
It's worth a visit.
Isn't it amazing the wind should open it there? Yeah.
Amazing.
Very good indeed, darling.
Very good indeed.
Very good, hm? You know, with a routine like that you just can't fail.
Oh - Oh.
Press? - Er, uh-uh.
I'm a friend of Fay Crackan's.
I wanted a word with her.
Fay? I don't think she's rehearsing, go along to the dressing rooms.
Thanks, I will.
OK, what's next? - Jeff! - May I come in? - What is it? What's the matter? - Well What are you doing here? I've come to ask you to go back to Crackan Manor.
- For someone to slit my throat? - The estate is yours.
A lot of good that would do me, eh? Who sent you? Joshua asked me to trace you and I agreed.
Why? What's in it for you? Nothing! I thought you ought to know that the estate is yours.
- If I go back there.
- Right.
I'm not that much of a fool.
Someone is killing for his own purpose, not to get the inheritance from me - and I'm next on the list! - So you won't come back? - Why should I? I don't trust old Joshua, I don't trust Hodder, and I don't trust you.
- So the answer's no? - Absolutely.
She doesn't trust anyone here, especially me, and she won't risk her life for the Crackan estate.
If I may observe, sir, that seems a slightly melodramatic way of putting it.
After four killings, all Crackans, in a few days? In view of the fact that Miss Fay loses the manor if she does not return.
I never thought of that before.
Why should she come back? According to the terms, she gets the estate after your death anyway as the only living Crackan.
Yes, you're quite right, Mr.
Randall.
- So you wanted her here to - Without malice.
It was the only way.
The only way to ensure that the property came to dear Hodder.
Hodder?! You don't understand, Mr.
Randall.
I couldn't possibly let it go to one of these foreigners or an escaped convict or a public performer.
It had to be someone who knew the house and loved it.
I think I'll let the police sort this one out.
You're not going, are you, Mr.
Randall? You've been so helpful so far.
I'll say.
Practically an accomplice.
But we need one more thing from you.
Where can we find Miss Fay? That's where you're going to be unlucky.
But we're prepared to persevere with the question.
You're wasting your time.
I won't tell you and you won't find her.
You succeeded.
I'm a professional with an organisation.
"Organisation"! We know your organisation, Mr.
Randall.
One girl in a seedy office in London.
Yes, the girl.
- Oh.
- Good day to you.
- Good day, won't you come in? - Thank you.
- Can I help you? - Yes, possibly, Miss? Hopkirk.
Mrs.
Hopkirk.
- Won't you sit down? - Thank you.
- Oh, please.
- Thank you.
- Well? - Well I was wondering if you could give me some information.
Marty! Marty?! Where are you? No, you're right.
No, why should you come back after what I said to you? Marty! Marty, you're back! It's all right, Jeff, it's all right.
You don't have to grovel, you can get up.
I'm sorry, Marty.
Really I am.
What can I say? It's all right, Jeff, I've decided to come back.
Thanks, Marty.
Thanks a lot.
We're wasting time - Hodder and Joshua I know, I've been around.
Well, you know Hodder's gone to see Jeannie? Eh? I missed that.
Somehow you've got to stop her talking.
Normally Mr.
Randall's business is highly confidential.
- Jeannie, don't say anything! - But from what you tell me I Well, I can see no harm in telling you he has traced Miss Crackan.
I'm sure there can be no harm, Mrs.
Hopkirk.
Fay opens at the New Hampstead Theatre next week.
Thank you.
- You made it, then? - I made it all right.
Too late! - What do we do now? - We're only human, Jeff.
Still, please.
The power of thought.
The reserves of electrical energy in all of us can be released only in exceptional circumstances.
By meditation, cataleptic trance or deep hypnosis.
Now listen.
Listen carefully, Fay.
I want you to concentrate your efforts.
Concentrate and rise up.
Up.
Up! Concentrate! Lift! Up! Good! Now stop! That's incredible! It's fantastic! Take the couch away.
Relax, stay till I return.
- Well, you like the act? - Oh, fantastic, fantastic! - Are you gonna leave her like that? - Why not? It's comfortable.
She's slimming, she wants to miss lunch.
Can you explain it? Hypnosis is a level of human prehension.
It enables the subject - and Fay is the best subject I've ever had - to rise above pain, gravity - all the normal, natural limitations of life as we know it.
Like at seances - that kind of thing? Indeed, yes.
Now, lunch? Sure, but I'd be a lot happier if, well, maybe you could just let her down? I'll get the couch.
Now, concentrate.
Concentrate, Fay.
Gently down.
OK, let's go.
Fay, if what he said was true you must be able to hear me.
Now Fay! Can you hear me? 'Fay, can you hear me?!' Somebody is gonna try and kill you but you won't feel a thing! Listen, Fay, are you all right? Can you hear me, Fay? Fay, you've got to hear me! Yes.
Great.
Listen, Fay, this is what I want you to do.
Ow! - We'll direct it as I saw it, OK? - Fine, fine.
- You won't forget Fay, will you? - As if I'd do that.
Fay, if you can hear me, now I want you to wake up.
Wake up.
- Nothing wrong, is there? - Fay? Wake up.
Fay, you can hear me - wake up! I don't understand this.
She should behave normally.
Well well, do something! Fay? Fay? Listen, Fay.
Come on.
Fay, wake up! - What's happening? - I don't know.
It's never happened before.
- Police.
- Police? Mesmero, what is this? - I'm doing the best can.
- Police? Send a car to Crackan Manor.
Arrest Joshua and Hodder for the murders and release Jeff Randall.
- What's the matter with you all? - With us? You take it, Hodder.
Well, Mr.
Randall, nobody now remains to prevent Hodder inheriting.
You've? - No! - What? - Fay's OK.
- That's a relief.
- You're pleased? - I'm delighted.
You're a very strange man, Mr.
Randall.
Police! Get me out of here, Hodder! Stay where you are! - Ole! - Ta! - Hodder, old boy, are you all right? - What kept you?! They're all yours! I went to Eton, you know! I shall report you to the Chief Constable! - Well, that's that.
- Goodbye, Jeff.
Marty! Marty?! I should never have said it.
That's better.
Now I know you mean it.
- Randall and Hopkirk? - Hopkirk and Randall.
Now, don't get too ambitious, Marty.
Thirty-six, eighteen two.
Which adds up to Far too much! Ole! You called, Jeff? No, Marty, I didn't.
Since you're here you can look at those books.
- Are they bad? - Bad? Worst month since we went into business.
- Where are you going? - Out.
Alone.
Mr.
Randall? Yes, that's my name.
Mr.
Joshua Crackan would like a word with you.
Would he? - He's waiting.
- Well, he can go on waiting.
Mr.
Crackan is not accustomed to being kept waiting.
Why does he want to see me? It's an opportunity to earn money, Mr.
Randall.
Quite a lot of money.
You're talking to the right man.
Where is your friend Crackan? Mr.
Joshua Crackan is my employer, sir, not my friend.
He's over there.
Mr.
Crackan? - Is it him? - It is, sir.
All right, Hodder, he'll do.
this envelope to my nephew, - Mr.
John Crackan.
- And? Just deliver it, that's all.
It contains something to his advantage.
Will you do it? - For 50 pounds? - For 50 pounds.
You've talked me into it.
Excellent, my address is on the envelope.
Come for your fee when you've completed the task.
Good night.
Just a minute, this John Crackan, where do I find him? I haven't an idea, Mr.
Randall.
My nephew escaped from prison six weeks ago.
He's on the run.
- You're not being very helpful.
- I've got a busy day in front of me.
I'm not stupid, I know the trouble I'd buy if I shopped Johnny.
- Sure.
- So all that's left is the favour.
Look, Randall, you're making a lot of noise.
I can't hear the radio.
'9-2, Funker.
'Same price, 9-2' I thought any job would be welcome now! I've been asked to trace an escaped convict.
So? So if the police think I've found him without telling them I'll be out of business.
But if you turn down the 50 pounds and you don't get that Then I still go out of business.
Yeah.
So I suppose you don't have much of a choice, really.
Randall and Hopkirk.
- 'Randall?' - Speaking.
'You were looking for Johnny Crackan.
' That's right.
Go to the Deptford warehouse, southern docks.
Ask Harry Dawson about him.
Anyone about? Who are you? Randall.
- I'm looking for Harry Dawson.
- Go on.
Are you Dawson? If I were, what would you want with me? Well, if you were I'd want you to deliver a message to Johnny Crackan.
- I wouldn't know how.
- I've heard different.
His Uncle Joshua wants to contact him.
Uh-huh.
Something to his advantage, as they say.
OK, mister, I'll take your message.
How do I know it'll get to Johnny Crackan? It already has.
- Thank you, Mr.
Randall.
- Thank you.
It's the easiest 50 I've earnt in a very long time.
Mr.
Joshua Crackan is a very generous employer.
You can say that again.
Now I can pay some bills.
Just a moment.
- Did he do it? - Er, yes, sir.
Excellent.
Come back tomorrow, Mr.
Randall, there'll be some more work for you.
Not bad.
- You want me to go?! - No! Not in so many words.
Well, what's worrying you, Jeff? I'm worried about this kind of life.
It can't go on.
Try and understand, I've just finished a job - alone, just like it used to be in the old days, following leads, asking questions.
I found Johnny Crackan by myself, I can still do it! You do want me to go don't you, Jeff? No.
Not forever.
Invited for Christmases and birthday parties, am I? - Don't be like that.
- I have helped.
I know you have.
Even saved your life.
Lots of times - if it wasn't for you I'd be as dead as you are.
On the other hand, you kept putting me on the spot in the first place.
Well, I don't know where I'll spend the next hundred years.
You'll think of something.
Go for a cruise - see the world.
- "Go for a cruise"? - You'll enjoy it, I know you will.
You do understand what I'm trying to say? I don't want a ghost haunting me.
I want to lead a normal life.
Yeah.
Yeah, I understand, Jeff.
I'll look after Jeannie, I promise.
Goodbye, Jeff.
Marty? Marty? 'Goodbye, Jeff!' Marty! You're quite clear about your duties? Yeah.
I allow in only those with printed invitations, patrol the grounds and make sure we have no unauthorised visitors.
- Good.
- Hodder? I still don't know what it's all about.
Mr.
Crackan sees no reason why you should.
Senor Ramon Burgos y Crackan.
- Crackan? - Si, Burgos y Crackan.
Fine.
Straight up to the house.
- La casa, arriba.
- Ah, si.
Gracias, gracias.
De nada.
Marty? Is that you? You know what I said.
You know what we agreed! Do you usually talk to yourself? Keep doing that and I might start getting ideas about you.
Er, I was just getting something off my chest.
- A sort of therapy, eh? - Er, right.
Well, we've all got problems.
Mine's money.
- What's yours? - Money.
So we start off with something in common.
- With millions of others.
- What's your name? - Jeff Randall.
- Fay.
- Crackan? - That's right.
- You got a little white card? - My invitation.
Excuse me.
- Randall.
- Mr.
Randall Take a look on the west boundary, about 100 yards from the lodge.
We have an intruder.
All right, Jeff, you're on your own.
Crackan! If it isn't our friend with the invitation.
Why the back gate? The invitation lets you in the front.
Straight into what? Some kind of family reunion.
Joshua's your uncle, isn't he? Uncle? Never seen him before in my life.
- Well, you going up to the house? - I'll take a look around first.
Suit yourself.
Hey! Can I have your invitation? Ta.
You know this old guy, you work for him.
Is he on the level? He doesn't say much but he pays well.
Good.
I'm beginning to get that old family feeling.
He's dead.
Well, someone's got to ask the $64,000 question.
Did he fall or was he pushed? I don't mind telling you, Mr.
Crackan, I don't like it.
I see.
What you're trying to tell me is that your professional experience leads you to consider that this might not have been an accident.
Grown, sober men do not walk out of windows.
- Even in strange houses? - Even in strange houses.
Then let's leave it to the coroner to decide between an accident and something more serious.
Hodder, it's time for my turn round the gardens.
Yes, sir.
I don't much like him.
But I do like his style.
You come for that little chat? I'm not exactly weighed down with information.
- Have you got anything? - I've met some long-lost relatives.
It seems we were flung all across the earth.
- All across the world? - That's about it.
The Reverend Henry Crackan of Ithaca, New York.
Crackan Sung Lee of the of the ex-patriot Singapore branch, Chinese.
- And what are you all doing here? - We're invited to a birthday party.
Joshua's 80 tomorrow.
You can't say he doesn't look it.
It's all this high living.
Let me guess which branch of show business you're from.
I'll save you the bother.
I do the halls, theatres, clubs - speciality acts.
- Knife-throwing, telepathy, magic - All that? No, but I assist people who do.
And I thought you were the star of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Cousin Johnny Crackan.
- You pulling out? - I'll be back for the party.
You're not the drive-in-the-country type.
Only while the cops check the accident to our continental cousin.
Whilst you drive around in his car.
It's an ill wind, Randall.
See you at the party.
Marty! Marty! Come on, I know it's you! Sorry, Jeff, it slipped.
I don't care, I wanna know what you're doing here.
- I made myself clear the other day! - You're being very pig-headed.
- Am I? - Two people killed? Get out of here.
I plan to, my stint as doorman finishes in a few hours.
Then I collect my 100 pounds and that's that.
- So you want me to go? - We've been through that.
You wanna break up the partnership? Marty, you're my best friend, you always will be, but our partnership was broken the day you got murdered.
You're not making it any easier.
All right, Jeff, all right.
If that's what you really want.
- I do, Marty, I do.
- All right, if that's Thank you.
Well, 80 years.
Happy birthday, Joshua! Thank you, thank you.
May you have many more, Mr.
Crackan.
Uh, yes.
I've waited a long time to be surrounded by all the surviving members of the Crackan family.
We're not, of course, a very close family but my advertisement was answered by all of you.
We're very touched that you went to all this trouble.
It's not, as you might suppose, a matter of pure sentimentality.
It is, as a matter of fact, a detail of the entail on the Crackan estate.
The property must pass to a surviving Crackan.
You are here for me to choose.
Miss Fay, the Reverend Henry or Mr.
Sung Lee.
I just don't believe it! It's a very gracious home.
Hodder We'll take coffee in the drawing room.
Yes, sir.
Poison? Ramon, Johnny, now Sung Lee.
After tonight's revelations it's clear why.
- The estate.
- Sure.
Providing it's not you, that points the finger at Reverend Henry.
- That's hard to buy.
- I suppose so.
What am I gonna do, Jeff? I can't make your mind up for you on this but if you go, you risk a two to one chance of inheriting the estate.
But if I stay You think this is best thing? Tell Joshua I'm available to discuss the inheritance.
- OK.
You gonna be all right? - Why not? No one else knows I'm staying here.
- Shall I check you in? - Don't worry.
I can manage.
- Good night, Jeff.
Thanks.
- Sure.
Come in.
How did you know I was staying here? After the happenings at Crackan Manor, I didn't think you'd be prepared to stay there.
So you followed me here? In a manner of speaking.
I'm staying here myself.
As a matter of fact, I have the room next door.
I see.
Well, if you don't mind, I've had a hard day.
I mean, I'd better get some sleep.
Yes, of course.
Look, do I have to spell it out? I want you to go.
After all, as I understand it, we appear to be rivals.
Well we've nothing to talk about.
Yes? Mr.
Randall? Downstairs? Send him right up - now.
It's Mr.
Randall.
It seems I left something in his car.
Then perhaps we should have our discussion later, Miss Fay.
- Jeff, is that you? - Shall I leave the bag here? No! Oh! - I've had welcomes but - Listen It's him, I'm certain.
- Him? - The Reverend Henry, he was in here! - What? - Claims to be staying next door.
- Sinister, I tell you.
- Let's start at the beginning.
You think he's responsible for the deaths? I'm the next and the last.
Then Crackan Manor must be his.
It's hard to believe.
- Go and see him.
Face him with it! - Fay, be reasonable.
I am! Either I'm the murderer or that phony minister is.
Phony? How many ministers murder their flock? All right, but I'm not coming straight out with it.
- Come straight back.
- Sure.
- You will come straight back? - Promise.
It was a sad thing about the Reverend Henry.
It was you who discovered the body, I understand? To the intense interest of the local CID, yes.
Yes, I know.
And our catalogue of misfortunes doesn't end there.
Miss Fay has disappeared, I understand.
- Are you surprised? - No, perhaps not but I shall need your help again, Mr.
Randall.
- My help? - To find her.
To tell her that Crackan Manor is hers if she cares to come back again.
Do you think she will? Perhaps not but I think I owe it to her to make the effort.
Will you trace her for me? I think you've found the recompense satisfactory so far.
I don't want the money, Mr.
Crackan, but I'll try and find her.
To tell her that the estate goes to her.
The estate goes to her, Mr.
Randall, if she comes back.
Yeah, well, thanks anyway.
Good heavens! Here, I'll take some of those.
- Any luck? - No, none at all.
I phoned all the theatrical agents, no Fay Crackan.
- She probably uses a stage name.
- Probably.
What are those? The local press of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Whatever for? Local press covers local entertainments.
If you're lucky you get a photograph.
So we have to wade through all that lot? Well, there's no other way.
Oh, isn't there? I didn't hear anything.
Yeah.
For my last feat, my famous Indian scarf trick.
Very good indeed, George.
If only you had a boy who could climb up it at the end it'd be great.
Thank you very much for coming, I enjoyed it very much indeed.
Now, what's next? Oh, Mesmero? Mesmero? Wonderful to see you, thanks for coming.
Just walk the act through for now and I'll get the feel of it.
Give us an idea of the length, we can tighten up as we go.
It doesn't matter if you make mistakes What makes you think she started working straightaway? - She was broke.
- She told you that? We had it in common.
Someone must have left that door open again.
Oh, yeah? Oh, it's a freak.
Jeff, look! It's on the very top newspaper! "Assisted by Fay at the New Hampstead Theatre.
" That could be the one.
It's worth a visit.
Isn't it amazing the wind should open it there? Yeah.
Amazing.
Very good indeed, darling.
Very good indeed.
Very good, hm? You know, with a routine like that you just can't fail.
Oh - Oh.
Press? - Er, uh-uh.
I'm a friend of Fay Crackan's.
I wanted a word with her.
Fay? I don't think she's rehearsing, go along to the dressing rooms.
Thanks, I will.
OK, what's next? - Jeff! - May I come in? - What is it? What's the matter? - Well What are you doing here? I've come to ask you to go back to Crackan Manor.
- For someone to slit my throat? - The estate is yours.
A lot of good that would do me, eh? Who sent you? Joshua asked me to trace you and I agreed.
Why? What's in it for you? Nothing! I thought you ought to know that the estate is yours.
- If I go back there.
- Right.
I'm not that much of a fool.
Someone is killing for his own purpose, not to get the inheritance from me - and I'm next on the list! - So you won't come back? - Why should I? I don't trust old Joshua, I don't trust Hodder, and I don't trust you.
- So the answer's no? - Absolutely.
She doesn't trust anyone here, especially me, and she won't risk her life for the Crackan estate.
If I may observe, sir, that seems a slightly melodramatic way of putting it.
After four killings, all Crackans, in a few days? In view of the fact that Miss Fay loses the manor if she does not return.
I never thought of that before.
Why should she come back? According to the terms, she gets the estate after your death anyway as the only living Crackan.
Yes, you're quite right, Mr.
Randall.
- So you wanted her here to - Without malice.
It was the only way.
The only way to ensure that the property came to dear Hodder.
Hodder?! You don't understand, Mr.
Randall.
I couldn't possibly let it go to one of these foreigners or an escaped convict or a public performer.
It had to be someone who knew the house and loved it.
I think I'll let the police sort this one out.
You're not going, are you, Mr.
Randall? You've been so helpful so far.
I'll say.
Practically an accomplice.
But we need one more thing from you.
Where can we find Miss Fay? That's where you're going to be unlucky.
But we're prepared to persevere with the question.
You're wasting your time.
I won't tell you and you won't find her.
You succeeded.
I'm a professional with an organisation.
"Organisation"! We know your organisation, Mr.
Randall.
One girl in a seedy office in London.
Yes, the girl.
- Oh.
- Good day to you.
- Good day, won't you come in? - Thank you.
- Can I help you? - Yes, possibly, Miss? Hopkirk.
Mrs.
Hopkirk.
- Won't you sit down? - Thank you.
- Oh, please.
- Thank you.
- Well? - Well I was wondering if you could give me some information.
Marty! Marty?! Where are you? No, you're right.
No, why should you come back after what I said to you? Marty! Marty, you're back! It's all right, Jeff, it's all right.
You don't have to grovel, you can get up.
I'm sorry, Marty.
Really I am.
What can I say? It's all right, Jeff, I've decided to come back.
Thanks, Marty.
Thanks a lot.
We're wasting time - Hodder and Joshua I know, I've been around.
Well, you know Hodder's gone to see Jeannie? Eh? I missed that.
Somehow you've got to stop her talking.
Normally Mr.
Randall's business is highly confidential.
- Jeannie, don't say anything! - But from what you tell me I Well, I can see no harm in telling you he has traced Miss Crackan.
I'm sure there can be no harm, Mrs.
Hopkirk.
Fay opens at the New Hampstead Theatre next week.
Thank you.
- You made it, then? - I made it all right.
Too late! - What do we do now? - We're only human, Jeff.
Still, please.
The power of thought.
The reserves of electrical energy in all of us can be released only in exceptional circumstances.
By meditation, cataleptic trance or deep hypnosis.
Now listen.
Listen carefully, Fay.
I want you to concentrate your efforts.
Concentrate and rise up.
Up.
Up! Concentrate! Lift! Up! Good! Now stop! That's incredible! It's fantastic! Take the couch away.
Relax, stay till I return.
- Well, you like the act? - Oh, fantastic, fantastic! - Are you gonna leave her like that? - Why not? It's comfortable.
She's slimming, she wants to miss lunch.
Can you explain it? Hypnosis is a level of human prehension.
It enables the subject - and Fay is the best subject I've ever had - to rise above pain, gravity - all the normal, natural limitations of life as we know it.
Like at seances - that kind of thing? Indeed, yes.
Now, lunch? Sure, but I'd be a lot happier if, well, maybe you could just let her down? I'll get the couch.
Now, concentrate.
Concentrate, Fay.
Gently down.
OK, let's go.
Fay, if what he said was true you must be able to hear me.
Now Fay! Can you hear me? 'Fay, can you hear me?!' Somebody is gonna try and kill you but you won't feel a thing! Listen, Fay, are you all right? Can you hear me, Fay? Fay, you've got to hear me! Yes.
Great.
Listen, Fay, this is what I want you to do.
Ow! - We'll direct it as I saw it, OK? - Fine, fine.
- You won't forget Fay, will you? - As if I'd do that.
Fay, if you can hear me, now I want you to wake up.
Wake up.
- Nothing wrong, is there? - Fay? Wake up.
Fay, you can hear me - wake up! I don't understand this.
She should behave normally.
Well well, do something! Fay? Fay? Listen, Fay.
Come on.
Fay, wake up! - What's happening? - I don't know.
It's never happened before.
- Police.
- Police? Mesmero, what is this? - I'm doing the best can.
- Police? Send a car to Crackan Manor.
Arrest Joshua and Hodder for the murders and release Jeff Randall.
- What's the matter with you all? - With us? You take it, Hodder.
Well, Mr.
Randall, nobody now remains to prevent Hodder inheriting.
You've? - No! - What? - Fay's OK.
- That's a relief.
- You're pleased? - I'm delighted.
You're a very strange man, Mr.
Randall.
Police! Get me out of here, Hodder! Stay where you are! - Ole! - Ta! - Hodder, old boy, are you all right? - What kept you?! They're all yours! I went to Eton, you know! I shall report you to the Chief Constable! - Well, that's that.
- Goodbye, Jeff.
Marty! Marty?! I should never have said it.
That's better.
Now I know you mean it.
- Randall and Hopkirk? - Hopkirk and Randall.
Now, don't get too ambitious, Marty.