The Avengers (1961) s02e16 Episode Script
Immortal
1 (theme music playing) This is our design room, Mrs.
Gale.
Come over here, and I'll show you we're busy with.
- Mind the step.
- Yes.
This is Royal Marling.
I think it's the finest bone china we've ever made.
This lot's going to Leipzig for the trade fair.
That's right, isn't it, Mara? Yes, Mr.
Allen.
It's lovely.
It should sell well.
I hope so.
The main pottery shop is through there.
- It's all very small, isn't it? - Yes, yes.
Space is one of our big problems.
I'm afraid we just can't afford larger premises at the moment.
Here we are.
This is where we make our chinaware.
Is it all handmade? Oh, yes, we don't make any mass-produced stuff.
Only the best is good enough for Marling.
My laboratory is through there.
- Would you like to see it? - Yes, I would, very much.
It won't help you write a book on fine china, I'm afraid, but my stuff's far more practical than beautiful.
Here we are.
Do you always use tiles for your experiments? Yes, yes, I do, they're a handy shape, and of course they're made of the same materials as the stuff we manufacture, at least they are when I start.
All these tiles are They're brittle, see? I'm trying to make one you could bounce off a wall.
Unbreakable china? - Do you really think it's possible? - Yes, I know it is.
It's a question of what you mix with it - and the molecular structure has to be exactly right - Sorry I'm late.
- I hope Allen's been looking after you? - Yes.
Thanks, Richard.
You shouldn't bother Cathy with your world shattering theories, Allen.
- Unbreakable ceramic.
- That's not the one.
It's all rubbish, you know.
Come with me.
- I'll show you something really interesting.
- Thanks, Allen.
This is where it all starts With mud, honest-to-goodness mud.
You put it in, you mix it up - (machinery hums) - you get Yes, not bad.
Not bad at all.
Now, Steed, this business about the pottery.
Marling's is a small company, very small.
They only produce quality stuff.
Remember that.
Still, it's in grave danger of going bankrupt.
So I don't suppose they can afford very much in the way of the laboratory equipment.
- Surely we can put that - Let me finish, Steed.
Now, Marling's making a claim that's well-nigh impossible.
I know that.
He's also published his findings in that scientific journal, "Form.
" Surely they're bound to check what he wrote.
He's only given them the general idea of what he's working on.
According to my experts, he could be right, could be.
It's up for you to find out if he is.
It would be great not to break a cup every time I wash up, but I don't see what's that got to do with security.
Pottery's just mud, Steed.
It's plentiful and cheap and easy to move.
And if it's as hard as Allen Marling claims it is, it'll cut through tempered-steel.
And think of all the uses of that has, all the jigs and dyes and drills, millions of them.
I can think of other uses for it too.
The nosecones of rockets, for example.
But other people have been trying to make an unbreakable plastic, experts all over the place, and Allen Marling's the last one who should've succeeded.
He's made claims before, and they've all failed.
Well then? Well, the trouble is that if he's right, a lot of people would like to know his secret.
There are few people who specialize in stealing other people's ideas and sending them to whoever will pay.
And one of them was killed at Marling's yesterday.
A man called Lander.
- How do you know? - Mrs.
Gale told me.
I told you before, Steed, I don't approve of amateurs.
But she knows all about ceramics.
She's writing a book on it.
That's how she met the Marlings.
Yes, maybe, but go there yourself, Steed.
I've arranged you to be an expert from the Ceramics Research Council.
Here's the current copy of "Form.
" I'm an expert, eh? Yes, it usually takes 10 years.
- How long have I got? - 24 hours.
Joy Tracey's going to have a film test.
Who? Joy Tracey, this year's Miss England.
"Beautiful, raven-haired Joy Tracey" has been offered a film test by producer Roy Birch.
"Miss Tracey, a secretary, is 37-23-36.
" Here, look.
Not bad, is she? No, she's pretty good.
Not a patch on you, though, Mara.
That's what I thought.
You know, I could be where she is.
Just imagine, a big contest with all those people looking at me.
Oh, if only I had the chance.
Once you start entering you'll win every time.
On, there's no need to sound so sad about it.
Well, you'll go away then, won't you? I hope so.
Oh, Harry, I'm sorry.
- I didn't mean - Just a minute.
Where did you get that dress from? Mr.
de Groot bought it for me.
I told you before, Mara, you shouldn't let him buy you things.
- Well, you buy me things.
- But that's different.
- It is? - Of course it is.
Mara Oh, Harry, Mr.
Allen will see us.
He's out in the pottery shop.
You've been to the bank? The wages are almost ready.
It's all right for them, isn't it? There's been a murder here so they lose two days' work, and I still have to pay them a full week's wages.
Well, it might be worth it at that.
At least he can't run off with you now.
Richard, please, I've told you, Lander wasn't anything to me.
I just went out with him a couple of times.
Now the whole town knows it.
You must have been out of your mind.
When did you last take me out? When did you last want to? You're talking like that blasted inspector.
He thought I was jealous of Lander, too.
Well, he's right, I was.
I haven't even an alibi for the night he died.
They were on to that quickly enough.
- Surely they can't - I had the means and the motive.
If they think I had the opportunity, too As if I hadn't enough to worry at the moment.
De Groot wants all the Royal Marling we can give him for the Leipzig Trade Fair, and he leaves in three days' time.
This one has to be a success.
If it isn't, we're really in trouble.
We haven't had a really successful new line in over 18 months.
You wouldn't think Miller could have done that, would you? He spends half his time falling over to our glamour girl in the design shop, but he made that, created it out of nothing.
If Royal Marling fails, I shan't be able to afford him any longer.
It's the last chance we've got.
Hello, Mrs.
Gale.
How is the book going? Ready for publication? I won't even finish it if I can't complete my research.
Marling's turned out some very fine stuff, huh? Unfortunately there's not a great demand for it.
Who runs the business? Richard keeps the books if that's what you mean.
Allen has the brains.
They inherited the business from their father.
They've both been in it since they left school.
Would you say Allen was a good potter? Yes, I would, though I'm afraid he's held back by his brother.
It's a pity, he'd be a much happier person if he were allowed to get on with his research.
It's bad to feel sorry for people in our business.
Slows you up.
I'm not in your business.
Might as well remember that.
All right.
Look, Steed, that's the best there is, but it's hard to sell because it costs so much.
Was there anything incriminating found on Lander's body? No, nothing.
Do you think anyone could drown in liquid clay? I doubt it.
More likely someone surprised him, murdered him, and popped him in the slip tank.
Oh, well, it's out of our way.
What do you mean out of our way? Who was Lander? He was a seller of secrets, a middle man in a business which buys and sells industrial information.
Have you read Allen Marling's article in "Form"? As much as I could.
Now, he's trying to produce a ceramic, a piece of pottery that is, that won't break.
- Yes, One-Ten told me that.
- What's his interest? If Allen Marling's theory is right, this will be a breakthrough in the problem of solving the problem of friction in high-speed aircraft and rockets.
If he's right, it'll be the hardest man-made material ever produced.
And he and his brother will be millionaires.
Ah.
Allen: Can you get me some more like this, about three dozen? And not so many cracks of some force Josh, what you doing here? Payday, Mr.
Allen.
Oh, yes, of course.
Right, Susan, as soon as you can, thank you.
I haven't seen you since, uh, the other night.
Police are getting nosy enough.
I burnt me clothes like you told me to.
They're full of clay.
Didn't burn so easy.
Oh, and I lost a glove, one of them.
- Lost? - Yeah, I looked everywhere for it.
I'm sorry, it must have slipped out, you know, when I was bundling your things together.
- Don't worry.
- But it was covered in clay from the tank.
But there's lots of gloves here covered in clay.
Not like these! Mine is specially made.
Besides it had my name on it.
Look, there's someone coming, you better go.
Don't worry, Mr.
Marling.
You haven't done anything wrong.
Bad luck, old chap.
Have a chocolate.
Huh? No, thank you.
It's not my best attempt, you know, but it's still pretty hard.
Look.
That's not bad.
Have you got a better one? - Oh, yes.
- Another tile like that? I should very much like to see.
You will, Mr.
de Groot.
Everybody will when the time comes.
And I promise you this, you'll be able to hit it with a sledgehammer, and it won't even crack.
But ceramic is bound to break, surely, It's part of nature.
Not mine.
You'll see when the time comes.
I look forward to it.
Oh, can you tell me, is my Royal Marling consignment ready yet? - Oh, you better ask Miller.
- Thanks.
Ah, you're working on my order at last.
We've been out of it for the past two days, Mr.
de Groot.
The police have been all over the place.
Leipzig won't wait, Mr.
Miller.
It'll ready in time.
Oh, Mr.
de Groot.
I got my new dress today.
It's lovely.
Would you like to see it? Of course! Mara, see if you can find some coffee, will you? And tell Mr.
Marling Mr.
de Groot's here.
It won't take a minute.
Go on, Mara.
Go now! Why did you have come filling her head full of this bathing-beauty stuff for? Parading around like that with a lot of dirty-minded men looking at her? It's an investment, an investment I'm perfectly willing to turn over to you.
All you have to do is buy me out.
(scoffs) I haven't got any money.
The way things are going, I'll be lucky if I keep my job.
If you do as I'm suggesting, you won't need a job.
You know, you really need Mara before the top of your head blows off.
With £20,000, you could have her.
And what would I give you in exchange? Let's imagine you have £20,000.
You can give Mara all the things she likes.
You can help her and encourage her, and the glamorous Miss Little becomes Miss World.
Think how kind she would be to Harry Miller.
All you have to do is bring me a tile, Allen Marling's tile.
Do you really believe he's made it? I really do, and I want it, every bit as much as you want £20,000.
Look around all you want to, Cathy.
Sorry I can't finish showing you around myself.
Don't worry about me, Richard.
This is still a craft, you know.
You take clay, shape it.
If your hands are wrong, you end up with rubbish.
Pretty difficult to find real craftsmen these days.
You know, you're being very helpful.
This is just the kind of information I can use.
You're welcome.
I must leave you now.
I daren't keep de Groot waiting.
He can be rather difficult.
But He's my best customer.
If he does well at Leipzig, all our troubles are over.
You're selling to Leipzig? I'll sell to anyone who'll buy.
Politics doesn't come into this.
I make cups and saucers, not H-bombs.
Oh, sorry, Mr.
Marling.
Oh.
Are you interested in pottery then, Miss? Yes, I'm writing a book about it, the fine stuff you know, Chinese porcelain, Dresden and Meissen.
Aye, I've made the stuff myself, you know.
Even that delicate, too.
I've often wondered how my hands could hold it.
Not anymore though.
I used to be the best potter, you know, in the five towns until I had a car accident a couple of years back.
Would you like to see some of my work? - Yes, I'd love to.
- Over here.
- Now, this is a nice - Oh! Oh, thank you, Miss.
I'd have hated to see that go.
I've worked really hard on that.
Yes.
It's beautiful.
You know, I'm not fit to be let loose in the pottery these days.
If it wasn't for Mr.
Marling and Mr.
Allen, I wouldn't even have this night watchman's job.
They've been very good to me, you know, both of them.
The car accident, it was my fault, Miss.
You see, I didn't get any compensation.
I see.
So I owe quite a lot to the Marlings.
You'll find things in rather a mess, I'm afraid.
We've, um we've had A murder, yes.
It's not a very easy thing to keep secret, is it? - Did you know Lander? - Yes.
Yes, I did, not very well, but Was he interested in pottery too? Yes, he was.
Must have been quite a shock for you and your husband.
Did he know Lander? I suppose he must have done.
He wouldn't let him in the pottery.
Richard didn't let him, nor did I.
Don't tell me he broke in.
(chuckles) It's not a friendly thing to do, is it? Mrs.
Gale, Mr.
Steed of the Ceramics Research Council.
How do you do, Mrs.
Gale? I'll tell my husband you're here, Mr.
Steed.
- Thank you.
- Do make yourself at home.
Thank you.
Oh, hello, my dears.
They're very pretty, aren't they? Marling creamware, hollow cast, manganese glaze, 1810.
1810? You've worn very well.
Steed, there's a man here called de Groot.
He's exporting a consignment of Royal Marling to Leipzig for the trade fair.
Might be also be exporting the tile? He might at that.
I better have a look at him.
That's a very good cover Respectable businessman boosting our export trade.
- I've just been talking to the night watchman here.
- Was he any help? Well, I couldn't tackle him right off about the murder, but it strikes me he must have been here when Lander was killed.
You think he'd hear Lander breaking in.
What makes you think he broke in? Mrs.
Marling told me.
He didn't, Steed.
He had a key.
This would do well in Leipzig, I'm sure.
It will do well in America, too, but you need money, and you need it soon, isn't that true? You've got a lot of debts, Mr.
Marling.
Have I? How do you know? It's my business to know.
If this new line of yours takes, you'll have to expand.
You can't refuse capital.
We're quite happy as we are, thank you.
I don't want you out of business yet.
I expect a lot from Marling.
Mr.
Steed's here.
Oh, yes, of course.
- How do you do? How do you do? - How do you do? Mr.
de Groot, this is Mr.
Steed of the Ceramics Research Council.
- How do you do? - Mr.
de Groot is one of our best customers.
- Beautiful, isn't it? - That's a very fine glaze.
Where are you going to sell it? Leipzig, at the trade fair.
Business before politics, eh, Mr.
Steed? I have better go.
How soon will my order be ready? Tomorrow if you like.
Three days will do nicely.
Thank you.
- Mr.
Steed.
- Good day.
We're very pleased with the Royal Marling.
I had no idea the research people were interested, though.
Let me show you around the pottery.
Oh, are the police are not still there, eh? Nobody had been Nobody been arrested? No.
If you'll come through to the pottery shop.
I'd very much would like to meet your brother.
Allen's not concerned with this.
Well, it's not bone china as such we're interested in.
It's your brother's experiment we'd like to see.
See if he's in the lab, will you? My brother has made discoveries before, you know.
Not all of them quite turned out the way we hoped.
- Hello? - There was the cheap way of making porcelain.
£3,000 I think that cost us.
Then the electrical insulators, the teapot with a non-drip spout, flameproof kitchenware All very good ideas, of course, but why should this one be any different? It might.
We think it will.
Hope you're right.
Allen's on his way here, Richard.
Good.
Now, here's a line we know will sell, Mr.
Steed.
Mm-hmm.
What do they want me for, Mara? There's a Mr.
Steed here.
He's very important.
He's from the Ceramics Research Council.
(chuckles) How on Earth do you know? The girl in reception told me.
There are no secrets in a pottery, Mr.
Allen.
Has he come about your invention? Yes, I expect he has.
You do look tired.
You've been working much too hard lately.
Yes, well, now the worst of it's over.
The tile's finished.
Oh, I am glad.
- Mara? - Yes.
I was wondering if you Well, if we Look, I'd like you to have dinner with me some time to celebrate, you know.
Of course, if you're too busy No.
I'm not busy.
Anytime.
Good, what about next Wednesday then? Wish me luck.
I'll do better than that.
Pottery seems the wrong sort of place for a (chuckles) a crime passionnel.
- Oh, is that what it was? - I should think he was gonna meet someone, don't you think, Mrs.
Marling? I have no idea what he was going to do.
Somebody must have let him in.
I hardly think it need worry the Research Council.
Well, I think it might.
Now, supposing someone was trying to sabotage your brother's work.
Who'd want to do that? Well, he probably arranged to meet somebody here.
I think you've said quite enough, Mr.
Steed.
For your information, I knew all about Lander - and my wife.
- Richard, please! - Look, I assure you - But I didn't murder him.
- Take it easy, Dick.
- Easy? He's practically accused me of murdering Lander.
Who are you? My name is Steed, the Ceramic Research Council.
It's very good of you to come up here, Mr.
Steed, but there's no need to insult my brother.
As quick as you can, will you, Mr.
Steed? We're rather busy here.
You won't need me, will you? Well, I Just a minute.
Mr.
Steed, my laboratory is along there through the pottery shop.
I wonder if you'd mind going and waiting for me.
- I won't keep you a minute.
- Of course, yes.
Thank you.
Oh, how do I get in? Just open the door.
Thank you.
I've done it, Richard.
The tile's finished.
- I wish you'd come with me.
- I really am very busy.
Look, this is important to me, very important.
This time it works, I swear it does.
We'll be rich! You and me and Anne will make a fortune.
Honestly, Dick, this time there's nothing - that can go wrong, I promise, please.
- You must go.
- He's been working on this for month - All right, all right.
Come on.
Good luck, Allen.
Thanks, Anne.
This time I don't need it.
Thanks just the same.
Very brittle, aren't they? (grunts) What on earth's going on here? There's not a very tactful way of putting it.
- One of your staff hit me on the head.
- What? - What did he look like? - Well, he was pretty big.
He's about 16 stone.
He was bald.
- I think he had a scar there.
- There's nobody here like that.
I hope your ceramic's safe.
Yes, I'm not quite as careless as that.
- I'd better get the police.
- No.
Wait a minute.
We'll get on with the experiment.
I don't want to waste time laying evidence - against a sneak thief.
- As you wish.
- Are you sure you're all right? - Yeah, I'm quite all right.
All right.
Allen.
Yes, just let me get my stuff set up.
Allen's got a visitor.
Going to show him his unbreakable tile.
Oh, I do hope it works.
What's he want the gloves for? - It's not dangerous, is it? - Might be, for him.
He'll need gloves before he's finished.
You're not still gone with him, are you? Why shouldn't I be? He's always been nice to me.
When? You've not been out with him, have you? Oh, Harry, for heaven's sake.
I just like him, that's all.
I think he's wonderful.
And as for the other one he's dreamy.
Any pair of trousers with money in them, that's you.
Come on! All right.
I think we're ready.
First of all, Mr.
Steed, I'd like you to look at that.
What do you make of it? Ordinary ceramic.
Kaolinitic, high in elbite - Undulatious? - I should think so.
And the glaze? Feldspartic, I should think.
How will it wear then? It'll stand up to heat, bound to be brittle.
You really do know your ceramics, Mr.
Steed.
As you say, brittle.
Let's have a look at the one that won't break.
Now just a minute.
There's something else to think about first.
This tile I've made is very valuable, isn't it? - If it works, yes.
- What's it worth? That depends, if you market it yourself, you'll have a turnover of 5 or 6 million a year.
You'll have a monopoly, at least for time.
- 5 or 6 million? - Maybe more if it works.
Oh, it works.
You'll see.
Now, I published some of my findings in "Form.
" Some of your people read it and sent you to me.
- That's so.
- Right, anybody can buy "Form.
" If crook who knew something about pottery read my article, he could come here and try to steal my design, couldn't he? - You mean Lander? - Exactly.
But he's dead.
But suppose another one had also read my article.
And met Lander here at dead of night and murdered him.
- Allen, for heaven's sake.
- Look, there it is.
The only one there is, and it's worth 5 or 6 million.
- Isn't it likely someone would kill for that? - It's possible.
It's the one explanation for Lander's murder that makes sense, and it puts Richard completely in the clear.
And that really is the only tile you have left? Yes.
It took me a long time to make it.
Our equipment isn't very up-to-date, you know, but this one's enough.
Now, Dick, I want you to hit that tile as hard as you can.
Go on, hit it.
It won't break.
What on earth are you doing? Oh, Harry, it's terrible.
I've just measured meself.
And I'm 23 1/2 inches round the waist.
Well And I can't be more than 23, I mustn't be.
- Harry? - Yes? Mr.
de Groot wants to see you at his hotel right away.
All right.
But what's he want to see you about? That um, that stuff for Leipzig, I suppose.
Mara Yes? You weren't serious about Allen Marling, were you? What about Allen? Well, you said you liked him and that you're going out with him.
Well, I do and I am.
Listen to my accent, Harry, I think it's coming on.
(clears throat) My name is Mara Little, and I am 20 years old and I work as a painter in a pottery in Staffordshire.
Oh, and then there's the other bit.
- Ladies and gentlemen - Mara, please! What's wrong? He doesn't love you, does he? Not yet, but he might one day.
Listen, if I had money, a lot of money, - would you marry me then? - How much? £20,000.
Maybe more than that.
Maybe £50,000.
And where would you get £50,000? I I might win the Pools.
All right, Harry, you win the pools and we'll get engaged.
Now, watch.
I'm sorry.
There's no need to apologize.
My name is Steed, Ceramics Research Council.
My name's Miller.
I'm the designer.
This is Miss Little.
Mara Little.
How do you do, Mara Little? What can we do for you? Well, I was looking for Mr.
Allen Marling's missing ceramic.
Oh, yes, I heard there was a chap broke into the lab yesterday.
Yes.
He laid me out.
Oh, but he didn't get the tile.
- How do you know? - It had been pinched already, another one substituted it in its place.
There's, uh, another explanation, Mr.
Steed, if you're interested.
Of course, yes.
It never was stolen and never could be.
It just didn't exist.
Mr.
Allen Marling told me he'd already carried out the tests.
Maybe but did anyone ever see him, Mr.
Steed? I don't know what to do, Cathy.
If Allen's right and that tile was stolen, I shall have to tell the police.
Suppose the tile he smashed was the one he thought was unbreakable.
I shall be the laughingstock of the industry.
And the bad publicity just now will finish me.
Where's Anne? She's late.
There's plenty of time.
We're not supposed to eat till 1:00.
I suppose Allen couldn't have made that tile, could he? Why not? Yes, why not, Richard? Allen can't succeed at anything.
He's always had to be nursed, and that's been my job.
Can you imagine Allen coping with someone like de Groot? I know Allen's soft-hearted, but he's got guts, too.
De Groot would have bought him up years ago.
Why should he? Forgive me, Richard.
But Marling's doesn't seem a very sound investment at the moment.
It could be.
And Allen told her the truth.
I know he did.
That tile was stolen.
Let's go in, shall we? Allen Marling swears the real tile was pinched.
Do you believe him? He's boobed before, lots of times, but he's desperately anxious to help his brother.
- Why? - They need the money.
And the police suspect Richard of killing Lander.
Allen's trying to prove that it was done because of the tile.
That's bright of him.
What do you make of that? Er, ahem - Gloucester.
- Sunderland.
An expert in ceramics.
Lander was after the tile, we've checked.
And so was somebody else.
That's obvious.
Any idea who? There's a man called de Groot.
He's got connections with the Leipzig Trade Fair, and he's trying to buy in to Marling's.
Leipzig, behind the curtain.
Yes, that makes sense.
If the thing exists.
I'm betting that it does.
The trade fair opens next week.
I'll have the ports watched, of course, but I'd like to get it back here.
A little bit of tile's easy enough to hide, and I don't want any fuss.
- Besides - Yes? If I'm right, Steed, you let the tile be stolen.
It's up to you to get it back.
Richard's coffee will be cold.
I've never known anyone take so long to telephone as Richard does, but I suppose you've noticed that already.
No.
Should I have? Well, he seems to spend rather a lot of time with you.
- That's nonsense, and you know it.
- Is it? Well, he certainly doesn't spend much time with me anymore.
Apart from business lunches, I haven't been out with Richard for months.
He works 12 hours a day in that pottery.
We can go on for weeks and not say a word unless it's about designs or invoices or china clay deliveries.
Well, he's bound to be preoccupied.
He's trying to save the firm.
You should know that better than anyone.
Yes, I do but he's not working on the right lines, and he's going to lose, he's bound to.
People don't want the things he makes anymore.
What can he do about that? Help Allen's research, perhaps.
You believe in Allen, don't you? Yes, of course, I do, but you try and persuade Richard that's he's right.
He doesn't seem to have much faith in him, does he? Richard hasn't any time for people, not now.
He's changed so much.
He's become so bitter.
Richard can't love anybody anymore.
Maybe that's why I went out with Lander.
I didn't like him very much.
Does Richard know about this? No, and I'd rather you didn't tell him.
Of course I shan't.
Sorry I've been so long.
So much red tape attached to exporting china.
I'm afraid I have to get back to the pottery.
- So if you'll excuse us.
- Yes, of course.
May we give you a lift, Cathy? No, thanks, there's somebody I have to meet here first.
- Right then.
- See you later, Cathy.
(knock on door) You're a rotten one to do business with, aren't you? You tell me to pinch that tile and then send him after it! - Blomberg is a lot cheaper.
- Maybe, but he didn't get it.
- Why didn't you tell me? - I got it meself, that's why.
All right, Blomberg.
Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't I tell you? I had to think it over first.
Very sensible of you.
£20,000.
It's not enough.
Oh, I do hope you are not going to get greedy.
I'm being reasonable, Mr.
de Groot.
They're saying that tile's worth millions.
Well, I don't want millions but I must have £50,000 for Mara and me, I can't manage with less.
You and Mara.
Am I to congratulate you then? It's possible.
So I am to be the fairy godfather, huh? All right, Cinderella.
£50,000.
You won't regret it.
I hope you won't be foolish enough to cheat me.
Of course not.
I told you I got it, didn't I? You could do anything to that tile, and it just won't break.
There's something else you can have.
This.
Allen Marling? What does this prove? It was lying right beside the slip tank the morning they found Lander's body.
But the police were all over the place.
I've had it before they ever called the police.
I'm good at finding things, Mr.
de Groot.
You'd be surprised how often they come in useful.
This glove won't prove anything, you know.
No, but it's a good hint that Allen did it, isn't it? - You can have it.
- You're very kind.
- Have a chocolate.
- Thank you.
It's must be very satisfying to hate somebody the way you hate Allen Marling.
- Mara's too fond of him.
- She's not fond of me.
And if she were, you'd do better to keep out of it.
£50,000.
All right.
But I want to see it.
- Well, it's at the pottery.
- What? Don't worry.
It's well hidden.
Bring it here then.
Uh, no.
That tile should mold under flame.
Make it into a cup for me, a Royal Marling cup.
Paint it and put it in with a set for Leipzig.
If those repellant Customs men see it, they won't find a thing.
You can't think how undignified they can make one feel.
Don't worry.
I've got enough to pay you.
You'd better.
I don't suppose you're the only one that's interested.
- Ooh! - All right, Blomberg.
Miller, there is one thing you must understand.
You work for me and nobody else.
You provide the goods and leave me to do the haggling.
The people I shall haggle with would kill you for that tile.
I would myself if I didn't need you, but I do.
So finish your job and keep your mouth shut! Otherwise but I leave that sort of thing to Blomberg.
He's very good.
Well? All right.
As long as I'm paid.
- When will it be ready? - Saturday.
There'll be nobody working at the pottery.
Give me two hours.
Blomberg and I will call for it.
(snaps fingers) And be careful, Miller, be very careful.
Ah, thank you.
Mmm.
Excellent brandy.
- Very warming.
- If you need warming, you should come down to the pottery.
In a couple of big ones I went into, the heat is unbearable.
One-Ten will be unbearable if I don't find this tile.
Ah, that's the price you pay for being a professional.
Talking of being a professional, have you any idea who it was who knocked you out in Allen Marling's laboratory? No, except he was very big, about 17 stone, bald, and has a scar on his cheek.
Rather distinctive.
Yeah, well, if you ever run into him, hit him with something very big.
Like you did? Do you happen to know where de Groot is staying? A hotel in the high street, I think.
Suite or a room? Anyway, I want to have a look at it.
Now, will you invite him round here for tea? Say that you want him to see some porcelain you're thinking of selling.
Tang be all right? Sung will be better, not that I've got any.
Tang will have to do.
Anyway, I've arranged for the museum to lend you some.
They're very valuable pieces, priceless, worth thousands of pound apiece.
What if he makes a bid for them? You'll have to stall him.
One-Ten would really hit the roof if anything happened to them.
And you might tell him you're in the market for an unbreakable ceramic.
Who am I acting for? You have contacts and Leipzig, too.
All right.
I wish I didn't have to have a meal with him.
- You should see him eat.
- It's all under good cause.
Now, he may be after that tile already.
So get a move on.
All right, I'll go and ring him now.
- Oh, Mrs.
Gale? - Hmm? You take care of those figures, won't you? My figure? Those figures.
Oh.
All right.
I'll do my best.
Thank you.
I'll have another, large.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Miller.
I didn't know there was anyone in.
- What do you want? - Oh, I'm just doing me rounds.
Mr.
Marling asked me to start earlier on account of that fellow breaking in.
My, that's lovely.
Don't touch it! Oh, the The paint's wet.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Miller, I'm sure.
Look, Josh, just go away, will you? I'm busy.
Aye, I can see you are.
It is very, very beautiful.
And valuable, too.
Of course.
How much, Mrs.
Gale? I'm not selling.
I'm buying.
Oh, I have nothing in this class.
Perhaps you have something even more valuable? (chuckles) Goya's portrait of Wellington? No.
I was thinking of a ceramic in the shape of a tile, one that won't break even if you hit it with a hammer? Oh, Mrs.
Gale, the unbreakable tile is like the alchemist's stone, just a legend.
Allen Marling doesn't think so.
I don't think his experiments were very successful.
I do.
I can go up to £200,000.
Cash? If that's how you want it.
But now, why do you think I have it? I deal only in beautiful things.
Like this.
Uh, who are you acting for? If you haven't got it, why should it concern you? (laughs) Mrs.
Gale Now, what do you think of this one? Oh, exquisite, quite exquisite.
Oh, I wish I could help you, Mrs.
Gale.
Hello, Miss Little.
Nice to see you again.
It's no use waiting.
Mr.
de Groot's not here.
I'm in no hurry.
How'd you get in? I told the maid I'd locked meself out, - and she loaned me a pass key.
- Such fibs.
That's fine.
Now take it easy.
We're supposed to be burglars.
How did you come by this? You weren't wearing it, by any chance, eh? It was in that drawer.
Oh, will you show me where exactly? There, under that shirt.
Mm-hmm.
Like that? No.
It was pointing the other way.
Now you didn't really come for that.
What was it then? Allen Marling's ceramic? Of course not.
Harry wouldn't take that.
- Harry? - Harry Miller, the designer.
- You met him this morning.
- Yes, I remember.
Go on.
Oh, it's all such a mess.
Well I'm very fond of Allen, you see.
And Harry, he's so jealous, you know, doesn't like other men even looking at me.
Trouble is other men do look at me.
I can't help it, and I don't suppose they can either.
It's not as if I was going to marry him, Harry I mean, but I can't get him to understand that.
Yes, but what's all this got to do - with you being here? - Well, Harry says that Allen's mixed up in that murder, you know.
Lander.
Aye, and he says he can prove it, too.
How? Well, he's got one of Allen's gloves, and I'm sure he brought it here.
Oh, you've just got to help me get it back, Mr.
Steed.
(indistinct conversations) This figurines, Mrs.
Gale, I like them very much.
You have exquisite taste.
Thank you.
- Cake? - No, thanks.
I'm not really worried about my waistline if that's what you were thinking.
You are like another young friend of mine, always worried about your waistline.
Now, could you tell me, if I could show you where you can get this tile, could you come to an understanding with me about these figurines and the tile? - You know where it is then? - I might do.
After tea, I have an appointment at Marling's.
When that is over, I might be able to carry on this conversation.
Oh, this one I particularly like.
Until then, Mr.
de Groot.
Shall I take care of them? They're very fragile.
The car is waiting, sir.
Oh, indoors, Blomberg, it is customary to remove one's headgear, even if one is bald.
Excuse me, Mrs.
Gale.
While you are waiting, I want you to go to my hotel.
There is a little piece of machinery in the center drawer under the shirt.
- You understand what I mean? - Yes, Mr.
de Groot.
- Bring it back to me.
- Yes, sir.
Splendid, now we have time for another cake.
You know, people are afraid of Blomberg.
I can't think why.
I know he's terribly strong, and he has a nasty temper but he would never dream of hurting a friend of mine, never.
You have nothing to worry, Mrs.
Gale.
That's very reassuring.
All right then, young lady.
Let's have a look, eh? Bang! Bang! Oh, Mr.
Allen, I brought the pieces - you wanted for firing.
- Thank you, Josh.
(telephone ringing) See who it is.
Hello? Oh, yeah, just one moment, please.
Mr.
Allen? Mr.
de Groot on the phone for you.
Thank you.
Allen Marling.
Yes? (laughs) I don't believe you.
M-my name on it? I see.
Yes, I'll wait here.
De Groot's found my glove.
Couldn't have, I'm the only one anywhere near the place.
He's got it all the same.
It's just as well, isn't it, Josh? The police had far too good a case against Richard.
What is de Groot after? I have no idea.
I'm not a very good subject for blackmail, am I? Whatever it is, it's nothing to do with you.
- But I helped you.
- No! Nobody helped! Nobody has anything to do with it but me.
I did it all myself, right? All right, Mr.
Allen, whatever you say.
After you, Mrs.
Gale.
Blomberg: Everything's under control, sir.
Good, now we won't be interrupted.
Take Mrs.
Gale's handbag.
Your bag, please.
The figurines, too.
I never trust anybody I do business with, Mrs.
Gale.
And you see, I'm right.
Allen Marling is waiting for me in his lab.
Take Mrs.
Gale there.
Oh, I'll have this.
Blomberg is dangerous enough without it.
I shouldn't try to run away, Mrs.
Gale.
He can be very nasty sometimes, can't you? But you have no reason to run away, Mrs.
Gale, have you? You want that tile.
You're nervous, Miller.
No need.
I brought your money.
- Did anybody see you? - Of course not.
I'm very careful always.
Where's the cup? In there.
Packed already for Leipzig? That's very nice.
- May I see it, please? - But it's all nailed down.
Do I look really so stupid? Open it up! This way, Mr.
Marling.
I don't understand.
Where's de Groot? He'll be here soon.
You wait.
What are you doing here, Cathy? I've got some business to finish with Mr.
de Groot.
I've got some Chinese porcelain he wants to buy.
Oh, that reminds me.
I must make a phone call.
There's a phone in the lab.
No.
The phone is out of order.
Nonsense.
I used it a few minutes ago.
The phone is out of order.
Your nerves are in a terrible state.
- I thought I heard the watch.
- I can assure you, you didn't.
He's been travelling round Did he see you working on the cup? - No, I don't think so.
- The cup, please.
Let's see the money first.
(chuckles) Of course.
Wait here.
You too, Mrs.
Gale.
Who the devil do you think you are? Get out of my way! (groans) Stop it! Where's the cup, Marling? What cup? The place is full of them.
I know this used to be a tile, an unbreakable tile.
Miller made it into a cup! Where is it?! How should I know? The tile's mine.
I want it back.
No, I didn't think you had it.
Well, Mrs.
Gale? I told you, I want to buy it.
So do you, apparently.
- What are you - Quiet! It's not too bad, Blomberg.
We haven't got the tile, but we have got Mr.
Marling.
And he could make another one for us, couldn't you? Now that we have found your glove.
(door opens) He's dead.
Now, look, go out to Mr.
Marling's office.
Phone the police.
Wait for me till I get back.
- You took everything? - Blomberg: Yes, sir.
So now we have you and all your notes.
You could make another ceramic for me or I could even sell you as a going concern.
And you, Mrs.
Gale, you are right, I really will have to shoot you.
Look out! He is pretty big, isn't he? Thanks.
I'm very grateful to you, Steed.
You really must be interested in my ceramic.
I think of nothing else.
I must have been going about with my eyes closed.
Well, a lot's come out in the open but not all.
You let Lander in that night, didn't you, Mrs.
Marling? He used a key, and it was your key.
Yes.
He wanted to look around the place before he put any money up, so he said.
And then he made a pass at you, eh? Yes.
I yelled, and Allen heard me.
They fought, and Lander bumped his head on the tank.
He fell in before Allen had a chance to reach him.
Then Allen went in after him, and got him out.
It was ghastly.
He had to go in there and lift him out, but he was already dead.
And he sent me home and put Lander's body back in the tank.
And nobody heard you? Josh did.
He got rid of Allen's clothes.
Except his glove.
What's going to happen to him, Steed? Manslaughter.
Sympathetic jury, probably.
Better look at this, Mr.
Marling.
That's from the Leipzig batch, isn't it? Better Throw it away with the rest, Josh.
Have a look at it first, Richard.
Drop it, Mr.
Marling.
But, Josh, that's it.
Where did you find it? I saw Miller do that.
Miss, drop it, I mean.
And when he was out of the way, I swapped it for another.
I gave it to Mr.
Steed here.
I thought it would be safer with him than anyone else.
It works.
Allen was right.
Well, Mrs.
Gale, you'll be able to get on with your book now.
Yes, I will.
Where will you be dashing off to? I've got to return those figurines to the museum.
Ah, yes.
All that fuss over a little piece of mud.
Would you say that was official view of the Ceramics Research Council? Undoubtedly.
(theme music playing)
Gale.
Come over here, and I'll show you we're busy with.
- Mind the step.
- Yes.
This is Royal Marling.
I think it's the finest bone china we've ever made.
This lot's going to Leipzig for the trade fair.
That's right, isn't it, Mara? Yes, Mr.
Allen.
It's lovely.
It should sell well.
I hope so.
The main pottery shop is through there.
- It's all very small, isn't it? - Yes, yes.
Space is one of our big problems.
I'm afraid we just can't afford larger premises at the moment.
Here we are.
This is where we make our chinaware.
Is it all handmade? Oh, yes, we don't make any mass-produced stuff.
Only the best is good enough for Marling.
My laboratory is through there.
- Would you like to see it? - Yes, I would, very much.
It won't help you write a book on fine china, I'm afraid, but my stuff's far more practical than beautiful.
Here we are.
Do you always use tiles for your experiments? Yes, yes, I do, they're a handy shape, and of course they're made of the same materials as the stuff we manufacture, at least they are when I start.
All these tiles are They're brittle, see? I'm trying to make one you could bounce off a wall.
Unbreakable china? - Do you really think it's possible? - Yes, I know it is.
It's a question of what you mix with it - and the molecular structure has to be exactly right - Sorry I'm late.
- I hope Allen's been looking after you? - Yes.
Thanks, Richard.
You shouldn't bother Cathy with your world shattering theories, Allen.
- Unbreakable ceramic.
- That's not the one.
It's all rubbish, you know.
Come with me.
- I'll show you something really interesting.
- Thanks, Allen.
This is where it all starts With mud, honest-to-goodness mud.
You put it in, you mix it up - (machinery hums) - you get Yes, not bad.
Not bad at all.
Now, Steed, this business about the pottery.
Marling's is a small company, very small.
They only produce quality stuff.
Remember that.
Still, it's in grave danger of going bankrupt.
So I don't suppose they can afford very much in the way of the laboratory equipment.
- Surely we can put that - Let me finish, Steed.
Now, Marling's making a claim that's well-nigh impossible.
I know that.
He's also published his findings in that scientific journal, "Form.
" Surely they're bound to check what he wrote.
He's only given them the general idea of what he's working on.
According to my experts, he could be right, could be.
It's up for you to find out if he is.
It would be great not to break a cup every time I wash up, but I don't see what's that got to do with security.
Pottery's just mud, Steed.
It's plentiful and cheap and easy to move.
And if it's as hard as Allen Marling claims it is, it'll cut through tempered-steel.
And think of all the uses of that has, all the jigs and dyes and drills, millions of them.
I can think of other uses for it too.
The nosecones of rockets, for example.
But other people have been trying to make an unbreakable plastic, experts all over the place, and Allen Marling's the last one who should've succeeded.
He's made claims before, and they've all failed.
Well then? Well, the trouble is that if he's right, a lot of people would like to know his secret.
There are few people who specialize in stealing other people's ideas and sending them to whoever will pay.
And one of them was killed at Marling's yesterday.
A man called Lander.
- How do you know? - Mrs.
Gale told me.
I told you before, Steed, I don't approve of amateurs.
But she knows all about ceramics.
She's writing a book on it.
That's how she met the Marlings.
Yes, maybe, but go there yourself, Steed.
I've arranged you to be an expert from the Ceramics Research Council.
Here's the current copy of "Form.
" I'm an expert, eh? Yes, it usually takes 10 years.
- How long have I got? - 24 hours.
Joy Tracey's going to have a film test.
Who? Joy Tracey, this year's Miss England.
"Beautiful, raven-haired Joy Tracey" has been offered a film test by producer Roy Birch.
"Miss Tracey, a secretary, is 37-23-36.
" Here, look.
Not bad, is she? No, she's pretty good.
Not a patch on you, though, Mara.
That's what I thought.
You know, I could be where she is.
Just imagine, a big contest with all those people looking at me.
Oh, if only I had the chance.
Once you start entering you'll win every time.
On, there's no need to sound so sad about it.
Well, you'll go away then, won't you? I hope so.
Oh, Harry, I'm sorry.
- I didn't mean - Just a minute.
Where did you get that dress from? Mr.
de Groot bought it for me.
I told you before, Mara, you shouldn't let him buy you things.
- Well, you buy me things.
- But that's different.
- It is? - Of course it is.
Mara Oh, Harry, Mr.
Allen will see us.
He's out in the pottery shop.
You've been to the bank? The wages are almost ready.
It's all right for them, isn't it? There's been a murder here so they lose two days' work, and I still have to pay them a full week's wages.
Well, it might be worth it at that.
At least he can't run off with you now.
Richard, please, I've told you, Lander wasn't anything to me.
I just went out with him a couple of times.
Now the whole town knows it.
You must have been out of your mind.
When did you last take me out? When did you last want to? You're talking like that blasted inspector.
He thought I was jealous of Lander, too.
Well, he's right, I was.
I haven't even an alibi for the night he died.
They were on to that quickly enough.
- Surely they can't - I had the means and the motive.
If they think I had the opportunity, too As if I hadn't enough to worry at the moment.
De Groot wants all the Royal Marling we can give him for the Leipzig Trade Fair, and he leaves in three days' time.
This one has to be a success.
If it isn't, we're really in trouble.
We haven't had a really successful new line in over 18 months.
You wouldn't think Miller could have done that, would you? He spends half his time falling over to our glamour girl in the design shop, but he made that, created it out of nothing.
If Royal Marling fails, I shan't be able to afford him any longer.
It's the last chance we've got.
Hello, Mrs.
Gale.
How is the book going? Ready for publication? I won't even finish it if I can't complete my research.
Marling's turned out some very fine stuff, huh? Unfortunately there's not a great demand for it.
Who runs the business? Richard keeps the books if that's what you mean.
Allen has the brains.
They inherited the business from their father.
They've both been in it since they left school.
Would you say Allen was a good potter? Yes, I would, though I'm afraid he's held back by his brother.
It's a pity, he'd be a much happier person if he were allowed to get on with his research.
It's bad to feel sorry for people in our business.
Slows you up.
I'm not in your business.
Might as well remember that.
All right.
Look, Steed, that's the best there is, but it's hard to sell because it costs so much.
Was there anything incriminating found on Lander's body? No, nothing.
Do you think anyone could drown in liquid clay? I doubt it.
More likely someone surprised him, murdered him, and popped him in the slip tank.
Oh, well, it's out of our way.
What do you mean out of our way? Who was Lander? He was a seller of secrets, a middle man in a business which buys and sells industrial information.
Have you read Allen Marling's article in "Form"? As much as I could.
Now, he's trying to produce a ceramic, a piece of pottery that is, that won't break.
- Yes, One-Ten told me that.
- What's his interest? If Allen Marling's theory is right, this will be a breakthrough in the problem of solving the problem of friction in high-speed aircraft and rockets.
If he's right, it'll be the hardest man-made material ever produced.
And he and his brother will be millionaires.
Ah.
Allen: Can you get me some more like this, about three dozen? And not so many cracks of some force Josh, what you doing here? Payday, Mr.
Allen.
Oh, yes, of course.
Right, Susan, as soon as you can, thank you.
I haven't seen you since, uh, the other night.
Police are getting nosy enough.
I burnt me clothes like you told me to.
They're full of clay.
Didn't burn so easy.
Oh, and I lost a glove, one of them.
- Lost? - Yeah, I looked everywhere for it.
I'm sorry, it must have slipped out, you know, when I was bundling your things together.
- Don't worry.
- But it was covered in clay from the tank.
But there's lots of gloves here covered in clay.
Not like these! Mine is specially made.
Besides it had my name on it.
Look, there's someone coming, you better go.
Don't worry, Mr.
Marling.
You haven't done anything wrong.
Bad luck, old chap.
Have a chocolate.
Huh? No, thank you.
It's not my best attempt, you know, but it's still pretty hard.
Look.
That's not bad.
Have you got a better one? - Oh, yes.
- Another tile like that? I should very much like to see.
You will, Mr.
de Groot.
Everybody will when the time comes.
And I promise you this, you'll be able to hit it with a sledgehammer, and it won't even crack.
But ceramic is bound to break, surely, It's part of nature.
Not mine.
You'll see when the time comes.
I look forward to it.
Oh, can you tell me, is my Royal Marling consignment ready yet? - Oh, you better ask Miller.
- Thanks.
Ah, you're working on my order at last.
We've been out of it for the past two days, Mr.
de Groot.
The police have been all over the place.
Leipzig won't wait, Mr.
Miller.
It'll ready in time.
Oh, Mr.
de Groot.
I got my new dress today.
It's lovely.
Would you like to see it? Of course! Mara, see if you can find some coffee, will you? And tell Mr.
Marling Mr.
de Groot's here.
It won't take a minute.
Go on, Mara.
Go now! Why did you have come filling her head full of this bathing-beauty stuff for? Parading around like that with a lot of dirty-minded men looking at her? It's an investment, an investment I'm perfectly willing to turn over to you.
All you have to do is buy me out.
(scoffs) I haven't got any money.
The way things are going, I'll be lucky if I keep my job.
If you do as I'm suggesting, you won't need a job.
You know, you really need Mara before the top of your head blows off.
With £20,000, you could have her.
And what would I give you in exchange? Let's imagine you have £20,000.
You can give Mara all the things she likes.
You can help her and encourage her, and the glamorous Miss Little becomes Miss World.
Think how kind she would be to Harry Miller.
All you have to do is bring me a tile, Allen Marling's tile.
Do you really believe he's made it? I really do, and I want it, every bit as much as you want £20,000.
Look around all you want to, Cathy.
Sorry I can't finish showing you around myself.
Don't worry about me, Richard.
This is still a craft, you know.
You take clay, shape it.
If your hands are wrong, you end up with rubbish.
Pretty difficult to find real craftsmen these days.
You know, you're being very helpful.
This is just the kind of information I can use.
You're welcome.
I must leave you now.
I daren't keep de Groot waiting.
He can be rather difficult.
But He's my best customer.
If he does well at Leipzig, all our troubles are over.
You're selling to Leipzig? I'll sell to anyone who'll buy.
Politics doesn't come into this.
I make cups and saucers, not H-bombs.
Oh, sorry, Mr.
Marling.
Oh.
Are you interested in pottery then, Miss? Yes, I'm writing a book about it, the fine stuff you know, Chinese porcelain, Dresden and Meissen.
Aye, I've made the stuff myself, you know.
Even that delicate, too.
I've often wondered how my hands could hold it.
Not anymore though.
I used to be the best potter, you know, in the five towns until I had a car accident a couple of years back.
Would you like to see some of my work? - Yes, I'd love to.
- Over here.
- Now, this is a nice - Oh! Oh, thank you, Miss.
I'd have hated to see that go.
I've worked really hard on that.
Yes.
It's beautiful.
You know, I'm not fit to be let loose in the pottery these days.
If it wasn't for Mr.
Marling and Mr.
Allen, I wouldn't even have this night watchman's job.
They've been very good to me, you know, both of them.
The car accident, it was my fault, Miss.
You see, I didn't get any compensation.
I see.
So I owe quite a lot to the Marlings.
You'll find things in rather a mess, I'm afraid.
We've, um we've had A murder, yes.
It's not a very easy thing to keep secret, is it? - Did you know Lander? - Yes.
Yes, I did, not very well, but Was he interested in pottery too? Yes, he was.
Must have been quite a shock for you and your husband.
Did he know Lander? I suppose he must have done.
He wouldn't let him in the pottery.
Richard didn't let him, nor did I.
Don't tell me he broke in.
(chuckles) It's not a friendly thing to do, is it? Mrs.
Gale, Mr.
Steed of the Ceramics Research Council.
How do you do, Mrs.
Gale? I'll tell my husband you're here, Mr.
Steed.
- Thank you.
- Do make yourself at home.
Thank you.
Oh, hello, my dears.
They're very pretty, aren't they? Marling creamware, hollow cast, manganese glaze, 1810.
1810? You've worn very well.
Steed, there's a man here called de Groot.
He's exporting a consignment of Royal Marling to Leipzig for the trade fair.
Might be also be exporting the tile? He might at that.
I better have a look at him.
That's a very good cover Respectable businessman boosting our export trade.
- I've just been talking to the night watchman here.
- Was he any help? Well, I couldn't tackle him right off about the murder, but it strikes me he must have been here when Lander was killed.
You think he'd hear Lander breaking in.
What makes you think he broke in? Mrs.
Marling told me.
He didn't, Steed.
He had a key.
This would do well in Leipzig, I'm sure.
It will do well in America, too, but you need money, and you need it soon, isn't that true? You've got a lot of debts, Mr.
Marling.
Have I? How do you know? It's my business to know.
If this new line of yours takes, you'll have to expand.
You can't refuse capital.
We're quite happy as we are, thank you.
I don't want you out of business yet.
I expect a lot from Marling.
Mr.
Steed's here.
Oh, yes, of course.
- How do you do? How do you do? - How do you do? Mr.
de Groot, this is Mr.
Steed of the Ceramics Research Council.
- How do you do? - Mr.
de Groot is one of our best customers.
- Beautiful, isn't it? - That's a very fine glaze.
Where are you going to sell it? Leipzig, at the trade fair.
Business before politics, eh, Mr.
Steed? I have better go.
How soon will my order be ready? Tomorrow if you like.
Three days will do nicely.
Thank you.
- Mr.
Steed.
- Good day.
We're very pleased with the Royal Marling.
I had no idea the research people were interested, though.
Let me show you around the pottery.
Oh, are the police are not still there, eh? Nobody had been Nobody been arrested? No.
If you'll come through to the pottery shop.
I'd very much would like to meet your brother.
Allen's not concerned with this.
Well, it's not bone china as such we're interested in.
It's your brother's experiment we'd like to see.
See if he's in the lab, will you? My brother has made discoveries before, you know.
Not all of them quite turned out the way we hoped.
- Hello? - There was the cheap way of making porcelain.
£3,000 I think that cost us.
Then the electrical insulators, the teapot with a non-drip spout, flameproof kitchenware All very good ideas, of course, but why should this one be any different? It might.
We think it will.
Hope you're right.
Allen's on his way here, Richard.
Good.
Now, here's a line we know will sell, Mr.
Steed.
Mm-hmm.
What do they want me for, Mara? There's a Mr.
Steed here.
He's very important.
He's from the Ceramics Research Council.
(chuckles) How on Earth do you know? The girl in reception told me.
There are no secrets in a pottery, Mr.
Allen.
Has he come about your invention? Yes, I expect he has.
You do look tired.
You've been working much too hard lately.
Yes, well, now the worst of it's over.
The tile's finished.
Oh, I am glad.
- Mara? - Yes.
I was wondering if you Well, if we Look, I'd like you to have dinner with me some time to celebrate, you know.
Of course, if you're too busy No.
I'm not busy.
Anytime.
Good, what about next Wednesday then? Wish me luck.
I'll do better than that.
Pottery seems the wrong sort of place for a (chuckles) a crime passionnel.
- Oh, is that what it was? - I should think he was gonna meet someone, don't you think, Mrs.
Marling? I have no idea what he was going to do.
Somebody must have let him in.
I hardly think it need worry the Research Council.
Well, I think it might.
Now, supposing someone was trying to sabotage your brother's work.
Who'd want to do that? Well, he probably arranged to meet somebody here.
I think you've said quite enough, Mr.
Steed.
For your information, I knew all about Lander - and my wife.
- Richard, please! - Look, I assure you - But I didn't murder him.
- Take it easy, Dick.
- Easy? He's practically accused me of murdering Lander.
Who are you? My name is Steed, the Ceramic Research Council.
It's very good of you to come up here, Mr.
Steed, but there's no need to insult my brother.
As quick as you can, will you, Mr.
Steed? We're rather busy here.
You won't need me, will you? Well, I Just a minute.
Mr.
Steed, my laboratory is along there through the pottery shop.
I wonder if you'd mind going and waiting for me.
- I won't keep you a minute.
- Of course, yes.
Thank you.
Oh, how do I get in? Just open the door.
Thank you.
I've done it, Richard.
The tile's finished.
- I wish you'd come with me.
- I really am very busy.
Look, this is important to me, very important.
This time it works, I swear it does.
We'll be rich! You and me and Anne will make a fortune.
Honestly, Dick, this time there's nothing - that can go wrong, I promise, please.
- You must go.
- He's been working on this for month - All right, all right.
Come on.
Good luck, Allen.
Thanks, Anne.
This time I don't need it.
Thanks just the same.
Very brittle, aren't they? (grunts) What on earth's going on here? There's not a very tactful way of putting it.
- One of your staff hit me on the head.
- What? - What did he look like? - Well, he was pretty big.
He's about 16 stone.
He was bald.
- I think he had a scar there.
- There's nobody here like that.
I hope your ceramic's safe.
Yes, I'm not quite as careless as that.
- I'd better get the police.
- No.
Wait a minute.
We'll get on with the experiment.
I don't want to waste time laying evidence - against a sneak thief.
- As you wish.
- Are you sure you're all right? - Yeah, I'm quite all right.
All right.
Allen.
Yes, just let me get my stuff set up.
Allen's got a visitor.
Going to show him his unbreakable tile.
Oh, I do hope it works.
What's he want the gloves for? - It's not dangerous, is it? - Might be, for him.
He'll need gloves before he's finished.
You're not still gone with him, are you? Why shouldn't I be? He's always been nice to me.
When? You've not been out with him, have you? Oh, Harry, for heaven's sake.
I just like him, that's all.
I think he's wonderful.
And as for the other one he's dreamy.
Any pair of trousers with money in them, that's you.
Come on! All right.
I think we're ready.
First of all, Mr.
Steed, I'd like you to look at that.
What do you make of it? Ordinary ceramic.
Kaolinitic, high in elbite - Undulatious? - I should think so.
And the glaze? Feldspartic, I should think.
How will it wear then? It'll stand up to heat, bound to be brittle.
You really do know your ceramics, Mr.
Steed.
As you say, brittle.
Let's have a look at the one that won't break.
Now just a minute.
There's something else to think about first.
This tile I've made is very valuable, isn't it? - If it works, yes.
- What's it worth? That depends, if you market it yourself, you'll have a turnover of 5 or 6 million a year.
You'll have a monopoly, at least for time.
- 5 or 6 million? - Maybe more if it works.
Oh, it works.
You'll see.
Now, I published some of my findings in "Form.
" Some of your people read it and sent you to me.
- That's so.
- Right, anybody can buy "Form.
" If crook who knew something about pottery read my article, he could come here and try to steal my design, couldn't he? - You mean Lander? - Exactly.
But he's dead.
But suppose another one had also read my article.
And met Lander here at dead of night and murdered him.
- Allen, for heaven's sake.
- Look, there it is.
The only one there is, and it's worth 5 or 6 million.
- Isn't it likely someone would kill for that? - It's possible.
It's the one explanation for Lander's murder that makes sense, and it puts Richard completely in the clear.
And that really is the only tile you have left? Yes.
It took me a long time to make it.
Our equipment isn't very up-to-date, you know, but this one's enough.
Now, Dick, I want you to hit that tile as hard as you can.
Go on, hit it.
It won't break.
What on earth are you doing? Oh, Harry, it's terrible.
I've just measured meself.
And I'm 23 1/2 inches round the waist.
Well And I can't be more than 23, I mustn't be.
- Harry? - Yes? Mr.
de Groot wants to see you at his hotel right away.
All right.
But what's he want to see you about? That um, that stuff for Leipzig, I suppose.
Mara Yes? You weren't serious about Allen Marling, were you? What about Allen? Well, you said you liked him and that you're going out with him.
Well, I do and I am.
Listen to my accent, Harry, I think it's coming on.
(clears throat) My name is Mara Little, and I am 20 years old and I work as a painter in a pottery in Staffordshire.
Oh, and then there's the other bit.
- Ladies and gentlemen - Mara, please! What's wrong? He doesn't love you, does he? Not yet, but he might one day.
Listen, if I had money, a lot of money, - would you marry me then? - How much? £20,000.
Maybe more than that.
Maybe £50,000.
And where would you get £50,000? I I might win the Pools.
All right, Harry, you win the pools and we'll get engaged.
Now, watch.
I'm sorry.
There's no need to apologize.
My name is Steed, Ceramics Research Council.
My name's Miller.
I'm the designer.
This is Miss Little.
Mara Little.
How do you do, Mara Little? What can we do for you? Well, I was looking for Mr.
Allen Marling's missing ceramic.
Oh, yes, I heard there was a chap broke into the lab yesterday.
Yes.
He laid me out.
Oh, but he didn't get the tile.
- How do you know? - It had been pinched already, another one substituted it in its place.
There's, uh, another explanation, Mr.
Steed, if you're interested.
Of course, yes.
It never was stolen and never could be.
It just didn't exist.
Mr.
Allen Marling told me he'd already carried out the tests.
Maybe but did anyone ever see him, Mr.
Steed? I don't know what to do, Cathy.
If Allen's right and that tile was stolen, I shall have to tell the police.
Suppose the tile he smashed was the one he thought was unbreakable.
I shall be the laughingstock of the industry.
And the bad publicity just now will finish me.
Where's Anne? She's late.
There's plenty of time.
We're not supposed to eat till 1:00.
I suppose Allen couldn't have made that tile, could he? Why not? Yes, why not, Richard? Allen can't succeed at anything.
He's always had to be nursed, and that's been my job.
Can you imagine Allen coping with someone like de Groot? I know Allen's soft-hearted, but he's got guts, too.
De Groot would have bought him up years ago.
Why should he? Forgive me, Richard.
But Marling's doesn't seem a very sound investment at the moment.
It could be.
And Allen told her the truth.
I know he did.
That tile was stolen.
Let's go in, shall we? Allen Marling swears the real tile was pinched.
Do you believe him? He's boobed before, lots of times, but he's desperately anxious to help his brother.
- Why? - They need the money.
And the police suspect Richard of killing Lander.
Allen's trying to prove that it was done because of the tile.
That's bright of him.
What do you make of that? Er, ahem - Gloucester.
- Sunderland.
An expert in ceramics.
Lander was after the tile, we've checked.
And so was somebody else.
That's obvious.
Any idea who? There's a man called de Groot.
He's got connections with the Leipzig Trade Fair, and he's trying to buy in to Marling's.
Leipzig, behind the curtain.
Yes, that makes sense.
If the thing exists.
I'm betting that it does.
The trade fair opens next week.
I'll have the ports watched, of course, but I'd like to get it back here.
A little bit of tile's easy enough to hide, and I don't want any fuss.
- Besides - Yes? If I'm right, Steed, you let the tile be stolen.
It's up to you to get it back.
Richard's coffee will be cold.
I've never known anyone take so long to telephone as Richard does, but I suppose you've noticed that already.
No.
Should I have? Well, he seems to spend rather a lot of time with you.
- That's nonsense, and you know it.
- Is it? Well, he certainly doesn't spend much time with me anymore.
Apart from business lunches, I haven't been out with Richard for months.
He works 12 hours a day in that pottery.
We can go on for weeks and not say a word unless it's about designs or invoices or china clay deliveries.
Well, he's bound to be preoccupied.
He's trying to save the firm.
You should know that better than anyone.
Yes, I do but he's not working on the right lines, and he's going to lose, he's bound to.
People don't want the things he makes anymore.
What can he do about that? Help Allen's research, perhaps.
You believe in Allen, don't you? Yes, of course, I do, but you try and persuade Richard that's he's right.
He doesn't seem to have much faith in him, does he? Richard hasn't any time for people, not now.
He's changed so much.
He's become so bitter.
Richard can't love anybody anymore.
Maybe that's why I went out with Lander.
I didn't like him very much.
Does Richard know about this? No, and I'd rather you didn't tell him.
Of course I shan't.
Sorry I've been so long.
So much red tape attached to exporting china.
I'm afraid I have to get back to the pottery.
- So if you'll excuse us.
- Yes, of course.
May we give you a lift, Cathy? No, thanks, there's somebody I have to meet here first.
- Right then.
- See you later, Cathy.
(knock on door) You're a rotten one to do business with, aren't you? You tell me to pinch that tile and then send him after it! - Blomberg is a lot cheaper.
- Maybe, but he didn't get it.
- Why didn't you tell me? - I got it meself, that's why.
All right, Blomberg.
Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't I tell you? I had to think it over first.
Very sensible of you.
£20,000.
It's not enough.
Oh, I do hope you are not going to get greedy.
I'm being reasonable, Mr.
de Groot.
They're saying that tile's worth millions.
Well, I don't want millions but I must have £50,000 for Mara and me, I can't manage with less.
You and Mara.
Am I to congratulate you then? It's possible.
So I am to be the fairy godfather, huh? All right, Cinderella.
£50,000.
You won't regret it.
I hope you won't be foolish enough to cheat me.
Of course not.
I told you I got it, didn't I? You could do anything to that tile, and it just won't break.
There's something else you can have.
This.
Allen Marling? What does this prove? It was lying right beside the slip tank the morning they found Lander's body.
But the police were all over the place.
I've had it before they ever called the police.
I'm good at finding things, Mr.
de Groot.
You'd be surprised how often they come in useful.
This glove won't prove anything, you know.
No, but it's a good hint that Allen did it, isn't it? - You can have it.
- You're very kind.
- Have a chocolate.
- Thank you.
It's must be very satisfying to hate somebody the way you hate Allen Marling.
- Mara's too fond of him.
- She's not fond of me.
And if she were, you'd do better to keep out of it.
£50,000.
All right.
But I want to see it.
- Well, it's at the pottery.
- What? Don't worry.
It's well hidden.
Bring it here then.
Uh, no.
That tile should mold under flame.
Make it into a cup for me, a Royal Marling cup.
Paint it and put it in with a set for Leipzig.
If those repellant Customs men see it, they won't find a thing.
You can't think how undignified they can make one feel.
Don't worry.
I've got enough to pay you.
You'd better.
I don't suppose you're the only one that's interested.
- Ooh! - All right, Blomberg.
Miller, there is one thing you must understand.
You work for me and nobody else.
You provide the goods and leave me to do the haggling.
The people I shall haggle with would kill you for that tile.
I would myself if I didn't need you, but I do.
So finish your job and keep your mouth shut! Otherwise but I leave that sort of thing to Blomberg.
He's very good.
Well? All right.
As long as I'm paid.
- When will it be ready? - Saturday.
There'll be nobody working at the pottery.
Give me two hours.
Blomberg and I will call for it.
(snaps fingers) And be careful, Miller, be very careful.
Ah, thank you.
Mmm.
Excellent brandy.
- Very warming.
- If you need warming, you should come down to the pottery.
In a couple of big ones I went into, the heat is unbearable.
One-Ten will be unbearable if I don't find this tile.
Ah, that's the price you pay for being a professional.
Talking of being a professional, have you any idea who it was who knocked you out in Allen Marling's laboratory? No, except he was very big, about 17 stone, bald, and has a scar on his cheek.
Rather distinctive.
Yeah, well, if you ever run into him, hit him with something very big.
Like you did? Do you happen to know where de Groot is staying? A hotel in the high street, I think.
Suite or a room? Anyway, I want to have a look at it.
Now, will you invite him round here for tea? Say that you want him to see some porcelain you're thinking of selling.
Tang be all right? Sung will be better, not that I've got any.
Tang will have to do.
Anyway, I've arranged for the museum to lend you some.
They're very valuable pieces, priceless, worth thousands of pound apiece.
What if he makes a bid for them? You'll have to stall him.
One-Ten would really hit the roof if anything happened to them.
And you might tell him you're in the market for an unbreakable ceramic.
Who am I acting for? You have contacts and Leipzig, too.
All right.
I wish I didn't have to have a meal with him.
- You should see him eat.
- It's all under good cause.
Now, he may be after that tile already.
So get a move on.
All right, I'll go and ring him now.
- Oh, Mrs.
Gale? - Hmm? You take care of those figures, won't you? My figure? Those figures.
Oh.
All right.
I'll do my best.
Thank you.
I'll have another, large.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Miller.
I didn't know there was anyone in.
- What do you want? - Oh, I'm just doing me rounds.
Mr.
Marling asked me to start earlier on account of that fellow breaking in.
My, that's lovely.
Don't touch it! Oh, the The paint's wet.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Miller, I'm sure.
Look, Josh, just go away, will you? I'm busy.
Aye, I can see you are.
It is very, very beautiful.
And valuable, too.
Of course.
How much, Mrs.
Gale? I'm not selling.
I'm buying.
Oh, I have nothing in this class.
Perhaps you have something even more valuable? (chuckles) Goya's portrait of Wellington? No.
I was thinking of a ceramic in the shape of a tile, one that won't break even if you hit it with a hammer? Oh, Mrs.
Gale, the unbreakable tile is like the alchemist's stone, just a legend.
Allen Marling doesn't think so.
I don't think his experiments were very successful.
I do.
I can go up to £200,000.
Cash? If that's how you want it.
But now, why do you think I have it? I deal only in beautiful things.
Like this.
Uh, who are you acting for? If you haven't got it, why should it concern you? (laughs) Mrs.
Gale Now, what do you think of this one? Oh, exquisite, quite exquisite.
Oh, I wish I could help you, Mrs.
Gale.
Hello, Miss Little.
Nice to see you again.
It's no use waiting.
Mr.
de Groot's not here.
I'm in no hurry.
How'd you get in? I told the maid I'd locked meself out, - and she loaned me a pass key.
- Such fibs.
That's fine.
Now take it easy.
We're supposed to be burglars.
How did you come by this? You weren't wearing it, by any chance, eh? It was in that drawer.
Oh, will you show me where exactly? There, under that shirt.
Mm-hmm.
Like that? No.
It was pointing the other way.
Now you didn't really come for that.
What was it then? Allen Marling's ceramic? Of course not.
Harry wouldn't take that.
- Harry? - Harry Miller, the designer.
- You met him this morning.
- Yes, I remember.
Go on.
Oh, it's all such a mess.
Well I'm very fond of Allen, you see.
And Harry, he's so jealous, you know, doesn't like other men even looking at me.
Trouble is other men do look at me.
I can't help it, and I don't suppose they can either.
It's not as if I was going to marry him, Harry I mean, but I can't get him to understand that.
Yes, but what's all this got to do - with you being here? - Well, Harry says that Allen's mixed up in that murder, you know.
Lander.
Aye, and he says he can prove it, too.
How? Well, he's got one of Allen's gloves, and I'm sure he brought it here.
Oh, you've just got to help me get it back, Mr.
Steed.
(indistinct conversations) This figurines, Mrs.
Gale, I like them very much.
You have exquisite taste.
Thank you.
- Cake? - No, thanks.
I'm not really worried about my waistline if that's what you were thinking.
You are like another young friend of mine, always worried about your waistline.
Now, could you tell me, if I could show you where you can get this tile, could you come to an understanding with me about these figurines and the tile? - You know where it is then? - I might do.
After tea, I have an appointment at Marling's.
When that is over, I might be able to carry on this conversation.
Oh, this one I particularly like.
Until then, Mr.
de Groot.
Shall I take care of them? They're very fragile.
The car is waiting, sir.
Oh, indoors, Blomberg, it is customary to remove one's headgear, even if one is bald.
Excuse me, Mrs.
Gale.
While you are waiting, I want you to go to my hotel.
There is a little piece of machinery in the center drawer under the shirt.
- You understand what I mean? - Yes, Mr.
de Groot.
- Bring it back to me.
- Yes, sir.
Splendid, now we have time for another cake.
You know, people are afraid of Blomberg.
I can't think why.
I know he's terribly strong, and he has a nasty temper but he would never dream of hurting a friend of mine, never.
You have nothing to worry, Mrs.
Gale.
That's very reassuring.
All right then, young lady.
Let's have a look, eh? Bang! Bang! Oh, Mr.
Allen, I brought the pieces - you wanted for firing.
- Thank you, Josh.
(telephone ringing) See who it is.
Hello? Oh, yeah, just one moment, please.
Mr.
Allen? Mr.
de Groot on the phone for you.
Thank you.
Allen Marling.
Yes? (laughs) I don't believe you.
M-my name on it? I see.
Yes, I'll wait here.
De Groot's found my glove.
Couldn't have, I'm the only one anywhere near the place.
He's got it all the same.
It's just as well, isn't it, Josh? The police had far too good a case against Richard.
What is de Groot after? I have no idea.
I'm not a very good subject for blackmail, am I? Whatever it is, it's nothing to do with you.
- But I helped you.
- No! Nobody helped! Nobody has anything to do with it but me.
I did it all myself, right? All right, Mr.
Allen, whatever you say.
After you, Mrs.
Gale.
Blomberg: Everything's under control, sir.
Good, now we won't be interrupted.
Take Mrs.
Gale's handbag.
Your bag, please.
The figurines, too.
I never trust anybody I do business with, Mrs.
Gale.
And you see, I'm right.
Allen Marling is waiting for me in his lab.
Take Mrs.
Gale there.
Oh, I'll have this.
Blomberg is dangerous enough without it.
I shouldn't try to run away, Mrs.
Gale.
He can be very nasty sometimes, can't you? But you have no reason to run away, Mrs.
Gale, have you? You want that tile.
You're nervous, Miller.
No need.
I brought your money.
- Did anybody see you? - Of course not.
I'm very careful always.
Where's the cup? In there.
Packed already for Leipzig? That's very nice.
- May I see it, please? - But it's all nailed down.
Do I look really so stupid? Open it up! This way, Mr.
Marling.
I don't understand.
Where's de Groot? He'll be here soon.
You wait.
What are you doing here, Cathy? I've got some business to finish with Mr.
de Groot.
I've got some Chinese porcelain he wants to buy.
Oh, that reminds me.
I must make a phone call.
There's a phone in the lab.
No.
The phone is out of order.
Nonsense.
I used it a few minutes ago.
The phone is out of order.
Your nerves are in a terrible state.
- I thought I heard the watch.
- I can assure you, you didn't.
He's been travelling round Did he see you working on the cup? - No, I don't think so.
- The cup, please.
Let's see the money first.
(chuckles) Of course.
Wait here.
You too, Mrs.
Gale.
Who the devil do you think you are? Get out of my way! (groans) Stop it! Where's the cup, Marling? What cup? The place is full of them.
I know this used to be a tile, an unbreakable tile.
Miller made it into a cup! Where is it?! How should I know? The tile's mine.
I want it back.
No, I didn't think you had it.
Well, Mrs.
Gale? I told you, I want to buy it.
So do you, apparently.
- What are you - Quiet! It's not too bad, Blomberg.
We haven't got the tile, but we have got Mr.
Marling.
And he could make another one for us, couldn't you? Now that we have found your glove.
(door opens) He's dead.
Now, look, go out to Mr.
Marling's office.
Phone the police.
Wait for me till I get back.
- You took everything? - Blomberg: Yes, sir.
So now we have you and all your notes.
You could make another ceramic for me or I could even sell you as a going concern.
And you, Mrs.
Gale, you are right, I really will have to shoot you.
Look out! He is pretty big, isn't he? Thanks.
I'm very grateful to you, Steed.
You really must be interested in my ceramic.
I think of nothing else.
I must have been going about with my eyes closed.
Well, a lot's come out in the open but not all.
You let Lander in that night, didn't you, Mrs.
Marling? He used a key, and it was your key.
Yes.
He wanted to look around the place before he put any money up, so he said.
And then he made a pass at you, eh? Yes.
I yelled, and Allen heard me.
They fought, and Lander bumped his head on the tank.
He fell in before Allen had a chance to reach him.
Then Allen went in after him, and got him out.
It was ghastly.
He had to go in there and lift him out, but he was already dead.
And he sent me home and put Lander's body back in the tank.
And nobody heard you? Josh did.
He got rid of Allen's clothes.
Except his glove.
What's going to happen to him, Steed? Manslaughter.
Sympathetic jury, probably.
Better look at this, Mr.
Marling.
That's from the Leipzig batch, isn't it? Better Throw it away with the rest, Josh.
Have a look at it first, Richard.
Drop it, Mr.
Marling.
But, Josh, that's it.
Where did you find it? I saw Miller do that.
Miss, drop it, I mean.
And when he was out of the way, I swapped it for another.
I gave it to Mr.
Steed here.
I thought it would be safer with him than anyone else.
It works.
Allen was right.
Well, Mrs.
Gale, you'll be able to get on with your book now.
Yes, I will.
Where will you be dashing off to? I've got to return those figurines to the museum.
Ah, yes.
All that fuss over a little piece of mud.
Would you say that was official view of the Ceramics Research Council? Undoubtedly.
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