Great Manhunt, The (1950)

[bunniefuu]

- Hello, New York, this is

Arthur J. Buckman reporting

from Strelna, Vosnia, Europe.

We're making recording right

here in the city square,

where all eyes are turned towards

the balcony of the people's hall.

Today, the Prime Minister General Niva

inaugurates his election campaign.

This election, due in a month's time,

is viewed with some reserve

by Western observers here.

There is, curiously enough,

no opposition to general Niva.

99% of the population is

expected to return General Niva

by writing yes in the space provided.

Nobody much is likely to say no.

Hullo, things are moving.

The cheerleaders are on their toes.

I think this is General

Niva coming out now.

- Have you finished, doctor?

- Yes, I've done all I can.

Well, it will serve very little purpose.

However, I said that I would not

refuse any reasonable request.

You can have five minutes,

time for a cigarette.

- Thanks.

What do you intend exactly?

- You have only to walk out of that door.

The view is the same on the other side.

Shot while escaping?

- No no, a sh**ting accident.

We have to think of the newspapers.

- I still believe the truth

will come out sooner or later.

- Why?

Why indeed?

Why should it ever come out?

He can put out what story

he likes in the papers.

We regret to announce

an unfortunate accident.

It's a situation that

right from the beginning,

I've never been able to adapt myself to.

How long ago was it?

Two weeks, couldn't have been more.

In London.

It was a Thursday when the letter came.

I came down to breakfast and

there it was on the table.

The first thing I noticed

was the Vosnian stamp,

the head of their leader,

General Niva, post marked Strelna.

I'd never been there and I

didn't know anybody there.

I wondered who could be writing to me.

It was from the International

Congress of Science in Strelna

informing me that I had been

awarded the Kepler gold medal.

In respect of your outstanding

contribution to medical science.

We refer of course, to the

new operation for the relief

of Portal Hypertension,

which bears your name

and which has this year

brought a fresh hope

to those suffering from a

disease until now incurable.

I may have been flattered.

I was certainly surprised.

It was quite true that

I'd been responsible

for the surgical development

they referred to.

In fact, for four months,

I'd been demonstrating

the technique to my British colleagues

at one of the great London hospitals,

where I'd been sent from New York

by the Stuyvesant Research Council.

- Good morning, Dr. Marlowe.

Good morning.

- Today's messages.

I had not realised that my work

had been followed so

closely on the continent

and Strelna was certainly the last quarter

from which I should have

expected any such honour,

political relations between

that country and mine

being practically non-existent.

By the time I left the

hospital that evening,

the press were already onto it.

- Dr. Marlowe, can you

make a short statement?

- Dr. Marlowe, can you spare us a moment?

- Just a few words.

- Have you anything to say?

We shan't keep you a moment.

I'm sorry, gentlemen.

I can't just now.

And when I got to the club,

I met Burton in the hall.

- Hello, Marlowe.

So you've got your name

and the papers again.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

- You knife wallahs get all the publicity.

See you in the bar.

Yeah, fine.

- Oh, Dr. Marlowe?

- Yes.

- There's a gentleman

called to see you, sir.

I put him in the smoking room.

Oh, who is it?

Foreigner, sir,

I didn't quite catch his name.

- Dr. Marlowe?

- Yes.

- May I introduce myself?

Yanovik Prada.

I'm from the Vosnian Legation.

May I offer my congratulations?

Thank you.

Well, what can I do for you?

- It's more a question of

what you can do for us.

Oh?

How's that?

- At its session today,

the Congress passed the

unanimous resolution

that you should be invited to

Strelna to demonstrate your operation.

They would be delighted if you

could find it possible to accept.

Well, that's very kind of them.

When will it be.

- This week.

- This week?

I don't see how I can.

- You see, unfortunately,

the Congress finishes on Saturday

and the presentations will

be made the same night.

The Minister was so much hoping

that you could be there

to receive the award.

Yes, it's very short notice.

- You're the first

American to be given it.

You would agree it's a remarkable

gesture at the present time.

If you go, your visit can only help

towards a better understanding.

I told him I'd think it

over and let him know.

I might quite easily

have decided not to go.

I very nearly did.

Certainly I would never have

gone if I'd listened to Burton.

- Well, if you ask me,

I wouldn't touch 'em with a barge pole,

- not with a barge pole.

- I don't know,

rather interesting to take a peek

at what's going on over there.

- We all know that already, a purge.

- Why bring politics into this at all?

I understand your operation can cure

a fairly common condition

that used to be hopeless.

They only want to learn all about it.

And why not?

They're human beings, aren't they?

- I very much doubt it.

Now you take.

- Just a minute, just a minute.

I'm sure Marlowe doesn't want

us to make up his mind for him.

If I know anything about him,

he's made it up himself already.

- Yes, I think I have.

You know, medical science

used to be international,

but look at the position today.

It's tragic.

Now, here are some people

from a very unexpected quarter

who opened a window, lift

a corner of the curtain

and let in a breath of fresh air.

Well, I don't feel like slamming

the window in their faces.

So you're going then?

- Yes, after all it's only 48 hours.

And I really believed it.

Once on my way, I found myself

looking forward to a new experience.

I was hoping to see something

in the country and the people,

perhaps get away for an hour on my own.

See things for myself.

- This is your first visit

to our country, I believe?

- Yes, yes.

I had planned to vacation here in 1939.

- But there has been many

changes here since then.

- We must remember that

Dr. Marlowe's visit

is entirely nonpolitical.

- Thank you, doctor.

You know, they tell me that

in some parts of the world,

musicians are finding it

increasingly difficult

to compose nonpolitical music.

So it's very gratifying

to think that a doctor

can still perform a

nonpolitical operation.

- Quite so.

Meanwhile, of course, everything

will be open to you, Dr. Marlowe.

But for convenience sake,

Torvas Bender's department

has drawn up a carefully

planned itinerary for your short stay.

1:30, lunch.

- Good.

- 2:30, visit of the

General Niva Hospital.

3:30, visit to the medical

faculty of the university.

4-30, visit to the state orphanage

founded in 1947 by General Niva.

6 o'clock, visit to the

state opera gala performance

in honour of the winners

of the Congress awards

followed by an informal reception

at which the Minister of public

services will present the awards.

- Dr. John Marlowe.

- Dr. Marlowe, it is my

privilege to welcome you.

And as representative of our

Prime Minister, General Niva,

We present you with the Kepler Gold Medal

in recognition of your outstanding

achievements in medical science.

- Thank you, sir.

- You have conferred a benefit on humanity

and we are very grateful

that you are willing to share

your knowledge by coming here

to demonstrate your technique.

I understand that this is the

first time you have visited us here.

- Yes.

- I hope it will not be the last.

- I hope so.

- Pardon, pardon.

- Oh, Dr. Marlowe.

- Excuse me.

- Is it agreeable that I have

arranged the demonstration

to take place at my clinic?

- Oh, of course, anything you like.

- Yes.

- Then I suggest

we drive up there tomorrow

morning at nine o'clock.

- Fine.

- Doctor, I understand you are leaving us

- tomorrow afternoon.

- Yes.

Yes, unfortunately I have

no choice in the matter.

- I'm afraid you will go home

with a horribly antiseptic

impression of us.

Can I persuade you to join my party

on a tour of the more decadent nightlife?

- I wish I could, but as you know,

I have to wake up early.

- Shameful, we're exploiting you.

Have a pleasant journey home.

- Come again soon.

- Thank you.

- Bernardo.

- Galcon is a most remarkable man.

- Yes.

- He holds three portfolios, - Three?

Oh, he must have his hands full.

- Whenever you are ready,

I'd be delighted to drive you home.

- Thank you very much.

Well, it's a beautiful setting.

- Yes, I chose it myself.

The air has a wonderful property. well,

I think you will find the case history

entirely appropriate, Dr. Marlowe.

- Let's see, how old is the patient?

- 53.

- 53.

- I had him transferred to my own wing.

Oh, this is Dr. Poldoi, our anaesthetist.

- A privilege.

- How do you do?

- How is the patient?

Mr. Marlowe would

like to look at him.

- Good morning.

- What?

He wants to thank you.

- You tell him I'm happy

to be here to help him.

- Don't worry, we'll

do all we can to help.

- Thank you, nurse.

May I see the x-ray plates?

- Certainly.

- He's undoubtedly got

a degree of the nacites,

which of course increases

the gravity of the condition.

10:45, then?

Oh, very well.

- This operation, gentlemen,

is for portal hypertension

and the object is to

relieve the hypertension

by anastomosing the splenic

vein and left renal vein.

The operation, as you know,

is still experimental.

How is he?

- He has taken it very well so far.

- I usually prefer to make a

paramedian incision in these cases.

Great care must be taken in handling

in view of the danger of

post-operative thrombosis.

In order to reduce the risk further,

heparin is usually given.

I think I'm ready now for the anastomosis.

How is he?

All right?

I'm not worried.

How's the patient's colour?

- Quite good.

- Let me have a look at him.

I want to see the patient please.

Niva!

Thank you.

Very well.

Thank you, nurse.

Thank you, gentlemen.

I hope you're satisfied, Colonel Galcon.

- You're angry.

That's only natural.

- I expect you to be treated

according to elementary

civilised standards of behaviour.

Obviously, I was mistaken.

- It was such a pity you

recognised the patient.

- Dr. Revo, I'm sorry you yourself

to such a gross abuse of confidence.

- I accept full responsibility.

- I suppose he comes under

one of your portfolios.

- As a matter of fact, yes,

I am Minister of health too.

- I'd like a car to take

me back immediately.

- But Dr. Marlowe, I don't see

how you can leave just now.

- What?

- Not just now.

If you think you're going to be.

- I diagnose a slight case of concussion.

Just a little concussion.

Dr. Revo prescribed this.

How do you feel?

Better?

- What happened?

You fell.

- I was knocked out.

- Yes.

- What the devil?

- Now doctor,

we were advised that you

should rest for an hour or two.

- An hour or two?

I've got to catch a plane.

- When will General Niva be out of danger?

- What's that got to do with it?

- 10 days?

- About that.

- Good.

Good.

That is what Revo and I said in the cable.

- Cable?

- Yes, we wired your colleagues in London

explaining that you are

staying a little longer

as a guest of the clinic.

- I'll do nothing of the kind.

- I know how you feel.

And I hate insisting when

we are so much in your debt.

Doctor, I'm sure you'll have some idea

of General Niva's position just now.

I know that he's

the head of a police state

that obviously stops at nothing.

- You disapprove, of course.

- Well, I'm fairly disillusioned

about politics in general,

but I do like to see just the

hint of a scruple here and there.

- I can see you are an

old fashioned liberal.

As you'll know, this country

and General Niva in particular

are being subjected to the greatest

possible pressure from outside.

The survival of this nation

depends on the people's faith in Niva.

We are only two months

away from an election,

which has been carefully

organised to produce a spontaneous

mass demonstration of loyalty to him.

- What's that again?

- Now you will understand

why we could not allow it

to be known for a moment

that he was desperately ill,

and why we cannot allow

you to leave just yet.

- It's obviously a waste of time

to appeal to your sense of honour.

- I put my duty first,

and my duty is to make

sure the secret is kept

for the next 10 days.

Then we can save newsprint,

which is in short supply.

By announcing the General's illness,

his recovery, and your departure

at one in the same time.

- I demand to be put in touch

with the American Legation.

- I'm sorry.

- Then I must warn you

that I stand on my rights

as an American citizen.

- Try to make the best of this.

Our only wish is that you should

be as comfortable as possible.

In the meantime, if you would

cooperate with Dr. Revo,

it may speed the General's recovery

and incidentally your own departure.

Oh, doctor,

if you feel like a little exercise,

Andre will be delighted

to take you for a walk.

- Call.

- Tails.

- Heads.

General Niva's.

You know, doctor, amongst other things,

you have saved us the trouble

of striking a new coin.

- That's just my bad luck.

- Yes.

I'll begin.

You know, after a day at the office,

it is very refreshing to

spend the evening with someone

who can never say anything but no.

Can't I persuade you

to stay after tomorrow?

- No.

We have such different

ideas on persuasion.

- Can I ask you a question?

- It's a free country.

Sorry, it slipped out.

- You had Niva's life in your hands.

Your knife had only to slip

to give a practical expression

of your disapproval,

or you could simply have

refused to continue.

And yet you did neither.

- I don't confuse myself with providence.

- Admirable.

- Can I ask you a question?

- Well, certainly.

- What would you have done if Niva died?

- As minister of public services,

it is my duty to be prepared

against any eventuality.

- Then you would have had to forget

what you humorously call your election.

- If we couldn't afford

to announce his illness,

how much less could we have

afforded to announce his death?

- You're not suggesting you

could have kept that a secret.

- Till after the election

had given us a mandate

for drastic security measures

and we put them into force.

- You'd have never gotten away with it.

- For two months, why not?

We control all means of communication.

Everything was allowed for.

- Was”?

- Oh, would appear, I should say.

- And you allowed for me?

- Naturally.

- What would you have done?

- You know, you're rather

putting me off my stroke.

- You could have hardly

kept me here indefinitely.

- No, we couldn't have kept you here

and we couldn't have let you go.

You would have known too much.

Well.

- Well, it would be very difficult

to see more than one solution.

An unfortunate accident, shall we say,

on the way to the airport

or to the plane itself.

- You can't expect me to swallow that.

- One life against the

survival of the whole state.

Can you suggest an alternative?

- Well, supposing I'd given you

my word to say nothing about it.

- As a private person, I

should be delighted to take it.

As a Minister, I dare not.

Well?

- I don't know.

I can't get used to being

liquidated over a billiard game.

Then let's forget it.

After all, we're only amusing ourselves

by an exercise in theory

which would no doubt

have turned out very

differently in practise.

- I wonder.

- It's you to play,

or perhaps you would care for a drink?

A drink?

- Yes.

Oh yes, everything's already now.

You're going to get the car down below.

- Dr. Marlowe?

- Yes?

- Could you come to Dr. Revo please?

- Well, I was just going...

- Right away, please.

It's very urgent.

- What's the matter?

- Quickly doctor.

- What is it?

- The patient.

- What happened?

- He just collapsed.

It looks like pulmonary ombolus.

- When was this?

- Few minutes ago.

Have you given him anything?

Some intravenous caramine.

- Thrombosis.

- Blood clot in the lung.

It's always the danger after

an operation of this kind.

Oxygen.

Adrenaline and a long needle.

Hurry, Andre, or I'll miss my plane.

Quick, you understand?

- Hello?

Hello?

- Telephone?

- Telephone.

- Hello, American Legation?

- Yes.

- Oh, American Legation,

let me speak to the Minister or someone

in the party right away.

Who's that speaking?

- Dr. Marlowe, Dr. John Marlowe.

It's very urgent.

Hello?

Hello?

Operator?

Just a moment, please.

Just a moment.

Just a moment.

English?

- American.

Yes.

- You speak English?

- Yes.

- Tell me how do I get to the

American Legation from here?

- Yes.

No thanks.

Thanks very much.

Thank you.

Taxi!

American Legation.

- I heard you bud, but

you're practically there.

It's just a couple blocks down the road.

- All right, well take me there anyway.

- Okay.

You're an American?

- Yup.

- Me, I live in the States three years.

How long are you stayin' here?

- Not much longer, I hope.

- Hey, what the?

- What's going on here?

Some kind of

riot outside the Legation.

This afternoon,

students and workers

demonstrated outside the

British and American Legations

shouting protest slogans.

Several windows were broken.

But detachments of the State

Police arrived promptly

on the scene and dispersed

the rioters with great efficiency.

To protect British and US

property from similar incidents,

the Minister of Public Services

instantly ordered armed

guards to be placed outside

all British and US Legations and

consulates throughout the country.

That is the end of the

news service in English.

S Than have a fickle-minded

real live boy I.

- Miss Robinson?

- Yeah?

- Can I talk to you a moment?

- American?

- Yes.

I heard you singing in English.

You are English, aren't you?

-50%.

- Oh good, then you can...

- Did you like the act?

- Yes, I did very much.

- Curious,

you have quite an intelligent face.

- Can I talk to you?

- You are talking to me.

- Look, I'm...

- You don't see many Americans in Strelna anymore.

What are you doing here?

- Running from the police.

- What?

- It's true.

I need help.

My name is Marlowe, I'm a doctor.

The police are looking for me now.

- The State Police?

- They're in the theater.

I don't know my way around,

I don't know a word of the language.

- Do you think I'm mad?

- But it's...

- Get out of here.

I can't help you, please get out.

- Just one moment.

- I must talk.

- I've told you I can't help you, please keep away.

What are you doing here?

- I'm sorry but I had no choice.

Can they understand?

- No.

- They'd have shot me if they'd have caught me.

- What?

- They tried once before.

- Why, what have you done?

- I can't explain now,

but if we can get alone.

- No, I told you I can't help you.

- You can help me very easily,

if you will.

- First door on the right.

Wait for me.

- Have you eaten?

- No.

- A cocoa substitute is all you'll get.

- Well, that's fine.

Thanks.

- What is the way I

can help you so easily?

- All I have to do is try and

contact the American Legation.

- Well?

- Or the British Legation.

Well?

- Well I thought that you

with your British passport

might be an excellent...

- But I have no British passport.

- I thought you said

you were half English.

- The wrong half, my mother.

- Oh, I assumed.

- Why can't you go yourself?

'Cause they're

watching out after me.

- On the telephone?

Tapped.

- You said you were a doctor.

- Yes, I'm with the

Stuyvesant Research Council.

- I saw an American

doctor once in a movie,

he was a surgeon in New York.

- As it happens, so am I.

- Maybe we saw the same movie.

- I tell you I am a doctor.

I'm an American citizen.

My name is Marlowe, John Marlowe.

- Is It?

- I don't know, I'm

beginning to wonder myself.

- At least we have that much in common.

- I am telling you the truth.

- Lots of people in this city

speak two or three languages

and make very peculiar livings.

Some sell nylons, for example,

while others are less ambitious

and only sell their best friends.

- I'm hanged if I see the connection.

- Perhaps the State Police can.

Why do they want you so badly?

How can I help you if you don't tell me?

- You probably wouldn't

believe me if I did tell you.

- I might.

- Well then I think we'd better

start from the beginning.

Your government invited me here

under completely false pretences.

It involves General Niva

himself, one of his Ministers.

- Thank you.

That's enough.

I was a fool to have

helped to the first place.

I certainly can't help you anymore.

You must go now.

At once, please.

You might find someone at the Grand Hotel.

That's all I can suggest.

What will they do if they get you?

- Hello, Joe.

- How do you do?

What was all that about?

- You will have to sleep on the sofa.

- Changed your mind?

- No, I just lost it.

- What will your sisters think?

- They're not my sisters and

they have nothing to think with.

- Excuse me.

I'll be sleeping on the couch.

- You will have to go

early in the morning.

I hope you realise that.

- Yes, yes, of course.

- You know, this whole business.

- I don't want to hear

anymore about it.

- It's nothing to do with

me and I want to go to bed.

Saccharine?

We have no sugar.

- Oh, yes, please.

Thanks.

You know, I won't forget what you've done.

- You will.

- You probably saved my life,

not that it's much consolation to you.

- I'll think of that in jail.

In the morning, I'll try

and make the Grand Hotel.

You know, it's a curious

position to find myself in

when you come to think about it.

- I don't want to think about it.

- My colleagues are

expecting me back in England.

They haven't any idea where I am.

- Perhaps that's fortunate

in the circumstances.

- Yes, I see what you mean.

- What about your family?

I have one maiden

first cousin in Baltimore.

- You're not married then?

- No, somehow or other I

never got around to it.

You never had the time.

- Not for marriage.

- If you don't mind, I

think I'll go to sleep now.

- Not at all.

No, I think I'll sleep pretty well myself.

I'm sure you will.

I put two of my sleeping

tablets in your cocoa.

- What?

- There are risks and risks,

but some risks I don't take.

Good night.

- You understand me

perfectly, Mr. Theodor.

- What?

- Why pretend?

You're no more American than I am.

Your name is Karel Theodor.

You're occupied in

smuggling foreign currency

and you're flying to London tonight.

- You must be out of your mind.

- Your plane tickets, identity

card, 5,000 US dollars.

You know the penalty.

- Why don't you relax

and put that thing down.

That's not my wallet.

- And that's not your jacket, I suppose?

No it isn't.

- Highly remarkable.

- I left mine behind.

I picked that one up in a

barber shop yesterday afternoon.

- I must say I expected

something a little better.

After you, please.

- What are you going to do?

- What I should have had

the sense to do last night.

- I don't understand this set-up.

The trouble with you people

here is you live in a miasma

of suspicion and distrust.

And as usual, the first victim is

plain ordinary common sense.

You can't even think straight anymore.

Give me that, you had no

intention of using that anyway.

What do I have to do to

prove to you what I am,

recite to you from Gray's Anatomy

or the medical encyclopaedia?

Who is that fellow?

- Michael, he's in the show.

- Oh, of course, I

thought I knew his face.

He seemed to know mine too.

- How could he?

- I saw him staring at me.

- But he's never seen you before.

- I know.

- You were right, he's phoning the police.

You are the American they're looking for.

I'm sorry.

- All right.

So how do we get out of here?

- Not that way.

To the other room, I'll show you.

- How did he know me?

- They showed him

a photograph at the theater.

- Oh.

- Where will you go?

- Grand Hotel, I guess.

How do we get there?

- I can't come with you, I must go back.

- You can't do that.

They'll question you,

they'll know I was with you.

- I'll think of something.

- My dear girl, you don't understand.

It's not as simple as that.

Now, you listen to me.

I can't explain now, but

if you go back in there,

whatever you say or do

you won't have a chance.

Now, come on.

- Police?

- Yes.

- Keep going.

- Where to?

- Just go.

He thinks of everything, - doesn't he?

- Who?

- Your minister of

Public Services, Colonel?

- Galcon?

- Galcon, yes.

- What does he do with it?

- Everything.

- I'm going back.

- You can't.

It's too late.

- What do you mean?

- People started looking at us.

- But I didn't want to

get mixed up in anything.

- We can't argue here.

Come on inside and I'll

try and explain it.

- But I'm not interested.

- Just be quiet.

- No.

- It's true.

- But what can we do?

- There are two alternatives.

- Get out of the country.

- How?

- Try and get the whole story out.

- But there's no time.

- The mail will be censored, that's sure.

If we could only find someone

who's leaving the country.

- How can we?

- I don't know.

Theodor.

- What?

- Theodor.

Where is that?

He's flying to London tonight.

Remember his ticket?

- Why should he help us?

- Didn't you say there was a

penalty for having foreign currency?

- They hang you for it.

- Good, then he'd be a pretty

worried guy since he lost his coat.

Where's his identity card?

- Give it to me.

- Wait a minute.

How far is that?

- Quarter of an hour.

- We have to sit here

till it gets dark outside.

- Suppose he's not alone.

- Tell him to get rid

of whoever's with him.

- Any sign of life?

- No.

- I remember there's a keyring

in your right hand pocket.

- Well, why not?

Well it seems he left in a hurry.

- Last night, he didn't sleep here.

- Certainly was a worried guy.

- What do we do now?

- No, don't touch it.

- But someone will hear.

- Leave it.

I have a hunch.

- Switched on with the light.

- If he doesn't come back,

what will happen to our plan?

- We're as safe here as any other place.

- I don't feel safe anywhere.

- Theodor must be a pretty big operator.

- What is it?

- Lights.

Good evening, Mr. Theodor.

I think you understand English,

since you were intending to fly to London.

You were telephoning here

just now, weren't you?

- Who are you?

What are you doing in my apartment?

- Mr. Theodor speaks English

very well, doesn't he?

- Quite a good accent too.

- What do you want?

- Sit down.

Do you recognise this coat?

- No.

- Are you sure?

- Never seen it before in my life.

- And this too?

- No.

- You left it in a barbershop yesterday.

Remember?

- I did not go to a barber's yesterday.

- In fact, he never goes to the barber's.

- Contains your identity card and $5,000.

- It's a mystery.

That's what it is, it's a mystery.

- How do you explain it?

- If I could explain it, it

would no longer be a mystery.

- I'm quite certain that

you don't want your property

sent to the State Police.

- Aren't you connected with them?

- Not yet.

We're prepared to strike a bargain.

Do you understand?

Blackmail.

- If you like.

- Now, why couldn't you have said so?

You had me worried for a moment.

How much?

- It's not a question of money.

- Oh, please, please.

Don't tell me it's the

principle of the thing.

That always turns out to

be so much more expensive.

- How much?

- All we ask is a slight service from you.

- Oh.

Would you care for a drink?

You must have a drink.

I need it.

What will you have?

You really had me worried.

Oh, I take no offence.

If I picked up your jacket,

I would have done exactly the same.

- I believe you.

- Yes one must live,

that's the way of nature.

The survival of the unfittest.

My health.

Oh.

- Here are your tickets.

You still want to catch that plane?

- The plane?

Oh, the plane.

Yes, of course.

- We haven't much time.

- What do you want?

- I want you to deliver a letter

for me personally in London.

- A letter.

- That's all.

Do you think you could get it through?

- Oh, sure, sure, leave it to me.

I've got friends everywhere,

I know everybody.

Just give me back my property

and the letter is as good as there.

- We'll return it to you when

you come back with a receipt

for my letter, not before.

- He doesn't trust me.

I'll give you my word of

honour, for what it's worth.

Now look here, you can't

expect me to wait that long.

- Very well, I'll send

this to the police tonight

with a little letter explaining.

- May I ask who you are?

- No.

- All right.

I'm a sportsman.

I accept.

- You have no choice.

- It's another good reason.

Where is this letter?

- I'll write it.

- I'll help you pack.

Charming?

Excuse me.

Help yourself.

You are not American.

- You heard what he said, no questions.

- Is he your boyfriend?

He's got excellent taste.

- Do you mind?

It'll take me twice as long

as I have to stop to shudder.

- You may not know, but I'm a

man of considerable influence

in the city.

Would you care for

some of these?

- Not at the price.

- I think we've had enough

of this little game.

I want to read what's in the letter.

- It's not loaded.

- Nevermind.

Doesn't make any difference.

I cannot deliver your letter in London.

- Why not?

- I would have told you before,

but I wanted to see what you were up to.

All aircraft flying in that direction

were grounded this morning for inspection.

- I don't believe it.

- Ring the airport.

Not that I believe that the

grounded for inspection.

- Well why then?

- Yesterday we had demonstrations

outside the American

Legation, now it is guarded.

- What's that got to do with it?

- State Police are looking for a man

and they keep broadcasting

his description.

Now I put two and two

together, and what do I find?

An American who fits the

description beautifully

and who wants me to smuggle

a letter out of the country.

And I asked myself why?

- Still want to read it?

What are you doing?

- Mr. Theodor asked to be enlightened.

- The American ambassador, London.

- Read on, I'll fix you another drink.

- Are you mad?

I don't know yet.

- You think I believe this?

- It's front page news

anywhere, you'll admit that.

- Of course it isn't true.

Yesterday morning, at 11:45 to be exact.

- I would have heard of it.

I've got my contacts.

- Outside of the government circles,

only three people know of it.

- Three?

- We three.

- Don't bring me into this.

-You are in it.

Why do you imagine they want me?

Because I was the only outsider that knew

that General Niva was dead.

Now there are three of us.

- I know nothing.

I tell you I refuse to

believe your stupid story.

- Do you?

Well call the Minister of Public Services

and tell him that you are

sheltering. Dr. John Marlowe.

- Shelter?

You broke in here.

- I tell you, get out.

- Tell that to the Minister.

Do you think he'd liquidate

one and stop at three?

- Just get out of my flat.

Look, I'll let you go.

I won't say a word to anyone.

How is that?

I promise you, I'll give you my word.

I promise you.

- I can believe that,

but that's not quite what we have in mind.

- I'm beginning to see what you mean.

- Good.

- He's going to get us out.

- Exactly.

- I'm not.

You think I'm mad?

Do you think I'm a lunatic?

Get out of my flat.

- You mentioned your contacts.

- I don't know anyone, get out of my flat.

- Why?

I don't suppose you've

stopped at smuggling currency.

- I know nothing.

- Make up your mind.

- What have I done for this to happen?

All because of a stupid haircut.

Make up your mind.

- I should have to make arrangements.

It'll cost money, a lot of money.

- I'll chip in $5,000.

- It's no time to be funny.

I have to go alone.

- You can't let him to do that.

- Why not?

I'm sure he understands that

if anything happens to us,

we'll make it quite clear

that he knows the whole story.

Don't you, Mr. Theodor?

And come back alone.

- Never dealt in m*rder, my dear,

but ever every time I have a haircut now,

I shall be thinking of you

and you.

- He'll never come back.

- I think he will.

- We were fools to ever

let him out of this flat.

What am I doing here at all?

I didn't ask for this.

- I'm awfully, sorry.

- I didn't know you.

There was no reason for me to help you.

Why did [?

- Because you're that kind of a person.

- But I'm not.

I'm not at all, you don't know me either.

- You saved my life, that's enough.

- Look at the situation I'm in now.

- I'll get you out of it somehow.

I promise.

- You realise that we're trapped,

trusting our lives to a man

who would sell his own mother?

- Are you ready?

- Any luck?

- Of course.

You've cost me a lot of money.

There's no time to lose.

The transport's at the back.

Quick.

- Where are you taking us?

- To the lake, I'll tell you on the way.

Oh, you've cost me a lot of money.

- Oh, shut up.

- In here, quick.

- What's this?

- One of my fleet.

There's only one way you

can ever hope to get clear,

across the mountains.

- How do we get there?

- By cable railway,

up from Bilin where I'm sending you.

At the top, Sigrist will have you met.

- Sigrist, who's that?

- One of my boys.

During the w*r, he used to smuggle

escaped prisoners, for nothing.

Now they smuggle for

me, but not for nothing.

Get down.

He's quite fond of me, that policeman.

I fixed a nice scholarship

for his little boy.

Horrible child.

Wait here till I call you.

This is Armin.

He's taking some barges down the lake.

He will see you safely ashore

at Bilin in the morning,

and as far as the cable railway.

Remember, ask for Sigrist.

- Sigrist.

- My wallet.

- Oh.

If anything happens to us,

I don't have to remind

you what'|| happen to you.

- I'm not likely to forget.

- I think I'll keep your identity card

just to establish our business connection.

- We need a little money.

- Anything else?

I'm very glad to have

got you off my hands.

You've cost me a fortune.

Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Next time I might have my haircut,

make a point of keeping on my jacket.

- What's the time?

Nearly 10:30.

- Imagine, this time last

night I was singing Paper Doll.

Heaven knows what I should

be doing tomorrow night.

- I'm going to take you out with me.

- Where, to England?

- If you like.

- I've always wanted to go there.

- You've never been there?

- No.

My mother was always hoping

to get there one day.

She never did.

She used to tell me how beautiful it was.

- Where did she come from?

- Manchester.

- Oh.

- Isn't it beautiful?

- Manchester?

- England.

- Oh yes.

Yes, of course.

Is she still alive, your mother?

- No.

Your father?

- I don't know.

- What?

- He was a school teacher.

They sent him away for what

they called political re-education.

- That's why you helped me.

- Perhaps, I don't know.

- I've got a lot to remember.

- I'm tired.

- Try to sleep.

Try this.

How's that?

All right?

- What can I do when I get to England?

- Well, I have some connections of sorts.

- Somehow I don't think you can have

very good music hall connections.

- Well, I don't know, I once

took out jugglers appendix.

- That's about all we

have in common, isn't it?

- Yes, I suppose it is.

- I've got no intention

of being a burden to you.

- You won't be.

- There's another difficulty.

- And what's that?

- I have no talent.

- Well, we'll find something else.

Don't worry, America is a big country.

- America?

- Yes, my job in England's

over in a few weeks.

- We've covered a lot

of ground, haven't we?

Police boat.

You all right?

- Yes.

- We shall not be stopped again.

Plain sailing until Bilin.

Goodnight.

I'll wake you up for breakfast.

- I'm hungry now.

- Well, at least we have

that much in common.

- No, we're worlds apart.

- That's right, worlds apart.

- You see anyone?

- No.

Perhaps Sigrist didn't get the message.

- This is no place to wait.

Sigrist?

- You are from Mr. Theodor?

- Yes.

- Sigrist.

Come in, please.

Bartorek and Christian, my colleagues.

- So you got here?

- Good.

- Yes, I suppose

- you've been told that...

- We don't ask any questions.

- And we don't answer any either.

- You want to get out, we

are being paid to do it.

Simple.

- Can you?

- We'll try.

- Have you done any climbing?

- Well, not really, no.

- And you?

- Not for a long time.

Have we got to?

- The easy ways are always well guarded.

That is why we must climb.

Sigrist will only take

you where you can manage.

- This will be higher than you think.

- You are willing to take risks?

- Of course.

- Good.

Then you must leave at once.

- The frontier runs along there.

Here we cannot more go forward.

You must go down here and up again.

We give away the rope now.

What is it?

- Soldiers.

Back.

- Are you all right?

- Yes.

- Can we rest here a little?

- We must climb as long

as the light is good.

After, we can rest.

- I'm all right.

I can do it.

- Then it's easy.

- You're sure?

- Of course.

- Hold.

Hold on.

Lisa!

Now we must wait for the dark.

- How much further is it?

- Only a half hour.

But more open ground, too exposed.

There will be a good moon this night.

I go and I have a look.

Absolutely quiet.

- Lisa, listen to me.

Help me with this rope.

Follow me along the ledge.

- I can't.

I can't!

- You can.

You must.

Come on.

Back.

Get back!

Stick your hands up.

Up!

Turn around.

Go on, get going.

Wait.

Ask him if there was anyone

else out there with him.

Ask him if he ever wants

to see his family again.

Good, well tell him he's

going to take us across

and tell him that if we get caught,

he's got to get the first b*llet.

Understood?

Now go on, take us up.

Come on.

Go on.

- That's the frontier where the road runs.

Beyond that, we're safe.

- What's the hut on the other side?

Almost near enough to make

a run for it, isn't it?

Ask him what his name is.

Sorry, Josefi.

Niva!

- It's not the frontier.

He was lying.

No, you can still get away.

- Please go.

- No.

- Please.

Have you finished, doctor?

- Yes.

I've done all I can.

- Well, it will serve very little purpose.

However, I said I would not

refuse any reasonable request.

You can have five minutes,

time for a cigarette.

- Thanks.

What do you intend exactly?

- You have only to walk out of that door.

The view is the same on the other side.

Shot while escaping?

- No, no, a sh**ting accident.

We have to think of the newspapers.

- I still believe the truth

will come out sooner or later.

- Why?

Would she live?

- Yes.

- In the circumstances,

it seems rather pointless.

- Couldn't you?

- No, I know what you're going to ask, doctor.

What can I do?

She knows too much already.

She will know more still.

- You can't deceive a

whole people indefinitely.

- No?

That is a crowd in the city square.

You know who they are cheering?

Yes, General Niva.

He acknowledges their emotional welcome.

He bows.

He waves his hand.

Now he retires.

Why shouldn't our citizens believe

the evidence of their own eyes?

- A double.

- Naturally.

The resemblance is remarkable

and the balcony is 10 metres high.

They are shouting for

him to come out again.

I think that answers your question.

Doctor.

You'll never understand, Marlowe.

We are making history here.

Nothing stands still.

You may think you are marking time,

but while you do it, you

are only a moving staircase.

- Going up or going down?

What happened?

- You heard the shots.

They were fired at General Niva.

He was k*lled instantly

in full view of everybody.

Except of course it was the wrong man.

- No.

- What?

- It was the right man.

As far as they were concerned,

it was General Niva they saw k*lled.

That's all they know.

- The evidence of their

own eyes, didn't I say?

Nothing succeeds like success.

What a situation.

- What'|| happen now?

- Anything.

At the moment, I didn't know

whether I'm a crypto fascist,

a liberal humanitarian,

or a simple deviationist.

Depends whether I still

control tomorrow's newspapers.

- What about us?

- Yes, I still have to deal with you.

Doctor, your patient is coming to.

I have ordered a stretcher party.

They will escort you to the frontier.

There is an excellent

hospital on the other side.

- We can go?

What can either of you say?

Only that a dead man is a dead man.

Please don't think that I'm

being in any way whimsical,

but if you should happen

to hear of a vacant chair

for political science anywhere,

try to get in touch with me.

- That may be a little difficult.

- It may be difficult, but I

would appreciate the effort.

- Fasten your safety belts, please.

- We're coming down, let me help you.

- Please, I must say something

to you before we land.

-Yes?

- I want you to understand

that the only reason

that I'm accepting your

help is because I do admit

that you owe me something.

- Yes, I know.

- Once I'm fixed up, we part.

- We part.

- It's better that way.

You've admitted that

we've nothing in common.

- Nothing at all.

- It would be humiliating for

me and disastrous for you.

- Ruinous.

- You keep on agreeing with me.

-Do I?

- You don't mean a word you're saying.

- No?

- No.

- No.

- Oh.

I think I'm going to be sick.