23 Paces to Baker Street Page #5

busy buying the camera.

Her parcel was a long one, about two feet

long. She came out of Barker's...

rain started.

Took a bus to Hammersmith.

Still raining.

Looked in a chemist's window, went into

chemist's, came out again. Raining.

Went into a cafe, had a

cup of tea and one bun.

Or it could have been one tart. The view

was obscured with the rain on the window.

Went into chain store,

walked around store.

Walked around store again,

came out...

Excuse me, it's a bit smudged here.

Oh, yes, I see - raining heavily.

Do you want me to go on?

There's a lot more like that.

Just like that.

But did you find out where she lives?

I don't believe that she has a home.

If she has, she despises it.

She wouldn't be caught dead in it.

She fast prefers

to wander around the streets.

But you must have left her some place.

Excuse me Mr. Hannon,

there is no "must" about it.

As a matter of fact, she left me.

Oh no.

I followed her to a building.

224 Stoner Street. She went inside.

I waited outside.

I waited and waited and waited.

After three hours, I

began to think things

looked a little bit

fishy, so I went inside.

It was an empty sort of warehouse.

No sign of MacDonald.

But do you think she

ducked you deliberately?

Oh, I don't know. There were

at least four perfectly

reasonable exits back and side that

she could have used.

Well, that certainly was a dead end street.

Well, never mind, Bob.

I think you did very well.

Here. Have a cup of hot coffee.

Oh, thank you.

Anyhow, I got her photograph.

You did?

Uh-hmm. Except that I'm not quite sure

that I turned the film on properly.

No Mr. Hannon, no.

This isn't Janet Murch.

But is it anything like her?

Not at all. This girl is a bit older

and quite different.

Have you ever seen this

girl in the photograph?

No, never that I can think of.

You're sure it's not

just a bad photograph?

It's a very good photograph taken in

conditions of extreme difficulty.

I have a feeling there is something

perfectly fascinating going on.

I do wish you'd tell me what it is.

I wish I could too.

But frankly, Lady Syrett, I can't

explain it even to myself.

Just now.

Oh.

Well, if you ever feel you can,

please call me.

It'll make my dinner table conversation for

six months. I never have anything to say.

Well, thank you again, Lady Syrett.

Thank you.

She's got no right not to be Murch.

She even smelled right.

And you can't tell me

it's just coincidence,

Two nursemaids using the

same expensive perfume.

Frankly, Mr. Hannon,

I didn't smell it.

You?

I could cook fish and chips under your nose

and you'd never smell it!

When I first met McDonald,

I didn't have a cold.

She was the cause

of my catching it.

Smells are very tricky, Phil.

If you have a certain

scent in mind,

you can always make yourself

believe you can smell it.

That's perfectly true. I can always

smell escaping gas whenever I...

give my mind to it.

What are you two trying to tell me?

That I've invented this

out of hole cloth?

Well, of course not.

Because if that's what you think, will

you both please stop humoring me!

Stop treating me as if I was

some child, whom you had

to keep amused with a game

of "Let's Play Detective."

Drive Miss Lennox home,

would you please, Bob?

Never mind, Bob. You go on up

with him. I'll get a taxi.

"You go down and meet

her and take over."

"Then we take it off your hands

and give you your money."

And you go on a.

Who's that?

Why didn't you take Jean home?

She took a taxi.

She thought you shouldn't be alone.

Now I need a nursemaid.

"Nice long holiday,"

"What is simpler than that?"

"But you don't understand.

I might get to like it."

"You won't have time for that, my dear."

"No, Mr. Evans, no. I won't do it.

I won't."

It's no good, Mr. Evans.

I'm after you.

Sure I know it's unreasonable.

But I'm not a reasonable man.

If MacDonald isn't Murch, and

you're not the guy at the agency...

Who is Murch?

Lady Syrett?

And who are you Mr. Evans?

And who are you, Mr. Evans?

Dicky Dight, show a light

Or else the dogs can't follow!

Or else the dogs can't follow.

Follow!

- Did you call, Mr. Hannon?

- No, no I sang.

Bob, I want to put an

advertisement in the newspapers.

- Which ones?

- All of them.

"If Janet Murch is in need of help

or advice will she call Arcade 6549."

- That's our number.

- I know.

"Strictest confidence."

Oh Bob, how on earth could

you let him do this?

I told you this morning,

I didn't think.

Think, what?

I've just read this ridiculous

advertisement of yours.

When did you start

reading classified ads?

Well, I talked to Bob this morning,

and he told me what you'd done.

Do you realise what you are

setting yourself up for?

Of course. I'm trying to find Janet Murch.

And Evans, particularly Evans.

But don't you realize that you're telling

whoever they are that you know something?

And you're telling them

where to find you.

Phil, this is the last

thing in the world

I want to say to you, but

you've got to face it.

You can't afford to get

mixed up in any violence.

Hello?

Arcade 6549.

Mr. Hannon's apartment.

Oh.

Yes.

It's a woman. She says she's Janet Murch.

Give me that phone.

You get on the extension,

and take a tape of us.

It's Ok.

- This is Phillip Hannon speaking.

- "Hello, what's the good news?"

Is this Miss Janet Murch?

"That's right, Janet Murch. You want to contact

me, and I want to contact you, honey."

"Do I need help and advice?

I certainly do!"

Where are you speaking from?

From the bar docks. Best bar in London.

Why don't you come down and have one?

Well whoever that was,

it wasn't Janet Murch.

Just a drunk who read the

advertisement and rang up for fun.

Well I rung. It's a bloke called Phillip

Hannon, if that means anything to you/

Hmm?

Now look. You don't have

to be concerned about me.

There are day and night

porters, downstairs, there are

two locks and a chain on the

door, and I've got Bob.

I'm defended like Fort Knox.

What about you?

Me?

Well, you're in this you know.

You went to the agency,

and if the agency is in it,

they'll be looking for you too.

And you live by yourself.

Oh, nonsense, Phil.

What do you mean nonsense?

Don't you live by yourself?

Yes, but...

I don't want you alone in that

apartment for the next few days.

Bob, get Miss Lennox

some rooms in a hotel.

Now look, if you think I'm gonna move

out of a perfectly good apartment,

- for some lousy hotel.

- Take her along, Bob.

A reasonably nice hotel,

maybe even a private bath.

You always were the

most impossible man.

- Goodbye, Jean.

- Goodbye, Phil.

Who is it?

It's me, deary. Elsie Schuyler.

Oh, just a moment.

Oh, Janet luv, I have to go out. Would you

be a dear and take care for Pokey for me?

I'd take her with me but

it's a seance and

Madame Pavio's medium doesn't get

on with Pokey at all.

Well I was just going out.

Oh, dear.

But only to make a phone call.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes