Brannigan Page #2

And to get my hands in Larkin's lapels.

Yes, sir.

Oh.

If I sound like a bear cub

with a toothache, it's just...

I understand, sir.

My father flew with the RAF.

Huh?

He said there were three things

wrong with Yanks.

- Yeah?

- Overpaid, oversexed...

and over here.

I really walked into that one.

And deserved it. I'm sorry.

Might we start again, sir?

Why? We're doing fine.

I was just thinking - can I call you Jenny?

Of course.

Boy, I knew a great gal named Jenny.

Whoo!

She used to lend me money

when I was broke.

Did she contribute

any other... philanthropies?

We were friends.

Good friends.

Damn good friends.

(hums)

- All right, Mr Larkin.

- Hello, hello, hello.

Would you mind lying down,

facing this way?

- All right.

- And relax.

Excuse me, Captain. I've got

a steam cabinet out there for delivery.

Well, the pool's down there, but you'll

have to go outside. I'll show you the way.

(rattling)

Excuse me, Tom. There's a delivery.

What? I don't know

anything about a delivery.

- Neither do I.

- It's a rush order. Where shall we drop it?

You'd better put it out there

through the open door.

Grand Central Station.

Hey, muscles. It's a bit tight here.

Can you give us a hand?

Excuse me a moment, Mr Larkin.

Now, what's all this?

(Larkin coughs)

That's great.

Oh, you like that, do you?

(muffled cries)

Yeah. Good.

How do you like that?

Morning, sir.

Here we are, sir. The Garrick Club.

- See you later, sir.

- Aren't you joining us?

If I walked in I'd cause

a dozen heart attacks.

It's a men's club - rules strictly enforced.

Too bad.

Sir?

Brannigan. Jim Brannigan.

To see Commander Swann.

Yes, that'll be Sir Charles.

He's in the lounge bar, upstairs.

- Thank you.

- Begging your pardon, sir...

I'm sorry, Mr Brannigan. It's a club rule.

Fine.

Strictly enforced, I presume.

And that was the last I saw of her.

Excuse me.

Lieutenant Brannigan? Charles Swann.

- Pleasant flight?

- Just long.

- Would you like a glass of sherry?

- Actually, I'd like a boilermaker.

That's whisky - neat, you'd say -

and a beer chaser, cold, if you can find it.

- Certainly, sir.

- I think we can manage that.

A good old Polish drink.

Where do we pick up this Larkin?

Well, he's under surveillance.

Surveillance? You come

to the States for a prisoner,

we'd have him standing by

handcuffed at the airport.

Yes, but under our judicial system

Mr Larkin has the right to apply for bail.

Well, unfortunately,

we have the same law.

- That's how we lost him.

- Rather careless, wasn't it?

You can rest assured

that won't happen here.

- Spot of lunch?

- Why not?

Then we'll pick up your friend Larkin.

- Should I call you Sir Charles?

- I think Swann'll do nicely, thank you.

I only use the "sir" for theatre tickets and

table reservations. May I lead the way?

Morning, sir.

Actually, the title is a military courtesy

granted to one of my ancient ancestors,

probably for holding

somebody's horse at a coronation.

- How's this?

- Thank you.

- No castles or booty?

- No, I'm afraid not.

But every Maundy Thursday,

for some reason,

I'm granted the inestimable privilege -

morning, Barker -

of dropping a sprig of myrtle

in the river Thames at Westminster.

- The Dover sole is excellent.

- Thank you. Dover sole?

Commander, it's my breakfast time.

I'd sure like two over easy,

some bacon, crisp, and a short stack.

Right. I think what my guest would like

is two eggs, lightly fried on either side,

a couple of rashers of bacon

and a modest portion of pancakes.

- Not too modest on the pancakes.

- Sir.

- And Dover sole for me, please.

- Thank you, sir.

Lieutenant, you shouldn't be wearing

that particular item.

Well, the fella at the front desk

said I had to put it on.

Not the tie.

The.38 calibre Colt Diamondback.

Commander, I always wear this.

I'm afraid it's placing you in violation of

British law and Scotland Yard regulations.

Well, it isn't in violation

of United States law,

and I work under the Chicago

Police Department regulations

which makes it obligatory.

Then I strongly urge you

to resist any temptation to use it.

Well, I don't think I'll be needing it in here.

Excuse me, Sir Charles.

A gentleman to see you at the door.

Excuse me.

Barker, bring the lieutenant a whisky

and a beer chaser, will you?

You mean a boilermaker, sir.

Make it two.

- What for?

- Mr Larkin has been kidnapped.

It can't happen here, huh?

Well, cheer up.

All we can lose is our jobs.

(buzzer)

(knocking at door)

Oh. Gorman?

Yeah.

A friend said you had a package for me.

Two questions - from where and for what?

- From Chicago, to hit something.

- (chuckles)

Right on, bucko.

Half now and half at ice time.

When he's on ice, you mean.

- A bit light.

- It's just my usual commission.

Off their end, not mine. Don't be difficult.

Why don't you stay awhile

and talk to Luana?

Hm?

Oh.

Nice and gentle, love. I'm not kinky.

You are what you're paid to be.

(gasps)

(Swann) This is all that Larkin

left behind at the athletic club.

(Brannigan) We don't know

he was really snatched.

Of course not. But we do still have

that masseur unconscious in hospital.

It might be just an act.

I don't think that's an assumption

the Yard can afford to make.

If it was up to me I'd get some men

out thumpin' on the streets,

passing out some e pluribus unum.

That's what 90 per cent

of police work is today.

The murder rate in your country, I'm sure,

gives testimony to your superior methods.

Commander, I didn't come

over here to argue methods.

But a certain Ben Larkin is missing, and

I intend to use my best efforts to find him.

Without interfering

with the Yard, of course.

Oh, er, Lieutenant.

I am still a little concerned

about a certain item you're wearing.

Oh, well, if that bothers you...

wear it in good health.

The old school tie.

Well, guv, what do you think

of our friend Brannigan?

Well...

he's an American.

Sir Charles. Why would

a bona fide lord wanna be a cop?

Because he's good at it.

Why are you a cop?

I don't know. Runs in the family.

But it stops right here. My son is a lawyer.

Uh-huh?

Hello, Central? Central 77 here.

Mollie? Do me a favour, will you?

Call Richard and tell him I'll be late.

I don't know. About seven. Thanks.

Monkey wrench?

You mean a spanner?

Did I throw one in your social life?

Well, not quite.

Not that Richard is exactly

a paragon of patience.

Well, just blame it on your Yankee

slave-driver - who still hasn't eaten.

Would you mind grabbing a bite

before we house-hunt?

I wouldn't mind at all.

(Jenny) Thank you, Mrs Cooper.

- Lieutenant, I'll see you in the morning.

- Around nine?

Fine, sir. Good night.

(car drives off)

(engine idling)

(man) Mr Lawyer, the next voice

you hear belongs to Ben Larkin.

You'd better listen.

(Larkin) Fields, I've been grabbed

by a couple of hoods.

They're tough, so you do exactly

what I tell you or I'm a dead man.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes