Foreign Correspondent Page #3

In the first place, is this Mr. Fisher

entirely on the level?

Very much so.

- Seems like a very nice guy.

- He is, I assure you.

What is it that makes him or you

think that an organization like this...

made up of well-meaning amateurs...

buck up against those

tough military boys of Europe?

It's the well-meaning amateurs

who do the fighting when the war comes.

- Luncheon is served.

- Please don't go yet.

You don't want those

dreary chicken patties.

I'm sorry. I must go.

Then sit at the press table with me.

Nobody ever listens to the speeches,

and we could talk.

You don't even know my name yet.

- Is it necessary?

- It is to me.

Don't mind if you hear

it's Huntley Haverstock...

because it's really Jones.

- What's yours?

- Mine's really Smith.

Don't mind if you hear it's anything else.

- Waiter?

- Yes, sir.

Same young lady. Try again.

I've taken the young lady 13 notes, sir.

She won't accept any more.

Milords, ladies and gentlemen...

pray silence for your chairman...

Mr. Stephen Fisher.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I have an announcement to make...

which I'm sure will be

a great disappointment to us all.

I've just received this telegram

from Mr. Van Meer...

who was to have been

our guest of honor today.

"Deeply regret. Called away suddenly

owing to unforeseen circumstances.

"And I will be unable

to attend your meeting as planned.

"I am with you and your work

with all my heart.

"I could not have said more

had I been there."

Although this removes

one of our star attractions...

we may, as a result, have more time

to tell you from the inside...

just what this party has stood for

and why we've asked you here today.

I can think of no one

more competent to do this...

than the speaker I'm about to introduce.

I trust you won't think this a family affair...

when I say that I refer to my daughter

Miss Carol Fisher.

Milords, ladies and gentlemen...

pray silence for Miss Carol Fisher.

Ladies and gentlemen...

I trust, even making allowances

for a father's exuberance...

you do not think I'm in any way

being put forward today...

as a substitute for Mr. Van Meer.

Unappily for us,

no one can take Mr. Van Meer's place.

What I can do possibly

is to clear up a few misapprehensions...

that have crept into

the public discussion of this movement...

and revise some of the epithets

that have been applied to us...

by some who have not gone

as deeply into the matter as they might.

The female of the species

is deadlier than the male.

...as a group of well-meaning amateurs.

Now, I'm sure there's some of you

here today who think of us as such.

I'd like to ask anyone who has called us

well-meaning amateurs...

to stand up and tell me

just why a well-meaning amateur...

is any less reliable than a well-meaning

professional at a moment like this.

But I'll not take the time.

The world's been run long enough

by the well-meaning professional.

We might give the amateurs

a chance now.

But what I really want to do

is to give you a very brief idea of...

just how far-reaching

our amateur plans are.

Use your notes.

And just...

why we ask for your support...

professional or amateur.

What I mean to say is that,

however much one may...

I mean, we should both...

Both of us...

Tell them to wait in there.

- Mr. Fisher, how are you?

- When did you get over here?

Just now. I had a cable.

This conference is my first assignment.

An ironic assignment. A peace conference

under the shadow of war.

It's really coming?

Today and tomorrow will tell.

There's still hope.

I'm going back to London today.

Leaving for London? I just got here.

But the conference is just beginning.

Today and tomorrow the work for peace

is in London rather than Amsterdam.

You're taking your whole staff

back to London with you, including your...

No. I have someone staying here

who'll give you all the help you need.

You'll be in very good hands. Here she is.

Mrs. Appleby. Mr. Haverstock.

We met at the luncheon.

You remember him, don't you.

He's nice, but I still can't understand him.

Dr. Williamson, this is Huntley Haverstock

of the New York Globe.

He's unfamiliar with Amsterdam

and peace meetings.

Would you be good enough

to take him under your wing?

Perhaps you'll both see

that he samples Dutch cheese...

at dinner tonight.

Now I must see what unlucky person

will give up his seat on the London plane.

Don't get into any mischief, will you?

Mischief?

- Your first visit to Amsterdam?

- Yes.

You must let me take you

to Rembrandt's house...

It might be a good idea if we went over

the agenda of the conference with him.

If you'll excuse me. I think I see a friend.

Mr. Van Meer. How are you?

We somehow seemed to lose each other

day before yesterday.

I'm so sorry you were called away.

Don't you remember me?

We shared the same cab together

on the way to the luncheon.

Excuse me.

May I have your picture, Mr. Van Meer?

Thank you.

There he goes!

He's getting away!

Follow that car, quick!

You'd better get out of here.

Might be dangerous.

Don't be silly. Drive on.

- Who has he shot?

- Van Meer assassinated.

- Dead?

- Looked like it.

- Bad show.

- Couldrt be worse from his viewpoint.

Do you mind shoving your knees

out of the way.

- You better hop in the back, old girl.

- Hurry.

Safety glass. I wonder whose make.

- Good chauffeur you've got.

- Yes, isn't he?

You know each other?

This is Scott ffolliott, newspaperman,

same as you. Foreign correspondent.

- Mr. Haverstock, Mr. Ffolliott.

- With a double "F."

How do you do?

I don't get the double "F."

They're at the beginning. Both small "F's".

They can't be at the beginning.

One of my ancestors

was beheaded by Henry Vlll.

His wife dropped the capital letter

to commemorate it. There it is.

- How do you say it, like a stutter?

- Just a straight "fuh."

- It's stopped raining. Surs coming up.

- The police are coming.

It's the most amazing disappearing trick

I've ever seen.

You don't suppose they could've got up

that high, do you?

Vanished.

- Take a look for yourself.

- Tell him your name with the small "F"s.

That'll be a bit over his head.

This isn't catching any assassins.

We should have kept a policeman

and played bridge.

I guess you're right.

I'll bet 2-to-1 on the derby.

Look at those sails on that windmill.

You'll get used to those

when you've been in Holland longer.

I was sure they were going

against the wind.

Why don't you lie down on the grass

and cool off?

I'll cool off in due time.

But first get the police back here.

- The police again?

- We don't want them.

- I won't be prosecuting.

- No...

- Get the police, our mars there.

- Where?

- In that mill.

- What makes you think so?

A lot of things can happen

while I'm explaining. Please get the police.

I'd go myself if I spoke the language.

- What will you do?

- A little bit of snooping.

I hate to seem executive.

But this is serious.

- Come on, Scott.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes