Foreign Correspondent Page #7

Mr. Van Meer, come in.

Good morning, Stebbins.

How are you, Haverstock?

Congratulations on your little set-to

with Rowley.

What do you know about Rowley?

Very little ffolliott doesn't hear.

Probably knows about Fisher.

I was onto Fisher a year ago.

The fellow with the high neck sweater,

Krug, he's new to me.

- You're onto him, too?

- I followed him to London.

- I thought you were cold on this story.

- I've been doing some noticing.

Remember that tramp

you found asleep in the mill?

He wasrt a tramp at all.

- Van Meer, I suppose.

- Not quite.

But I notice him do

a strange thing for a tramp.

He dirtied his hands

with some of that nasty Dutch soil.

I can't follow the workings

of these masterminds.

No. Tell him it's ridiculous.

You'd already disappeared,

so I followed Krug...

but found the same old mousetrap.

- You mean Fisher?

- The good, kind...

genial head of the Peace Party,

Herr Fisher.

Hello, Eddy. This is Plunger Stebbins.

I want to place a bet on

Flibbertigibbet in the first race...

What? The race is over?

Okay, I'll call you later.

Any objection to our working

this thing together?

Catch Fisher, find Van Meer?

Fine, but I'd like to know

why they kidnapped Van Meer.

He was one of the signatories

to a certain treaty.

The most important clause

was never written down...

just memorized by the two signatories.

And they'll beat it out of him?

They'll try hard, and we should stop them.

It contains a piece of information

very valuable to the enemy...

in the war that starts tomorrow,

weather permitting.

What? Why didn't somebody

let me in on this? Stebbins, let's get busy.

Plenty of time. Lunch first.

Wait a minute. You might be of help.

I thought up a little plan

for forcing Fisher's hand.

Let's have it.

The neatest thing to do

would be to kidnap Fisher's daughter.

Yeah?

One of his few genuine traces of affection

is for Miss Fisher.

Easy. You're speaking to a man in love.

Good. Gives you a chance to get chummy,

to keep her happy at your side...

while we batter old Papa.

This is my little scheme.

I let Fisher know that his daughter is

in the hands of someone...

who means business just as he does

when he kidnaps people...

- and he'll see things our way.

- Nothing doing.

Arert you a newspaperman?

- That doesn't include kidnapping fiances.

- It would, if your country were at stake.

- This isn't my country.

- It's your story. Don't be gloomy.

She doesn't have to know

what you're doing. Keep her amused.

Why not grab Fisher, have a showdown?

That's no good.

We've got nothing on Fisher.

He'd slip out of it. He has been for years.

We'd merely kill Van Meer.

Darling, are you all right?

Why were you on the tower?

Keeping safe, I thought.

Those assassins followed,

there was a scuffle, and over he went.

They won't stop till they get you.

You must leave London immediately.

The one thing everybody forgets

is that I'm a reporter.

- And there's a war. I can't run from it.

- He can't stay here.

- Tell him how desperate they are.

- Don't stay here, why don't you take him?

I won't go.

Isn't there some maiden aunt

in the country?

- My Aunt Margaret. Let me take you there.

- How about it?

- Stay out of this.

- It's the only sensible thing to do.

May I use your telephone?

Hello, Stiles. Miss Carol speaking.

Please tell Mr. Fisher I'm driving

to my Aunt Margaret's at Harpenden.

- I don't care what you arrange. I won't go.

- I'll be back for dinner. Thank you.

- It's all settled. We'll get you a toothbrush.

- Carol, it's no good.

I wonder if this idea of your aunt

is so good.

Maybe you should go further,

say, Cambridge.

No place is as obscure as Harpenden.

It's not the place, but that Krug

might connect you with it.

- Maybe so. Let's make it Cambridge.

- I'll phone your father so he doesn't worry.

Thank you. Please, Johnny.

That was a break, her coming,

and suggesting they go to the country.

As a matter of fact, old boy...

I suggested it to her on the phone

about half an hour ago.

There hasn't been a sign of anybody

for the last 30 miles.

- What's the matter?

- Nothing.

At least talk to me.

It's unfair of you to sit and pout...

because I've kidnapped you

from your so-called duties.

You've kidnapped me?

Just remember that.

Please forgive me.

Sure. I don't think kidnapping's anything

to get sore about...

- when the right kidnapper does it. Do you?

- Not at all.

Thanks.

Hello?

No, Mr. Ffolliott, I'm afraid he's not in yet.

Very well, sir.

- Johnny, you don't love me.

- You're crazy.

- You looked unappy kissing me.

- Never happier in my life.

Wort do. Johnny, what's happened?

I don't know.

They say war's coming tomorrow.

You've changed your philosophy

since yesterday.

There are more important things

than love.

I've got lots to do, important things.

Got to start.

It'll take three hours to get back.

Don't misunderstand me.

I'm so love with you, I'm going mad.

Wort do. I guess it can't be helped.

- You've turned European overnight.

- That's unfair.

I'm just as big a jackass as ever. Bigger.

You're not going back to London to dinner.

You can't run out on your kidnapper.

I mean, you know what I mean.

If you leave, I'll go back to London

and let them bump me off.

- It'll be a relief at that.

- You are moody.

Am I the cause of it?

If you knew how much I loved you,

you'd faint.

There. What'd I tell you?

Come in.

- Mr. Haverstock?

- Yes?

Call from London.

- Have them switch it here.

- The only phone here is in the office.

All right. I'll come down.

Forgive me for a moment, dear.

Just a moment, sir.

- Hello?

- Is that you, Haverstock?

Are you alone? Can you talk?

I can't reach Fisher.

He's been out all afternoon.

You'll have to keep the girl there

much longer than we planned.

I don't know when he'll return.

I've got to catch him alone.

Better keep her there

for the rest of the night.

That's absolutely impossible.

We can't let this thing go now.

I can't very well explain,

but I couldn't pull a thing like that.

There's nothing else to be done.

I'm counting on you.

Hello?

Are you quite satisfied

with your room, sir?

Not exactly. I mean, yes...

But what I really wanted

was another room as well.

A single room.

Mr. Naysmith, this gentleman wants

another room.

Is it for the lady

and how long do you need it?

She'll only be here just the one night.

- The gentleman has Number 7.

- What about Number 8?

It doesn't really make any difference.

Just a good room, windows and all that.

I understand.

Perhaps the room next to yours

would be best.

It's quite a cozy room, isn't it, Number 8?

- They're all alike to me, sir.

- Eight will do.

Will you bring the lady down

to sign the book, please?

Yes, I'll get her.

- Good evening, sir.

- Good evening.

Terrible thing, sir, that poor man

who was here this morning.

- Yes, terrible. My bags all packed?

- Yes, sir.

What about Miss Carol's?

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