Jamaica Inn Page #5

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Will you come this way, miss?

- Could I speak to you for a moment, please?

- Of course.

SIR HUMPHREY:
Really?

(lndistinct voices)

Well, er... We, er...

We must see what we can do, hm?

- Thank you. You're very kind.

- Not at all.

(Door closes)

Oh, er, excuse me, sir.

Chadwick!

Get the erm... fellow some er... bread and beer.

I'll deal with you later.

MAN:
So, I let her have it with nine

eight-pounders, then we went alongside...

"Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,

of moving accidents by flood and field

of hairbreadth 'scapes..."

- Captain Murray, you'll stay to dinner?

- You keep the best table in Cornwall.

- I should hope so. Why go?

- I'm due to rejoin my ship at Falmouth.

By the time you've finished your port

and walnuts, I shall be sailing past the house.

- The deuce you will.

(Door opens)

I must have a word with you.

- Well?

- Er, in private.

There's nothing you can tell me

these gentlemen shouldn't know.

One of a gang of smugglers

from Jamaica Inn.

Smugglers, eh?

Have you got any good brandies through?

Well, yes, as a matter of fact,

- I've got a list of them here.

- Kindly remember I'm a justice of the peace.

Nevertheless, I think you'll be rather interested

in these brandies.

Erm...

Er, gentlemen,

I think I must look into this matter in private.

- What?

- (Chuckles)

Come along, my dear chap.

Pengallan, if you don't find something good

for me, I'll report you to the Commission.

After you, my dear fellow.

I've placed some bread and beer for this person

in the harness room.

Have you now? Place some cold chicken

and claret "for this person" in the study.

Find some clothes for Mr Trehearne.

Mine would be a trifle generous. One of

Lord George's would be nearer the mark.

- For this gentleman?

- Yes. Will you hurry? Hurry!

- Master Humphrey...

- I must apologise.

I hadn't the least idea who you were. Now, a stiff

glass of brandy till you're fed and in dry clothes.

I'm most awfully obliged to you.

Not at all. Come in.

I hold the rank of Lieutenant

in His Majesty's Royal Navy.

I was seconded for duty from the Home Office.

I've been at some pains to conceal my identity.

I still haven't the least notion what it's all about,

but swallow this before you tell me.

I always had a great admiration for the service.

I knew Collingwood well.

All fine fellows. A trifle desiccated, perhaps.

One can't have everything.

Now, what is all this business?

Smuggling?

No, it's much worse than that, sir. Wrecking.

Deliberate, organised wrecking.

- Not here, though?

- Yes, sir. Along this coast.

Always had wrecks here, you know.

A very dangerous coast.

Lloyds discovered that these wrecks

had one curious feature in common.

Indeed? Drink that up.

I think I'll join you with the brandy.

It has been er... quite an eventful morning.

What had these wrecks in common?

There were never any survivors.

Er, Mr Trehearne,

if what you tell me is true,

it's the most dreadful thing I've ever heard.

- We hear of wrecks down here...

- Lloyds consulted with the Home Office.

They became convinced these wreckers

had accurate information

- of the movements and cargoes of ships...

(Knock at door)

Captain Murray

wishes to say goodbye to you, sir.

- Would you excuse me?

- Certainly.

I'm just going. I enjoyed myself immensely.

You're a prince.

- Goodbye, Captain. Bon voyage.

- I'm coming back again.

I shall be thinking of you out there in this wind

when I'm sitting over my port tonight.

- All right?

- Jolly good.

Well, er, Mr Trehearne,

kindly continue.

My researches took me to Jamaica Inn.

The landlord is the ringleader.

That wreck last night was carried out by his men.

- You were actually there?

- No, thank heaven, I was still on probation.

But I helped carry the goods up afterwards.

Have you erm...

Have you reported all this to your superiors?

No, not yet.

I'm after bigger fry than Joss Merlyn.

I don't follow you. Erm...

You er... said he was the ringleader.

At Jamaica Inn, yes,

but he gets his orders from outside.

His information comes from outside.

His thinking's done for him outside.

- By whom?

- I don't know.

Merlyn's own wife doesn't know. The gang don't

even know. That's the man we've got to find.

(Wind howls)

Yes, Joss has called the men for tonight.

There's to be another wreck.

They won't know where

until they get information from their leader.

In order to give them that information,

he'll be going to the inn tonight.

- We must get there first.

- We can't do that single-handed.

I'll ride for help to the nearest garrison.

But that'll take time. We mustn't let this fellow

slip through our fingers.

You and I will go to the inn. My groom can take

a message to the garrison at Truro for you.

Take some of those.

You say Merlyn's riffraff won't be there till later?

I fancy we two can hold the fort

till the military come.

- I'm game, if you are, sir.

- Excellent. This is positively exciting.

(Knock at door)

- Come in.

- Chadwick, your money or your life?

- The clothes, sir. I've not told Lord George.

Who's the commander at Truro?

Er...

Captain... Boyle, an Irishman, I believe.

Good fellow in a pinch.

I'll write him a note.

No, I'll do that.

You get into Lord George's breeches.

To, er...

Captain... Boyle... erm...

officer commanding...

...county militia,

Truro.

What shall I erm... say to him?

You know this style of thing.

Your help is needed urgently.

Your er... help?

Help, yes. Help.

Is... needed... urgently.

(Jem continues dictating)...which...

SIR HUMPHREY:
For which...?

For which, er...? For which, er...

JEM:
to give your immediate attention...

JEM:
I have with me an officer of the law,

James Trehearne...

SIR HUMPHREY:
Officer of the law,

James Trehearne.

JEM:
Got that? All right, Sir Humphrey?

SIR HUMPHREY:
Yes.

He reports that the wreckers have their

headquarters at Jamaica Inn, Pengallan.

And has enough evidence

to hang the landlord and his accomplices.

- Are you ready?

- Yes.

A miraculous fit.

You put Lord George in the shade, what?

I'd better get you a hat.

Chadwick!

- We must leave at once, you know.

- One moment, sir.

The girl, Miss Yellan,

she mustn't know about this.

Oh, no, no, no. That must wait.

Poor thing. Evidently devoted to her relative.

I had no choice, Sir Humphrey.

I couldn't tell her the truth.

Tell Sam I want him at once. Where is he?

- In the kitchen, sir.

- Sam!

You'd better have a warm cloak.

Get Mr Trehearne the blue cloak,

not the one with the astrakhan collar,

get him a hat, and get me my cloak and hat.

- Oh, Sam.

- Ride into Truro as fast as you can.

Deliver that to Captain Boyle

at Militia Headquarters.

SIR HUMPHREY:
Gallop all the way.

SAM:
Very good, sir.

Would you be good enough to tell Robbins

I want my coach at once? Come along.

Chadwick!

- Your coat, sir.

- Oh, thank you.

Would you tell Mrs Black

to look after the young lady

and if she can persuade her

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