Our Man in Havana Page #2

Atomic submarines don't.

Quite right,

but wars start a little behind the times.

We also need economic intelligence.

- Sugar, coffee, tobacco.

- It's all in the government yearbooks.

Oh, we never rely on them.

Someone's coming.

Mustn't be seen together.

- But we have been seen together.

- Don't argue. I know the ropes.

- Can I come out now?

- Give me time to get away.

That was a policeman from the bar.

May be a bit suspicious.

He might have recognised my legs

under the door.

Do you think we ought to change trousers?

Wouldn't look natural, old man.

Still, you're getting the idea.

Come and see me at 10:00 tonight.

Room 506, Capri Hotel.

Sign Official Secrets Act, all that rubbish.

You don't really think I'll come?

$150 a month and expenses, old man.

Tax-free.

- Where have you been, Father?

- Walking.

- Well, what have you got an umbrella for?

- Oh, I picked it up.

You're very irresponsible. You missed

a chicken hot-pot la Seraphina.

You aren't still worried, are you,

about Capt. Segura?

Are you happy at school, Milly?

- No one pulls your hair now?

- No.

And you don't set fire to people?

That was when I was 13.

Father, I don't really want it.

It doesn't matter.

Now listen, Milly.

If suddenly I made a lot of money,

how would you like to go to Switzerland?

To a finishing school?

It isn't very good riding country.

Awfully expensive.

- Couldn't we instead...

- What?

Join the country club?

Tax a-free.

What are you doing, Father?

Do you remember last year at the circus,

that clown?

The one who fell off the tightrope

into the bucket of whitewash?

We should all be clowns, Milly.

- Are you still unhappy about Mother?

- Sometimes.

- But, of course, I pray for her.

- That she comes back?

Oh, no, not that. We don't need her.

- No, that she'll be a good Catholic again.

- I'm not a Catholic.

That's different. You're invincibly ignorant.

I expect I am.

I'm not insulting you, Father.

It's only theology.

What else do you pray?

Well, of course, lately...

I've been concentrating on the horse.

- Can't you stay a little longer?

- There are things I've got to arrange.

- About the horse.

- Father!

It's wonderful how you always get

what you pray for.

You go to sleep.

Can't be too careful.

I've brought you back your umbrella.

Sorry I'm late.

- You've moved the Lamb.

- I was just looking around.

You seem fond of Lamb's

Tales from Shakespeare.

- One copy's for you.

- But I don't read Lamb.

It's not meant for reading.

You never heard of a book code?

- As a matter of fact, no.

- I keep one copy.

All you do when you communicate with me,

is to indicate the page and the line...

where you begin the coding.

You understand?

Well, I'll explain in a minute.

It's rather complicated and not very secure.

- You got an electric kettle?

- Yes. Why?

For opening letters, of course.

And plastic knitting needles.

You'll want those.

- I've brought you some ink.

- I have plenty of ink.

Secret ink.

For communicating with your agents.

- Well, I haven't any agents.

- Your first job is to recruit some.

If you run short of ink,

you can always use bird droppings.

Your code number is 59200l5.

I, of course, am 59200.

You will number your sub-agents 59200l5l1

and so on.

Do you get the idea?

I don't see how I can

possibly be of any use to you.

- You refuse to serve your country?

- I didn't say that. It's just that...

Well, the vacuum cleaners

take up a lot of time.

It's an excellent cover.

- Your profession has quite a natural air.

- It is natural.

Now, if you don't mind,

we'll get down to our Lamb.

This code is damned hard to break

without knowing the name of the book.

Why did you choose Lamb?

It's the only book I could find here

in duplicate except Uncle Tom's Cabin.

I was in a hurry and had to get something.

Mr. Wormold, please attend.

Now, think of a message you might be

sending to me, and we'll put it into code.

Received your esteemed order

of the 23rd inst.

Really, Wormold,

you'll have to do better than that.

- Good morning, sir.

- Good morning.

Come in.

You wanted me, sir?

Just a gossip, 59200.

All going well?

I think

we've got the Caribbean network sewn up.

Just put me in the picture.

I think

you'll find the West Indies over here, sir.

I always mix up the East

and the West Indies.

Haiti is here, sir.

Here in Martinique, we are working

with the French Deuxieme Bureau.

- Only up to a point.

- Of course, sir.

Here I am, in Kingston.

And here is Cuba.

I'm not quite so happy about 59200l5.

- Who's he?

- Our man in Havana, sir.

He hasn't sent in any reports yet,

or recruited a single sub-agent.

What type is he?

Commercial. In the import business.

I trust he's a man of substance, Hawthorne.

Small men are worse than useless.

Oh, definitely, sir. Definitely.

One of those old-fashioned merchants.

- But you haven't had any word from him?

- Only one cable, sir...

asking us to pay his membership

at the country club.

- I rather hesitated about that.

- Why?

As a matter of fact...

it's about 10 times as expensive

as the best London club.

Haunt of millionaires.

That's exactly where our man should be.

Right place for contacts.

Don't be penny-wise, Hawthorne.

That's not the way these old merchant

adventurers built up their business.

- Do you read Kipling?

- No, sir.

- How does he communicate?

- I taught him the book code, sir.

I gave him Tales from Shakespeare.

He seems to be using it for reading only.

Send him a sharp cable, Hawthorne.

Men like that who exercise authority,

understand authority.

Take this down.

Following from "C."

Absolutely essential recruit agents

without delay.

Send names you propose immediately

for checking.

Perhaps I'm being too severe, Hawthorne?

The country club cost us

Five hundred?

Add this, Hawthorne.

Unless for recruiting agents, what other

possible use has the country club?

Come on.

Father!

What are you doing here?

I thought it was about time

I met my fellow members.

- Isn't she lovely?

- Take care with her.

Excuse me, sir. May I help you?

No, thank you. I am a member.

My name's Wormold.

- Oh, Miss Milly's father.

- That's right.

Sorry, sir.

I did it! Did you see me?

Oh, it's such a great feeling.

It's a difficult situation for any ministry.

A full report has been sent through

to the government.

Forgive me.

I couldn't help overhearing what you said.

Perhaps we could have a word privately.

Haven't I met you somewhere before?

The Embassy?

Good heavens, no. I never go there.

You'll have to

if you want to see me in private.

I happen to be the Ambassador.

- Copy of the club's membership, sir.

- Thank you.

Happy event, meeting you here, Cifuentes.

Can you tell me what we are talking about

and why?

There is a proposition

I wish to make to you.

In private.

- Come to the office.

- Bar's a good place, engineer.

Run into a chap, have a get-together.

What more natural?

- Waiter.

- Yes, sir?

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