Our Man in Havana Page #7

But that's what we want you to find out,

old man.

Just be careful of everyone.

Drink up your planter's punch.

Cigarettes only, please, sir.

Are you with Nucleaners?

- Yes.

- I'm with Phastkleaners?

- How's business?

- Not so bad.

We've got a new model

that's going to swipe your market.

Special silencer.

Going to call it the Whisper Wife.

This is my first trip.

Gay spot, Havana, they tell me.

If you care for roulette and brothels.

I didn't exactly mean...

Not that I'm a puritan, mind.

I suppose it will be interesting.

Here's my card.

Perhaps you'll have a night free.

My name's Wormold.

You going to the

European Traders' luncheon tomorrow?

Yes. I don't know a soul.

Keep an eye on me.

I don't want to put my foot wrong.

Well, you can keep an eye on me, too.

- Just off?

- You haven't had any breakfast.

I'm not hungry.

- You won't overeat at the Traders' lunch?

- I promise I'll be very careful.

I bet your speech will be a sensation.

I'm trying very hard

not to be a sensation at this lunch, Milly.

Give me another kiss.

You haven't shaved on that side.

Please. I wish you wouldn't go.

London wouldn't want you to,

whatever Hawthorne thinks.

If I don't go, they'll try something else.

They strike at you through what you love,

so Hasselbacher says.

Don't worry about Milly.

I'll watch her like a lynx.

And who's going to watch you?

Oh, for goodness' sake, put that knife down.

Eleven more lids

and we can get an airgun for the office.

We need some sort of weapon.

I've only got to be careful what I eat.

It is important to find out who they are.

I'll have done something for my money.

But you've done plenty. The drawings,

Segura. There is no point in going.

Oh, yes there is. Pride.

- Who are you showing off to?

- You.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Senator, let me introduce Mr. Wormold.

Your president Dr. Braun has been telling

me that I'm going to have the pleasure...

- of hearing you speak.

- I hope it'll be a pleasure.

Mr. Wormold.

Come away from here.

They're planning to poison you.

- Is the food so bad?

- Hello.

You mustn't be seen here, Hasselbacher,

you're too conspicuous.

You can't stay.

Now, don't worry.

I'm going to come out on my own two feet.

- Now go home, Hasselbacher.

- Good-bye, Jim.

- Damn glad to see you.

- Oh, I'm glad to see you too, Carter.

No, thank you.

Perhaps you would prefer a dry martini, sir.

- Is your name Louis?

- Yes, sir.

Would you like a Scotch, sherry,

Old-Fashioned? Anything you care to order.

- I'm not drinking.

- You'd do better to drink all you can.

My name's MacDougal.

It seems we're sitting together.

- I haven't met you before, have I?

- But I've taken over from Mclntyre.

- You knew Mclntyre, surely?

- Yes. I didn't know he'd gone.

Gone. God rest his soul.

You'd do better to drink now.

It's all you'll be getting.

There'll be wine, won't there?

Look! An American blue plate lunch

in honour of our great American allies.

They shove the whole meal at you,

under your nose, already dished out.

Roast turkey, cranberry sauce, sausages

and carrots. And creamed potatoes.

I can't bear creamed potatoes, but there's

no pick and choose with a blue plate.

No pick and choose.

No, you eat what you're given.

That's democracy, man.

Look, if you take a little of your iced water

and hold it under the table...

- I've got a flask in my pocket.

- It's too early in the day for me.

It was the English who made hours

for drinking, not the Scots.

They'll be making hours for dying next.

- Svenson.

- Wormold.

They've forgotten my carrots.

You prefer it without carrots.

No, it's the creamed potatoes

that I don't like.

Excuse me, Dr. Braun.

They gave you no carrots.

- I don't like carrots.

- I'm sorry. A mistake in the kitchen.

I might venture now, as a celebration.

- Good man. Water or straight?

- Straight.

I can't tell you what it means to me,

having you fellows here today.

It was a happy chance meeting you

on the plane.

Now I'm going to call upon

the representative of Hoover's.

Mr. Wormold.

We've finished all my whisky

just when you need Dutch courage.

I came armed as well.

Here, take a quick one.

We may take Mr. Wormold

as a symbol for all that service means.

- Modesty, perseverance and efficiency.

- Very kind of you, Carter.

You gotta be quick.

You wouldn't appreciate this.

Mr. Wormold.

Mr. President, Mr. Senator...

this is my first,

and I daresay some of you wish...

it may be my last public appearance.

I don't know how I should have the courage

to stand up here...

if my friend Carter hadn't provided me

with something stronger than milk.

- Happy days.

- Happy days.

We hear a lot nowadays about the Cold War.

But any trader will tell you

that the war between two manufacturers...

can be quite a hot war.

Sorry.

Take Phastkleaners and Nucleaners,

for instance.

There's no fundamental difference

between the two machines...

any more than there is

between two human beings.

There'd be very little competition

and certainly no war...

if it wasn't for the ambitions...

of a few men.

I don't suppose that Mr. Carter

even knows the name of the man...

who sent him here to put an end...

to Phastkleaners

for the good of Nucleaners.

What is it? What happened?

- I don't understand it.

- Anything wrong?

He's so still and all wet down one side.

- Somebody must have fed him something.

- Well, let's take him out, shall we?

Mr. Wormold.

I was glad to get your message

that you've agreed to work for me.

I have always wanted our relationship

to be closer.

- What's going on out there?

- Nothing to concern us.

And now that you have agreed

to work for me...

it is much easier to approach you

on a subject which is really important.

I have come to ask

for the hand of your daughter.

Aren't you a rather uncertain life?

They call you the Red Vulture.

You've a lot of enemies.

Mr. Wormold...

as my agent,

your life is not very certain either.

But I have saved enough...

to take care of my widow.

As for my health,

I can show you the necessary certificates.

There will be no difficulty about children.

This has been proved.

I see.

Milly would understand. She's a Catholic.

I think this would be

a most suitable marriage, Mr. Wormold.

- She'd never marry you, Segura.

- Mr. Wormold...

I think that you and Milly have never

so much needed my friendship as today.

Come with me.

I would appreciate your help

on some police business.

Just a formal identification.

You know who it is as well as I do.

Better have a glass of whiskey.

Make it a daiquiri.

It was always a daiquiri

I used to drink with him.

Why do suppose he's holding that?

A present for me.

Have you any idea why this happened?

He warned me I was in danger, that's all.

You'd better check on a man called Carter,

though he'll have an alibi.

This might have been you.

Don't you think that Milly should be safe

from accidents like this?

I would make a better guardian.

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