Sabotage Page #3

---

He's the quietest, most harmless

home-Ioving person.

Well, what luck with Mrs. Verloc?

- She knows nothing, sir, nothing at all.

- What makes you think so?

She has a straight answer to everything,

besides her manner...

Pretty woman?

- What's that got to do with it, sir?

- I know,

I'm too tender-hearted myself,

especially where women are concerned.

What about Verloc?

I'm not certain, but if he is mixed up

in this, he's not giving himself away.

I'm not so sure about that.

Your assistant, what's his...

Hollingshead.

Hollingshead was signaled

by you this morning to follow this man.

- Yes, sir.

- Just reach me that paper, will you?

This is his report, telephoned

from a call box 10 minutes ago.

"Verloc went to the zoo aquarium,

evidently by appointment,

"and met a certain foreign individual

who handed him a paper.

"He then proceeded to 465 Liverpool Road,

Islington, which is a bird shop.

"I'm waiting for him to come out

and report again later on."

- Islington?

- Exactly.

Doesn't mean much to me, either.

But I can't understand, madam,

one of my best songbirds.

It sang all day before you purchased it.

Perhaps in a few days it will settle down.

Nothing will make it settle down.

I've tried all ways,

whistling to it, clapping me hands,

frying bacon, no use.

It just sits there and makes me look silly.

- Not the bird's fault, I assure you, madam.

- Isn't it?

I'll have my two and nine, please,

and there's your bird back.

I want a canary for company.

Perhaps I can make him sing.

(WHISTLING)

(BIRD SINGING)

There, now.

- Are you sure it was him?

- Listen again.

(WHISTLES)

(BIRD SINGING)

Didn't see his beak open.

Of course you did. There's a good boy.

Now, don't forget, plenty of watercress

and you must whistle to him.

Me whistle? Perhaps you'd like me to sit

in the cage and him do the housework.

Yes, of course, you want something

from my other department, don't you?

Hmm?

This way.

My daughter.

Much better than having strangers

doing for you.

Strangers too inquisitive, you know.

Now, where are my keys?

(TSKING)

How very careless.

She oughtn't to let the child play up here.

A bit dangerous.

There you are. No father, no discipline.

What can you expect?

Is the little girl's father dead?

I don't know.

He might be.

I don't know. Nobody knows.

My daughter would like to know, too.

But there you are.

It's her cross and she must bear it.

We all have our cross to bear.

Hmm?

(SIGHS)

Everything there looks pretty harmless.

You are right, my friend.

But if I were to mix,

say, a little tomato sauce

with some strawberry jam, then...

I gather from our mutual friend

that Saturday is the day,

and the hour 1:
45.

But how do I start the mechanism?

You leave that to me.

By the time you receive it,

everything will have been set in motion.

You seem a little nervous. Don't be afraid.

Say to yourself,

there is one man who envies you.

Envies me?

I've been a fighter always until now.

But alas, I'm no longer wanted

in the frontline.

I must keep the fighters supplied.

But I would rather be in your shoes.

My dear, just look here.

Yes, yes, perhaps you're right.

I must have put it there myself.

(GRUNTS)

There, there. No harm done.

Well, I think everything is quite clear.

Slap me hard.

Granddad's been very naughty.

Look there. What's he doing?

He might be watching me. Why not?

They probably know too much already.

They'll raid you one day.

I shall give them

a nice, warm welcome if they do.

He didn't see me.

On Saturday without fail, sir.

Two canaries in a nice cage

with a very deep tray.

Don't forget, Saturday at 1:45.

Good day, sir.

Good day.

That child again.

SHOP OWNER:
And now, sir.

MAN:
I want a nice singing canary.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

SHOP OWNER:
A canary, you said,

and my dear little birds

at once answer for themselves.

MRS. VERLOC:
Of course I realized

he wasn't a greengrocer's assistant at all.

I mean, a greengrocer's assistant

can hardly afford to lunch at Simpsons,

can he?

He's really quite well off,

and he's there to learn the business.

It's one of a big chain, that shop.

If you ask me, I believe he's the son

of the man who owns them.

How would you like a job

selling fruit, Stevie?

I wouldn't mind with Ted.

He makes it all sound fun.

Wouldn't it be grand to have steak

whenever you like?

Crumbs, I'd have it three times a day.

- You'd soon get sick of it.

- Bet I wouldn't.

I don't see how you could get sick of

things to eat, except poached eggs.

MRS. VERLOC:
What's the matter

with poached eggs?

STEVIE:
I think they're the worst things

in the world. I bet Ted doesn't eat them.

I'm sure he does.

I bet he doesn't.

They're beneath his dignity.

MRS. VERLOC:
I don't think Ted's

so terribly dignified.

Well, he's too dignified to eat eggs.

- See, you're bunching it up.

- It's all right, Stevie.

Do you think Ted will come with us

and sail it?

He might if you ask him.

He's more likely to if you ask him.

STEVIE:
Sailing boats is fun. I like it,

but Ted knows about all sorts of things.

Gangsters and burglars and everything.

MRS. VERLOC:
How does he know?

STEVIE:
He reads about them.

He says gangsters are not

nearly so frightening as you'd think.

Some of them are quite ordinary

looking, like you and me and Mr. Verloc.

Perhaps he's right.

After all, if gangsters look like gangsters,

the police would soon get after them,

wouldn't they, I mean?

Sixpence, please.

Thank you.

Is Mr. Verloc in?

- Was he expecting you?

- Yes.

- Do you know your way through?

- Yes, I think so.

- Pass one, Jack.

- Thank you.

I have an appointment with Mr. Verloc.

- Do you know your way through?

- No.

You go right through the theater.

Pass one, Jack.

Thank you.

GREENGROCER:
Lady there, Ted.

A pound of those apples, please.

I'll have to slip away in a minute.

Maybe I won't be bothering you anymore

again after tonight.

MAN:
Thank you.

Keep an eye, Jim, will you?

- One balcony, please.

- Pass one, Jack.

WOMAN ON SCREEN... I'm glad you found

this. It's the most important of the lot.

I'll burn it, too.

MAN ON SCREEN... Allow me.

WOMAN... Oh, thank you.

Well, all our troubles are over now.

Oh!

(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)

(MAN GROANING)

MAN 1... Look out.

Oh, look out!

MAN 2... Come on, Ridley!

Hello, Ted. Where are you going?

Just going to have a word with Mr. Verloc.

He doesn't talk through loudspeakers.

- Is that what's in there?

- Only the screen, not much to look at.

(MAN CHA TTERING)

(MAN GROANING)

Where does that lead to?

To our front room.

You remember when it fell open.

I'll give old Mr. V a surprise.

MAN 1... Master Don.

MAN 2... Come out of there.

MAN 1... I'm your nephew.

MAN 2... Are you?

MAN 2... Don't fiddle about, that's no good.

Leave it to me, I'll get it out of him.

(MAN 1 YELLS)

MAN 1... Don't you do that to me.

MAN 2... Well, don't you talk like that to me.

Remember I'm your uncle. Older...

Rate this script:3.0 / 1 vote