Scoop

Don't mourn for Joe Strombel.

Joe Strombel led a full life.

A newspaperman

in the best tradition.

A great credit

to the fourth estate.

It didn't matter if the bombs

in the war zone were falling.

It didn't matter how high up

the political scandal went,

or how many big corporations

or small-time racketeers

leaned on him.

Whatever the risk,

if there was a story there,

Joe went after it.

And he usually got it.

Well, I was with him when the

story broke about Prince Charles,

and that made him persona non

grata with the Royal Family.

Except with Diana.

They always remained good friends.

He did love a woman.

Hey, did you know he started

as a police reporter?

- Did he?

- Yeah, he was a bloody good one.

One of the best.

Maybe the best.

I got trapped with Joe once

in Afghanistan.

Yeah?

And we were going to be shot any

moment by the Taliban, until,

typically, Joe found

someone to bribe

So we could escape.

- Not with his own money, though.

- No, no, he got it on expenses.

- Plus 10%.

- Ten percent.

But it did involve us

getting out wearing burkas.

And, well, we lived

to write another day.

- Everyone loved him.

- Yeah.

Not always at

British intelligence.

No, but he got the information

before anyone else.

- Yeah, he did.

- That's right.

Not Richard Nixon, though.

Well, wherever you are now, Joe,

it won't be the same without you, mate.

- To Joe.

- Joe Strombel.

Where are we headed?

Does this

mean anything to you?

He doesn't give answers.

Tried it.

Joe Strombel.

Coronary thrombosis.

Jane Cook.

- So, what do you do?

- Reporter.

You?

I'm... Well, I was

personal secretary to Peter Lyman.

- Lord Lyman's son.

- Yes, impressive young man.

- You knew him?

- No, only by reputation.

But I like what I know.

I think he's got

a real future in politics.

How did you die?

I think I was poisoned.

You think?

Why?

I believe I was poisoned

because I was on the verge of

confirming a terrible suspicion.

Yes?

What suspicion is that?

That Peter Lyman

is the serial killer

known to the police

as the Tarot Card Killer.

What?

I assume

you're aware of that case?

Yeah, I wrote an article two years ago,

when the Tarot killings first started.

But, Peter Lyman? My God.

What on earth made you suspect

this rich, young handsome,

above-reproach citizen?

You remember the last murder?

The police found a clue.

Yes, a cufflink.

I read about it in the paper.

Unusual antique, wasn't it?

Yep. Very rare Art Deco.

Peter had the exact pair.

So could have the Tarot Killer.

The world is full of coincidences.

Yeah, except I noticed

that Peter only had one left.

He'd lost the other.

Still,

although it's a tantalizing thought.

Did you inform the police,

or was that too sticky?

I didn't know what to do,

so I phoned my lawyer

and I asked his advice on

whether to report it or not.

And I thought I heard

this click on the phone,

you know, like someone

had been listening.

Later that day, after tea,

I died suddenly.

That is suspicious.

My God, Peter Lyman.

Hard to believe, but if he did

turn out to be the Tarot Killer,

what a story.

I knew you'd appreciate it when

you said you were a reporter.

This would be a dynamite scoop.

And I got it first.

Yeah. Unfortunately,

where you're headed there is no first.

There's only last.

Mr. Tinsley!

Loved your last picture.

You really have a way

with actors.

Think you could maybe...

Please wait!

- Mr. Tinsley?

- Yeah.

- Sondra Pransky.

- Who?

Sondra Pransky. I'm the

journalism student from Adair.

I wrote to you about getting an

interview for the school newspaper.

And you, well, your secretary,

actually, because... Not you.

I mean, I know how busy

film directors get and all.

But you said if I was in London visiting,

then you would, you know,

and here I am,

which is fantastic.

I think I have

your letter, actually.

- See, right now I'm a bit tied up.

- Here it is!

Here it is.

This is so great for me.

I mean, you've got

a huge following in Rochester.

It gets very cold there.

With your new movie coming out

in the fall, and... Well...

Actually,

I was wondering if we could just

ask you a couple of questions.

Do you mind? Okay, okay, but

we got to be real quick.

I write for the cultural

part of the paper.

I'm looking to move into

more serious pieces.

And when you say something

more serious, that's...

You really want to know?

Well, originally, I wasn't

going to go to college.

I was going to become a dental

hygienist like my sister, Beverly.

And, don't get me wrong,

it's a great profession.

I have very high respect for teeth

and gums, particularly gums.

My whole family's

in orthodontics. But...

- And what? You're vacationing here?

- Oh, yes.

Oh, I'm just very friendly with a

very upper class British family.

Our families vacationed

in Palm Beach together.

My mother

won a visit to Palm Beach

and I became friends with

their granddaughter, Vivian.

She's so lovely.

She'll stay with us...

- Another?

- Oh, thanks.

So I slept with him and I

didn't even get the interview.

I mean,

what kind of a reporter am I?

How was the sex?

Give me all the details.

Who knows? I was so drunk,

I don't even remember.

All I know is that

the second it was over,

he got a phone call and had to

leave suddenly for Thailand.

Thailand?

Yeah, Justin Richards got fired from

some project and he had to take over.

What difference does it make?

The point is,

I told the whole school

I'd get an exclusive

with Michael Tinsley!

You were nervous.

You're inexperienced.

You drank.

He's a charming genius.

But you know, you're a

very attractive, sexy girl.

If you're going to interview movers

and shakers in their hotel rooms,

you better watch out.

Not that I'd mind a roll in

the hay with Michael Tinsley.

I've put some fresh towels

in your bedroom, Sondra.

Thank you, Mrs. Thompson.

Come on, sweetheart. Chop, chop.

You're gonna be late.

Oh, Mom.

The point is I didn't get the story!

I mean, if I'd used

my feminine wiles

like Katharine Hepburn

or Rosalind Russell.

Oh, come on.

We'll go have lunch at The Ivy,

and then we'll take

my little brother

to see that show

he's so excited about,

and then we'll go

to that party tonight.

There'll be

loads of gorgeous guys there.

And you're always saying all the

men you meet are complete losers.

So you blew the story.

It's not life or death.

Ladies and gentlemen,

prepare yourselves

for the astonishing magic

of Splendini!

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,

you're an incredible audience

and I mean that sincerely. I say

that from the bottom of my heart.

You know, every time I come

to London, this great city,

I always get

a sincere sensation,

because you're marvelous

people, beautiful humans.

And for my next experiment...

And I call it an experiment,

you see, not a trick.

I'm gonna need a volunteer.

So if you'll step out

and find someone for me.

This is kind of dangerous

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