Seven Days to Noon

Morning, Davis.

Good morning, sir.

This has just come across from

the Prime Minister, 10 Downing St.

Oh.

Davis, bring me the personnel

file for the Government

Research Laboratory at

Wallingford, will you?

What's the name

of the fellow in charge of it?

Er... Dolby, sir.

"Professor Dolby, born 1894..."

All right!

Hello? Get me Prof Dolby of

the Govt Research Lab at Wallingford.

Yes.

What do you make of that, Davis?

Another one for the loony bin.

Still, its a new line.

No abuse, no obscenity,

just a polite note from

one gentleman to another.

Posted last night, on Sunday.

Hello? Oh, yes.

Hello. Prof Dolby?

This is Superintendent Folland,

Special Branch, Scotland Yard.

I believe a Prof Willingdon's on your

staff. Is he with you this morning?

Yes, I'll hold on.

What have you got on Willingdon?

"Born 1893, second son of George

Arthur Willingdon, Bishop of Hampton."

"Educated Rugby and Cambridge."

"Natural science tripos, 1921 prizeman.

Oliver Chair of Physics,

Birmingham, 1927-32."

"Assistant Director of Research,

Cavendish Labs, Cambridge, to 1940."

"In British team for

New Mexico, 1943. Made

senior research worker

at Wallingford, 1945."

Hello, yes. He's not with you?

Have you any idea where he is?

I must speak to your chief security

officer. Can you get me put through?

What do MI5 say about him?

Nothing... clean sheet.

Hmm.

Hello, Farrer. Folland

here. I've got to speak

freely, so I'm coming

off this line. Stand by.

AX2.

Farrer, can you hear me?

We've got a letter Prof Willingdon

is supposed to have written to the PM

It may be a hoax but I shall have to

ask you to make a magazine check.

When was the last count?

I see. Yes, yes, as quick as you can.

It's the simplest way out of that one

Reminds me of the fellow

that kept writing to the Archbishop.

What was that?

He called himself Solomon Eagle and

went about in a goatskin and sandals.

He painted himself blue

and tried to set fire to St Paul's!

Oh, yes. This chap's done it well.

Did you notice the address?

He's used a real embossing stamp.

Has he?

Folland here.

Yes Farrer...

What?!

Last night? Hold on.

Lay on two cars and four men.

Farrer, I am coming down.

Until I arrive nobody must enter the

place or leave. See you in an hour.

Your pass, please, sir.

Right, thank you, sir.

Is this photo like him?

- Is this photo like him?

- Yes, quite.

Has he the run of the place?

Of course! Why shouldnt he?

Hes our senior research worker!

He was here until lunch yesterday.

If he came back,

would your police know?

Everybodys checked in and out.

Ask the local security, Rogers.

- The letter was posted at Paddington.

- Has he a car?

No.

Rogers, check at the railway station.

Sorry.

Here's Willingdon's assistant,

Stephen Lane.

Good. My name's Folland.

Scotland Yard, Special Branch.

Oh?

When did you last see the professor?

Lunchtime yesterday. Since then

he's been working at home.

No, he isnt at home. Weve lost him.

Lost him?

He didnt go home last night.

Been with Prof Willingdon long?

Five years.

Ever go to his home?

Yes, fairly often.

Friend of the family?

Yes. Why?

Just answer the questions. When you

last saw him, did he seem normal?

Of course.

He wasn't overworked?

Well... not more than any of us.

I see.

We shall have to visit his family.

Can Lane come with us?

Certainly.

Come on, Lane. Come on.

Is this something pretty dodgy?

Dodgy? Could be.

Steve!

Hello, darling. Ann, this is

Supt Folland from Scotland Yard.

Good morning.

How do you do? Do come in.

Carter! Thompson!

Sit down, Mr Folland.

Thank you.

I'm afraid Daddy's not in, Steve.

We know. Any idea where he is?

I'm afraid not. He's awfully vague.

He may ring up shortly. Of course,

he might have gone into Oxford.

Without a word to anyone?

Yes. If he missed his train

he'd not phone, because of Mummy.

- Oh?

- She's an invalid.

Get through to Oxford, Carter.

You sound very serious.

Has something happened?

What is it, Ann?

Steve and Mr Folland

are worried about Daddy.

Worried? Why?

Your husband's very important.

We have to take great care of him.

What was he wearing?

His dark grey suit.

And his old raincoat.

Any hat?

A grey felt.

Did he take anything?

Maybe. He has a case for his night

things, which he takes to the lab.

He often slept at the labs.

Send that description out.

Right, sir.

You know what work he does.

Does he discuss it with you?

It would be a one-sided discussion.

I see. Thank you.

Sorry to have disturbed you.

Just a minute. I think you've heard

something about my husband.

You needn't be afraid to tell us.

I can see that. If he contacts you,

please let me know at once.

You'll find me there.

Thank you.

Steve!

Steve, what's all this about?

It looks like a security job.

Maybe your father took some papers.

Dont they trust him?

We're so damned scared,

we can't trust anybody. Don't worry.

Let me know if you hear anything.

Shes a nice girl.

I've always thought so.

You'll have to come to London.

Why?

That's where I think he is.

Where's your billet?

In the village.

Collect your things.

Drop me at the laboratories,

then take Mr Lane to his digs.

Don't you think it might be better

if you put me in the picture?

All right. Willingdon has stolen

a UR12 bomb from Wallingford.

What?!

He's told the Prime

Minister that unless it's

announced that Britain will

make no more such weapons...

...he'll set it off and destroy

the seat of government".

It would wipe out half London!

If the PM makes no announcement...

...your professor will explode

the bomb at noon on Sunday next.

Today's Monday.

I can't believe it.

How big's a UR12?

The size of a portable typewriter.

He could easily

have it in his suitcase.

Yes.

We've had no new vehicles since '45.

If we'd had them, we shouldn't

have had the men to maintain them I

Wait here, please.

Hello, Grant.

Good morning.

Any idea what's on?

No...

Just got a message from the PM.

So did we.

When's the Army gonna get new stuff?

Cant afford it.

False teeth come first nowadays!

- Prime Minister, my information is...

- Leith can confirm it.

...that a UR12 exploded

on Westminster Bridge...

...will lay flat an area from

Rotherhithe to Notting Hill Gate.

That is so.

A hoax can now be ruled out. Willingdon

has disappeared and

presumably has a UR12.

Is he bluffing?

Young man wants a haircut.

I saw my old staff driver.

Know what he was up to? Towing

a damn trailer round a fairground!

A UR12 is actuated by a

timer. The explosion must

be set to occur within

15 minutes of starting it.

Could it explode prematurely?

Not accidentally. There are two

components, each useless on its own.

The timer can be set to operate

instantly at the touch of a trigger.

At least Willingdon can't

plant the thing and leave.

No. Find Willingdon

and you'll find the UR12 with him.

A description's gone out.

In an hour we start a comb-out.

I see. All right, Folland.

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