The 39 Steps Page #4

into this difficult position?

I can't lock you up in a room

or anything like that.

There's my wife and daughters

to think of.

I don't know what to think.

Really, I don't.

Making it doubly important

that I shouldn't let you go is...

I'm about to convey some very vital

information out of the country.

Yes, I've got it.

Poor Annabella

would have been too late.

- That's fair.

- Yes. What about it?

- What about what?

- Yourself.

- It seems there's only one way out.

- What's that?

Supposing I left you alone

with this revolver?

Tomorrow's newspapers would announce

that the Portland Place murderer...

- had taken his own life.

- I thought you were coming directly.

We've all been waiting.

- Will Mr. Hammond be staying?

- I don't think so, dear.

Well, what do you think,

Mr. Hannay?

I'm afraid

you leave me no alternative.

I cannot find my hymn book.

- Where did you leave it?

- In the breast pocket of my overcoat.

It was hanging here.

I'm afraid I gave it to that gentleman

who was staying here that night.

Cigarette cases, yes, but I've never

seen it happen to a hymn book before.

And this bullet stuck

among the hymns, eh?

I'm not surprised. Some of those hymns

are terrible hard to get through.

I've stuck in them myself

before now.

I'm not complaining, Sheriff.

"Hymns that have helped me. "

That's a good one!

That's fine.

And to think I was drinking

his champagne only half an hour before.

It's a lesson to us all: not to mix

with doubtful company on the Sabbath.

And how did you escape?

If you look through the window,

you'll see.

They put the body

in the dressing room.

When I came to, I borrowed this suit

and pinched his car.

I don't want to hurry you,

but shouldn't we take steps?

This is serious. Otherwise, I wouldn't

put myself in your hands...

- with a murder charge hanging over me.

- Never heed the murder.

You'll be able to convince

Scotland Yard of your innocence...

as easily

as you've convinced me.

I'll need a short statement

I can forward to the proper authority.

I have someone coming

from the police station to take it down.

Thank you.

- Are you wishing to see me?

- Indeed, I am.

Do you think I enjoy playing for time

with a murderer?

- "Murderer"?

- Certainly.

You're under arrest on the charge

of willful murder...

of a woman unknown in Portland

Mansions, London on Tuesday last.

- Take him over to the county jail.

- Every word of my story is true.

We are not so daft in Scotland

as some smart Londoners may think.

Do you think I believed your

cock-and-bull story about the professor?

He's my best friend in the district.

Get me Professor Jordan.

If the professor didn't shoot me,

where did that bullet come from?

That's easy.

From one of your pursuers on the moor.

- Isn't that so, Inspector?

- I had a shot at him myself.

I demand you allow me to telephone the

High Commissioner for Canada in London.

You better do that from London.

You'll be there soon enough.

It'll save you the cost

of a trunk call.

That's the professor's car.

Hannay must be inside

spilling the beans.

- Stop him!

- My God!

How do you do?

We're all waiting for you.

Pamela's gone to meet you

at the station. This way.

Leader and standard-bearer himself.

I welcome this opportunity

of discussing with you...

another question vital

to the import of our country...

at this critical

and momentous hour.

But first of all,

as a preliminary to this...

- I shall occupy your time...

- You've occupied too much time already!

We've had enough of you!

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm now going

to call upon the speaker of the evening.

- Speak up!

- There's no need to say who he is...

or to speak of his brilliant record

as a soldier and a statesman.

He's a son of Scotland who has crossed

the border and conquered England.

He is now one

of the foremost figures...

in the diplomatic political world

in the great city of London.

I'm, therefore, going to ask him

to tell you something...

- It's about time too.

- How important it is...

to this constituency

that at this crucial by-election...

our candidate should be returned

by an adequate majority.

I now ask for Captain Fraser.

Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize

for my hesitation in rising just now...

but I'd entirely failed

while listening...

to the chairman's flattering description

of the next speaker...

to realize

he was talking about me.

As for you, may I say

from the bottom of my heart...

and with the utmost sincerity...

how delighted and relieved I am

to find myself...

in your presence at this moment.

Delighted because

of your friendly reception...

relieved because so long

as I stand on this platform...

I am delivered from the cares

and anxieties...

which must always be the lot

of a man in my position.

When I journeyed up to Scotland

a few days ago...

traveling on the Highland Express

over that magnificent Forth Bridge...

that monument to Scottish engineering

and Scottish muscle...

That is to say, on that journey

I had no idea that in a few days time...

I should find myself addressing

an important political meeting.

I had planned a very different program

for myself.

A very different program.

You'd be for the moors

to shoot something.

Or somebody.

I'm a rotten shot.

Anyhow, I little thought

I should be speaking tonight...

in support of that brilliant,

young statesman.

That rising...

The gentleman on my right...

already known among you

as one destined to make...

no uncertain mark in politics.

In other words,

your future member of Parliament...

your candidate, Mr...

McCrocodile.

He doesn't know the candidate's name.

I know your candidate will forgive

my referring to him...

by the friendly nickname

by which he's already known...

in anticipation, mark you...

at Westminster.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, we'll

discuss some topic. What shall it be?

- The herring fisheries!

- Unemployment!

- What about the idle rich?

- That's an old-fashioned topic...

especially for me because I'm not rich

and I've never been idle.

I've been pretty busy all my life,

and I expect to be much busier soon.

Have you ever worked

with your hands?

Indeed I have. I've known what it is

to feel lonely and helpless...

and have the whole world

against me.

Those are things that no man

or woman ought to feel.

I ask your candidate...

and all those who love

their fellowmen...

to set themselves resolutely to make

this world a happier place to live in.

A world where no nation

plots against nation...

where no neighbor

plots against neighbor...

where there is no persecution

or hunting down...

where everybody gets a square deal

and a sporting chance...

and where people try to help

and not to hinder.

A world from which suspicion

and cruelty...

and fear have been

forever banished.

That is the sort of world I want!

Is that the sort of world you want?

Fine!

That's all I have to say.

Good night!

- I kept them going as long as I could.

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