The 39 Steps Page #6

will you? Please.

Of course we will not give you up.

A good night to you both.

- You'll not be disturbed.

- But...

Thank God for a bite to eat.

Come along.

There you are.

What's the next item

on the program?

- Get these things off.

- Right. How will we set about it?

Anything in that bag of yours

that will help?

- A pair of scissors or a hairpin?

- Do you think a nail file would help?

Easily. It'll take about ten years,

but we can try it.

Let's make ourselves comfortable.

What about that skirt of yours?

It's still pretty damp.

I don't want to be tied to a pneumonia

case on top of everything else.

- Take it off. I don't mind.

- I'll keep it on, thank you.

And that is that.

My shoes and stockings are soaked.

I think I'll take them off.

That's the first sensible thing

I've heard you say.

- Can I be of any assistance?

- No, thank you.

Sorry.

- Hold this.

- Yeah.

Half a minute.

- Thank you.

- Don't mention it.

- Do you like your milk now?

- No, thank you. I'll wait a little.

All right.

Cheerio.

That's better.

- Are your feet quite warm again?

- Yes, thanks.

Come on.

Will you kindly place yourself

on the operating table?

Nobody's gonna hurt you.

This is Armistice Day.

- Let's get some rest while we can.

- I'm not going to lie on this bed.

So long as you're chained to me,

you'll lie wherever I lie.

- We're the Siamese twins.

- Don't gloat.

Do you think I'm looking forward

to waking up in the morning...

and seeing your face beside me,

unwashed and shiny?

What a sight you'll be. Give me

that nail file. Let's have a go at this.

Thank you.

There I go again.

I wish I could get

that damn tune out of my head.

I wonder where I heard it.

- You sound very sleepy.

- Sleepy? I'll say so.

Do you know when I last slept

in a bed?

Saturday night, whenever that was.

Then I only got a couple of hours.

- What made you wake so soon? Dreams?

- What do you mean "dreams"?

I've always been told

murderers have terrible dreams.

But only at the first.

Got over that a long time ago.

When I first took to crime,

I was quite squeamish about it.

- I was a most sensitive child.

- You surprise me.

Used to wake screaming,

thinking the police were after me.

But one gets hardened.

- How did you start?

- Quite a small way, like most of us.

Pilfering pennies from other

children's lockers at school...

then a little pocket picking,

then a spot of car pinching...

then smash and grab and so on

to plain burglary.

Killed my first man

when I was 19.

In years to come, you'll be able

to take your grandchildren...

to Madame Tussaud's

and point me out.

- Which section?

- It's early to say. I'm still young.

But I'll be there, all right,

in one department or another.

You'll point me out and say,

"Chicks, if I were to tell you...

how matey I once was

with that gentleman, you'd be... "

- What's the matter?

- This handcuff is pinching my wrist.

Sorry.

Talking of Madame Tussaud's,

that's how it all began.

- What began?

- My career of crime.

All hereditary.

Great Uncle Penruddock.

- Who was he?

- My girl, where were you brought up?

Never heard of my Great Uncle

Penruddock, the Cornish Bluebeard?

- Got it all from him.

- I thought your family came from Canada.

No, that's where they went

after the Penruddock incident.

He murdered three wives

and got away with it.

His third mother-in-law got the goods

on him and tried to have him arrested.

Did she succeed?

No, he was too quick for her.

Took her for a walk to Land's End

and shoved her into the Atlantic Ocean.

He's in Madame Tussaud's.

There's no doubt

about his department.

You must go down

and see him sometime.

Can't mistake him.

Third on the left as you go in.

Red whiskers and a harelip.

That, lady,

is the sad story of my life.

Poor orphan boy

who never had a chance.

Are you still set on

giving me up to the police?

You're sure everything's

going to be all right?

Bound to be.

He can't have much time.

As soon as I've picked up you know what,

I'll clear out of the country.

Be careful.

Wire to me.

- Good-bye, my dear.

- Good-bye.

Is that Professor Jordan's house?

Can I speak to Mrs. Jordan then?

Is that Mrs. Jordan?

He's gone to London already?

- If you manage, I'd like hot whiskey.

- I'll get the hot water.

No, he ducked down a side street,

the police went the wrong way.

The girl handed him over to us,

thinking we were detectives.

We had to take her as well

because he told her everything.

Very good, ma'am. I see.

Yes, ma'am.

- Well?

- The old man's got the wind up.

- He's cleared out already.

- Whatever for?

He thought it too dangerous

with Hannay on the loose.

He's warning the whole 39 Steps.

- Has he got the... you know?

- Yes.

He's picking up our friend

at the London Palladium on the way out.

Here's toddy.

That will be half a crown.

- And the phone call?

- We'll say a schilling.

- Is this a hotel as well?

- Aye.

- Do you have people staying here?

- Aye.

- You get a few this time of year?

- Aye.

- Did you have anyone in tonight?

- Aye.

They weren't by any chance

a young couple?

James, do not finish!

What kind of a silly creature

am I married to?

Do you want to get us all jailed?

- How much did you take for these?

- Half a crown.

Out, the pair of you!

Do not let on to anybody that

you got a drink here after hours.

Ohh!

You old fool.

Would you give away a young couple?

Good morning.

What's the idea?

How did we get out of these?

You didn't. I slipped out of mine

last night and camped out here.

- Why didn't you run away?

- I did, but just as I was going...

I discovered that you've

been speaking the truth.

I decided to stay.

May I ask what earthquake

caused your brain to work at last?

Those two men were in here last night.

I overheard them telephoning.

- What did they say?

- A lot of stuff about the 39 Steps.

- You... Go on.

- What?

Someone's going to warn them.

How can you warn steps?

- Never mind. Go on.

- Yes, and there was another thing.

Someone got scared

and is clearing out and...

Yes, I know. And is picking up someone

at the London Palladium.

London Palladium?

What the devil?

Is that the professor with half

of the little finger missing?

What does he want

to go there for?

I feel such a fool,

not having believed you.

That's all right.

We ought to get a move on.

- What room are those two men in?

- No room.

They went as soon

as they telephoned.

- They what?

- Didn't I tell you?

You let them go

after hearing what they said?

- You button-headed little idiot.

- Don't talk to me like that!

Four or five precious hours wasted!

Why didn't you wake me up at once?

Even you might have realized

what they said was important.

Why not leave well enough alone?

Let well alone?

Good girl, I'm accused of murder!

Can't you realize the only way I can

clear myself is to expose these spies?

You still can. The man's going

to the London Palladium.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote