The 39 Steps

In cafes and salons across Europe,

groups huddled together

discussing politics, philosophy,

- nationhood.

- Your malt, Mr Hannay.

Thank you.

- Soda, sir?

- No, thank you.

In London, talk was of Hobbs' dismissal

for four by Haig at the Oval.

Sticky wicket, old boy,

- that's what did for him.

- That's cricket, by the way.

I'd only recently

returned from Africa.

Everything in England seemed

cliquey, claustrophobic,

class-bound.

And frankly

deathly, deathly, dull.

Bored,

I'd stay out all night,

seeking entertainment.

- Good night, Sir.

- Good night.

It's Mr...

Scudder, isn't it?

- I believe you live on the third floor.

- two men out there who want to kill me.

Well, if you make a habit of

crashing into other people's homes,

I'm not surprised.

Now if you'll excuse me,

I'd rather a long night...

I'm not afraid to fire.

- I served as a soldier...

- Second Boer War,

intelligence officer

under Hamilton at Rooiwal.

- How did you know that?

- It's my business to know

who my neighbours are, Mr Hannay.

So...

what's the story?

I am a freelance agent

for the British

Secret Service Bureau.

My housekeeper told me

you were an accountant.

I don't make a habit

of telling people that I'm a spy.

Nowlast night I was supposed

to meet someone from the Bureau

to exchange information.

But it was a double cross.

Obviously I've been betrayed.

I've been on the trail

of a German espionage ring

and I tracked down their headquarters

to a village in Scotland.

You should contact the Weekly News.

They're offering 10 to anyone

spotting a German agent.

An espionage ring could

make you a very wealthy man.

I apologise for having disturbed you,

Mr Hannay.

With your permission, I will attempt

to evade my would-be assassins

and report on what

I've learnt to my superior.

No-one should involve

themselves in intelligence work

without a good breakfast.

Do you have the key to this?

I'll go and get it.

Eat, Mr Scudder.

Life never seems as grim

after a couple of fried eggs.

I've heard whispers of a plot

to assassinate a high-ranking

European royal figure.

Really?

- Who?

- Suffice it to say,

for those who wish to see war,

this man's death could light the tinder.

It is very possible I won't

survive once I leave here.

If you love your country,

take this... to Captain Kell

at the Secret Service Bureau.

And trust no-one else.

You've picked the wrong man.

- I'm shipping back out to Africa as...

- Then drop it off on your way.

- How do you know you can trust me?

- I don't.

But right now, you're all I have.

Leave it.

I don't imagine German spies knock.

I have a note for

a gentleman named Scudder?

Where is the notebook?

Did I hear a gunshot?

Yes, follow me.

A man's been murdered.

I think the killers

are still inside.

They must have left by the fire escape.

If we hurry...

- Is that the murder weapon?

- My revolver. Yes.

I'd put it on the table.

Then I, I went to open the door.

I thought it was the milkman. It wasn't.

- Who was it?

- A German spy dressed as a milkman.

A German spy dressed as a milkman

shot the deceased with your gun?

No, his accomplice did.

- And was he dressed as a milkman?

- No.

Know this sounds incredible.

I was sceptical when Scudder...

Scudder will be the name

of the deceased gentleman?

Yes. I'd never met him

before this morning.

If you'd never met him before,

how did he land up dead

on your living room floor?

- He push my frontdoor.

- He broke in?

- Not exactly.

- And what did you do

- when he barged through your door?

- I drew my gun, naturally.

- And you shot him?

- No. We had breakfast.

- And then you shot him?

- No, I didn't shoot him.

- A German spy shot him.

- May I ask your name, sir?

Richard Hannay,

I'm arresting you for murder.

Stay where you are!

I'm so sorry. Did I startle you?

I've been in a bit of a dust-up,

I'm afraid.

An affair of the heart. Her brother

is determined to separate us.

Still...

who can blame him?

All I have to offer is love.

My rival comes with 10,000 acres

and a herd of prize pigs.

How comforting to see such

an enchanting smile. Thank you.

I don't suppose...?

No, I couldn't possibly

impose on your good nature.

Suddenly I was facing

the hangman's noose.

I had no pals in town

to testify on my behalf

and I could think of only

one person who might save me.

Scudder's Captain Kell

at the Secret Service Bureau.

Mr Hannay?

- May I get you something, Sir?

- No...

thank you.

How did one obtain the telephone

number of the Secret Service Bureau?

- May I help you?

- Secret Service Bureau, please.

Putting you through, sir.

Secret Service Bureau.

May I be of assistance?

- I'd like to speak with Captain Kell.

- What is it concerning?

A matter of life and death.

My death.

- I need to speak to him immediately.

- I'm afraid he isn't here.

Well, when will he be back?

Maybe someone else

could be of assistance?

No. I need to speak

to Captain Kell personally.

Just tell me when I can...

If I could take your name, Sir?

Yes, it's Richard...

I was on the trail

of a German espionage ring

nd I tracked down

their HQ to a village in Scotland...

If you love your country...

take this to Captain Kell

at the Secret Service

Bureau and trust no-one else.

No-one.

Good morning, Sir Gerald.

Arnold will inform

the porter you're here.

- Colonial Club?

- yes.

I need to speak to Sir Gerald urgently.

Has he arrived yet?

Just a minute, Sir.

Sir Gerald?

A call for you.

I had to get out of London quickly.

Perhaps the only way to prove

my innocence was to prove Scudder right.

Track down the German spy ring he

claimed was operating out of Scotland.

I'd try to contact

Kell again from there.

The 9.30 Caledonian Express

to Inverness'

is departing on Platform 9.

You can't do that, Sir.

Morning.

What was it Scudder discovered

that cost him his life?

He'd written his notes

in code using Roman numerals,

suggesting the material

was highly sensitive.

I had to find

the key word to decipher.

My list became more

and more desperate.

Nothing unlocked the puzzle.

The assassination of a royal figure,

just as Scudder had predicted.

For those who wish to see war,

this man's death could light the tinder.

May I possibly have a quick

look at the cricket scores?

No!

I beg your pardon.

I'm...

quite a cricket fan myself.

I thought I might

read them out aloud.

Hambledon 100 for 3.

Westerley...

Chipping Sodbury 88 for 6.

Puddington Reserves all out for 14.

Charlton Wallop 32 for 6...

Mear over Swinton...

This train is going nowhere

until we've searched every compartment!

Excuse me for saying, sir...

but you look awfully familiar.

Have we met?

I think I'd remember.

Excuse me, sir,

I'm looking for this man here.

My name's Wesley.

And the drunken

reprobate sitting with me

is called Arthur.

Should you talk about

your companion like that?

I'm thinking of leaving him

and going solo.

I was the talk of London, you know.

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