The October Man Page #8

---

I'm tired, Jenny.

Darling...

you can't give in now.

All right.

Better get your coat on.

District Superintendent, CID, please.

And tell them outside, if anything

comes through from Birmingham,

I want to see it immediately.

Hello, Godby here, sir. It's about Ackland.

I think it's time we had him inside.

You wait here.

- Are you going out?

- I won't be intimidated.

We can't spend all our

time cooped up in here.

Besides, everybody's out

and we can't find a fourth.

- So, we're going to the pictures.

- Oh, do be careful.

- Where is he?

- Upstairs.

Oh. Well, anyway, I can take care of myself.

We shan't go across the common, though.

Which is Mr Peachy's room?

Number three, but he left this afternoon.

Left?

Yes, he had to catch a night

train to Scotland. He...

- He's gone.

- Yes.

British European Airways label.

- It might be an old one.

- I don't think so.

European Airways?

He said he was going somewhere in the sun.

Couldn't you phone up the airline

and find out if he's got a booking?

He won't be travelling in the name of Peachy.

But if we can find his real name and

prove he hasn't gone to Scotland...

There's something we can try. Come on.

Brockhurst Common Hotel.

When Mr Peachy left, how did he go?

- How?

- Yes, how, did he have a taxi or what?

Don't get flustered, Miss Selby.

He had a car. One of those from the station.

Did he go to the station?

- He had his luggage...

- Let's try the station.

...so I suppose he was going to the station.

Miss Selby... the fire.

Yes, Miss Heap, you want some more

coal. I'll just finish this typing...

- Good evening. Is Mr Ackland in?

- Oh.

No, he went out a minute ago.

Do you know here to, Miss Selby?

- He said something about the station.

- Thank you.

(Knocks)

Yes?

How many people bought

tickets in the last hour?

- Must've been about ten or a dozen.

- Do you remember a short...

Let me see, that's not

generally a very busy train.

Do you remember a

middle-aged man with glasses?

- He had luggage with him.

- Don't know about luggage.

- I can't see from here, you see.

- No, but I think...

There's lots of middle-aged

men with glasses.

- Yes.

- Friend of yours?

Yes.

Bert, d'you see a middle-aged

chap with luggage on the 8:40?

He wore glasses.

- Yes, there was. A short plumpish chap?

- That's it. Where'd he go?

London, I suppose. That's

where the 8:
40 goes, Paddington.

- When's the next?

- (Car doors closing)

- Five minutes.

- Thanks. Two tickets to Paddington.

- Single or return?

- Singles.

- Mr Ackland.

- What do you want?

You have to come to the station.

We'll detain you for questioning

in connection with the murder...

- Jim!

- Stop him!

Hey, what's the game?

Listen.

- Did you see him go right across?

- No.

He could've doubled back.

We'd better put a call out for

him quick. You get out on the road.

- He's got away.

- Not for long, Miss Carden.

There'll be a call out. Where's the phone?

- Excuse me.

- Yes, sir, what can I do for you?

I want a car to go to Paddington.

I'm sorry, sir, got no drivers in just now.

Oh. Well, couldn't I drive myself?

- Oh, no. Insurance.

- It's urgent. Could you take me?

I've got a job to finish on a back

axle by first thing tomorrow morning.

- Look, double fare. I've got to go right away.

- What time's your train?

- It isn't a train, I've got to meet somebody.

- Won't she wait?

No, no, she says she'll break

our engagement if I'm late.

My wife used to be like that.

- Paddington, you said?

- That's right. Yes.

(Whistle)

The 8:
40 from Brockhurst

Common came in ten minutes ago.

On time, for a change!

Up the front, on the right.

Do you happen to remember a short middle

- aged man with a lot of luggage?

Most of them have. Travelling,

you know. Up front, on the right.

This luggage had white bands

and a lot of labels on it.

Been to a lot of places, eh?

Up the front, on the right.

- I don't know. Ask a porter.

- Thanks.

Must have a platform ticket

to go on. There's the machine.

- Joe?

- Yeah?

Was there much luggage on the

last from Brockhurst Common?

- Not much, why?

- Better ask him.

Thanks.

I'm trying to find a friend

of mine, came up on the 8:40.

He had luggage with white

bands and a lot of labels on it.

Mm, not me. I was a wicker basket,

a bike and a crate of chicks.

- What'd he look like? - Oh,

middle-aged, glasses, not very tall.

- What was he wearing?

- Don't know.

Sorry. Better ask one of the other boys.

Hey, Bert, did you handle a lot of

luggage with white bands on the 8:40?

Yes, why?

Looking for a friend of his. Where'd he go?

Search me. Put his bags in the left

luggage, that was the last I saw of him.

- Where's left luggage?

- (Both) Over there, sir.

Thanks.

Thank you, sir!

- Ticket, please.

- I haven't got one.

I want to ask about luggage left here

ten minutes ago by a friend of mine.

You better enquire at the other counter, sir.

Thanks.

I want to ask about luggage left

ten minutes ago by a friend of mine.

- Other counter.

- The other counter sent me here.

- We only take luggage in here.

- I just want to look at the labels.

- Look at the labels?

- It's important.

Just a moment, sir.

- Couldn't I come round and have a look?

- Sorry, sir, against the rules.

- It's urgent.

- I'm sorry, sir.

What's the trouble?

Wants to look at somebody's

luggage. Hasn't got the ticket.

Oh, well, you know, sir...

You see, Officer, I missed a

friend of mine I was meeting,

and I thought the name of his

hotel might be on his luggage.

- Oh.

- I've really got to see him.

It's vitally important

- his wife's been taken seriously ill.

Oh, well, in that case, you

better come round this way.

Thank you.

I'll talk to the clerk in charge.

Brown overcoat, blue scarf,

Ackland's the name. Got it?

Yes, Sergeant.

Watch your step if you do see him.

He's already run for it once tonight.

Yes, Sergeant.

- Is this it, sir?

- No, not enough labels on it.

(Man) Beckett.

There's a general call

for a man named Ackland,

wanted for questioning

- murder.

Clean-shaven, medium height,

thickset, brown overcoat, blue scarf.

- Brown overcoat, blue scarf?

- Yes.

- There's a chap like that in here now.

- Where?

Just round the other side.

I thought you said five minutes.

- Sorry.

- Did you meet her?

No.

My wife always meets me.

He hired a black Austin saloon from

the garage and went to Paddington.

Good, circulate that and

keep a man at the garage.

You're treating him like a criminal!

He's behaving like one, Miss Carden.

- Come on, Jenny.

- (Telephone)

Hello? Ackland?

Yes, put him through.

Yes, Ackland? Where are you?

Never mind where I am. Now, listen.

Peachy's leaving the country by air tonight.

Flight number B/324 to Lisbon.

I see. Yes, I've got it. Where are you?

What does he say? Let me speak to him.

Yes, yes, of course I'm

going to do something.

But where are you now, Ackland?

What difference does it make where I am?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes