The V.I.P.s Page #2

- That and a few other things.

Well, come on into the lounge.

VIP stuff, you mean?

No, not me, old boy. I know my place.

But I'll see you on the plane, Frances.

Can I get you for the yacht in April?

- Ischia, Capri, Sicily?

- May I let you know?

Of course.

You want a guest list, I suppose.

How many susceptible

rich countesses onboard...

...and how many millionaires

you can fleece.

That's the form. I'll see you.

You haven't forgotten

your meeting is at 11?

- No, John. Thank you.

- I'll see about madam's boarding card.

I'm sorry about switching seats,

but I thought you liked him.

I told you I wanted to...

Wanted to sleep.

I know he's a fairly shameful character.

Bit of a gigolo and hopeless gambler...

...but he can be amusing and I like him.

I hope you find everything

satisfactory, Mr. Andros.

If there's anything you want,

ask Miss Potter.

She'll see to it for you.

Excuse me, please.

Oh, hello there.

The name's Mangrum, pal, Les Mangrum.

You'll find it on your list there.

The lady's my secretary.

- I'm afraid I can't... Oh, I see.

- Here's Mr. Mangrum's passport.

The visa's on page 24,

and his vaccination certificate.

And his excess baggage

is paid for in advance.

Most efficient. Excuse me one moment.

They're sometimes very careless

about briefing me.

Could you tell me exactly

what Mr. Mangrum's line is?

He's the chairman

of Mangrum Tractors, of course.

Of course. Shall we go in?

Excuse me, dear,

bring me a cup of tea, will you?

- Certainly, sir.

- Make it two. Want some tea?

- Oh, no, I'll stick to bitter lemon.

- Add a bitter lemon.

Have there been any messages for me?

- What would be the name?

- Mr. Mangrum. Mr. Les Mangrum.

Oh, yes, there has been one.

Would you ring Mr. Liggett at Lloyd's Bank?

- Get him, love.

- Yes, Mr. Mangrum.

Going over on business?

Yeah. I'd like to say it was for pleasure,

but I'll only be there about 48 hours.

What lives you tycoons lead.

I'm no tycoon.

Just the one small company.

Matter of fact, as far as concerns go

these days, it's about that size.

But we make good tractors.

And you know why?

Because I learned the job the hard way.

I started life as a farmhand

in Queensland.

Really?

Really.

Why? You didn't think

I was Australian, did you?

I guess I had rather guessed.

You had, huh?

Always thought I spoke

as English as Macmillan.

Oh, would you hold on, please?

Mr. Mangrum?

- Yes?

- Your call.

Excuse me, please.

Ta. Don't go away. Listen to this.

Hello, Mr. Liggett. How are you?

You don't have to worry anymore.

Your money's quite safe.

The battle is won.

How did I do it?

When I thought

I was gonna get beaten...

...my friend MacDee pledged

all his shares to me.

So I keep control of my company...

...and the great

Amalgamated Motors is beaten.

It certainly was a close thing,

but you don't have to worry.

All I've got to do is get to New York

this afternoon...

...and sign the deal.

Wha...? Why? Well, because

they won't wait, Mr. Liggett.

Yeah, goodbye. What?

Well, I appreciate the fact

that you were worried, Mr. Liggett.

Goodbye.

- He really was scared, you know that?

- He had reason to be, hadn't he?

Oh, I don't know.

Not if he knew what I always knew.

What was that?

That Les Mangrum

just doesn't get beaten.

That's another one of you.

Full page. Look.

Can't open one of these

without finding you. It's a phenomenon.

You won't let them photograph you,

so they take me. That's all.

I have a modest wife

and a very beautiful one.

This doesn't do you justice.

None of them do.

If I'm to make that meeting on time,

I must leave you.

Will you be all right?

- I'll leave John.

- Please don't.

I'm sure you need him in London.

No, I need him everywhere.

I planned for him

to see you safely onboard.

I can get onto an airplane

by myself, Paul.

I'm not half-witted or infirm.

Always a little het up

before flying, aren't you?

- Take care of yourself.

- I will.

No need to see me off.

But I want to.

Make sure I've gone?

You'll drive back with me, then.

Yes.

Your boarding card.

Thank you, John.

I'm glad the rubies were a success.

Rubies?

Diamonds.

Goodbye again.

Enjoy yourself.

Why were you sitting there,

of all places?

I had to sit somewhere.

I didn't know you were using this entrance.

I was well hidden from that one.

Why are you crying?

What idiotic questions

you ask sometimes, Marc.

I'm crying because I was given

a new parting present.

Here.

You must admit that...

...at times Commander Millbank

has quite good taste.

I wonder what he had inscribed inside.

Marc.

Oh, hello.

Oh, Frances,

I don't think you know John Coburn.

Madam Andros.

Can't give you

a greater compliment than to say...

...you're even better

than your photographs.

Yeah. New York?

- Yes.

- Imperial special?

Fine. I've got the cards with me.

I think six hours will give me time enough

to get revenge for last time...

...and possibly a little profit.

- That's right.

Well, I'll see you on the plane.

I don't think we should be seen

standing here together.

Why not?

In eight hours,

and for the rest of our lives...

...we'll be seen standing

everywhere together.

All right.

"For the rest of our lives."

You make that sound

like quite a long time.

Having doubts?

No.

I'll let you know when I do.

Don't you want the VIP lounge?

Lord, no.

- Who was that man that came up to you?

- A member of my club.

Gin-rummy pigeon of all time.

Rolling in the stuff,

and thinks he can play.

- Two teas, please.

- All right.

Well, it was a close shave

about the seat numbers.

I told you it was a mistake

to get them together.

I know. I'm sorry.

I know it's foolishly sentimental...

...to want to sit next to the man

you're eloping with.

"Eloping."

Has a nice old-fashioned

flavor to it, hasn't it?

It makes me feel

as if I had waxed mustaches...

...and a rope ladder

tucked into my raglan.

Oh, thank you.

- Here you are.

- Thank you.

Did he notice anything at all?

I don't think so.

But did he say anything?

Yes. He said he liked you.

That you made him laugh.

He wondered why I didn't like you.

He supposed that it was because...

...you were a gigolo.

- A gigolo? The nerve.

Who just paid for these teas?

Have you...

...left the letter for him?

- Yes.

- Where?

Where he'll find it and no one else.

Our usual place for leaving notes.

He'll find it when he gets back

from the meeting.

Do you think he'll look there?

Yes, I told him to.

It's a bit brutal, isn't it?

What I'm doing is a bit brutal, isn't it?

How much do you think he'll mind?

I don't know.

- I just don't know.

- You must know.

I don't know.

We've been married for 13 years.

He always says 11, unless the commander's

there to remind him.

And for most of those 13 years,

I've loved him...

...but I don't know him.

That smoke screen of charm

can be very dense.

They'll be calling us in 15 minutes.

May I have another tea, please?

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