The V.I.P.s Page #3

Clever, clever, clever.

Darling, adorable Schwutzbacher.

As usual, your arrangements

are not only genius, but invaluable.

Yes, maestro. I think this little scheme

is now quite unassailable.

Of course, to make it work at all...

...it was essential for you to be

out of England under the full year.

We were very lucky, very lucky

that you finished shooting yesterday.

- You know...

- One more day, just one...

- One more day, and tax-wise...

- One more day.

...I would've been in the soup.

"I'll expect delivery in 10 days."

Then "Yours sincerely"

and all that stuff.

- Mr. Mangrum, please.

- Yeah?

Kingsford, Brian and Company.

My broker, ta-ta. I'm sorry,

I'm afraid I've given you a lot of work.

Oh, that's all right.

You businessmen.

Hello there, Dave.

What do you want me to tell you?

What?

What?!

- I'm terribly sorry.

- It's quite all right.

Don't worry.

Who ratted?

MacDee?

I don't believe it. He's my best friend.

I just don't.

I have his sacred,

solemn promise not to sell.

All right, here's what you do:

You top Amalgamated's offer

by a shilling a share.

A shilling... A shilling a share.

All right, give me the amount.

Again.

One hundred and

fifty-three thousand...

...seven hundred

and fifty pounds.

All right, now, listen.

You make that deal now.

You'll have my check payable to him

within an hour. Don't argue with me, Dave.

Just do me one favor:

See that the check gets to him

after banking hours.

Make out the check, love.

Yes, Mr. Mangrum.

To the honorable Kenneth MacDee...

Don't leave out "honorable."

Unless you don't want to put your

handwriting to a felonious transaction.

- Don't be silly.

- It's not so silly.

You know the state of my account

better than anybody.

They could easily prove it.

Then I'll join you in jail, won't I?

Be kind of a pleasure, wouldn't it?

I'm afraid your youth and innocence

would get you off, though.

Could always say you acted

under superior orders.

Oh, I never would.

No, I know you never would.

Take that to Kingsford.

Yes, Mr. Mangrum.

It's all right. It's 100 percent all right.

All I gotta do is get to New York...

...tell that board what I had to do,

and the check's covered.

- Yes, Mr. Mangrum.

- They're on our side.

They don't want Amalgamated Motors

to win any more than we do.

Met controller has just reported

visual range 300, decreasing.

Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

I don't like the look of this at all.

- Get me Met.

- Yes, sir.

Blast and confound their flea-bitten souls.

Met? Who have I got there? McLeod?

Here, what about this damn fog?

Visibility how much?

That's enough to ground

every plane at London.

Why the hell didn't you

give us a fog warning?

I have 27 flights due to take off...

...and something like 3000 passengers

on my hands.

Well, how long do you think it'll be?

An hour?

It had better be.

Ladies and gentlemen, I...

Ladies and gentlemen?

I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid all flights

are delayed one hour, owing to fog.

Fog, fog, fog.

In London, always this stinking fog.

Oh, this is nothing.

Look, it's lifting already.

- May I have your attention, please?

- That'll be us.

There is a notice to all passengers:

All flights are delayed by one hour.

All flights are delayed by one hour.

Thank you.

Suppose he goes home

before the meeting?

He won't.

He might have forgotten something.

He'll send the commander to get it,

but he won't have forgotten anything.

- He never forgets anything.

- He might be eager to read your note.

Before an important board meeting?

Are you joking?

- Come on.

- Where?

I don't know, anywhere.

Just for a stroll.

Maybe you should have told him.

Maybe I should have told him.

Maybe we both should have told him.

You know perfectly well why we didn't.

We were both far too scared.

I've got reason to be. But you,

why should you be scared of him?

As a child, I was scared of the dark.

I wonder, could I impose on you

for some questions, Miss Gritti, Mr. Buda?

You've got the billing wrong,

but go ahead.

Well, what about your next film?

Based on the immortal drama

of Schiller, Maria Stuart.

And starring Miss Gritti, of course,

in the title role?

That's a good question, Max.

It's your play, I think. Not that one.

That one.

- How do you know what's in my hand?

- I know what's in your head.

- So I have nothing in my head.

- One more question.

- Don't quote that.

- I'll give you something you can quote.

From Temple, the movie critic.

It said:

"Gloria Gritti is an actress

whose talent is equal to her intelligence."

How unkind.

Gin, I think.

Just one more question, Mr. Buda.

I understand that you're carrying

a British passport.

Oh, yes, I'm British.

My dear old chap,

I am British to the bone.

Then tell me,

why do you live in Switzerland?

- Tax.

- Please.

I live in Switzerland

because I love Switzerland.

- Because he don't have to pay taxes.

- The scenery, mountains, beautiful lakes.

- That's why he loves Switzerland.

- Now your time is up.

- Is it?

- Yes. Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- For your information...

...the title role of Maria Stuart

will not be played by Miss Gloria Gritti.

It's your deal. Your deal...

Your deal, darling.

Deal, darling.

What's the latest?

Oh, dear. It doesn't look too good.

If it gets any thicker,

even the pigeons will have to walk.

I'll have to notify Catering.

Who'd have my job?

Who in heaven's name would have my job?

- Listen, what's the latest on the takeoff?

- Any moment now, Mr...

Madam Andros, there you are.

I wondered what happened.

I was just taking a little exercise.

Oh, if I'd known, I'd have had someone

escort you over the airport.

- Mr. Sanders, I'm afraid...

- Oh, excuse me, will you?

This might be it.

I'm so sorry.

I have a small disappointment for you.

Ladies and gentlemen?

I'm afraid our hoped-for wind

has been a little late in arriving.

We're issuing you vouchers for lunch.

Well, that's something, anyway.

Oh, I'm very sorry, my dear fellow.

You want to use the telephone?

I'll just be a second.

Operator, this is Mr. Max...

Max Buda.

Frances, what about the letter?

I'm going to call now.

I'll call Mrs. Jones,

the housekeeper whom I trust.

And tell her where to find the letter

and tear it up.

Miss, please.

Madam Andros would like to telephone.

- Yes, I'll get one and plug it in here, sir.

- Thank you.

Then what do we do?

We go on as planned.

I'll write to him from New York.

But I didn't want to do that...

...because he'll be phoning Jamaica

tomorrow for sure.

Find out I'm not there...

...and start a hue and cry.

But now I'll have to.

- Listen, let me use that, will you, dear?

- I'm so sorry.

Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me.

It's all right. I won't be long.

Thank you.

Grosvenor 7060, please.

Are you sure

you can trust the housekeeper?

Quite sure.

- Won't she think it odd, tearing up a note?

- Yes, she will.

- Isn't she likely to read it herself?

- No.

That she won't do.

It's ringing.

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