The V.I.P.s Page #5

I don't know why we didn't

take off this morning.

I suppose they know what they're doing.

- Maxie.

- Yes?

Is there another

woman's part in Mary Stuart?

- Yes. Yes.

- Good part?

- Who is she?

- Queen Elizabeth.

- Could I play that?

- No.

This way, please.

I don't want to hear any more

of your idiotic excuses.

Those half-wits in Met

told me that it would be clear in one hour.

Look. All aircraft grounded indefinitely.

Make the necessary announcements.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I'm extremely sorry to announce...

... that at the moment

it is not possible for us to take off.

We will have to disembark you.

I very much regret

that a takeoff is no longer possible...

... and our orders are to disembark you.

Disembark?

British Overseas Airways

have asked me to say...

...that should the delay be overnight...

- Overnight?

...accommodation will be reserved

at one of the airport hotels. Thank you.

Captain, overnight?

Dear captain, surely this isn't true.

- There could be a clearance around midnight.

- Before or after midnight?

A bit before or a bit after,

it hardly matters.

- Just a question of life and death, that's all.

- Is somebody ill?

At the moment, me.

Attention, please. Will all passengers

kindly wait in the lounge...

... until a further announcement.

Bad show, eh?

Well, we still have a way

of passing the time, eh, Marc?

If you get bored.

But I'm sure you wouldn't.

I can't see any possible...

Absolutely charming.

Very tactful man.

Well, we better stay here.

This is only for passengers

who have cleared immigration.

They'll stop him coming in here.

Stop Paul Andros?

Yes. Yes, I suppose it's a bit hopeless.

- Attention.

- I'd better go and face him.

- Not yet. He might have gone.

- BOAC regret...

And if he hasn't,

give him time to calm down.

- Has been further delayed.

Accommodation has been secured

for all passengers at the airport hotel.

I've put a call in to Gatwick.

That's all I can do.

Just let's not lose our heads.

Let's go over it all again.

I need a plane.

I need to charter a plane.

- An air taxi?

- An air taxi.

I've just explained,

there's no air taxi operating here.

- Only from Gatwick.

- Right, sir.

When I ask for a car to this Gatwick...

...you tell me there isn't any.

Listen, I've got to get out of this country...

...by midnight tonight.

Not 10 minutes after,

not 10 seconds after...

...but midnight.

Or I lose $ 1 million

to the British tax collector.

- One million dollars?

- One million.

That's quite a situation

to be in, I must say, sir.

Excuse me. Mr. Mangrum?

- Oh, you're still here?

- I waited just in case.

- I got your room at the hotel.

- Thanks.

Best rooms are on the top floor.

Managed to get you one.

- Fine.

- Your overnight bag's unpacked.

- They'll send it down. I've laid on transport.

- Thought of everything.

I also phoned Mr. Kingsford.

- And stopped send on the check?

- I'm afraid not. It was too late. It's gone.

To be beaten by a bloody fog!

When we get to the hotel,

you must phone New York.

You're capable of persuading

the old Mr. Fordman...

- I'm not capable of persuading anybody.

- Oh, yes, you are.

Now, let's go to the hotel.

I'll get you a nice, strong cup of tea,

and you call New York.

Okay.

Your Grace. I've arranged your

hotel accommodation for you.

How very kind of you.

Thank you so much.

But what I really need

at the moment is a large brandy.

In fact, a whopper.

Charlie, a large brandy for Her Grace.

- Now, you sit down.

- Oh, can I?

- Yes. There.

- Thank you. I've got that.

- All right?

- Yes. Fine. Thank you.

Thank you. Your health.

What a ridiculous form

of locomotion flying is.

They tie you into your seat

and tell you you're going...

...then they make hair-raising,

scarifying noises with their engines.

Then they untie you

and tell you you're not going at all.

Can you imagine the Queen Mary

behaving like that?

Would Mr. Marc Champselle

kindly come...

...to the BO AC number one

departure counter, please?

This will be about the hotel, I suppose.

This is a problem, darling.

How am I going to fix

adjoining rooms for us...

...without seeming too obvious?

Your past experience

should help you there, shouldn't it?

Have I married a cat?

You haven't married anything yet.

In all but name.

- Not even that yet.

- No. No, true.

My invincible charm

has meant nothing to you, has it?

Don't boast too much.

No. No, I suppose not.

At my age, definitely not.

I suppose I must be the first woman...

...in the 500 or so others...

...who's loved you for yourself alone.

Now, please. Don't talk

like a woman's magazine.

If you must know...

...I hate myself alone. Honestly.

I can't begin to understand

what you see in me.

Would Mr. Marc Champselle

kindly come...

... to the number one BOAC...

...departure counter?

- All right. Coming, you fool.

What do you see in me?

- One word.

- One word?

- Helplessness.

- Helpless? Me?

The most notoriously

self-sufficient character of the age?

I'll have to figure that one out.

Stay here. Don't move. I'll be back.

And keep that lighting on you.

It's very good.

- I'm Mr. Champselle. You called?

- Yes, Mr. Champselle. Come this way.

A gentleman would like to speak to you.

If you don't mind

stepping into my office.

- Thank you.

- Will the Austin car representative...

... come to the general-inquiries

desk, please?

- You won't be disturbed in here, sir.

- Thank you. Good of you.

Not at all, sir. It's a pleasure.

Well?

Are you going to use that thing

in your pocket?

I didn't know people

ever really carried these things.

- I thought it was only on television.

- Where do you want to go, Marc?

- What do you mean?

- Cannes is a bit dead in January.

What about the West Indies?

No, of course. You'd miss

your gambling, wouldn't you?

What about Rio?

It's pleasant at this time of year.

I'm going to New York, Paul.

With your wife.

I've made this out for 10,000.

That's at least twice

your nuisance value...

...but I don't enjoy haggling.

You'll stay in Rio for three months

and sign a declaration now to that effect.

Also, you will never see

or communicate with my wife again.

There's writing paper there.

Have you got a pen?

It isn't any good, you know.

You think I'll stop the check?

- I'm perfectly willing...

- I'm not thinking of the check.

I'm thinking of you.

You poor bloody idiot.

Don't you realize that this is how

you've lost your wife?

- I think you'd better have a look at it.

- Look, I'm not insulted.

From all you know of me,

you've a right to suppose...

...I can be bought off.

As a matter of fact, I have been bought off

by a jealous husband before.

Two, come to think of it.

But by neither of them

for as much as 10,000.

For chicken feed.

Ten thousand.

There have been

plenty of times in my life...

...when I'd have sold my soul

for a tenth of that.

But then, you must realize, Paul,

that in those days...

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