When Eight Bells Toll Page #2

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imitate coppers as good as that.

The Customs weren't.

They said they'd been on 13 boats.

They look like they've come

from the cleaners.

One said, ''Boats aren't my line.''

what sort of remark is that?

it's like Uncle Arthur

saying he's never heard of cricket.

i'll tell you something else.

They didn't have a photocopier.

Ah. No respect

for other people's property.

There's blood all over it.

He must have hurt himself.

That's why he didn't take his gloves off.

He hurt his hand.

- Did he?

- Yes. i shoved a knife through it.

Last night on the Nanceville.

- Did you?

- Yes.

- See you later.

- OK.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

You've no' brought

very nice weather with you.

May i use your phone? Long distance.

- None of the phones are working.

- where's the nearest phone?

The mainland. But the boat's sailed.

it won't be back for four days.

well, i'd better stock up on

some tobacco. Could be a long winter.

(Car approaches)

You'll not find many marine specimens

up here, Mr Calvert.

Just getting some exercise, Sergeant.

Cooped up on that boat,

i just want to stretch my legs.

it's a long stretch from Torbay.

Good for one, though. wonderful air.

Pity about those wires.

Didn't know it was stormy last night.

Surely you felt it if you were in that boat?

- By the way, our radio was smashed.

- was it? So was the Shangri-la.

- we'll be looking into it.

- That is reassuring.

- who's on the Shangri-la?

- Sir Anthony Skouras.

Skouras the shipping man?

Big olly Cyprlot?

SiR Anthony. There's not

a kinder man sailed into Torbay.

No offence. Good old Skouras.

You'd be as well not to offend his name,

especially in front of me.

i lost two sons tragically last year

and Sir Anthony was most kind to us

in our time of grief.

Good day to you.

That's for openers!

we'll be watching you.

i hope you learn something!

Haven't i found out some things!

How long have you been in the pub?

i had to. i needed a few whiskies

to get the locals to loosen up.

i'll claim expenses.

Not full of Scottish hospitality, are they?

what did you find out?

Firstly, it's an accident-prone area.

Disasters at sea, deaths,

disappearances - boats, yachts.

Exactly when, i wonder. what else?

A lot of personal tragedy ashore too.

You know who that boat belongs to?

- Skouras. i know.

- Oh.

what have you discovered?

why are you so messy?

i bumped into this wild gypsy girl

in the heather, that's all.

Phil, look.

- what are they signalling?

- Um...

They didn't teach us that in intelligence.

Let's see...

(Hunslett) what's the message?

Message reads...

drinks at ten o'clock.

That's fine. Thank you.

- it's like Sotheby's afloat.

- How do people get this rich?

- Maybe they hijack bullion ships.

- (Door opens)

we're on the wrong side, aren't we?

There's only one side to be on -

the winning one.

My apologies, gentlemen. My apologies.

we were combining business

with dinner,

which is not only lmpollte

but bad for the digestion.

- i'm Philip Calvert.

- How do you do?

- This is my friend Roy Hunslett.

- How do you do?

we thought it was time

to meet our new neighbours.

May i introduce Mr Lavorski,

Mr Macullum...

Oh, and Lady Skouras.

i should have

introduced you first, darling.

You should have

but you rarely do.

- Charlotte.

- Lady Skouras.

Charlotte.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

Ahem. would you chaps

prefer to stay wlth whlsky

or would you llke a brandy?

we'll stick to whisky, thank you.

we've dined on my friend's

beans on toast and frozen beefburgers.

The brandy wouldn't stand a chance.

i'll stick to whisky too.

But out of chauvinism.

How do you like this part of the world?

is it wet enough for you?

well, we're working,

so it doesn't very much matter.

- They're marine biologists.

- word gets round very quickly.

Sir Anthony knows everything

that goes on in Torbay.

He's been cruising here

for several seasons.

The South of France and the Aegean

can't hold a candle to these waters.

That's true.

who wants to cruise around the

Greek isles in all that boring sunshine

when you can have a month

of freezing wind and rain up here?

Charlotte's idea of yachting

is an expensive floating wardrobe

permanently moored to a quay.

- Preferably on the Cte d'Azur.

- Preferably.

with a lot of bronzed young men

flexing their hairdos.

Excuse the bitching. we're having

one of our generation gap evenings.

Come along, Charlotte.

it's only a few weeks a year.

- You know how Anthony loves it here.

- He does too.

Sir Anthony has done many fine

and charitable things in this area.

Yes. So i hear.

Good works and public services

are very easy for the rich.

- As easy as signing a cheque.

- Charlotte.

- i think that's rather unfair.

- Fetch me that picture.

Please.

You see, gentlemen,

despite Charlotte's cynicism,

my motives were completely genuine.

My wife...

Um, that is, my first wife, Anna.

My wife and i grew attached to this

part of Scotland on our honeymoon

many years ago.

And it's never easy to sign a cheque,

Mr Calvert.

Especially when you're rich.

it's always good to see

how the other half sail.

it's nice to see the other half

seeing the other half.

Perhaps we should drink

to those in peril on the sea.

- Are we in peril?

- There's always peril in these waters.

Cheers.

Good health.

Good wealth.

Calling Carollne. Caroline.

This is Station SFPX.

Repeat, SFPX. Are you receiving me?

Repeat. Are you receiving me? Over.

You should have radioed Uncle Arthur.

The wait won't hurt him. He can have

another bottle of port at the club.

- is that rope tight?

- i think so.

i'm not awfully good at knots.

i know, they didn't teach you that

at intelligence.

Bloody fellow.

North of England grammar school.

''working his way

through the ranks of life'' type.

- No background.

- Perhaps something's gone wrong.

we needn't have rushed dinner.

i hate rushing dinner.

Maybe he's in some danger.

i might have tried some of that Stilton.

Mind you, you never know... what?

i said he may be in some danger.

- Got hurt or something.

- Let's hope it's nothing trivial.

Now we know why scruffs like us

were asked over for drinks.

Better get on the blower.

Excuse me, sir. Caroline calling.

it never stops. Come on.

There's a boat here

with a definite connection.

They had their transmitter smashed too

but that could be a cover.

They had us over for drinks.

Anyway, they searched the Firecrest.

Strange setup. A husband and wife

who can't stand each other

and a man who presides over them.

'The husband's name is Skouras.

Sir Anthony Skouras.'

Don't you know who he is?

- 'A man with his record...'

- All right, all right.

it's not all right.

He's a distinguished member

of my own club.

He's on the wine committee!

with all due respect, Annabel, sir,

there's no need to go into cardiac arrest

because i don't share your faith

in the probity of your fellow members.

That'll be quite enough of that.

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