Miss Scarlet

ELIZA: Good evening.

(Slade cries out) You're a hard man to find, Mr. Percival.

Percival?

A rather notorious con man.

ELIZA: Some of your victims lost their life savings.

SLADE: You've got the wrong man.

ELIZA: The more you cooperate, the easier this will be.

Help!

Help!

Monsieur!

Monsieur!

(groaning) 20 francs to walk away and ask no more questions.

This man is a wanted fugitive.

I merely wish to establish if you are working with the other detective.

What other detective?

(thunder claps) (whimpers) (click) (horse whinnies) (manager speaking French) Thank you.

(door opens) (door closes) (places suitcase down) (dings loudly) (people talking softly in background) (sighs) (dinging loudly) (manager speaking French) In English, please.

We are very busy this evening.

I am so sorry to keep you waiting.

Mm.

You are staying with us tonight, Monsieur...?

Slade.

It is cold this evening.

Were you warm enough on your carriage ride?

No.

Oh, I am sorry to hear that.

Slade.

Slade.

Ah, yes, here we are.

Room 18.

(calling): Antoine, help this gentleman with his suitcase.

No, I, I'll take it myself, just give me the key.

But it is... Just the key.

Room 18.

Up the stairs.

(manager speaking French) (places suitcase down) (key jingling) (key jingles, Slade picks up suitcase) (key jingling) (door unlocks) (snoring softly) (snoring) (metal clasping, locking) (grunting, breathing quickly) Good evening.

(cries out) (handcuffs click) What on Earth are you doing?!

Let me go!

You're a hard man to find, Mr. Percival.

Percival?

My name is Slade.

Jeremiah Slade.

The room is booked under the name Slade, but you are in fact Charles Percival, a rather notorious con man.

Or do you prefer con artist?

What are you talking about?!

You're insane!

You've defrauded half of London, including my client Lord Morgan, who has offered an amount of money I can only describe as vulgar to bring you back to England.

Of course, there are Is to dot, Ts to cross, extradition warrants, and so forth.

I've sent a telegram to the British Embassy in Paris, so the wheels are in motion, but, um, we'll probably be stuck here till morning, so we should try and make the best of it.

Do you, uh, play cards?

I'll have to deal, obviously.

I have no idea who you're looking for, but I'm telling you, you've got the wrong man.

Duly noted.

Let me go this instant or I will call for help and you will most certainly be arrested.

The more you cooperate, the easier this will be.

Help!

Help!

(metal clanging) Help!

Help!

(bird cawing) SLADE (muffled): Please, can you just please take this off?

I, I can't see anything.

(grunts) I'll remove the gag if you promise to remain calm.

Yeah, I promise, I promise.

Nod your head if you agree.

(metal rattling) This goes straight back on if you so much as raise your voice.

(grunts affirmatively) (exhaling) May I please have my glasses?

I can barely see a thing without them.

Hm?

(panting) (exhales) You have no right to treat me like this.

I have every right.

Some of your victims lost their life savings.

But I am no confidence trickster or, or fraudster, or whatever the damn word is.

I am a lawyer from Camden Town!

And what business does a London lawyer have in the middle of the French countryside?

That's confidential.

That's convenient.

Not from where I'm sitting.

We are three hours coach ride from Paris and six miles from the nearest town.

Not much work here for a lawyer, but an excellent place for a wanted man to hide.

Now I suggest you stop your complaining and make yourself comfortable.

(chuckles) Well, as comfortable as you can.

Can I get you some water?

No.

You say you are a private detective.

How do I know you're not some deranged lunatic?

You don't.

Look, I have the utmost respect for those on the side of law and order.

Oh, I'm sure.

It is rather arrogant that you will not even entertain the possibility of being wrong.

Truth never comes to the closed mind.

You certainly sound like a lawyer.

I am a lawyer!

Why in God's name won't you believe me?

Well, since we have time on our hands, allow me to state my case.

Charles Percival has been wanted by Scotland Yard for 12 years.

He's fooled the rich and the powerful, the poor and the needy.

The secret of his success is versatility.

He's never played the same trick twice.

Each character he adopts has a different appearance and demeanor.

Meek and mild, colorful and bombastic.

His latest role was as a flamboyant bookmaker who offered incredible odds on the biggest horse race in England-- the Grand National.

Hundreds were fooled, my client included.

But as always, the elusive Mr. Percival disappeared into thin air, with no leads to follow.

Well, almost none.

There was a train booked from London to Dover.

Then a boat to Calais.

And a reservation at a small but exclusive French hotel, all booked by the same man.

Jeremiah Slade.

A lawyer from Camden Town.

You've been duped.

Someone clearly wishes to blame me for crimes in which I played no part.

You don't believe that any more than I do.

Help!

Help!

Help!

I'm astonished you haven't been caught before this.

Help!

(groaning) (knock at door) Monsieur!

Monsieur Slade!

I'm so sorry, my husband was having the most dreadful nightmare.

Your husband?

The gentleman in this room checked in alone.

Well, I've only just arrived.

I was visiting some friends in Compigne.

(Slade shouting through gag) What is that?

(muffled shouting continues) 20 francs to walk away and ask no more questions.

SLADE (through gag): Help me!

Help me, please!

Please help!

She's mad!

She's mad!

This man is a wanted fugitive.

No, I'm not!

And I am in the process of bringing him back to England.

My name is Eliza Scarlet, I am a private detective.

You are a detective?

I expect that reaction in England.

I had hoped the French would be more forward-thinking.

That is not what I meant.

I merely wished to establish if you are working with the other detective.

What other detective?

What did he say exactly?

Only that he was from Scotland Yard and was working a case.

He was most aggressive and insisted I leave him alone.

(sighs) Madame, there are other guests to consider.

I would ask that you please be discreet.

You have my word.

Where is he?

(people talking in background) Excuse me.

Eliza Scarlet.

(chuckles) Mr. Nash.

Come now, are we not long past such manners?

Call me Patrick.

What are you doing here?

Ordering room service.

They've no tables free in the dining room.

I mean what are you doing in France?

The same as you, I'd guess.

I'm on holiday visiting friends in the region.

Oh, really?

Now, if I was a betting man, which I am, I'd lay money on you being here to find a fugitive con man.

How's it going?

Have you found him?

Not as yet, no.

Well... Good luck to you.

(people talking in background) (door closes) Good evening.

Mr. Nash.

Patrick, please.

Why did you tell the hotel manager you were from Scotland Yard?

To get rid of him.

He was asking too many questions.

About what?

About him.

Eliza Scarlet, Charles Percival.

Charles Percival, Eliza Scarlet.

(wind howling outside) As I've said several times already, I have no idea who this Charles Percival is.

My name is Baron.

Sebastian Baron of the Hampshire Barons.

Now, why wouldn't I believe the word of a con man?

I'm sure he's made this mistake in good faith, but it is a mistake nonetheless.

I've had a team of 30 men looking all over Northern France.

But I found him staggering back from the hotel bar, blind drunk.

BARON: It is not a crime to enjoy oneself.

I have tried reasoning with him, but he will not see sense.

Please go and fetch help.

He's convincing, isn't he?

I think it's in the eyes.

Mm?

Anyway, we're leaving first thing in the morning.

Should be back in London by this time tomorrow.

I'd imagine there'll be a big reception at Charing Cross station.

Well, at least I hope so.

I've paid enough for it.

Congratulations.

(door opens) (door closes) (quietly): You make a sound and I'll break your thumbs.

(door opens) (people talking in background) NASH: Wait a minute.

Is that it?

Is that all you've got to say, hm?

(chuckles) "Congratulations"?

(chuckles) Can you only enjoy success when it comes with praise?

Come on, he's been on the run for 12 years.

You don't have any professional curiosity?

How did I find him?

Where did I find him?

No.

Or is this sour grapes?

Are you jealous?

Oh, I assure you, it's not that.

Oh, it is jealousy.

Well, that's a shame.

You know, I thought you of all people would be above that.

Mm.

ARUN: If you could be so kind.

(people talking in background) Absolument, monsieur, whatever you require.

And the lady will be joining us for dinner, so we shall require a table for four.

Of course-- if you would like to take a seat in the lounge, I will tell you when your other guests have arrived.

Excellent, and, uh, send someone over with the wine list.

I'm in the mood to celebrate.

Monsieur.

Shall we?

Mm.

I'm sorry to trouble you again, but do you have a moment?

I am very busy, madame.

For various legal reasons that I cannot divulge, there are complications with the case I'm working.

"Complications"?

The other detective...

The one from Scotland Yard.

He cannot know that I also have a prisoner.

(chuckles) I understand how that must sound, but I assure you everything is above board.

I've applied for an extradition warrant, and very soon the local police will arrive to take myself and my prisoner to the port of Calais.

(whispering): In the meantime, I, I would appreciate it if you would keep this between us.

Very well.

But I must insist that you stay in your room and do not bother the other guests.

You have my word.

So you keep saying.

(wind howling) Madame.

(grunts) (grunting) (quietly): I'm sorry, I can't take that off.

Hopefully it won't be for too much longer.

(grunting) NASH: Hello again.

(grunts) I forgot to mention I saw you arriving a couple of hours ago.

But I didn't know that you had company.

Are you going to introduce me?

This is Charles Percival.

I don't know who you have downstairs, but you must release him immediately and hope he doesn't press charges.

Now it makes sense.

I knew you wouldn't just give up.

Walk away.

You think I have the wrong man.

(muffled): She has the wrong man!

I'm, I'm the wrong man!

Can he breathe like that?

He was yelling for help.

I warned him several times, but he wouldn't listen.

Hm, get one of these.

It makes people very compliant.

You can threaten to shoot them, obviously, but you could just say you're going to hit them with it, break their nose.

No one wants that, do they?

Hm?

No.

(exhales) Who are you?

My name is Jeremiah Slade.

I am a lawyer from Camden Town.

No, he isn't.

And what brings you to France?

He won't say.

Apparently it's confidential.

I refused to discuss my business whilst chained up like a wild animal.

I beg you, release me from these shackles.

I cannot stay like this a moment longer.

I've an idea.

Give me the keys to those cuffs.

We'll let him get up, stretch his legs.

Maybe he can tell us what he's doing here.

Absolutely not.

Mm.

So you are 100% sure you've got this right.

Yes.

There's not even a glimmer of doubt that you might have captured, and in fact assaulted, an innocent man?

(hesitantly): No.

I have come to France to see a client, a Mr. Nelson, formerly of Belsize Park in London.

He has lived in the region this past eight years, having married a local woman.

There have recently been marital difficulties and they have decided to end their union.

Mr. Nelson wishes return to England, but French law gives his wife certain rights over his property.

ELIZA: Why didn't he hire a French lawyer?

He is a friend, as well as a client.

Our company has an office in Paris.

I was here on business anyway.

Sir, I am unsure of the professional relationship between yourself and... the lady, but I assume you are the senior partner?

He most certainly is not.

We're from different agencies.

Well, I say agency.

Unlike myself, Miss Scarlet is a one-man band.

SLADE: That is no doubt why she has made this terrible mistake.

ELIZA: Firstly, I have several associates who work for me on a regular basis.

Secondly, I have a mountain of evidence against you.

(scoffs) NASH: Do you remember that accountant from Wandsworth?

The Bow Street division arrested him last year?

They were certain he was Charles Percival.

It turned out he was innocent and Percival had laid a false trail to put the police off his scent.

Hm.

I have made no such mistake.

I'm afraid you have.

And I can prove it.

Are you sure you put the handcuffs on properly?

He's not going anywhere.

But you will have to let him go at some point.

And when you do, he'll go straight to the police.

He might even sue you.

I mean, he's a lawyer.

He's not a lawyer.

The only reason I agreed to speak to the poor wretch that you've captured is in order to set him free.

Which I must insist you do immediately.

You do know you're not in charge of me.

Hurry up.

May I at least have a cup of tea?

Just tell her what you're doing here.

You insisted my man had his handcuffs removed.

You should do the same for yours.

That's because your man is innocent.

Is someone else being held prisoner?

Do you remember what I said about your thumbs?

(sighs) Go on, then, tell her.

My name is Sebastian Baron, of the Hampshire Barons.

My father was lord lieutenant of the county.

He recently passed away, and as his only son, I will inherit the estate.

Before I take up that responsibility, I wish to spend a few months traveling 'round the continent.

And what brings you to this particular hotel?

Well, I'm a student of history.

This hotel was designed by an Italian architect in the 17th century.

The stained glass window in the lobby is a tribute to his home city of Venice.

Exhibit A.

Unnecessary detail designed to make the story seem more convincing.

That's a little tenuous, don't you think?

Indeed, it is, thank you, madam.

Exhibit B: his accent.

He's trying to sound like old money, but there's something else hidden in there.

As a child, I lived in many different places.

My father made his fortune in trade.

I fail to see what any of this proves.

I thought you had actual evidence.

Glad you reminded me.

The bogus bookmaking firm that Charles Percival set up-- for the Grand National?

We did some digging, and found a safehouse paid for by that same bookmaker's.

We went to take a look, and no one was there, but we found travel documents and bank details.

All fake.

And all belonging to one Sebastian Baron.

Of the Hampshire Barons.

This is patently absurd.

Someone clearly wishes to damage my reputation.

Why didn't you mention all this before?

Showmanship.

You always save the best till last.

We need to talk.

(footsteps retreating, door opens) There's something very strange going on here.

I can offer an explanation.

That you are right and I am wrong?

I have a team of 30 full-time detectives, and you have, well... You.

It's one of many reasons you should come and work for me.

(chuckles) Eliza.

Eliza...

I only have your best interests at heart.

Please.

(people talking in background, glasses clinking) (exhales) Let us imagine for a moment that you are right about all this.

Well, that's very gracious, thank you.

I say it only to prove a point.

(softly): If you have indeed caught the real Charles Percival, and I have fallen for some false trail designed to put me off the scent, then the question is this: who created that false trail?

He did, Percival.

But why leave a series of clues to bring me to the same hotel he's staying in?

Why not send me off to some far-flung part of the world, miles from where he actually is?

That's an interesting point.

I believe there are three possible answers.

One of us is right.

Both of us are right.

Or neither of us are right.

And Charles Percival is somewhere else entirely.

So what do you suggest?

ELIZA: We are going to ask you a few more questions.

You have our word you'll be given the benefit of the doubt.

Thank you, that is most reassuring.

Well, don't thank them.

They should be arrested for this!

An aggressive tone will not help any of us.

You seek to ingratiate yourself to them.

There's something about this man I do not trust.

Documents with your name on them were found at a house belonging to Charles Percival.

How do you explain that?

My father was a ruthless businessman.

He had many enemies.

This could be an act of revenge on his only son.

Is that the best you can do?

No one was talking to you.

This cock and bull story may wash with her.

It will not with him.

A woman who runs a detective agency is clearly no fool.

SLADE: You see?

He seeks to avoid the issue and instead gain favor.

This is the man you seek.

He oozes fraud.

Just look at that waistcoat.

Well, you dress like an undertaker.

How dare you talk to me like that!

Oh, don't pretend...

When you are the reason I have been dragged... BARON: ...to be offended!

SLADE: ...into this whole sorry business... ...in the first place!

(Baron continues shouting) You're a liar, a fraud... (Slade continues shouting) NASH: One at a time, gentlemen.

(pistol cocks, shouting stops) If you please.

ELIZA: Thank you, Mr. Nash.

(pistol uncocks) Now... (knock at door) (door opens) You have a visitor, madame.

(people talking in background) NASH (sighs, quietly): You called the police.

What were you thinking?

(quietly): I believed I caught a wanted criminal.

How else was I going to bring him back to London?

There are ways.

Such as?

A private boat, three armed men, and a big sack.

I do hope you're joking.

(people talking in background) Well, this is not good.

(exhales) Not good at all.

Perhaps he's a reasonable man.

Non.

Non, non, non, non.

This is unacceptable.

I apologize for the confusion, but the situation has changed.

There are now two suspects.

I was told there was only one.

Both men may be involved in the same crimes.

Or perhaps just one of them.

Or, or neither of them.

For now, I would suggest detaining them both while myself and my, uh...

Partner?

...colleague make further enquiries.

Do not tell me what to do.

You have no jurisdiction here.

I understand that...

Wait here.

I'll go see for myself.

But if I could just...

I said wait.

(sighs) How about a drink?

(people talking in background, string instruments playing) NASH: You been to France before?

No, never.

Mm.

Been lots of times.

And I've met plenty of little Napoleons like that chief of police.

Which is why I said this wasn't good.

Do you want to know why?

I'm sure you're going to tell me.

An area like this, in the middle of the countryside, there's next to no crime.

The odd stolen horse, maybe a punch-up on Bastille Day.

But now the local police have two suspects who could be Scotland Yard's most wanted.

It's a chance for them to make a name for themselves.

I have more faith in human nature.

No, you don't.

(sighs) So who are you working for, anyway?

Who is your client?

No one.

I'm doing this for the, uh...

I suppose you might say the glory.

The glory?

Charles Percival isn't just wanted in London.

There are warrants for his arrest in Belgium and Austria, not to mention America.

And you want the whole world to know that Patrick Nash was the man who found him.

There's nothing wrong with being ambitious-- you are, too.

That's why you should come and work for me.

(sighs) It's because you don't trust me, isn't it?

Do you blame me?

Sometimes I see you leaning heavily on your walking cane.

Other times there's not even a trace of a limp.

I'd suggest the only reason you're using that cane is to make me feel guilty.

You think that bullet you took was somehow my fault.

It was your fault.

(music continues, people talking in background) I can't think of a subtle way to change the subject, so I'm just going to do so.

(people talking in background) What if we're both wrong, and neither of those men are Charles Percival?

You think it could be someone else?

Someone in the hotel?

It's hard to tell just by looking.

Unless mind-reading is one of your hidden talents?

When I was a girl, I used to play a game with my father.

We'd go into a busy street and try and guess three things about a perfect stranger.

Tell me about him.

Parisian.

Some kind of banker.

(chuckles) He's waiting for his wife to join him.

She nags him about his drinking, which is why he'll finish that bottle before she arrives.

(Arun laughing) It's, it's true, I swear it!

(laughing) In a moment, that loud gentleman will try to impress the young lady by ordering the most extravagant item on the menu.

A vintage claret or a Chteau Margaux.

A Chteau Margaux, definitely-- it's slightly more expensive.

You're wrong.

He's going to order cigars.

ARUN: My good man, we'll take a box of cigars.

Oh, and a, a bottle of Chteau Margaux, please.

Ah!

I'd call that a draw.

(laughs) Shouldn't he have come down by now?

The police chief?

It's been rather a long time.

As you say, he no doubt wishes to be involved in the investigation.

Yes, probably just that.

What if he's left the hotel and taken them with him?

Surely we would have seen him leave.

Well, there may be another way out-- maybe a, a back door.

SLADE: Help!

Please, help!

He collapsed.

Just fell to the floor.

I don't think he's breathing.

(sighs): I'll go and get help.

There's no pulse.

(wind howling) What do you think?

I think he's dead.

I spoke to the manager.

He's sending word to the police station.

And you told him not to let anyone leave.

I did, but I doubt they'd want to.

That storm's getting worse.

Any idea what killed him?

ELIZA: No obvious cause of death that I can see.

No puncture wounds or bruising, no... No trauma to the head.

You say he just collapsed.

He'd been questioning us for a few minutes.

I became thirsty and asked for some water.

He poured a glass from that jug over there.

One for me, one for him.

We continued talking for a short while, then all of a sudden, his breathing became shallow and he fell to the floor.

Could it be poisoned?

I, I drunk that water, too-- you must call a doctor.

Liar.

What?

SLADE: The policeman took a drink, he did not.

Of course I did.

You saw me sip from that very glass!

That is a blatant lie.

SLADE: The policeman drank the water, and collapsed.

I called for help, he told me to be quiet.

I did not!

SLADE: He threatened to harm me if I made another sound.

I don't know why he's saying these things, but you must call a doctor-- my life is in danger!

He's lying, he's come here to kill me!

Why would he want to kill you?

Because I'm the man you're looking for.

I am Charles Percival.

SLADE: Now please, take me somewhere safe and I'll tell you everything you want to know.

You were right, I am in hiding.

The net is tightening around me.

I've run out of places to go.

As a younger man, I confess I enjoyed the thrill of running from city to city, country to country.

The exhilaration of escaping those who wished to jail me or cut my throat.

But now... (exhales) Who's the man upstairs?

The one you say wants to kill you.

I cannot say for sure, but I have seen him before, in London.

I have a house in Holborn.

I was coming back there one night when I saw a movement in the front parlor.

I did not go inside, instead I peered through the window, and I saw him waiting, with a gun.

Is he one of your victims?

I believe he is a paid assassin.

Paid by who?

One of the larger bets on the Grand National was placed by a Russian gentleman.

I later discovered he was a gang leader.

A cold-blooded murderer.

My life is in danger.

You must let me go!

(cuffs rattling) Sit down.

Now.

I've been hired to bring you back to England and that's exactly what I'll do.

(breathing slowly) Please, you must call a doctor.

I feel most unwell.

That is unwell.

(sniffs): You are perfectly fine.

He gulped the water down, I only took a few sips.

It may take longer to have an effect.

Your friend in black says you never touched a drop.

(weakly): He's lying.

And not just about that, about everything.

He's not Charles Percival.

And how do you know that?

Because I am.

(inhales sharply) All right.

(coughs) If you are Charles Percival, who's the other man?

Call a doctor, I beg you!

Who is he?

I don't know!

I think I saw him on the boat coming over.

If he is following me, I would guess he'd be a hired killer.

Hired by who?

There are so many who wish me dead.

Oh, please, my heart is racing!

The lady, her life is in danger.

He will kill her if he has to.

(panting) There may even be others in the hotel.

What do you mean, others?

If you want help, start talking.

(choking): I can't breathe.

(gasps) (in American accent): Walk back, three paces, palms facing me.

When I say-- and only when I say-- you're going to give me the key to these cuffs.

All right?

Now.

Who are you?

Thomas K. Malone.

Of the New Hampshire Malones.

(chuckles) I'm a detective, work for an agency in Boston.

Been after Percival for years.

Almost caught him in London, too.

I was undercover, posing as a rich lord looking to spend Daddy's money.

I found out about his safehouse and sat for two days waiting for him to come back.

He didn't, but your men did, so I had to make a run for it.

Anyways, long story short, the man downstairs is Charles Percival and I'm taking him in.

And you're going to kill us like you killed the policeman?

No, no, I didn't kill him, he just collapsed.

Maybe there is something in that water, I don't know.

The police can look into that when they get here.

I'll be long gone by then.

And where will I be?

NASH: Stupid.

So damn stupid.

I can't believe I fell for that.

ELIZA: This is no time for self-pity.

He fooled me, too.

I thought it was you knocking on the door.

I should never have answered without checking.

There are some tools on the floor.

If I can just... (clanging) They're gone anyway.

What's the point?

So your plan is to sit there and sulk?

You have a tie pin, don't you?

Try using that on the lock.

(tools clanging, Eliza grunting) We can still catch up with them.

Hopefully, the police will be here soon.

You do know there are three different ports where ships leave for America, Le Havre, Cherbourg, and Marseille?

You have a team of men in France, yes?

Send one group to Cherbourg, one to Marseille, and you and I will go to Le Havre.

There's no team, I'm here on my own.

What?

We're overstretched as it is, we've got 12 active investigations, I couldn't spare anyone.

And then I found out that you had a lead and were heading to France.

How did you find that out?

You had the whole case pinned up on the wall of your office.

You broke into my office?!

(laughs) (exhales) (grunting) (yells in frustration) (sighs) (chuckles) Are you incapable of telling the truth?

(sighs) My brother used to say that.

(chuckles) "Patrick, you lie so much, I think it may be a medical condition."

(sniffs) We came to London together a few years back.

It was his idea to set up the agency.

He was a good detective, thorough.

He'd do the hard work and I'd do the... You know, what do you call it?

The front of house, I suppose.

He had more of a moral compass than I did.

He'd help anyone.

Rich or poor.

There was this family from Cork.

Fresh off the boat.

They paid my brother up front to find their missing daughter.

A lot of men would've just taken their money and spent it, but not him.

He went looking for her.

He found her with some drunk lunatic down by the docks.

A fisherman, handy with a knife.

He stabbed my brother right through the heart.

Dead before he even hit the floor.

That's what you get for being honest.

So the moral of your story is lie and cheat, and you'll stay alive?

There's no moral.

I'm just saying that some people are survivors.

Like you and I.

That's why we should work together.

(chuckles) Is this some twisted attempt to get me to sympathize with you?

I will never work for you, do you understand?

I don't know if you made that story up just now or you've told it a hundred times before, but I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth.

I doubt you even had a brother.

(cuffs unlock) You were right about the tie pin.

His name was Michael.

My brother.

(wind howling) (door shuts) Have the police arrived yet?

No, but someone has stolen a horse and carriage from outside.

Do you know anything about this?

I think I may know who that was.

Oh, of course you do.

Could I trouble you for one more thing?

I need to send a telegram to Scotland Yard.

I want nothing more to do with any of this.

The police will help you when they get here.

(people talking in background) You are English?

I am.

Good-- my French is appalling.

(chuckles) I hope you don't mind, I know it's very late, but I do hate to drink alone.

What about your companion, the lady?

Oh, we are not together.

We met on the boat coming over.

I thought we were getting on, but it seems I may have misread the situation.

It's not my intention to be rude, but I'm working.

Please, don't, don't let me disturb you.

Are you enjoying your stay here?

Um, not particularly.

I know what you mean.

I wish I'd never set foot in this damn place.

I'm in the hotel business, you see?

I own property in Delhi, Paris, London.

Always on the lookout for new opportunities.

Someone in London suggested I come here and take a look.

I should've known never to trust a lawyer.

A lawyer?

Mm.

Uh, he works for the owner.

Who apparently is very keen to sell.

(quietly): Yeah, I, uh, I shouldn't gossip, but, uh, he was married to a local girl and things ended badly.

So he wishes to move back home.

You came here to buy the hotel?

Mm.

Yeah, it's a small place, but it's a gold mine.

I was due to meet the owner for dinner, along with his lawyer.

This lawyer, what's his name?

Slade.

Jeremiah Slade.

He didn't turn up.

Neither did the owner, so I thought, to hell with them, and decided to leave.

Didn't get very far, though.

Why not?

No, I've seen them do it.

(chuckles) Yeah, trampling grapes in bare feet covered in bunions!

(laughs) Even in the finest of vineyards.

It's extremely disconcerting-- terribly effective.

Ah-hah.

(chuckles) We need to talk.

Miss Scarlet-- Miss Kinsky.

Charmed.

Mm-hmm.

It's important.

I shall leave you to it.

Mm.

(exhales) Thank you for that.

There's only one road that leads from the hotel to the outside world.

It's a, a small narrow track that runs up a steep hill.

I remember-- so?

I was just speaking to one of the other guests, the loud gentleman with the cigars.

He tried to leave, but the snow has made the road impassable.

There's no way out and hasn't been for hours.

The, um, American detective.

Malone, was it?

Mm-hmm.

I think he and Charles Percival are still here.

(wind howling) He wouldn't be stupid enough to hide in the same room.

Well, we should at least check.

All right.

Who's going first, me or you?

You, obviously, he has your gun.

Bullets work on men, as well as women, you know.

Just hurry up!

There's no one here-- I told you.

(Malone groans) (cuffs clanking) (grunts) Oh, did someone poison you?

Again?

Oh, I'll take that.

(grunting) Thank you.

What happened?

(sighs): I tried to leave, stole a coach.

Didn't get far, I couldn't see a damn thing in that storm.

I brought him back here to make another plan.

(exhales): I must've taken my eyes off him for a second.

I don't know how, but I guess he hit me from behind and knocked me clean out.

We need to go, he must be somewhere in the hotel.

Wait, wait!

(chuckles) I know what I did was a little underhand, but we're on the same side, right?

What say we team up and bring him in together?

Um... No.

Come on, you can't leave me here like this.

Wait, please!

So what now?

Start knocking on some doors?

No, we may need the element of surprise.

Check upstairs in room 18.

I'll meet you in reception.

(footsteps approaching on stairs) There's no one in room 18.

Apart from a dead French policeman.

Speaking of which, if the road has been blocked for the last few hours, how did he get here?

He didn't.

Would you care to explain that?

It's snowing outside, but when we spoke to him, his coat was bone-dry.

I wasn't sure why at first, but now it's obvious.

He was here all along.

He's not the real chief of police.

Exactly.

I think he was posing as a guest.

Do any of these names look familiar to you?

Um... Not as such.

Monsieur Papillon.

The winning horse from this year's Grand National.

Room 12, checked in last night.

It would seem our con man has a sense of humor.

Hm.

Well, we should be careful.

We're not the only ones looking for him.

SLADE: Please, you don't have to do this.

Please, I beg you.

I have money in my suitcase, take it.

I'll give you anything you want, anything at all!

(chuckles) What I want is for you to watch while he drinks this.

Ah, it was you who poisoned the jug of water in my room.

So much quieter than a gun.

More painful, too.

Non.

(screams) NASH (cocks pistol): I wouldn't do that if I were you.

Or that.

Hands where I can see them.

Move back.

Please.

What's he doing here?

They're working together.

Charles Percival isn't just one man.

He's several.

I put our lady friend in the cellar, and left the so-called lawyer where he was.

You sure he's in on it?

He introduced us to the chief of police when he knew the man was a fake.

He checked him in last night as a guest.

Hm.

The woman who was trying to kill you, who is she?

(in English accent): She was paid by a Russian gang in London.

They lost money on the Grand National.

She must've followed me to room 12.

I'd hidden Samuel in there.

Samuel is the man posing as a lawyer.

I saw them come back, Samuel and the American detective.

I hit the American over the head, then Samuel and I headed up to the room.

So who is Charles Percival?

I was the first to go by that name.

The others work with me, even pose as me sometimes to help protect my identity.

There have been several others, but recently just Samuel and Henri-- rest his soul.

And Henri was the chief of police.

That was not the role he was supposed to play tonight, but when you came, we had to improvise.

And what role was he meant to play?

The hotel owner.

We were going to sell the place to that businessman from Delhi.

Where is the real owner?

At home, in the local town, drinking himself to death.

His wife left him.

He can't even get out of bed in the morning.

I came here a month ago, he just left me to my own devices.

I still have money.

Dollars, francs, pounds.

If you let me go...

This isn't about money.

Unless...

I have the beginnings of respect for you.

Please don't ruin it.

(quietly): It was just an option.

(birds chirping, horse nickers) (both speaking French) I've just given my statement.

At least I think I have-- my French is a little rusty.

Well, I just spoke to the chief of police.

He says he wants to interview the prisoners himself.

Did you offer our help?

I did, but he said it's his investigation now.

You should've seen his face when I told him there'd been a murder.

(whispers): I've never seen someone that happy.

You're sure he's the real chief of police?

Well, he had a badge.

(chuckles) I don't think we'll be getting our money any time soon.

Mm, I'm sure you're right.

But he did say the road's open again.

We could go into town.

Have some breakfast?

Why not?

You know, in some ways this all turned out rather well.

I mean, we ended up working together.

Patrick... (sighs): Please don't start that again.

Did you just call me Patrick?

It was a slip of the tongue, I'm tired.

No, it's progress, it's real progress.

Yes, in a few years, I might even trust you.

(click) ELIZA: I know I'm not an expert in matters of the heart.

I just didn't want to see him today.

POTTS: We are having difficulties in our courtship.

FITZROY: Who are we waiting for?

PHELPS: Michael Galanis.

As in the gang?

As in the gang.

These are serious people.

They won't want you sniffing around in their business.

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