Kraft Mystery Theater (1959–…): Season 1, Episode 11 - The Desperate Man - full transcript

- Good afternoon.
- Good afternoon Jack.

Nice day.
- It certainly is.

- Anything I can get you?
- Half a bitter, please.

- Leicester?
- Yup.

There you are sir.
Thank you Jack.

Can you let me have a room?

Yes, I think that will be
alright sir. Number 5.

Will you sign the book, mister...?
- Curtis.

- Travelling on business?
- Eh, no. - Holiday?

- Same again.
- No thanks.

Now if you've come for a rest,
you've come to the right place.



Nothing ever happens here,
no rush, no noise.

And one hopes, no people.
Landlord? - Sir?

Could you have my things sent up,
they're in the car. - Right.

I think I'll take a stroll.
Anything interesting to see locally?

Yes, you might see the castle
while you're here, sir.

Right. See you later.

- Good afternoon.
- Good afternoon.

- Is Mr. Figgis in?
- No, he's gone to London for a fortnight.

I'm mrs. Figgis.

Have you any objection
if I look around the castle?

- I don't see why not, you'll find it open.
- Open? But I thought that...

Well, a young lady came for
the key about half an hour ago,

she hasn't brought it back so
she's probably still there.

Is that my bus coming?
- No, just a car.



You think you could let
me have a guidebook?

Yes alright, but don't you
let me miss my bus.

I won't, mrs Figgis.

Mrs. Figgis, I think I hear a bus.

Oh, good afternoon.
- Good afternoon.

I understand you have
the key to the castle.

Yes, it's weighing me down.

The caretakers wife said
I could look around too.

Alright by me. If mrs. Figgis is out,
it goes under the mat at Rose Cottage.

Right.

Oh, and if you find a cannonball,
you might let me know.

- A cannonball?
- Yes, it's missing.

- Is that so?
- For two days.

The question is who took it and why.

You're interested in cannonballs?

- Professionally.
- I see.

It might still be in the castle.
And if you should find it...

Oh, I'll tell you at once.

Shall I deliver it to you?

It weighs a hundred and fifty pounds.

I'm Carol Borne,
you can find me at the inn.

Well that's a date.

- Did you remember to return the key?
- Yes, it's safely under the mat.

- Any luck with the cannonball?
- Not a sign of it.

Don't you want to use the telephone?

No, why should I?

Come on, let's go and have a drink.

I'd be delighted to have
a drink with mister Curtis.

At The Record's expense.
- How the devil...

I looked in the register, recognised the
name, and put two and two together.

So you're a reporter.

Exotic Times. Quite an honour
to be on the same story

as fleet street's most
famous crime reporter.

Isn't it rather an odd assignment for
you? After all, missing cannonball...

My dear miss Borne, I am not in
the least interested in cannonballs,

missing or otherwise. I'm on holiday.
- Good, my first scoop.

Let's drink to it, shall we?
What'll you have?

- Tomato juice please.
- Nothing stronger?

- No, I'm watching my figure.
- That makes two of us.

Landlord? Could I have a tomato
juice and a pint of bitter please?

- Cigarette?
- No thank you.

You know... If old Blair
could see me now...

- Who's old Blair?
- My news editor.

I should be in Wigham investigating
a dismembered female.

But I like to see my women
all in one piece.

Tell me, why did you become a reporter?

It's in the family.
I'm following a father's footsteps.

I think reporting's fun. It's like
a game, a confidence trick.

I see you have unsuspected depths, Cathy.

Have I, Phil?

What is it you were saying
about a confidence trick?

If a reasonably attractive girl
is sent to cover a fashion show,

nobody takes any
special notice of her.

But if the same girl is sent
to cover, say, a murder,

then everybody falls over backwards trying
to help because they're sorry for her.

Have you ever reported a murder?

No, but I'm hoping.
I think I'd be good at it.

I'll tell you the recipe.

Concentrate on the men in the case,
then give them all you've got.

Not everything. One has got to keep
something in reserve for contingencies.

Shall we go?

Good night, Bill. Thank you
for a lovely evening.

Good night, Carol.

Sorry, Bill. Too soon
to call out the reserves.

- Evening paper, sir.
- Thank you, George.

Well damn!
George, here, look at this, sir.

Ever since Sir Bedford de Courteny lept
to his death from the battlements

after an interrupted tryst
with his mistress, the lady Blanche,

the inhabitants of this charming village
have believed the castle to be haunted.

Now the question is being
asked, can a ghost carry

a stone shot weighing a
hundred and fifty pounds?

Mr. Tom Figgis, the
caretaker, told me the key

was in his possession
when the theft occured.

Mr. Figgis doesn't believe in weight-
lifting ghosts and has his own theory.

Four years ago, the spare key was
stolen from the lock of the main gate.

Are the two thefts connected?
If so, the mystery deepens.

Why should anyone return after four years
to move a hundred and fifty pound....

[sound problem]

- Good morning, Bill.
- Good morning.

- You've seen the papers?
- I've seen the Courier.

I phoned the Courier because
the story was of national interest.

Bill, you are jealous!

I am not jealous, although it is a
good story for The Record to have it.

There's gratitude for you. You said you
weren't interested in missing cannonballs.

Would have been a bit silly to
let your paper have the story

when you were actually here.
So I sold it to the opposition.

I must say, you've got
a vivid imagination.

Well, the castle's haunted now, is it?

All the best castles are haunted.

Anyway the missing key stuff is true.

Naturally, and so you
kept quiet about it.

You weren't interested, remember?
You had other things on your mind.

You look better when you don't sulk.

Yes, well, I'd better go and take a stroll.

- Oh Bill?
- Yes?

Give me a shout if you find it.

Why don't you try the moat?
- This is easier.

There is something solid down here.

I can feel it.
- Probably the bottom.

Whatever it is, it's hard and round.

What a follow-up! From our
special correspondent Carol Borne.

Today I'm able to
reveal exclusively,

that the cannonball believed to
be stolen from Marley Castle...

Hold it!

As you say, what a follow up.

So the cannonball was holding
him down all the time.

Following that conclusively, wire
securing him to the cannonball.

Better not touch anything, the police
don't like to be rubbed up the wrong way.

I'm going to get them.

- Ah, here we are.
- May we know who he is, inspector?

Well, I don't see why not, provided you
give us time to contact his relatives

before you start making your inquiries.
- Of course.

John Hoad, Down's Ewe,
Clipton Road, Brighton.

- Cause of death?
- Severe head injuries, by the look of it.

Alright Anderson, carry on
with your photo's. - Yes sir.

Bailey? I want a complete
search made of the castle.

Do you want us, inspector?

No, when you and Miss Borne
give me a detailed statement,

I won't need to detain you any longer.
- Right.

Right Bobbins, you come with me.

There's nobody at home.

- Pardon?
- Are you from the police again?

No. I'm a reporter. From
the Record. My name is Curtis.

Oh, well then you'll be wanting to know
all about poor Mr. Hoad, won't you.

Oh, it is a shocking business.

Yes, well Mrs. Hoad is up in Scotland
with Simon, that's their little boy.

But if I can be of any help,
I'd be only too glad.

My name is Prune, miss Prune.

You don't happen to know mrs. Hoad's
address in Scotland, do you?

No, I don't, all I know
is she's at Inverary.

Poor man was hit on the head I believe?
- Yes, it's a nasty business.

What sort of man was Hoad?

Oh, very pleasant, very
pleasant indeed, yes.

Quiet, you know. Chartered accountant.

Nora, that's his wife, she's much
younger of course, she's very pretty,

...very pretty...
- What was he doing at Marley?

Boating. Yes, you see, he was
on a boating holiday on his own...

...while Nora was in...
A boating holiday?

Yes, that's his two hobbies, you
see, boating and archaeology.

And that would account
for him being at the castle.

- What?
- The archaeology.

Oh yes, of course. Have you
any idea what sort of boat it was?

Just a boat. With an engine!

Yes, I mean, the name...?

Oh, well, now wait a minute,
I have to think, wait a minute.

It was some sort of a bird,
let me see, partridge...

Not partridge of course, but you know,
a gay name, like that. Partridge...

Snipe. That's what it was,
it was called, yes, The Snipe.

Yes. Now this house, was it
a happy one, any quarrels?

Not that I ever heard, no.

No no no no, everybody liked mr. Hoad.

Except for one person, apparently.

Well, thank you very much indeed Miss
Prune, you've been a great help to me.

Oh, it's been a pleasure.

If that's not a wrong word,
under the circumstances.

Would you... Could I
offer you a cup of tea?

No, thank you miss Prune,
I really do have to go.

Thank you, goodbye,
and thank you once again.

Goodbye. Goodbye, and I hope
you find that dreadful murderer.

Oh Bill, can't we go back now?

Oh, my feet hurt.

What do you think that is out there?

- I don't know.
- Looks like air bubbles.

Escaping from a...
- A boat?

Could be, it's worth taking a closer look.

Now you stay here.

Well here goes...

There's something here alright.
And it's a boat.

A boat? Can you make out the name on it?

Rather muddy. I'll take another look.

It's a Snipe.

Bill, how marvellous! We found it!

I'll have to do my best
for you with me editor,

and I think we should get photographs of
you, and I'm not sure that you shouldn't...

Curtis! What on earth
are you doing here?

Come and have a drink, come and join us.

Terribly old friend of mine,
you must meet him.

Curtis, you look a little damp.
- What are you doing here,

I thought you had a date in
Wickham with a dismembered corpse.

They put it together again without much
difficulty, and a local man confessed.

Not very juicy I'm afraid,
this looks much better.

Well, aren't you going to
introduce me to your friend?

This is Carol Borne,
Lawson of the Evening Courier.

- Hello.
- How do you do.

Well, aren't you going to introduce me...

Thank you so much for all your kind help,

I think you should get in touch
with one of the Sunday papers.

Not THE Carol Borne, not the
one who gave us this story?

You must let me buy you a drink.
- No thanks. I've got to go and change.

But you look perfectly
delightful as you are.

You must put me in the picture.
- Later.

- I telephoned the story from my room.
- Clever girl.

Are you helping me or
putting one over on Lawson?

We've been at it for years, we couldn't
live without cutting each other's throats.

- Do you mind if I join you?
- See what I mean?

Good evening. Move it around
a bit, I can't get in. Thank you.

My dear, I've had a message
from my editor about you

who is delighted, absolutely
delighted, and so may I say, am I.

We'll all have smoked salmon to begin...
- Salmon's off, sir.

Well, we'll have trout then,
and a bottle of champagne.

There is such a thing as beginner's luck,
you see, which can completely peter out,

and that's where I think an old hand
like myself could come in useful,

..don't you agree?
- No she doesn't.

Dinner's on me, old boy.
Or the Courier, I should say.

- Miss Borne is my guest.
- My dear fellow, aren't you on expenses?

Oh no of course, I keep forgetting, you're
supposed to be on holiday, aren't you?

Incidentally, I saw a colleague of
yours about the place, Henderson.

- Henderson?
- Yes, well you are on holiday, arent you?

Now Carol, you will keep me in touch with
all the latest developments, won't you?

Would you rather discuss
them later on, in private?

- The papers.
- Thank you George.

But why tell you when you can read
them for yourself, in the Courier?

Now look, what are you two up to?
Carol, you don't know this man,

he'll stop at nothing, he works
for the opposition, the Record.

He's not working mr Lawson,
remember, he's on holiday.

Excuse me sir, trout's off too.

Inspector? Anything for us, inspector?

No, gentlemen, nothing.

I'm afraid we've run into
a bit of a deadlock.

A week now since the body was found and
we've still got nothing solid to go on.

I'm returning to Lewis and
I shall work from there.

Needless to say, it doesn't mean
that the case is closed,

it's just that we don't think there's
anything to be gained by staying on here.

Thank you, gentlemen.
- Come on Carol, let's phone the office.

- There's still hope.
- Quickly petering out.

Kiss of death on it you might say.
Where have you been?

Taking a nap. Henderson is covering
it for me. By the way, where is he?

He's gone back to town.
That's where I'm going.

Much too Lawson, you know you ought
to learn to take it easy, like me.

- Are you staying on then?
- Well of course! I'm on holiday.

What about you, Carol?

- For the moment.
- Are you?

Are you... So will I. George?
- Yes sir?

Can I have my room for one more
night until tomorrow morning?

- Certainly sir.
- Good.

I think I'll have my supper in my room.

What's your game, staying
a night this Lawson?

There's nothing more you
can do on the case, you know.

No, but I may make some
progress in other directions.

Oh come on, come and have a beer.

- Just one, Lawson.
- Alright.

- Phil?
- Oh there you are.

What are you doing here?
- Following up a sort of hunch.

Do you mind telling me about it?

Suppose Hoad was killed
because of something he saw,

going on at the castle.
- Such as?

Suppose two men
converge at this castle?

One is Hoad, the reason
for his visit, archaeology.

The other is a man with a
key he stole four years ago.

The reason for his visit, unknown.
They meet.

Yes, I like it.

Bill, supposing the man with the
key were interrupted by Hoad

in whatever dirty
work he were up to?

Wouldn't he come back when
the coast was clear to finish the job?

Yes. Because if he had finished it,
why should he go through so much trouble

to cover his tracks so
thoroughly, like scuttling a boat?

Exactly. Well tonight is the first night
after the police have turned off the heat.

If I were that man I'd be tempted
to come back tonight.

You know, I think you've got something.

We'll hang on here for a bit.
- We?

I've been waiting for a chance like this,
for a week.

- Listen, what's that?
- Sounds like the castle door.

That's what I thought.
Come on.

- Listen, what's that?
- Sounds like hammering.

It's coming from up there.
Come on.

Hey, you!

Drop that lantern. Drop it!

Bill, he'll kill us!

Now get back against
the wall, both of you.

Put your hands on your head.
You too.

Well, well. Miss Borne, and Mr. Curtis.

I've been observing you
for the last few days.

Very interesting.
- You killed Hoad.

With 50,000 pounds at stake,
he got in the way, like you.

Who are you?

Strange as it may seem, my name's Smith.
Now no more questions!

Consider yourselves lucky that I'm
just going to lock you up here.

If you make enough noise in the morning,
somebody will come up and release you.

Sit down.

Come on, come on!

And put your hands up.

That's it.

Hurt?

I've twisted my knee.

You'll never make it
down a spiral staircase.

You're right. I'll rest up
here for a couple of days.

So you're not so lucky after all.

- Up here?
- Up here.

And I'll make you the errand boy.
But your playmate stays here with me.

- With you?
- As a hostage.

You can't keep her up here!

Do you want to argue with a gun, Curtis?

Any attempt to bring help
or give me away, I'll kill her.

- You'd never get away with it.
- I can only hang once.

If you cooperate with me, Curtis,
you'll have nothing to fear.

- They'll miss me at the inn.
- I've thought of that too.

You're going to write
a note to the landlord,

say that you're going to visit
friends for a few days.

You wish to keep the room. Curtis
will deliver it and attend to the details,

such as the rumpled bed.
- Very ingenious.

The note!

Bring it here.

Settle down. Give it to him.

Now Curtis, tomorrow night,
you'll bring back food,

drink, blankets,
a bandage, and cigarettes.

And take my advice, don't try and
smuggle in a gun or poison the food.

I have my food taster here.

Here's the key. The spare one.
Lock the door after you. Now get moving.

You'd better go.

Just a minute.

You have a car, haven't you?
- Me? No.

Show me your handbag, come on.

I get the impression that you both still
don't realise I'm in business. Come here.

You lied to me, miss Borne,
didn't you, you lied!

Get back!
Right back!

Pick up that key.

Now throw it to him.

Go down and attend
to miss Borne's car.

It must be seen in the village.
Get cracking!

You'd better go, Bill, we've no choice.

Please!
- Alright, I'll go.

But listen, Smith, whatever your name is.

If she comes to any harm, I'll get you!

Good night, Curtis.

Well, miss Borne, over there.

Sit down.

Put your legs out.

Now place your hands together.

You will understand that
I can't take any chances.

- Anything else, sir?
- No no, that will be all, thank you.

I'll take this pepper.
- Yes sir, that'll be another eightpence.

Frightful job, when your
wife's away, sir. - Yeah.

Anyway, you ought to be alright
for a day or two now.

I think so.
I'll take this as well.

Yes sir. That will be five shillings sir.

That's one pound, seventeen
and ninepence altogether.

- Right.
- Thank you.

- Can I turn your bed, sir?
- Not at the moment please...

- You have got a nasty cold.
- It sounds like it.

Do you think you could let me have
another couple of blankets please?

Of course, sir.

Thirsty?

Curtis?
- Yeah.

When I open the door,
put the stuff through first.

Right.

Right. Now come in with your hands up.

Come on, come on.

Up, up! Right up!
Against the wall.

Boyscout, hey?

Right. Now join your girlfriend.

- Can I untie her?
- Hands only.

Are you alright Carol?

Apart from aching in every limb,
and being hungry and thirsty.

- Has he been behaving himself?
- So far.

I've seen him before.
I'm sure of it. But where?

Anything you say, say out loud,
Curtis. Over here.

Haven't you got something hot, I'm frozen.

All in good time, all in good time.

Even dry bread and water
tastes good sometimes.

Like in prison, for instance?

I ask the questions, Curtis.

You know, Curtis,
you're a very lucky fellow.

I'm handing you the
story of your career.

After your highly colourful account of
this incident has appeared in print,

you will receive tempting offers from all
branches of the more sensational press.

Cuts for me wouldn't be inappropriate,
but... by then I shall be a long way off.

- How's your leg?
- Fine, it's coming along nicely.

I've been bathing it, in the well.

The Picard touch, you know.
It might interest your readers.

- I hope you enjoy your supper...
- Keep your distance.

I beg your pardon, what did you say?
- I said I hope you enjoy your supper.

Yes, I shall. But you'll do better
tomorrow. And by the way,

put down on you shopping list a new
torch and length of rope, alright?

Right.
So you advise.

Is there anything I can get you, Carol?

You might change my library books.

A detective story.
Goodnight, Curtis.

I said goodnight Curtis!
- You'd better go.

Are you going deaf?

I think you need a refresher. Get back!

Right back!

Get up!
- No, please don't.

I said get up!

If you as much as touch
her, you'll have to kill me.

That will be the end of
you too Smith. I mean it.

Yes, I'm inclined to believe you.
The breaking point. Get out.

Enjoying yourself, Curtis? Hey?

I must say I find it very amusing.

See you tonight.

- Carol, are you alright?
- No, I'm not alright.

How would you like to be
all tussed up like a chicken?

Do you have to keep her tied
up like this night and day?

You know why.

As a matter of fact miss Borne
and I are getting along very nicely.

She has quite a sensible
approach to the situation.

I see you've brough everything.

Including a bottle of wine.

Lousy vintage.

This wire hurts.

Not for much longer, miss Borne.

The leg seems better.

- It's getting along.
- What are your plans?

My immediate plans, food and drink.
Turn round.

Try and open it over there, will you?

Here's a corkscrew.

Clumsy.

Now tomorrow night I intend
to leave, in your car, Curtis.

Which I shall expect to find in the
castle car park, with a full tank.

- You'll give me the keys here.
- But now I'll lose my car.

Not at all.
You'll get it back from the police,

with full confidence.
- What about us?

Curtis here will be locked up in
the castle. No great hardship.

He will be able to provide himself
and food and water for 48 hours.

By then I shall be a long way off.

You miss Borne, you'll
come along with me.

Now now Curtis, there you go again.

Now don't do anything silly with that,
come on, throw it over here.

That's a good chap.

What did you expect her to do with that?
Gouge my eyes out? Really!

As I was saying, miss Borne will
come with me on the first stage

of my journey, as a hostage,
a guarantee against your inventiveness.

And take my advice Curtis, don't let your
fertile imagination run away with you.

For her sake. I have nothing to lose.

- Is that all?
- That's all.

Get going. And bring the wine.

- Well good night, Carol.
- Good night.

What's the matter with you?
- Oh no, horrible.

Look at this wire, it's cutting my leg.
Look at that mark there.

Bill, Bill, Bill!

Where are you going!

Get out!

Miss Borne, miss Borne. I really am
disappointed in you. I really am.

Smith. Smith!

- What?
- The lock's jammed.

Can't get the key out.
- What's the trouble?

Some sort of obstruction.

You might be able to clear
it with a piece of wire.

Alright, you push off, I'll see to it.

- Carol!
- Bill!

- Get up. Let me untie you.
- But I thought you'd gone.

- Damn!
- What happened?

It's alright, Carol, it's alright.
We're going to walk out of here.

- Where's Smith?
- I got him, at last, I got him!

Not quite, mr. Curtis.

Before we terminate our
marriage of inconvenience,

I should like to pay you a compliment.

Never in my life have I been forced
to make so many precautions.

You flatter me.

Well now, if you want to tell each other
your life's stories, it's your last chance.

You ought to tell us the
story of your life, Smith,

or shall I call you
by your real name, Rants?

I knew I'd seen you before,
and now I remember where it was.

In the dock at the Old Bailey. Robbery
with violence, a four year sentence.

- Clever boy.
- And what the judge said at the time.

A horrible and brutal crime, carried
out with calculated ruthlessness.

A just testimonial. You know, you've
got a very good memory, Curtis.

My first job. As a court reporter.

Is it ironic, that I should be
playing the lead in your last?

Tell us about those jewels, Rants.

Why not? These are the
Waterough diamonds.

Their disappearance caused quite
a sensation just over four years ago.

A day or so before I became
a guest of her majesty in fact.

Waterlough Manner is
only two miles over there,

and I thought this place
was just the job to hide them.

A good story, isn't it, Curtis?
But you won't be writing it. Bad luck.

You remember the well where
you found the body, don't you?

That's where you're going
to be found also. Dead.

I shall be taking you there, one by one.

Right, you first.

Come on, come on.

You people, go away there will you!

- Are you alright?
- Yeah.

What a holiday.

- What a story!
- Come on, let's get to the phone!