Secret Agent (1964–1967): Season 1, Episode 7 - The Colonel's Daughter - full transcript

Hello, John.

We found you, then.

I suppose you think this is funny.

It is indeed.

Two o'clock in the morning.

But we policeman cannot
work Whitehall hours.

I was asleep. What do you want?

They told me you were in Delhi

I thought it would be nice
to see each other again.

It's been a long time.

So you drag me out of bed
at two o'clock in the morning



for a social chat.
-Mm-hm.

Would you care to come to my office

for a cup of tea?

No, I wouldn't.

Headquarters, Sen.

I was quite offended
you didn't look me up.

I would've done.

You've had plenty of time.

You've been in Delhi three days.

Are you on business?

The chief of police

with his London training
should know better

than to ask me questions I can't answer.

Of course.



I shall relieve you of the embarrassment.

Thank you.

And tell you, you're looking
for a certain gentleman

in Delhi, an Indian
national in his own country.

However, I shall not press the point.

Shall we leave the gentleman nameless?

Please do.

As further proof of our old friendship,

I should not even ask you
what you want with him.

Ah, come on, get on with it, Khan.

You haven't been able to find him.

Why didn't you come to me?

I could have helped you.

There are certain things

that can't be made, uh, official.

It needn't be official.

I have a large police force

which can surely be used
to help an old friend.

That might help.
-Good.

Then I shall do it,

much quicker and quieter

than you could ever hope to be.

That's very kind of you.

Now what are you after?

You are becoming very cynical, John.

But now that you've offered to help,

there is something,

a very little thing that
you could do for me.

So little that you dragged me out of bed.

It concerns an Englishman,

flotsam from the British raj.

Ah, you're not still chasing

the poor old imperialists, are you?

He used to be
a colonel in the British Army.

Blakeley, he stayed out here.

I'd just like you to talk to him.

Some poor old devil living
out here on his pension.

He supplements it by selling butterflies.

Butterflies?

Sells them to collectors
all over the world.

Many people collect them.

Butterflies.

Colonel Blakeley had an assistant,

an Indian whose just been found dead

in very strange circumstances,
cyanide poisoning.

Butterfly collectors use cyanide

in their killing bottles.

Sen, order some tea for our guest.

Yes, sir.
-It seemed like an accident.

Perhaps I'm being oversuspicious.

Anyway, I did some checking.

Some tea for Major Khan, please.

Just before he died,

the Indian seemed to have
quite a lot of money.

And so you made a discreet inquiry

at the Colonel's bank

and discovered a series
of unexplained withdrawals.

Just two, Mr. Drake,
but for quite large sums.

Could have been blackmail,

or perhaps nothing so simple.

He's in our security files.

His loyalty was once suspected.

Grumbling in the club, I suppose.

Why me?

Fellow white man and all that.

But my time is being paid for

by the British taxpayer.

Meanwhile I find your man.

Each of us doing the other's job

better than he can do it himself, hm?

All right, Khan, you're on.

Where do I find him?

He lives off in the jungle

with an unmarried daughter and a servant.

Oh, there is a club he uses sometimes,

but he's a bit of a solitary.

You better start
learning about butterflies.

Oh, not on your life.

I suspect that the daughter
is a better proposition.

How old is she?

Oh, not old.

I don't know.
-Pretty?

Who knows what you Europeans like.

I've heard her described
as something special.

In that case, it's the daughter.

Having trouble?

Oh, I think I can manage, thanks.

Just get in and push the starter.

Again.

And again.

Ahh, yes, I'm afraid we've got

some very serious trouble here.

You need a mechanic.

Um, where can I drop you?

Oh no, thank you, I can manage, really.

It's perfectly all right.

I have a car over there.

Bring along the other stuff.

We'd, um, better find er, a garage first.

Put that in here.

Alright.

In you get.

Where to then.

I'm a long way out, I'm afraid.

I could do with a drive.

May I ask what your husband does out here?

Oh, I'm not married.

Oh?

Well then, what do you do, Miss, uh...

My name's Joanna Blakeley.

I've been here all my life.

Uh-huh.

Then you work for the government?

No.

Um, then you're a nurse.

No.

I've got a house to look after.

That accounts for your independence.

Do you find it lonely out here?

Hardly ever think about it.

Kept pretty busy, you know.

A house full of people, eh?

No, just the two of us.

Oh, I see.

My father.

You know, I'll bet that he's one

of those determined characters

who stayed behind when the British left.

I'm all for them.

Are you?

How well do you know India?

I see a good deal of it.

I've got to, it's part of my job.

Then you live here?

For the time being.

I'm in the travel business.

Oh, you're responsible for all those

dreadful tourists.

Well, they don't get out
as far as here, surely.

Goodness, no.

My father'd go mad.

You make him sound rather frightening.

He's not, really.

He just doesn't get on
very well with people.

I hope he won't be angry
because I drove you home.

Normally he'd welcome you.

He's just not himself at the moment.

Nothing serious, I hope.

A friend of his had
an unfortunate accident.

He was killed.

I'm sorry.

Well, thank you very much.

It was very kind of you.

Oh, let me give you a hand with those.

Um, where do you want these?

Oh, put them anywhere.

All right.
-That'll do.

Can I get you a drink?

Sure, thanks very much.

Joanna, someone's been
through that fence again.

It's the monkeys, Father, I told you.

Oh, rubbish.

Gin?

Thank you.

Um, Daddy, this is Mr. Drake.

My father, Colonel Blakeley.

How do you do?
-How do you do, sir?

Oh, the car broke down

and Mr. Drake was
kind enough to give me a lift home.

Well, um, hadn't you better
offer him a drink, then?

I have.

Any success today, sir?

Oh, not at all.

It's a habit.

You're, uh, new around here, what?

Yes, as long as you,
hey, thanks very much.

As long as you don't ask me what I do.

What do you do?

Well, I was telling Mr.Drake.

how you feel about tourists.

Oh, not the travel business, huh.

Well, they won't be bothering you, sir.

They're more interested in the Taj Mahal

and the Jama Mosque.

Well, see that you keep them there.

Joanna, get all this business out of here.

Where would you like them?
-Oh no, please, I--

In the kitchen.
-Right.

Nice young fellow.

How did you meet him?

Well, my car wouldn't start, so he...

Picked you up, eh what.

How's your glass?

Oh, fine, thank you, sir.

I must be getting away anyway.

Cheers.

Ah, good enough.

That was very nice, thank you.

Well, we must meet
again sometime in Delhi.

How about tonight?

Are you free, Drake?

Uh, unfortunately I have a--

Well then, have dinner
with us at the club, huh?

Well, that'd be very nice.

It's only a travel agent, anyway.

Splendid.

Eight o'clock then.

If it's business, Mr. Drake, perhaps--

I could do with a night out.

Eight o'clock then.

Goodbye, sir.

Bye.

Good evening, sir.

Good evening.

I'm meeting Colonel Blakeley here.

I'm a little early.

Blakeley? Hasn't been here for months.

I hope he's coming this evening.

He's invited me to dinner.

Ah, well, my name's Picton-Jones.

Let me get you a drink.

That's very nice of you.

Thank you, a scotch.

I'm John Drake.

You know him well, old Blakeley?

Only met him today.

He's not bringing his daughter?

Yes.

I'd watch that.

Thank you.

Cheers.

Married?

Me?

No.

No, thought not.

Well, I suppose you're old enough

to know what you're doing.

Where is Mrs. Blakeley?

One of those things we
don't talk about much.

Ah, I'm so sorry.

Matter of fact,
she ran off with another fella.

Went back to England.

Blakeley felt badly because this chap

was one of those scoundrels

that gave India to the natives.

Yes.

He insisted on custody of the daughter.

Pity her, really.

Vindictive, of course.

She seems very fond
of her father, though.

Yes, but who is there here for her?

And sometimes I think Blakeley's
got a conscience about it.

He knows he's ruined her chances.

Ah, evening, Blakeley. Evening.

Come along, Drake.

We'll order our drinks at the table.

Yes.

Ah, thanks very much.

How do you do?

Would you like a brandy, Drake?

Um, no, thank you.

Oh, come now, we have a
very splendid brandy here.

Two.

The chap at the bar was telling me

that you're something
of a butterfly expert.

Picton-Jones?

He did, did he?

That's the sort of thing
that I could be interested in.

A fascinating hobby.

Oh, it's not a hobby.

It's his business.
-You sell them?

It supplements the slender pension.

Ah, a very pleasant way
of earning some money.

They're beautiful things.

You should hear Daddy on the subject.

They are dirty things.

You would think of them
as feeding on nectar.

Actually, they'll settle on
any bit of filth or carrion.

Oh.

Is there a big market for them?

All over the world.

You going to be out here for long, Drake?

Well, I hope they don't
call me back too soon.

I'm just beginning to enjoy myself.

But what sort of people buy butterflies?

Oh, all sorts.

We sell to dealers mostly.

Our best market's in Hong Kong.

Really?

Must we talk about butterflies?

Oh, no, not with this excellent brandy.

Things went well, didn't they?

He's nice, that young man of yours.

Oh, heaven's sake, Father.

He did put someone off to come

and I don't mind betting it was not

for the sake of my blue eyes.

Please, don't let's go
through all that again.

Good afternoon.

I'm expected.

I'm sorry, the Colonel is out.

Oh, I must be early then.

Is Ms. Blakeley at home?

No, she's in town having her hair done.

Oh, would you mind if I come in?

It's rather hot out there.

Can I get you some tea?

Thank you.

I expect you're still trying to get over

this dreadful affair.

Poor Subra.

Had he a family?

Oh yes, he had four children.

I hope they're provided for.

They say he was well off.

l expect the Colonel paid him well.

I did.

Ah, hello, sir.

She was just telling me
about this dreadful business.

That's a private matter.

Why, I'm so sorry.
-Please sit down.

Thank you.

I do hope you don't think I'm prying

or anything of that sort.

Did you find anything out there?

No, nothing much.

Will Joanna be long?

Any moment now.

By the way, Drake,
what is your job, exactly?

Well, I work for a large travel agency

and my job is to travel around the world

and find tourist areas for development.

Hm.

India's a bit far afield
for you, isn't it?

Long way to come for a
fortnight's summer holiday.

Well, the big jets
make all the difference,

and people have the money nowadays.

Some of which rubs off onto you.

I don't do too badly.

Oh, I...

Sorry I'm late.

It was worth it.

Thank you.

Well, if you'll forgive me, you two,

I've got a lot of work to do.

Shall I ask Margaret
to bring you some tea?

No, thanks, I'll have some later.

Well, if you'll excuse me for a moment.

Ah.

There you are.

All you have to do now is trace him.

What did he put in that tree?

These.

I left the originals where they were.

From your defense ministry.

Perhaps that's where we'll find him.

Right.

Now, what about your side of the bargain?

Ah, indeed, yes.

Well, we are doing all we can.

We expect news soon, don't we, Sen?

At any time, sir.

You know, it strikes
me that this arrangement

is rather one-sided.

This man of yours is very elusive.

Put more men on the job.

We shall be needing them, won't we, Sen?

We will indeed, sir.

I think there are many traitors involved.

I shall get my net and...

So I'm on my own again.

Not at all.

I ask just one more thing.

No, none of this has got
anything to do with me.

You've looked at these?

Yes, yes, they're arms specifications.

Yes, of new British weapons.

I know.

Then it's just as much
your business as it's mine.

Look, Khan, you can
handle this, can't you?

But you know the Colonel.

This chain has two ends.

We'll find out where it comes from,

you find where it leads.

Hmm.

Oh, it's no trouble.

I had to come out this direction anyway.

Well, if you're sure,

it would be nice to be driven in for once.

Shall I put that in the back for you?

No, it's very fragile.

I can look after it.

There you are.
-Thank you.

You can go In now.

Don't keep him long.

He's seeing the minister in a few minutes.

It must be very important, Khan,

that you've come to me.

It is very important, sir.

Very well.

We have proof that military information

is being stolen from your ministry, sir.

Go on.

One of your staff is photocopying

classified documents and passing them on

to a British colonel.

British colonel?

His name is Blakeley.

How did you find this out?

I have been using a British police officer

whom I met when I trained in London.

Are you sure that's all he is?

Yes, sir.

Now then,

who else knows about this?

No one.

I've just come straight to you.

Very sensible.

I will see that the minister hears

about your discretion.

What is the name of your British friend?

John Drake, sir.

You will tell him nothing

of what I'm going to tell you now.

You will tell no one.

You will even forget about it yourself.

This is a top security matter, Khan.

Sometimes we have to pass
out information deliberately

to confuse our enemies.

We mix innocuous fact with fiction,

designed to give them false ideas.

Are you quite clear about this?

Yes, sir.
-Good.

Then you will keep right out of it.

Thank you, Major Khan.

It needs registering.

We can do that in here, can't we?

It's a registered parcel.

That's the number.

We've got your man now, John.

Fine.

What about the parcel?

You'll have to move if
you want to catch it.

Sen, fetch him up now.

No, no, I'll see him privately.

What about the parcel?

You have to hurry if
you're going to catch it.

Leave that to us.

Sen will find you a private room

where you can interview your man.

If you need any help, I've got two men

who are good at that sort of thing.

No, that can wait.

Don't you think we ought to get down

to the post office and stop
that leaving the country?

Forget about that.

I've got all I need on him now.

I haven't.

This is an Indian matter.

You forget they're British arms.

I was not forgetting.

We'll let the British
have a full report later.

So you know what
Blakeley's up to, do you?

We know.

And what he intends
to do with the information?

Isn't it time you got on
with what you came to do?

When you travel, your horizons broaden.

You develop new interests.

I would hate to have you deported, John.

Oh, not just yet.

I have to take Ms. Blakeley home first.

I mean it, John.

And I would hate to interfere

in the private business
of another country,

but if that's what you want,

I'll collect the Colonel's daughter,

take her home, and then
return to pick up my man.

Why, John, what's the matter?

I was in that jungle of yours.

You know, I left the car,

decided I'd walk over from the bridge,

started off down the path,

and in no time at all
I was completely lost.

Well, come in.

It's a nice surprise, anyway.

Is your father in?

No, he's gone into town.

I'll get you a drink.

I could certainly do with one.

You know, one thing about that jungle

I can appreciate now

is why so many people
buy your father's butterflies.

I saw hundreds of them, beautiful things.

Couldn't get anywhere near them, though.

There was one in particular,

quite large, sort of
a midnight blue color.

I know the one.

It's very rare.

Do you know, I'd rather like to see

your father's collection.

I don't think he'd like that very much,

not while he's away.

Really?

Need he know?

I suppose not.

It's not even a very big collection.

Oh, really?

I say, did your father
catch all these himself?

Some.

Sometimes he breeds them.

Fascinating.

I could watch them for hours.

Now you're here,
would you like to stay to dinner?

What a good idea.

I missed lunch.

I haven't eaten all day.

Oh, you poor man.

You must be starving.

You come through, I'll get you a--

Say, that's absolutely
beautiful, isn't it?

I'll be along in a moment.

Sort of a...

Daddy, what's happened?

You look dreadful.

Nothing, darling, nothing.

I'm all right.

Sit down.

Look, Joanna, I've been thinking

about that travel agent fellow.

Shh!

I shouldn't build too much on anything.

Daddy, he's here.

What?

He's--
-Hello, Colonel.

Drake!

Well, what's the matter?

You surprised to see me?

You look as if you've seen a ghost.

Didn't you see my car down by the bridge?

Did you think I had
an accident or something?

No, they were saying
down at the club

that you'd gone back home.

I wondered... Anyway,
I'm jolly glad to see you.

Never did care much for these here today,

gone tomorrow fellows.

Daddy, John's staying to dinner.

Whatever made you
leave your car out there?

Mad dogs and Englishmen.

He went for a walk, imagine.

I should've known better, I suppose.

I'm terribly tired, Drake.

I don't want to seem inhospitable

but couldn't we possibly
make it some other night?

John's had hardly
anything to eat all day--

No, your father's too tired.

If I might just--

Hadn't we better go down to the car?

Well, let's go then.

Bye.

You seemed surprised
to see me this evening.

I was.
-Why?

I told you, I thought
you'd left the country.

You were more than surprised.

You could hardly believe it.

Oh, come on, out with it, Drake.

What are you getting at?

Well, I didn't like
to mention it in front of Joanna,

but I had rather a rough
passage this afternoon.

What do you mean?

When this fellow
waved me down at the bridge,

I thought he wanted a lift.

I stopped, and then
three of them set on me.

Three what?

I thought that you might
know about it, Colonel.

From what I hear, you keep a close watch

on your daughter.

It's convenient to have
an unpaid housekeeper

and secretary, but, uh,

this is carrying it a bit far, isn't it?

My dear fellow,

I've never heard anything so preposterous

in all my life.

Hello?
-Yes sir, can I help you?

Police, please.

Mr. Drake, sir.

Sit down please, Mr. Drake.

Thank you.

Take this to the car.

I shall be down in a moment.
-Yes, sir.

And now, Mr. Drake, I'm
expected in the house.

I must ask you to be brief.

Mr. Minister, I would not like you

to think that I was
interfering in India's affairs.

Come to the point, please, Mr. Drake.

There is a defector in your ministry.

He is leaking classified information.

You have proof of this?
-Yes, sir.

How did you come to be
involved in this, Mr. Drake?

I was working with Major Khan.

Khan?

Who was found dead last night.

What do you know about this matter?

They tried to kill me, too.

I'll take you down myself.

I'm taking you to see Mr. Chopra.

He is my administrative chief.

Good.

Oh no, please.

Good morning, Mr. Minister.

We were not expecting you, sir.

Good morning.

Tell Mr. Chopra I would like to see him

right away, if it is convenient.

But of course, sir.

Please go in, Mr. Minister.

Good morning, Chopra.

Good morning, sir.

I would have come to you.

I'm pressed for time.

This gentleman has some
very disturbing information.

This is Mr. Drake.

Ah, it is a pleasure, Mr.Drake.

How do you do, sir?

Well, sir, what is it then?

You heard about Khan?

Oh yes, indeed.

How tragic.

You know, I was talking
with him only yesterday.

And there have been
two attempts on my life.

Oh, well, this is terrible.

You've been to the police, of course.

Oh yes, I went to see Khan

and you saw what happened.

And you are suggesting
there is a connection

between the attempt on your life

and the murder of Khan?

Yes, I am.

What is it then?

He is.

Do you know who this is?

Yes, I know him.

Yes.

He used to work here.

Used to?

Til when?

Mr. Drake, this is a matter for us.

I can assure you that everything

is being taken care of.

And in the meantime,
someone succeeds in killing me.

Well then, I can only
assume that possibly,

quite by accident, of course,

you have become involved in something

that is none of your business.

But Mr. Drake tells me

that this has to do with
British military secrets.

Indian military secrets, Mr. Minister.

What happened to him?

He is gone.
-Yes, when?

Well, uh, when Major Khan
reported this fact to me,

I told him to arrest the man.

So you have him?

No.

He must have been warned.

He has disappeared.

Why was I not told about this?

I have not had the opportunity, sir.

I was waiting until
I could speak to you alone.

I am sure Mr. Drake can safely

leave the matter in our hands.

But Mr. Drake is deeply involved.

May I suggest, sir,
that you allow Mr. Chopra

to deal with this in the
way that he thinks best?

But this involves British weapons.

I would not like your
government to feel that,

Oh, very well.

I must go now.

I shall expect a full report from you

when the house rises.
-Certainly, sir.

Oh, don't worry, Mr. Drake.

You can rely upon us.

Thank you.

Hello, Petel?

Perhaps you would
explain to me, Mr. Drake,

why did you stop me
pursuing this matter?

The man in the photograph, Sir.

Well, what about him?

Chopra said he'd bolted.

So?

Didn't you see him, in the outer office?

He walked right in.

You must be mistaken.

No, sir.

I'm the one who photographed him.

May I carry your bag?

You're under arrest, Petel.

Come on.

All right, all right, all right,

so you don't know the Colonel,

you don't know that
he's the next link in your chain,

you don't know he's the man

that picked up the stuff
you left in the tree.

No, no, no, I have never known.

All right, let's start
from the beginning again.

Where were you going to with that bag?

I told you I was going to Calcutta.

And what about Chopra, did he know?

Yes, I told him.

Were you going to contact him?

No.

Well, you're going to contact him now,

and no tricks.

Say this.

Say you've got to see him.

It's vital.

Say that he must come to your flat

before you catch the eight
o'clock train this evening,

and make it convincing.

He'd better turn up.

Petel?

Just dropping in, or were you invited?

Mr. Drake.

You're looking for Petel?

You said he'd disappeared.

Mr. Drake, you don't know

what you're getting involved in.

This is the business of
the Indian Government.

And the Chinese.

We know exactly what we are doing.

And Petel?

This morning you assured me

that he was on the run,

and now you've come here to meet him.

Petel is part of our plan.

But it is none of your business.

What plan?

Well, we are passing
on false information.

It is meant to deceive
the enemies of India.

That sounds very convincing.

I am not concerned with what you think.

You realize you've
committed an offense

under our Official Secrets Act

by interfering with this.

I'm sorry.

Perhaps I have made a mistake.

You have, a most serious one.

Naturally I shall have to explain my error

to my people.

Yes.

Oh, before you go,

I should also be able to
explain to my government

that your minister is fully aware

of what has been going on.

You have my word.

Good.

I hope your minister will endorse it.

Mr. Minister?

Oh.

Mr. Minister, you must
allow me to explain.

There will be time for that, Chopra.

Take him away.

No, no, please, you must let me speak.

You're making a terrible mistake!

Joanna, I want you to
go into town to post this.

At this time of night?

It must go now.

It's for Hong Kong.

But I'm going in
first thing in the morning.

It'll miss the mail.

I'll do it myself.

All right.

I'll go.

Excuse me, may I have the parcel, please?

Will you come this way
please, Ms. Blakeley?

Please!

I'm just going to lock the car.

They're only butterflies,

and they're very fragile.

What is all this about?

You've no right--

I have every right, Ms. Blakeley.

There you are.

I told you.

Not like that, they're very valuable.

Hello, Joanna.

John, thank goodness.

How did you know I was here?

I'm sorry, but it had to be done.

Not you as well.

Why did you have to lie to us?

Why couldn't you tell us you were police

or customs or something?

I had my job to do.

Answer me!

Surely I have a right to know.

I'm sorry, Joanna.

Anything?
-No, sir.

We seem to have drawn a blank, Mr. Drake.

No, there'll be something here.

Get a piece of white paper.

There.

Careful.

What is all of this?

Patience, Ms. Blakeley, patience.

Answer me!
-It won't be long now.

Would you like to sit down?

Yes?

Thank you.

Is your father at home now, Ms. Blakeley?

He was there when
I left, but he was going out.

Where to?

We'll go and find out for
ourselves, shall we, Sen?

Come along, Joanna.

Thank you.

He's only just gone.

He's not in the house, sir.

His car is here?

I've sent someone to look in the garage.

Come on, now, where is he?

I've no idea.

Or you don't want to tell us.

Do you know anything about it, Joanna?

No.

No, I don't.

Let her alone, Sen.

His car is still in the garage, sir.

He won't get far out there.

Cover all the paths out of here.

Yes, sir.
-Leave her with me.

You'll need all your men.

Right, Joanna, where is he?

Get out.

I'm only trying to help.
-Help?

Is this what you call help?

It would be better
if we get to him first.

He's not done anything.

Joanna, your father
has been sending

official secrets out of this country.

I don't believe it.

To the people of
this country, he is a traitor.

Never.

Now if they get to him first,

he's not going to be treated
very gently, you know.

All you'll do is hand him over anyway.

I'll have to do that,
but at least I can see

that he's not roughly
handled when he's arrested.

Now, where would he be?

Oh, there you are, Colonel.

Been looking for you everywhere.

Don't trust him, he's a policeman.

Don't move.

Stop.

Stop.

Don't, Joanna!

Stop!

I wondered whether you would.

I was surprised to find
that in your handbag,

but fortunately I took the precaution.

Ah, ah, ah, ah!

You lied to me.

You cheated.

You've done
a fair amount of that yourself,

but I suppose you thought
it was in a good cause.

Shall we get back?