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deaddogsdam
  • 24/05/2025
First broadcast 1st January 1984.

A explorer asks Tommy and Tuppence to help locate his fiancee who has gone missing.

Francesca Annis as Tuppence Beresford
James Warwick as Tommy Beresford
Reece Dinsdale as Albert Batt
Rowena Cooper as Dr Irma Kleber
Mischa de la Motte as Manservant
Susie Fairfax as Girl in Shop
Ewan Hooper as Dr Horriston
Elspeth March as Lady Susan Clonray
Elizabeth Murray as Hermione Leigh Gordon
Jonathan Newth as Gabriel Stavansson
Tim Pearce as Muldoon

Category

📺
TV
Transcript
00:00¶¶
00:29¶¶
00:56Oh, oh, oh.
01:00Oh, oh, oh.
01:03Oh, oh, oh.
01:06Oh, oh, oh.
01:08Hold her.
01:10Oh, oh, oh.
01:12I said hold her.
01:14Oh, oh.
01:16She's going to be difficult.
01:18They always are to begin with.
01:20But not for long.
01:22Keep her still, Muldoon.
01:24Oh, oh.
01:26Oh, oh.
01:28Oh, oh.
01:30Oh, oh.
01:32Oh, oh.
01:34¶¶
01:39Well, I'm afraid Mr Blunt is very busy just at present, sir.
01:42It's Scotland Yard.
01:44They've made a bloomer again.
01:48I shall wait.
01:50I don't hold out much hope.
01:52Would you mind giving me your name, sir?
01:54Gabrielle Starvinson.
01:58Beg your pardon, sir?
02:00Starvinson.
02:02Gabrielle Starvinson.
02:04I'm sorry, sir, would you mind repeating that?
02:06Starvinson!
02:08Starvinson?
02:12Oh, the Explorer.
02:14He's an underused substitute,
02:16otherwise I'd argue for this kind of behaviour.
02:18A bit of hegemony.
02:20Right.
02:24I would like you to tell me...
02:26Ah, this gentleman's waiting to see you, Mr Blunt.
02:29Oh, I'm due at the Duke's at 11.
02:32However, I think I can spare you a few moments.
02:34What shall I tell his Grace, sir?
02:36His Grace?
02:38The Duke, sir. He'll be getting a bit fidgety.
02:40Tell him the, um...
02:42Tell him the, um...
02:44Duchess's tiara will be found in the fishpond.
02:46Her pet monkey was undoubtedly the culprit.
02:48None of the servants is to blame.
02:50The monkey in the fishpond.
02:52Very good, Mr Blunt.
02:54This way.
02:58Thank you, Albert.
03:02My confidential secretary, Miss Robinson.
03:06How do you do?
03:08Miss Robinson.
03:10Perhaps you will state your business.
03:12I have...
03:14Beyond the fact that it is urgent,
03:16that you came in a taxi,
03:18that you have recently returned from the Arctic,
03:20or possibly the Amt Arctic,
03:22I know nothing.
03:24Well, this is amazing.
03:26I thought detectives only did such things in books.
03:30Why, your office boy did not even give you my name.
03:36It was nothing.
03:38The rays of the midnight sun within the Arctic Circle
03:41contain, um...
03:43certain properties,
03:45and they have a peculiar action upon the skin.
03:48I'm writing a little monograph on the subject shortly.
03:51However, this is wide of the point.
03:53Perhaps you will tell me what it is
03:55that has brought you to me in such distress of mind, Mr Starvinson.
03:59To begin with, Mr Plant, Blunt,
04:01my name is Gabriel Starvinson.
04:03It's, of course, the well-known, um...
04:05Explorer.
04:07So, Miss Robinson, you have recently returned from the...
04:10The North Pole, I believe.
04:12That is so.
04:14I landed in England only three days ago.
04:17A friend who was cruising in northern waters
04:19brought me back in his yacht.
04:21Otherwise, I should not have returned for another fortnight.
04:24I see.
04:25Now I must tell you, Mr Plant...
04:27Blunt.
04:28...that before I started on this last expedition,
04:30two years ago, I had the great good fortune to become engaged.
04:34Congratulations.
04:35Miss Maurice Lee Gordon.
04:37Mrs Lee Gordon was, before her marriage...
04:40The Honourable Hermione Crane,
04:42the second daughter of Lord Lanchester.
04:44My word.
04:45Her first husband was killed during the war.
04:48Exactly.
04:50Mr Plant...
04:51Blunt.
04:52...I am deeply impressed.
04:54Miss Robinson enjoys my fullest confidence.
04:57I keep nothing from her, as you can see.
05:01Please go on.
05:03When Hermione and I became engaged,
05:07I offered, of course, to give up my expedition,
05:10but she would not hear a word of it.
05:12Bless her.
05:13She is the right kind of woman to be the wife of an explorer.
05:19Ah.
05:23This is Hermione.
05:26She looks charming, Mr Sturgeson.
05:27Oh, she has lovely eyes.
05:29If anything has happened to her.
05:34My first thought on landing was to see her.
05:37Naturally.
05:38I sent a telegram from Southampton
05:40and rushed up to town by the very first train.
05:43She has been living with an aunt of hers,
05:45Lady Susan Clonray, in Pond Street,
05:47so, of course, I went straight round.
05:52But Hermie was not there.
05:55How disappointing.
05:57Yes.
05:59She said that Hermie was away visiting friends in Northumberland.
06:03She seemed most surprised to see me.
06:07But I imagine that you were not expected back
06:10for at least another fortnight, Mr Sturgeson.
06:12I know.
06:13But when I asked her for Hermie's address,
06:15Lady Susan hemmed and holed
06:18and said that she might be in two or three different places.
06:21She did not know which.
06:22She did not know when.
06:24Well, I do not mind telling you, Mr Blant,
06:27but she faced so many difficulties
06:29that I became distinctly annoyed.
06:31I take it that you are not on good terms with Lady Susan.
06:34Good terms?
06:35Yes.
06:36Ha!
06:37Well, no.
06:40She and I have never got on.
06:42She is one of those...
06:45fat women.
06:47Fat women?
06:49Yes, you know, double chins, fingers like sausages.
06:53I loathe fat women. I always have.
06:56If fashion agrees with you, Mr Sturgeson,
06:58on the other hand, I've already...
06:59Everyone has their pet aversion.
07:01Mine is bagpipes.
07:03I can't stand the things.
07:05Mind you, I am not saying that Lady Susan
07:08cannot be perfectly charming.
07:10But I have never taken to her, nor she to me.
07:13Well, I did not leave Pont Street
07:15until I had got the names of the friends
07:17she said Hermie was staying with.
07:19And then I took the mail train north.
07:22I perceive that you're a man of action, Mr Sturgeson.
07:24The thing came upon me like a bombshell, Mr Plant.
07:28None of these people had seen a sign of Hermie.
07:31Of the three houses I visited,
07:33only one had been expecting her,
07:35and she put off her visit there by telegram.
07:38So Lady Susan made a deucid-odd mistake,
07:43or told me a foul pack of lies.
07:48Have you been back to see her?
07:52Not yet.
07:54Coming down on the train, I read your advertisement.
07:58I thought I would put it to you first.
08:01What is your opinion, Mr Plant?
08:04What do you advise me to do?
08:08Shall we discuss that on our way to Pont Street?
08:11You intend to come with me?
08:13Oh, of course.
08:14I mean, we must see this charming but large lady ourselves.
08:23Hermione not in Northumberland, you say?
08:26How extraordinary.
08:27More to the point, she was not even expected.
08:29Dear, dear.
08:31This really is most perplexing.
08:33Lady Susan, where else do you think Hermione might have gone?
08:36Well, she might...
08:39You say you're friends of my niece?
08:41Oh, absolutely.
08:42We've known her for ages.
08:44She never mentioned you?
08:46We've been abroad a good deal.
08:48She never mentioned you?
08:50We've been abroad a good deal.
08:52I see.
08:54Do I take it you share Mr Starbenson's proclivities?
08:57Good Lord, no.
08:59Nothing like the pluck.
09:01Lady Susan, Hermione might have gone...
09:04Well, to any one of a number of places.
09:07She's not a child, you know.
09:09And she has many, many friends.
09:11For example?
09:13For example...
09:15It's very hard to say.
09:17Did she leave an address?
09:19No.
09:20No, no, she didn't.
09:22But you told me that she was...
09:23I really cannot remember what I told you, Mr Starbenson.
09:25Turning up as you did, throwing my house into an uproar.
09:28Uproar?
09:29And now you burst in again and cross-examine me in my very own drawing room.
09:33Now, look here, please.
09:34Lady Susan is quite right.
09:35I'm sure there is a perfectly simple and natural explanation.
09:39As she said, Hermione is not a silly little girl,
09:42but an independent woman who's always been in the habit of making her own plans.
09:47Why, I expect at this very moment she's carrying out some idea of her own.
09:51Exactly, Miss Robinson.
09:52Just what I was about to say myself.
09:54I don't like it.
09:55I like it.
09:56Less and less.
09:58Well, I suppose the police could always be notified.
10:01The police?
10:02Oh, no, Mr Blunt.
10:04That's a positively dreadful idea.
10:06Ah, ha.
10:07I merely thought...
10:09But the publicity, the scandal.
10:12Why should there be any scandal, Lady Susan?
10:15I... I...
10:17Oh, yes, John, what is it?
10:19A telegram has arrived, my lady.
10:22Oh, thank you.
10:23Would you mind, my dear?
10:37There.
10:38What is it?
10:39You are answered, Mr Starbenson.
10:47Changed my plans.
10:49Just off to Monte Carlo for a week.
10:54Hermie.
11:00Well, I'm damned.
11:01Quite possibly, Mr Starbenson.
11:03But Hermione, as you see, is nothing of the kind.
11:06Where is it sent from?
11:07May I?
11:10Malden.
11:11Malden?
11:12Malden, Sussex.
11:14First thing this morning.
11:18Lady Susan,
11:20it seems that I have made something of a fool of myself.
11:24We are what the Lord has made us, Mr Starbenson.
11:28Thank you, my dear.
11:30And now, John will show you out.
11:32Good morning, Miss Robinson.
11:34Mr Blunt.
11:35Good morning.
11:36Very pleasant to have met you.
11:38Good morning, Lady Susan.
11:42Go with them, John.
11:50Operator, are you there?
11:54Malden 219.
11:58I want a personal call to Dr Horiston at the Grange.
12:03Mmm, she's got a divine figure.
12:07A bit too bony for my taste.
12:10What do you make of it all?
12:11Well, the obvious explanation is that Hermie, as he likes to call her,
12:15is afraid to see him and has done a bunk.
12:17Which means Lady Susan may be backing her up.
12:20I must say, she seemed pretty nervous.
12:22The old lady had the wind up, all right.
12:24Yes, I thought so too.
12:26Could that mean Hermie has another man?
12:30It might.
12:31I'd hate to suggest that to a fellow like Starvinson.
12:33He's a powerful chap.
12:35And a pretty passionate one too.
12:37Capable of all manner of things, I should think.
12:39You're not saying you suspect him?
12:41At this stage, I suspect everyone.
12:44Maybe we'd better cut down to Malden.
12:47Why should she say she's gone to Northumberland,
12:50then that she's going to Monte Carlo,
12:52but in fact want to bury herself in some tiny place in Sussex?
12:57What if she didn't want to?
12:58What do you mean?
13:00She's being kept there against her will.
13:12Remember, you must show no pity.
13:28What's the plan?
13:29Split up, I think.
13:33I'll try that chomp.
13:35Right.
13:37Ah, and I'll visit the old cock and sparrow.
13:40Good luck, Thomas.
13:41Good luck, Alpine.
14:00Good morning.
14:01Morning.
14:05Do you sell Victor postcards?
14:08They're...
14:11Oh, yes.
14:21Are there any big houses round here?
14:23No.
14:24Apart from the Greyhounds.
14:26Are there any big houses round here?
14:28No.
14:29Apart from the Grange, that is.
14:31Oh, the Grange?
14:32What's that?
14:33Sort of hospital.
14:35For nerve cases, they say.
14:37Nerve cases?
14:38Spooky sort of place.
14:40It's full of raving loonies with foreign names.
14:44Foreign names?
14:46This telegram's got to go up there this morning.
14:48I can hardly make it out.
14:51Can I help?
14:56Mission cancelled.
14:58Unforeseen delay.
15:01Seems quite clear.
15:02Look at that name.
15:04Moskovskensky.
15:07See what I mean?
15:09What sort of name is that?
15:13Who does the Grange belong to?
15:15Dr. Horiston, he calls himself.
15:18Dr. Horiston.
15:21Um, can you tell me what he looks like?
15:36Tommy, I believe I've got it.
15:39The Grange.
15:40Yes, I've just been hearing about it.
15:42Do you think Mrs. Lee Gordon's there?
15:44I don't know.
15:45Did you see that man driving off in the blue car?
15:47Unpleasant-looking brute, yes.
15:49That's Horiston.
15:50He owns the Grange.
15:52So we'll have to check up on him.
15:54We don't need to.
15:55I know Horiston.
15:57You know him?
15:58Yes.
15:59Well, I met him briefly several years ago.
16:01My chum, Hoppy St. Albans,
16:03had the most frightful experience at his hands.
16:06He used to be a bonafide doctor
16:08and then he became a cropper of some kind.
16:10Something to do with armadillo glands.
16:13Armadillo glands?
16:14Yes.
16:15Yes, tried injecting people with them.
16:17Something equally ghastly.
16:19Anyway, he's an unscrupulous quack.
16:22The Grange?
16:24Yes, the Grange.
16:36I shall have to increase the concentration.
16:38That could be quite dangerous.
16:39What other choice do we have?
16:40Well, according to my analysis...
16:42There's someone to see you, Doctor.
16:44Oh, Mr Beresford.
16:46Beresford?
16:48I don't know any Beresford.
16:49He says it's urgent.
16:51Do you want me to...?
16:52No!
16:55Very well, show him in.
17:07Come this way, please.
17:09Mr Beresford.
17:10Tommy Beresford.
17:12Doctor Horiston, I presume?
17:14My partner, Doctor Kleber.
17:16How do you do?
17:17Irma Kleber, formerly of the Stadtsgruber Institute of Geneva.
17:21Jolly good.
17:22Well, it's awfully decent of you to give me your time, Doctor Horiston.
17:27Now, what my readers really want to know...
17:30Your readers?
17:31Oh, didn't your man tell you I'm with the Daily Reporter?
17:34We're doing an article on the cure of nervous diseases...
17:36I'm sorry, Mr Beresford, I never give interviews.
17:38Oh, but surely...
17:39This is a private institution. You want to leave at once?
17:41Come all this way.
17:42Muldoon!
17:44Show Mr Beresford out, Muldoon.
17:46Can't you just give me five minutes?
17:47I mean, it's not often we get the chance to...
17:49You.
17:51Out.
17:52Oh, my, it is going to be very sh...
17:59Oh.
18:01Yes.
18:03Well.
18:04Fair enough.
18:11By the way, how's my friend Mrs Lee Gordon?
18:14What?
18:15She's a patient here, I believe.
18:17There is no one here of that name.
18:19But she...
18:20No one.
18:22That's funny, because I could have sworn...
18:27Cheerio.
18:54Hello, darling.
19:04He's lying.
19:05She's there. I know it.
19:07That woman's in some awful danger.
19:09I feel it in my bones.
19:12I wish I'd gone with you.
19:14I'm sorry, old girl.
19:16I couldn't have risked it.
19:17Master might have remembered you.
19:19So what do we do now?
19:21Go back to London and tell Sturvinson that we failed?
19:24That goes decidedly against the grain.
19:26Right.
19:27So somehow we've got to get back inside that house.
19:30They've just seen me.
19:33Which leaves only one alternative.
19:36Dovens, you can't.
19:38I forbid it.
19:39Tommy, I shall be perfectly safe.
19:41But supposing Horiston recognises you?
19:44Not a chance.
19:45He met me, remember?
19:48Well, next time...
19:50he's going to meet somebody else.
20:36MADAME VERA MOSKOVSKENSKY
20:51Madame Vera Moskovskensky.
21:01Madame Moskovskensky, this is truly an honour.
21:04Naturally.
21:05You are Dr. Horiston?
21:07I am.
21:08Dr. Kleber?
21:09Irma Kleber.
21:11Is she your mistress?
21:13No, Madame Moskovskensky.
21:15Dr. Kleber is my partner.
21:18I am wondering.
21:21Please.
21:22Thanking you.
21:24Why are you looking astonished, doctor?
21:27Well, the truth is, Madame Moskovskensky,
21:29that having received your telegram yesterday,
21:32I understood that you had cancelled your reservation.
21:35Well, I am changing my mind.
21:37This art is a privilege, no?
21:39Yes, but...
21:41Ah.
21:42My suite is not prepared.
21:44No, Madame Moskovskensky, that is...
21:46Yes, I...
21:47So, why are you not understanding?
21:49I'm sorry.
21:51I will repeat.
21:52After the Imperial Ballet,
21:54I am joining Troop of the Aguilar.
21:56This is seven years now.
21:58But I am leaving him.
21:59He is no good.
22:00He is charlatan.
22:01You are totally unagreeable.
22:03Yes.
22:04So now I am forming my own company.
22:06The Ballet Moskovskensky.
22:09But this is requiring much work.
22:11Many head pines.
22:13Headaches.
22:14Oh, it is the same thing.
22:16So before starting my new glittering career,
22:18I am in need of much rest.
22:21Of peacefulness.
22:23Of calm.
22:26How long are you going to be with us, Madame Moskovskensky?
22:31Well...
22:32Are you going to speak in English?
22:35I am swearing this oath.
22:37Never am I speaking the tongue of my beloved country
22:40until the Bolsheviks,
22:42the accursed Bolsheviks,
22:43are expelled from the holy soil of Mother Russia.
22:47Quite so, Madame Moskovskensky.
22:49You must please to be remembering this.
22:52Of course.
22:54Excuse me, but have we not met before at some time?
22:58Impossible.
22:59If so, you would never forget me.
23:02Your face is somehow familiar.
23:04Familiar?
23:05I am familiar with thousands, tens of thousands, Doctor.
23:09Forgive me, of course.
23:10So now I will visit my suite.
23:13There is a bar.
23:15A bar?
23:16I am afraid that alcohol is not permitted.
23:19Oh, no, no, no, no.
23:21I am meaning a bar for the practice,
23:24for the sopleness of my limbs.
23:27Ah, yes.
23:28We will have one installed.
23:30I do jolly well be thinking so.
23:35Now, Doctor Klaber,
23:36would you be so kind as to conduct Madame Moskovskensky
23:39to her suite?
23:42This way, Madame.
23:44I am completely delightful.
23:47Madame.
23:52Delightful.
23:58Your room is this way, Madame Moskovskensky.
24:02I am wondering, what is here?
24:05The room of another patient.
24:07Oh, there are many.
24:08As you see.
24:10In Russia, only peasants sleep so close.
24:13I hope they are not to be disturbing me.
24:15No one will disturb you.
24:18What?
24:19I am thinking I am hearing some noisiness.
24:22Be assured, Madame Moskovskensky,
24:24here you will sleep as sound as in the grave.
24:29Now, please.
24:38I trust you will be comfortable.
24:40It is adequate.
24:42Supper will be brought here to you later.
24:44Oh, good.
24:45Champagne and a little caviar will be bearable.
24:48And before going to bed,
24:50you will be sure to take this?
24:52What is it, please?
24:53Merely a light draught to ensure you sleep well.
24:56Sleep well.
24:57Always I sleep well.
25:00I remember the Grand Duke Dmitri, he said to me,
25:03Vyrochka, Vyrochka,
25:05how can you be sleeping at a time like this?
25:08Ah, poor Dmitri.
25:10I remember when the Bolsheviks,
25:12they are storming his palace,
25:14they are finding him floating.
25:18Floating?
25:19In his bath.
25:22What they are doing to him is unrepeatable.
25:27Nevertheless, you will be sure to take this.
25:30Will you require anything else?
25:32Nothing.
25:33There is nothing.
25:35Good night, Miss.
25:37Good night, Madame.
25:43Ah.
25:49It's the journalist fellow I mind most about.
25:51How did he find out we were here?
25:53Some rumours in the village, perhaps.
25:56Claims to be a friend of the Lee Gordon movement.
25:59That is most serious.
26:01I shall increase the dosage.
26:03That doctor's a risk.
26:04I don't care.
26:06Your mind is made up?
26:08Yes.
26:12Ah.
26:22What are you doing here?
26:24Ah.
26:26What did you say?
26:27Leave him, sir.
26:29What do you want with those things?
26:31Oh, does this rule, sir?
26:35And the plasmid?
26:37The jasmine?
26:38Growing wild in a fearsome tangle, it be said.
26:42Threatening to choke the house with unbridled profusion.
26:46It's a bit late for gardening, isn't it?
26:48Oh, the forces of nature wait for neither man nor beast.
26:54You get off.
26:55Do that in the morning.
26:57Be that an order, master?
26:59Yes.
27:00Yes, it is.
27:02Now get out of here.
27:04Go home.
27:06Ah.
27:08May you rest as soft and as peaceable as a stout in his burrow.
27:14Or a toad in his ulcer.
27:37Ah.
27:40Ah.
27:42Ah.
27:43Ah.
27:44Ah.
27:45Ah.
27:46Ah.
27:47Ah.
27:48Ah.
27:49Ah.
27:50Ah.
27:51Ah.
27:52Ah.
27:53Ah.
27:54Ah.
27:55Ah.
27:56Ah.
27:57Ah.
27:58Ah.
27:59Ah.
28:00Ah.
28:01Ah.
28:02Ah.
28:03Ah.
28:04Ah.
28:05Ah.
28:06Ah.
28:07Ah.
28:08Ah.
28:09Ah.
28:10Ah.
28:12Ah.
28:13Ah.
28:14Get out of your room, Mada Moskowskinsky.
28:18I am knowing.
28:21This is not your room.
28:24I am knowing this also.
28:26What is the reason for this expedition in the night?
28:30I am troubled.
28:31I am restless.
28:32Doubled?
28:33I am not used to mattress made of wood.
28:37I see.
28:38My magnificent body makes protest.
28:40and so I work. is that all? it's not enough. so in the morning your mattress will be
28:48changed madam for tonight you will have to endure. not always I endure. it is the
28:53fate of the artist. no I could not say. you have taken your sleeping draught?
28:59not yet. then do so and all your troubles will disappear. please
29:10tell me dr. Kleber you are possessing a knout? a knout? it is a vip like this.
29:23no madam Moskovsky I do not possess a knout. how strange. you remind me of Cossack I
29:29once knew. good night madam. good night
29:40oh
30:10take it easy old girl. Tommy!
30:41what are you? oh you didn't think I was going to leave you all alone in the
30:44lion's den did you? darling! oh you look frightful. oh I say I thought I'd done rather well and I've got a
30:54spiffy accent. listen be that in order or may still... I had an encounter with that
31:00dr. Kleber. she tried to get me to drink some horrid looking medicine so I poured
31:05it into that plant pot. oh Tommy this place is much worse than we thought. have
31:09you managed to find out anything about mrs. Lee Gordon? I have a feeling they've
31:13got her locked up. good lord. poor creature. I managed to sneak out into the
31:19corridor and I heard a noise coming from one of the rooms. a sort of woman moaning
31:24or something so I tried the door but it was locked. Tommy what are we going to do?
31:30well there's always the police. we don't really have enough to go on. chucking our
31:36hand in that would be awful. yes. Tommy. oh sorry I'll go. oh I don't think we could get
31:47into that room. it's locked you say. there's no sign of the key. hold on.
31:59is it on this side of the corridor? no on the other. oh pity. I could have always
32:05tried using my ladder. never mind. I'm afraid it means forcing that door.
32:16or breaking it down. oh you couldn't. I mean there's always someone on lookout.
32:21dr. Kleber or that horrid Muldoon. then I shall just have to think of something
32:25absolutely foolproof that will guarantee there's no one about or it may be too
32:29late. what is it? darling have you thought of something? I believe I believe I have.
32:40it might it just might work. oh Tommy I shall have to be frightfully brave.
32:59you
33:29oh
34:00oh
34:12follow me. I'm supposed to stay here. not this morning. dr. Horace then said...
34:19orders have been changed. you are needed elsewhere. she will give us no trouble.
34:28come.
34:33I know you will be surprised that I have summoned you here. there is no cause for
34:39alarm. I am authorized to announce to you that among our guests is the
34:46distinguished Russian ballerina madam Vera Mozgovskevsky.
34:52madam Mozgovskevsky has informed me that she is graciously pleased to
35:00entertain and delight us with the display of her art. yes she will dance
35:07for us. madam Mozgovskevsky.
35:22my friends, beloved friends, this morning I am dancing for you some beautiful
35:32experts. oh so sorry I mean excerpts from the immortal ballet Lac des Signes, the
35:40lake of the swans. it is being written as you know by my great countryman the
35:54towering genius Pyotr Tchaikovsky. he was a great great composer but also very
36:01tragic man. I remember once in Yakutsk. oh but I am sworn not to be speaking of
36:07this. it is his music that is muttering. no. so now I will begin with my first
36:15sensational solo where as Odette, the white swan's queen, I am bringing joy to
36:21the hearts of all in the theater and from the theater the world sunk in you.
36:38but first I must be putting you completely in the picture. unless you are
36:45knowing story of the ballet you're not appreciating my unbelievable art. is
36:50true? yes. so you must be imagining yourself in little village in the country. after beautiful
37:01the curtain is rising to reveal girls and boys of the village happily
37:08frolicking with themselves. yes they are gaily despondent. and why? because the
37:15handsome prince he is gone. and the handsome prince his name is prince charming.
37:32and he is arriving for country sport and everyone in the village is over the
37:42moon to see him and his pretty companions. he approaches the house.
38:01but what is this? he is shooting her. yes my friends the beautiful white swan's
38:15queen she has fallen to the ground. a cruel arrow from the prince charming's
38:22crossbow penetrating her magnificent chest. in terrible throes of dying
38:30agony she does delicate dance.
38:38however you must be knowing that Odette is not the only beautiful swan's queen.
38:47oh gosh no. there is another and her name is Odile. but she is black swans and her
38:56mission is evil. and why is this my friends? well I am telling you. it is because she is
39:04under the foul influence of the wicked magician and his heart is black. the
39:14wicked magician his name is Abanazarov and he is trying to make slave of
39:23handsome prince.
39:53mrs. Leigh Gordon.
40:06hear me. but what shall the handsome prince do? he believe more sincerely that he is
40:14dancing with Odette the beautiful white swan's queen and oh she is flying so
40:20graceful. but in reality it is quite different. it is not Odette but Odile
40:27the black swans in disguise. oh dear. what a mix-up.
40:40oh please listen most careful. please your attention. I am now coming to most
41:00important part of the story. when the secret of the wicked magician is about
41:06to be revealed.
41:36and so they are united in heartbreaking happy endings. whole theater is weeping
41:43joyful tears. the wicked magician he marries the prince charming's grandmother.
41:51the swans they fly away. and the prince and his beloved Odette. or is it Odile?
41:59or is it Odette by this time? I don't know. it is not important. the prince and
42:04his beloved Odette. they sink beneath moonlit waters on magic lake. and the curtain
42:14she falls. it's beautiful.
42:22you're not understanding. you are wishing I tell story once again. no no I'm sure
42:37we all found it most illuminating. you have some questions to ask about my
42:41childhood in St. Petersburg. we are waiting for you to dance. this is not
42:46true. always always they are imploring me to dance. then for heaven's sake begin.
42:51please to be sitting.
43:06I am ready for grand entrance.
43:12what is it now? my wings. where are my wings? your wings? how can beautiful white
43:20swan Queen be flying without her wings? oh I am remembering they are in my room.
43:28no no no not to trouble. I am going in double quick time. everyone everyone is
43:35to be waiting in favor of anticipation. no one. what I mean no one is to leave this room.
43:43Tuffins! oh Tommy. did you find her? yes. come on. where is she? upstairs. you can't just leave. I'll tell you later.
44:00on!
44:02hey! you!
44:04stop!
44:29oh no!
44:31quickly!
44:59oh!
45:29mother!
45:59oh!
46:01oh!
46:03oh!
46:05quickly!
46:07oh!
46:09oh!
46:11I can't.
46:13come on darling. pull yourself together.
46:25good.
46:27oh!
46:57oh!
46:59oh!
47:01oh!
47:03oh!
47:05oh!
47:07oh!
47:09oh!
47:11oh!
47:13oh!
47:16oh!
47:18oh!
47:20oh!
47:26are you all right? just about. my ankle has like blazes. Tommy you were marvelous.
47:34pretty handy yourself. where to? the police. no. back to Starbenson to warn him. no.
47:41no but mrs. Lee Gordon. she doesn't need us I'm afraid. Tommy you don't mean she...
47:48no such luck. no she's getting thin. what? thin. she's getting thin. you know
48:01reduction of weight. reduction of weight? remember how Starbenson said that he
48:06hated fat women. well in the two years he's been away his
48:10who me has been putting on weight. she got into a panic when she heard he was
48:15coming back and rushed off to do this new treatment of Horace's. it's
48:19injections of some sort. he makes a deadly secret of it and charges through
48:22the nose. Starbenson came back fortnight too soon.
48:26she was only just beginning the treatment. I know. don't tell me. lady Susan tried to
48:31protect her. Starbenson got suspicious. we came down here to make blithering
48:35idiots of ourselves. not to mention a salt and battery on members of the staff.
48:40and I I'm guilty of the most appalling false pretenses. much worse I've ruined a
48:49perfectly good nightdress. well at least Starbenson will be happy.
48:57if you ever so much as mention a word of this to anyone. fair enough.
49:04after all you haven't exactly come well out of this case. getting myself up to
49:10look like the ancient Mariner? Thomas. yes? you do look... odd.
49:19now listen. I'm sorry. I promise I'll never ever mention it again.
49:28good.
50:40you