- 2 days ago
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00:00I'm Book and I run a bookshop. You must be here about the job.
00:12You know where I've come from, don't you?
00:14I have a little hobby on the side and I find it's taking me away from the shop more and more.
00:18Well, you must stay with us, mustn't you? Now that you've got the job.
00:21What exactly is it you do? I sell books.
00:24Yeah, but that's not all, is it? Yesterday, out there at a bomb site.
00:28So you don't think they died in an air raid?
00:31Inkerman Street was already empty, wasn't it, Mr. Bassard?
00:34Scheduled for demolition.
00:35It's a chaotic world, Jack. I have a system.
00:39Do you think it was suicide?
00:41Why would a chemist kill himself with something as horrible as prussic acid?
00:45It's murder.
00:46There's a daughter, isn't there?
00:48A right money-grabbing little cow.
00:50And then she has the gall to run off with him.
00:54Well, Dad was convinced that Mickey was thieving.
00:56Got the chemist's wheel through, sir. Daughter doesn't get a bean.
01:01This is a sacred charge, you understand that?
01:04I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't think you were ready more than that.
01:08That you were the one creature on this earth to whom I could entrust this.
01:12This message must go to Trotty and to no one else. Is that clear?
01:17Good boy. Off you go.
01:35Morning.
01:36Morning. Uh, dog, stay.
01:38Can I help you?
01:40Oh, yes.
01:44With wallpaper, that is. It's a little early for that.
01:47For what?
01:48Never mind.
01:50I'm looking for a Mrs. Book.
01:52You've found her.
01:54Wow, that's a crying shame.
01:56What is?
01:57You're married, that is.
01:59Can I help you?
02:02Yeah, yeah. You're, uh...
02:04Got a message from your husband.
02:06Said you were having problems with your alternator.
02:08Why?
02:09In the car.
02:10It's what I do, see? Cars.
02:12I see. I missed a book sent for you, did he?
02:14Yeah.
02:15Yeah.
02:16I mean, no idea why he didn't go with someone more local, but...
02:18I'll not say no.
02:20Got to go where the work is, right?
02:22Great.
02:24Oh.
02:25Got a light?
02:27Yeah.
02:28Yeah, yeah, hang on.
02:29It's somewhere around here.
02:30One minute.
02:31Um...
02:35What have they got?
02:37I had a reading somewhere.
02:40Where's that last pocket you looking at?
02:43Um...
02:46Ah.
02:47Here we are.
02:56Ta.
02:57So you are a mechanic, Mr...
03:02Mickey.
03:03Mickey Hall.
03:04And, uh, yeah.
03:05Yeah, I've got a garage.
03:07Mile end.
03:08All yours?
03:09Well, not me and the, um...
03:12Oh, yeah.
03:13Yeah, all mine.
03:14I see.
03:16Um...
03:18Could you excuse me a moment?
03:20I need to lay my hands on a...
03:23Well...
03:24Find my car.
03:25Right-o.
03:26Yeah.
03:27Well, I...
03:28I ain't going anywhere, so...
03:29The very man.
03:44Oh, good morning, Mrs Buck.
03:45Ah.
03:46Morning, Eric.
03:47I wonder if you'd be an absolute darling before me, Eric.
03:49Anything for a lady?
03:50As I recall, Sheila's a proud owner of a rather splendid Daimler.
03:54Yeah, she's got a car on you.
03:55Yeah, is she in?
03:56Can I just pop in to ask to borrow the car?
03:58No need for that.
03:59I'm sure she wouldn't mind.
04:00It's just parked round the back, I'll get the keys for you.
04:03Yeah.
04:04Hello.
04:05Hello.
04:06What's up?
04:07Ah.
04:08Puncture, I think.
04:09As bald as daddy.
04:10I told him, these wheels won't get me to Cambridge.
04:13I don't suppose you could help me out?
04:15It's not really my department.
04:16I'm just looking after the place.
04:17I've got the keys for you.
04:19Yeah.
04:20Hello.
04:21Hello.
04:22What's up?
04:23Puncture, I think.
04:24As bald as daddy.
04:25I told him, these wheels won't get me to Cambridge.
04:27I don't suppose you could help me out?
04:29It's not really my department.
04:31I'm just looking after the place.
04:32I'd be most awfully grateful.
04:35Oh.
04:36Yeah.
04:37Alright.
04:38I'll see what Mickey's got.
04:39Oh.
04:40Thanks ever so.
04:41There must be a repair kit back here somewhere.
04:44I really appreciate this.
04:46I feel like he puts things in his random places.
04:49You're supposed to take here.
04:50I don't know.
04:51I'll see.
04:52Yeah.
04:53inicial key partners.
07:31Slow down.
07:34Yeah, nothing wrong with that.
07:37The alternator, I mean, you have enough trouble starting it?
07:40He didn't mention it.
07:41Maybe I should put my specs on it.
07:45Maybe.
07:53Thank you very much, Mr. Hall.
07:56That was, uh, that was quite a ride.
07:59Yeah, not at all, love.
08:01And, uh, any time you want to go a bit further, Sunday, maybe?
08:11Hmm.
08:12Desperately tempting, though, that is.
08:14I find I'm washing my hair that evening.
08:16Besides...
08:17Besides...
08:18I think perhaps your dance card may soon be a little full.
08:26Quick word, Mr. Hall.
08:27Well, isn't this nice?
08:39Who are you?
08:41We thought, Mr. Hall, that it was high time we had a little chat.
08:44Listen, I know my rights.
08:46Straight out of the block.
08:48Disappointing.
08:48Dear me, Mr. Hall, one point deducted already.
08:51Point?
08:51What are you talking about?
08:53Listen, you can't stick anything on me.
08:55There you go again.
08:57Right?
08:58Textbook.
08:59Quotidian.
09:00Banal.
09:01What?
09:02You see, the inspector and I have been through this routine a hundred times.
09:05A thousand.
09:06You have no idea how tedious it is having to listen to the same old stock responses from gnarly old lags like something from the musical.
09:14Hold your hand out, you naughty boy.
09:17Hold your hand.
09:17That's probably enough of that.
09:18So here's the question that you would ask, were it not for your fear of me dinging you.
09:25Why would I want to kill poor Mr. Harcup?
09:28Well, why would I?
09:29I wouldn't hurt a fly.
09:30I never did it.
09:32But you meant to go into the shop.
09:42Yeah.
09:43Yes, all right.
09:44I went there to talk things for him.
09:45To reason with him.
09:47Now me and my ruler have got a little one on the way.
09:49Oh, did you go with the express intention of filching the jade elephant and replacing it?
09:53That's a dirty lie.
09:54Oh, bravo.
09:55Haven't heard that one in a while.
09:57Should have put copper at the end, though.
09:58What?
09:59That's a dirty lie.
09:59Copper is much more effective.
10:01But you ain't a copper, is you?
10:03Oh, fair point.
10:04No, I ain't.
10:05Isn't.
10:06Aren't.
10:07But I do have a special letter from Churchill.
10:11So?
10:11Anyway, you can't prove that I did that.
10:13No, but it's very probable you'll admit.
10:15What happened then?
10:17I waited outside the shop.
10:20I knew he'd be in.
10:21He never goes anywhere except Mondays and Thursdays.
10:23Played dominoes down the ball.
10:25I waited too well after seven, but there was no sign of him.
10:27So he went into the flat?
10:29No sign of him.
10:31But first she come out.
10:32Who?
10:33The char.
10:35Mrs. Dredge.
10:37Coming out of chemist acting all shifty.
10:39Yeah, well, you know all about her.
10:40She had something in her coat.
10:42Trying her best to keep it hidden.
10:46Didn't let her see me, obviously.
10:48When was this?
10:50About six.
10:51Now go on.
10:54Then someone else come.
10:55Well, it's my Piccadilly Circus on your label.
10:57Couldn't see him properly, what are my eyes and that?
10:59Oh, yes, we've heard all about it.
11:01But it was a him.
11:04I do know the difference, mister.
11:06Your reputation precedes you.
11:10It was all bundled up.
11:13Scarf.
11:14Overcoat.
11:17After he left, I went to the flat.
11:21The door was shut, but I know my way around a lock, so...
11:24In I went, and that's when I found him.
11:31Marula's dad, that is.
11:32Stone dead.
11:33So naturally, you thought you should call the police.
11:36Well, that wouldn't have been a very wise thing to do, would it?
11:38I almost disliked it.
11:41And then I remembered about the ornaments.
11:45The jade figures.
11:47Months ago, he told me about how precious they was.
11:49I...
11:49I thought no one's going to miss one of them, aren't they?
11:53Alas, for you, that wasn't quite the case.
11:55And my little chest set with me.
12:03So I swapped one.
12:06Then I took off.
12:07Straight home, I swear.
12:09I never killed Harker, but I never even touched him.
12:12He was dead when I got there.
12:13All right, son, maybe you're telling the truth.
12:15Maybe you're not.
12:16But let me assure you, if you are lying,
12:18if you think you can take Scotland Yard for a ride,
12:20I'll come down on you so hard
12:22what you won't be able to see straight till Christmas.
12:26I'll throw the bloody book at you.
12:29Inspector.
12:37Do we believe him?
12:38Bent as dog's hind leg.
12:40Yeah, but is he a murderer, though?
12:45I need to think.
12:47Do you have time to queue?
12:50I'm planning a casserole.
12:52It's just stopping moaning, love.
13:08Chance would be a fine thing.
13:15Come on, Enid.
13:17Sharp now.
13:17It's not going to wrap itself.
13:20Yeah.
13:20She's new.
13:29Out the way, you.
13:30We'll be all bleeding, day.
13:33Right.
13:34You're watching.
13:36Over, over.
13:37Under.
13:38Under.
13:40Here we go, lovely.
13:41Bye.
13:42Bye.
13:43All right, come on.
13:45Let's be having you.
13:45I don't know how to turn you vegetarian.
13:51Our cat brought home a pigeon the other night.
13:55And?
13:57Well, Mrs Bliss was sorely tempted.
13:59We had plenty of pigeons in the war.
14:01Nothing wrong with a bit of pigeon.
14:03Yeah.
14:04Yeah, I know, but now it's all over.
14:06I mean, we want to weigh him a bit higher, don't we?
14:08We are all of us in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the starlings.
14:15Right, bugger this.
14:17All right.
14:18Excuse me.
14:19Police business, coming through, coming through.
14:21Police business.
14:21Police business, thank you.
14:23Sorry.
14:23Sorry, madam.
14:24Police business, thank you very much.
14:25Oi!
14:26But you're bloody tired like the rest of us.
14:28I'm so sorry, my man.
14:28It's urgent police business.
14:30One bit.
14:30Oh, madam.
14:31Sorry, I just ask you to take a few steps outside.
14:34It's urgent police business.
14:39Afternoon, Alex.
14:40Afternoon, sir.
14:42Now, stewing steak.
14:44I've kept to the side, sir.
14:45You are a prince amongst men.
14:48Oh.
14:49You've got something just there.
14:51Eh?
14:53Oh, excuse me.
14:55Powdered egg.
14:55Bit of a rush breakfast.
14:58How's Sheila?
14:59Well, sir.
15:00Well.
15:01She's driven up to Sheffield.
15:02A nice family.
15:04Yes.
15:06Terrible about George Arkham.
15:09He certainly is.
15:10I knew I.
15:11I'll wager old Basart won't shed any tears.
15:15Huh?
15:15I never got on.
15:17Many are running during the Blitz.
15:20Arkham was a stickler for the rules.
15:22Always on at Mr. Basart for being too slack.
15:25Blackout curtain, showing light, that sort of thing.
15:27Rob you're tick.
15:32Right then.
15:33Where are we up to with the murders?
15:35Murder?
15:36There's only one, as far as I know.
15:38Uh, yes.
15:39Well, Mrs. Dredge says she saw the chemist at approximately 6pm.
15:44We have only her word for that.
15:46Yes.
15:47Hey, dude!
15:47But Mickey Hall did say he saw her leaving the shop around that time with something in her coat she wanted to keep hidden.
15:54And she has a strong motive now we know she inherits the law.
15:57Uh-huh.
15:58So, Harkup appears to have died somewhere between 6 and 10, according to Dr. Calder.
16:04An awful lot could have happened in those four hours.
16:06Indeed.
16:07Now, we're presuming the killer called round.
16:10No sign of forced entry.
16:13So Harkup knew them?
16:14Probably.
16:15I've told you this before.
16:16Hear me out, Mr. Harkup, please.
16:18It's about Marona.
16:20I suppose you'd better come through.
16:24So, he let them in.
16:27There was some sort of chat.
16:31The killer proceeds to pour prussic acid down his throat.
16:39Harkup croaks.
16:40Literally, I should imagine.
16:43But why did he take just the one piece?
16:46Well, I'm going to grab the lock.
16:49Then it would look like burglary.
16:51Whereas he wanted to make it look like suicide.
16:54There we are, sir.
16:55Oh, bless you, Eric.
16:56Oh, anything for dog?
16:58I'll spoil you.
16:59You do.
17:00Would you like it, rats?
17:02No, no, no.
17:02He won't mind.
17:04Toodle-pip.
17:05Enjoy your day, gentlemen.
17:06Cheerio.
17:12Oh, Beryl.
17:14Hello.
17:15Mrs. Dredge has motive and opportunity.
17:18Mickey Hall, motive and opportunity.
17:20What about Marula?
17:22Mickey says the bundled-up stranger is a man.
17:24Yeah, then he would.
17:25If they were in it together.
17:29Did they know that Harkup was going to disinherit them?
17:32Hello, Jack.
17:36Sir.
17:38Not for you.
17:39What have you done?
17:49Oh, tidied up.
17:52Tidied up.
17:53Oh, dear.
17:55Well, you said you wanted things cataloguing.
17:57So, I need to put it in a proper order.
18:00Oh, you've only done these shells so far.
18:03Yeah, sorry.
18:04Takes time, you know.
18:05Thank God.
18:06Put it all back.
18:08Eh?
18:08Put it all back just as it was.
18:10I told you I have a system.
18:11You said that.
18:12Catalogue it, I said.
18:13Not desecrate it.
18:15Gross.
18:17Bulk.
18:17I'm sorry.
18:24He said soon as men did, eh?
18:31Well, I think I might have done something right.
18:35You found something?
18:36Yeah, I have.
18:39It's been cleaned recently.
18:43The residue you can see.
18:45This remains a silver polish.
18:47Meaning?
18:48Meaning that it got into the ground recently.
18:51Probably dropped.
18:54Or something far more sinister.
18:57What are you getting at?
19:001665, year of the plague.
19:01Yeah.
19:02Very specifically the year of the plague.
19:04Not a year or two before.
19:05Capital.
19:08Too convenient.
19:09Horribly.
19:11Where better to hide a tree than in a forest?
19:14Eleven skeletons in the plague pit from the 17th century
19:17on the 12th of 1946.
19:20Oh, bloody hell.
19:23You said earlier, murders, plural.
19:26Yes.
19:28Linked?
19:29Oh, I should think so.
19:30Top of the class, Jack.
19:31Really, I should give you the afternoon off to go to the pub.
19:34So I will.
19:35More specifically, the bull.
19:36More specifically, the bull, where the late Mr. Harkup used to play dominoes.
19:39Take Nora.
19:40Nora?
19:41I believe you've met.
19:43She's good at this sort of thing.
19:45You could learn a lot.
19:46Something.
19:56Very much something.
20:01What's this?
20:02A list of addresses and a very particular question.
20:05I'd be ever so grateful if you'd go on a little field trip for me.
20:07All right.
20:09If you cook tonight.
20:11I am.
20:12Casserole.
20:12Oh, casserole.
20:13Oh, casserole.
20:14Oh, casserole.
20:40Oh, casserole.
20:41Oh, casserole.
20:43Let's go.
21:13Very irregular, this.
21:22Kiddies on the premises.
21:24I'm not a kid.
21:26You look like one.
21:27Appearances can be very deceptive.
21:30I'll have a drink if that's what you're worried about.
21:32It would make it worse.
21:34She'll have a lemonade.
21:35Oh, what?
21:37And I'll have a bottle of mild pence.
21:40All right.
21:42Thanks.
21:43You'll have to get these.
21:46What?
21:47I haven't got any money.
21:48I know.
21:50Ask Mr. Book.
21:51We'll advance you your wages.
21:58There you are.
22:00Thanks.
22:00Take the change.
22:01You were saying, Mr. Harker?
22:08That's right, son.
22:09Every Monday and Thursday.
22:11Sit just over there.
22:14Mr. Well-Beloved the Butcher.
22:15Mr. Bass Hart, the RP warden.
22:18Mrs. Akers from the junk shop.
22:20Mr. Quillen the tailor.
22:22It's like Happy Families.
22:23Mr. Toovey from the cobblers.
22:26Mr. Harker.
22:27Oh, God rest his soul.
22:30Yeah.
22:30Are you with the coppers then?
22:35In a manner of speaking.
22:42I mean, I don't mind.
22:43You know, I was in the force myself back in the day.
22:46Ah, poor old Harker.
22:49Didn't seem the type.
22:51You know, to do himself in.
22:53But then, do they ever?
22:55I know.
22:56We had a teacher.
22:58Life and soul.
22:59Drowned herself in a weary old old man.
23:00How was he?
23:01When you last saw him?
23:03Well, that's the thing, you see.
23:05I saw Mr. Harker just the day before.
23:08Oh.
23:08Yeah.
23:09Very out of character it was.
23:11Yeah, he marched in here in the middle of the day.
23:14He was a man of very regular habits.
23:17So it did seem a bit queer.
23:20It seemed like he had a lot on his mind.
23:23He said he was sitting on a secret.
23:26Obviously eating him up a bit.
23:28Did you get it out of him?
23:29The secret?
23:31Ah, not at first.
23:32No.
23:32More than my life's worth, he said.
23:35He said that?
23:36His very words, son.
23:38And the next day?
23:40Dead.
23:44Did he, um, elaborate?
23:47Yes, son.
23:48Eventually, he did.
23:52Now, Mr. Harker was a very upright citizen.
23:56You see, he suspected one of his pals was cheating at Spotties.
24:04Spotties?
24:06Spotties.
24:09Dominors.
24:11Oh.
24:24That was smashing.
24:27Look, has his uses.
24:29Better than what you're used to.
24:31Oh, yeah.
24:33So, uh, you were saying, uh, Scarlet Fever?
24:38Well, that's what brought us together, yes.
24:42We met on the Scarlet Fever ward when we were, what, both 12?
24:47And so, what?
24:49You fell for each other right from the off?
24:52Uh, it wasn't quite like that, no.
24:55Profitable day.
25:01I'm not sure.
25:03I put my foot right in it.
25:05Oh.
25:06I tried to tidy Mr. Book's bookshelves.
25:09Oh.
25:10I mean, I don't think I did too much damage, but...
25:13And then I was out and about with Nora, detecting.
25:17Well, it certainly put some colour in your cheeks.
25:19So, go on, then.
25:23Well, if you didn't fall for each other straight away, when did you know?
25:30You'll forgive me, my dear, but we'll have to know each other rather better before such confidences are exchanged.
25:36Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
25:37No, not...
25:38I didn't mean to overstep, but...
25:39No, not at all. You haven't.
25:42I do hope we'll become fast friends, Jack.
25:44It's complicated.
25:48That's all.
25:52Book and I were inseparable for years.
25:55And then...
25:58Life got in the way.
26:05Love is where it falls, isn't that what they say?
26:07I couldn't trouble you for a lie, could I?
26:17Sorry, I...
26:18I don't smoke.
26:24Sure?
26:24I don't know.
26:54And what are things more than formal between you and your employer?
27:05I resent that question, Inspector.
27:06Nevertheless.
27:08Well, I won't deny there was a degree of affection between George...
27:14Between Mr Harcourt and myself.
27:17If you've been doing for someone all those years...
27:19Well, that's my point, Mrs Dredge. Is that all you were doing?
27:22What my friend is trying to suggest...
27:23Yes, I know full well what he's trying to suggest.
27:25What he's trying to elucidate, then, is whether this affection took any more tangible form.
27:32Well, what's it got to do with you?
27:34Well, the fact is, Mrs Dredge, certain new facts have come to light.
27:36Mr Harcourt gave the lot to you, love.
27:40The sharp book and well is the whole estate.
27:42It's all yours.
27:45Never.
27:45I didn't see that coming.
27:50Everything?
27:51Everything.
27:53Is your son at home, Mrs Dredge?
27:56He's upstairs, in bed.
27:59A late riser.
28:01A war hero.
28:03His Wellington came down over Holland, 44.
28:05Oh, I know.
28:06I'm sorry.
28:07Nothing to be sorry for.
28:08He survived, didn't he?
28:10Given that we don't believe Mr Harcourt took his own life, you can see why that leaves you in a rather difficult position.
28:18Do you never think I topped him?
28:20The fact remains, you're in a rather sticky position, Mrs Dredge.
28:23The new will was properly signed and witnessed.
28:26Well, I don't know anything about that.
28:28But you could have done.
28:29You could have found a draft when you were cleaning and decided to, you know, speed things up a bit.
28:34What, by knocking off Mr H?
28:36Yes.
28:38Barmy.
28:39No, it's her you should be talking to.
28:41Marula.
28:41And him.
28:42Mickey Hall.
28:43Have you now, Tim?
28:43He is assisting us with our inquiries.
28:46Oh, well, good.
28:47That's something, then.
28:48In fact, Mr Hall's been most helpful.
28:51He has?
28:52Yes.
28:53Yeah, most helpful.
28:54In fact, he told us that he saw you leaving the chemist shop the night of the murder.
28:59There's no mystery there.
29:00I told you, I saw him.
29:01Leaving and trying your very best to conceal something.
29:05Bandages.
29:06Oh, I told you, for elf.
29:08I wasn't trying to hide.
29:10He lost a leg, didn't he, your son?
29:14How?
29:16One of them worn and creased, the other almost completely smooth.
29:19His prosthesis must need constant attention.
29:23And painful, I should imagine.
29:24Very, very painful.
29:28Of course.
29:29Painful enough for morphine.
29:35Why didn't you just ask Mr Harcourt to help?
29:40I couldn't.
29:44Alf needs more than he's ever given by the doctor.
29:48So I need some extra.
29:50I didn't think Mr Harcourt would notice, but he did.
29:54And he assumed Mickey Hall must have done it.
29:56I couldn't tell him it was me.
29:58He was such a stickler, you see, for the rules.
30:01Well, how could I tell him I'd had a way with drugs from his own shop?
30:06You've no idea what it's like, the pain.
30:11My poor elf.
30:13So you dropped in on the pretext of getting bandages and instead stole more morphine.
30:19And Mr Harcourt was alive when you left him?
30:22I swear on my son's life.
30:31If you'll excuse me.
30:33Yes, of course.
30:33Oh, and, uh, when do I get it then?
30:40Beg pardon?
30:42The money.
30:50Not her, then.
30:51No, life is hardened, Mrs Dredge, but not a killer.
30:54No.
30:54Then who did it?
30:55Them.
30:56Two murders, remember?
30:57Them, them.
30:59Oh, look, I suppose it'd be too straightforward for you to just, you know, just tell me.
31:02It would be my, well, no, not my pleasure.
31:08You're going to need backup, Inspector.
31:11What?
31:12What?
31:23Oh, no, no, sorry, uh, we're just...
31:27Good evening, sir.
31:29Herrick.
31:29Oh, we're just closing, I'm afraid.
31:32That's all right.
31:34Her Sheila.
31:36Well, you asked me that, Mr Book.
31:38Oh, yes.
31:40She's in Sheffield.
31:42What day did she drive up there?
31:45Oh, it was, um, Thursday.
31:47Yes, Thursday.
31:50I see.
31:51Well, if there's anything special I can help you with, sir, you know, I've got a lot on.
31:55But she couldn't have done that, could she, Herrick, when Trotty borrowed her car on Friday.
32:03Come on!
32:17Come on!
32:18Come on, Ian!
32:19Come on!
32:21Come on!
32:22Come on!
32:23Come on!
32:23Come on, Ryan!
32:49Come on!
32:51You're welcome!
32:52now that mr. well-beloved i didn't mean to do her in
33:03i can't go on things hadn't been right for some time always raring we were and then
33:10i met her
33:15an old fool and a young beauty it's a very old tale when did you know mr book if you don't
33:25mind me asking i suspected right away that something was off and that was confirmed when
33:31i discovered that some of the bones in the plague pit were newer though you've made an
33:35effort to age them gravy browning sheila uses it on her legs i couldn't afford to get annoyed
33:44um that's the knife marks on them are very distinctive i checked your handiwork that bone you gave me
33:50for dog so uh for the sake of a future with miss enid clegg you sent your wife to meet her later
33:58you then found yourself confronting the murderer's oldest dilemma
34:06getting rid of the corpse
34:09it should have been simple for you not being a stranger to the notion of chopping things up
34:16unfortunately inspector people can tell the difference between the bones of hogs and homo
34:21sapiens so i think that after removing the flesh from your unfortunate wife
34:27flensing her you still needed to dispose of her skeleton
34:33which is where the caustic soda comes in
34:36precisely freely available at any chemist
34:38getting rid of her body are you
34:41oh yeah yeah drains it's for the drains george terrible pulp
34:52alkaline hydrolysis was that what you were going for
35:01i'd read about it see
35:06funny the things you pick up in this train
35:10caustic soda
35:13dissolves flesh i'd used it before to get rid of carcasses you know
35:19it didn't work properly you know lots of
35:22lots of bones left
35:27i didn't know what to do and then
35:31and then baseheart mentioned the skeletons that he'd found
35:36strange to think that if it wasn't for the luftwafel
35:39we'd never have known those poor devils were under our feet all these years
35:42you told the coppers
35:46not just yet no rush i suppose out of three hundred years
35:49i've put a tarp over the crater
35:53yeah
35:53well you know what kids are like they'll probably run off with the bones and give them to a dog
35:59anyway cheerio
36:02i don't know
36:09yeah
36:11yeah
36:17yeah
36:20as i said where better to hide a tree than in a forest who would notice oh you
36:44then there was this of course eric here though exhibiting a lively skill at improvisation
36:55is not an imaginative man no offense that called for it my game mate is me you rather overdid it
37:04by planting the coin in the plague pit that rang an alarm bell straight away so armed with a
37:11description of our suspect my wife made a short but instructive tour of the local curio shops
37:16all those how do you know he hadn't gone further afield to get the coin unimaginative remember
37:22anyone conceiving so clumsy a clue would never stray far from their own neighborhood
37:27eric was very much in the frame when i noticed the clincher in the queue at the butcher's
37:36notice what
37:36powdered egg oh you've uh you've got something just there excuse me powdered egg bit of a rush
37:48breakfast such an intimate thing to do with absolutely no acknowledgement from mr well-beloved
37:55uh-huh i thought uh-huh how's sheila well sir well she's driven up the sheffield a nice family i
38:06inquired with sheila's family in yorkshire they've seen neither hide nor hair of her of course
38:10so it all looked rosy and then i've got the note i suspected something of the kind some sort of vague
38:23threat urgent that we talk i don't want to have to take this to the authorities
38:30i hope we can sort this matter between ourselves
38:42jolt hodd and you assumed it was about the murder
38:47well of course what then it wasn't no
38:51well then what was it about dominoes what mr harcup was a stickler for the rules as we know
39:04he suspected you of cheating at his favorite pastime that's all it was no no no no no no it had to be a
39:12threat about sheila that what else could it be so what happened next
39:26i had no idea i could buy him off with cash with beef
39:31so he went round i was scared you know scared of what he might say
39:49what if he wouldn't listen to reason you know there was poison everywhere all around and
39:55so i i i kept him talking i just need you to tell the truth george just tell the truth eric and then
40:03i took my chance i got hold of him and and then i poured the poison down his throat right you poisoned
40:11him did you oh yes yeah it's horrible nothing else hi you see that's very interesting eric because before
40:21he was poisoned george harcup was struck over the head and the weapon left a bloody residue in
40:27his hair you remember there was blood but no wound inspector yes dr calder analyzed it for me
40:34cow's blood ah and you would have known that eric if you'd been the one who'd hit him
40:40with the joint of beef no yes no no no no i remember now no i did hit him i don't think so
40:48so who did
40:51he needed obviously neglected to mention the part where she clobbered mr harcup was it her idea
41:08from the start no she was
41:24enid found me after i'd strangled
41:29after sheila died
41:31she just took charge
41:38i didn't know what to do
41:41enid was so calm
41:45methodical and we we reckoned we was going to be okay until
41:51what the hell what the hell can we do now leave this to me
42:14and to finish the job you make it look like suicide
42:42she brought the plastic acid down poor mr harcup's gullet
42:50the law must take its course
43:08i'm sorry eric i truly am
43:12and i'm even more sorry for george harcup
43:15and poor sheila
43:18oh
43:21oh
43:23oh
43:24right
43:25formal charge done sign out
43:27you'll be taken to a hole in yourself
43:30very good of you
43:31thank mrs book
43:35she said you might be a while
43:37quite a tale
43:39wish i could have sat in on it
43:41i'm pushing my luck as it is
43:46what exactly did you do in the war
43:50it must have been pretty big for you to get that letter from churchill
43:53and for the inspector to let you have run of the shop like this
43:56now now jack don't be nosy
43:59where would the fun be
44:01if everyone knew everything
44:03eh
44:04besides i hardly have the run of the place not with laughing boy there hovering the whole time
44:08he's just waiting for his chance to call me
44:11the slightest malfeasance
44:13surely you're a model of respectability mr book
44:21you'd be surprised
44:23they got ivan novello for his petrol coupons
44:40all right where are you
44:40all right you go
44:47eric
44:49eric
44:52hi no no no contact
44:54kidding enough of that
44:58that's enough
44:59run for eric
45:06hell's bells
45:11eric
45:11eric
45:12come out man
45:24don't be a fool
45:29eric
45:40eric
45:48that way
45:50come on
45:53Oh, my God.
46:23Where did he go?
46:28There.
46:41Oh.
46:44The crater.
46:46This is...
46:47Was Inkeman Street.
46:48Which means?
46:50Mr. Baseheart's fastidiousness has come good at last.
46:54If the ruddy thing's still working.
46:55All right, well-beloved.
47:17Come quietly.
47:18I see him.
47:27There.
47:30Eric, stop.
47:32Don't lose him.
47:33I'm trying.
47:34I'm going in.
47:36Let me talk to him.
47:37Where are you going to run to, eh?
48:00Eric, there's nothing to be done.
48:04Where will you go?
48:10Eric!
48:11Eric!
48:12Eric!
48:13Eric!
48:14Eric!
48:15Eric!
48:15Eric!
48:16You can give up today.
48:46You can give up today or tomorrow, Eric. It's inevitable.
48:49The law must take its course. That's what you said.
48:54You're not stringing me up.
48:59Eric, no.
49:02No.
49:03You sure do that to me.
49:06I've seen Beast go. It's not always kind.
49:10Eric, stop.
49:12What about Enid, hmm?
49:14You're going to leave her to face the rope alone.
49:19You're right.
49:22She did all this for me.
49:23Yes.
49:25All for me.
49:26I can't leave her to face the music, can I?
49:38If we're going to go,
49:40we go together.
49:42No!
49:49No!
49:50No!
49:50For him the hemlock shall distill, for him the axe be bared, for him the gibbet shall
50:12be built, for him the stake prepared. I see him up there with Mr. Book and then Wallop, he just fell, dropped like stone, I mean he must have broke his neck. What's that business? Very sad. Well, this is a treat. Pineapple chunks haven't had these
50:42before the war. So what now? What do you mean? We just go back to selling books. Well, that's the job, Jack, just Jack. Yeah, but that was... Yeah. But it was so bloody exciting. Can't be like this all the time, young man. And anyway, who are you? You haven't really said.
51:07Jack Blunt. I was brought up in an orphanage, like I told you. Made acquaintances with the wrong sort. I did time for it. Oh? Yeah, oh.
51:27I was the driver for a smash and grab up Mayfair Way. They got away with a load of mint coats. I got away for two years. I missed the war. Some of it, anyway. And then, I'll get a letter from the Prison Reform Society. An address for a job. This address.
51:55Well, there we are. There's no need to mention it again. Yeah, but why me? Why'd you pick me?
52:02Altruism. What? Giving a second chance to someone felt like the right thing to do. Yeah, but you don't know me from Adam. Oh, he was hopeless, wasn't he, Trotty? Always wandering around the shop in the altogether.
52:12Getting his fig leaf trapped in the till. I'm serious. I mean, bloody hell, I am grateful and all that, but...
52:19It's nice, here. It's really nice, but...
52:26Books is a raft on the great turbulency of life.
52:30You mean books are a raft?
52:31No, no. Books. This place. My shop.
52:36Don't dwell on it, Jack. Just accept it. It's a second chance.
52:39But why me?
52:42Why not?
52:44You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
52:50Shakespeare.
52:52May West.
52:53MUSIC PLAYS
53:10Oh, my God.
53:40Oh, my God.
54:10Oh, my God.