Bat Out of Hell (1966) s01e04 Episode Script

Excuse me, madam.
It's Mr. and Mrs. Bowen.
Hello, Inspector! We didn't
realise you were here.
Oh, I just dropped in to have a
word with Mrs. Stewart about
Inspector!
What is it, Mrs. Stewart?
Diana, are you alright?
I feel terribly faint,
I think I'm going to
Try and get her to drink this.
I'll be alright
Just feel fainted
Thelma Thelma,
what happened tonight?
What happened?
Yes, what happened?
I saw you at Miss Tracey's
I thought you
I think we'd better get a doctor,
don't you, Inspector?
Which doctor does
she have, Mrs. Bowen,
have you any idea?
What? Oh, I think it's
Dr. Duckson - Alunbury 6270.
No. No, wait please
I should be alright.
No need for a doctor,
I just feel faint, that's all.
Sorry Inspector, I haven't
been sleeping very well.
No, I don't expect you
have, Mrs. Stewart.
I've been expecting this to happen.
I said to my wife only
last night, I said
Walter, tell Mrs. Houston
we want her.
I think you'd better get
her to bed, Mrs. Bowen.
Yes I think so too.
Come along, Diana.
I feel so terribly light-headed.
Let's get you upstairs.
You'll feel better when you're in bed.
Mrs. Stewart doesn't feel
very well, Mrs. Houston.
We're putting her to bed.
Yes, of course!
Come along, Mrs. Stewart.
Please don't fuss.
I should be perfectly alright.
I just fainted, that's all.
Yes, of course, dearie.
Sorry, Inspector.
That's alright, Mrs. Stewart.
We'll continue our little
chat some other time.
Mr. Paxton, I'll try and go through
those papers tomorrow.
Give me a ring.
Yes, of course, Mrs. Stewart.
Not to worry.
Was Mrs. Stewart feeling
off colour earlier, sir?
I really don't know, Inspector.
I'd only been here about
five minutes when you arrived.
Mrs. Stewart telephoned me
about an hour ago
and said she wanted to see
me about some business.
I take it yours was just a
social call, Mr. Bowen?
Well, no, not exactly.
My wife was very worried about
what you told her, Inspector -
about the telephone call, I mean.
In the end we both thought
it might be a very good idea
if we had it out with Diana.
I don't think you'd have got very far,
sir.
What do you mean?
Mrs. Stewart still sticks to her story.
She says it was your wife
who received the call.
But that's not true!
I assure you it isn't.
I was in all morning.
If my wife had
received that call,
I'd certainly have
known about it.
[Phone rings]
I think I should answer
that, Mr. Paxton -
you can always take
a message, sir.
Hello. Is that Alunbury 8130?
-Yes.
-Could I speak to Mrs. Stewart, please?
I'm sorry, it's rather
difficult at the moment.
Who is that?
This is Nigel Mills.
Mrs. Stewart's solicitor.
Oh hello, Mr. Mills!
This is Mark Paxton.
Oh, good evening, Mr. Paxton!
I thought I recognized your voice.
Mr. Mills, I'm sorry but -
Mrs. Stewart's just gone to bed
and I'd rather not disturb her
if you don't mind.
She hasn't been feeling too well.
Yes. Yes, of course; I understand.
Is there anything I can do?
No, I'm afraid not, I
I just wanted to
I was going to ask Mrs. Stewart
if I could call round and see her
sometime tomorrow morning.
It is rather urgent, I'm afraid.
Would ten-thirty be convenient?
Yes, that would suit me admirably,
if it's alright for Mrs. Stewart.
Look, let's say ten-thirty
unless I hear from you to
the contrary. How's that?
Yes, I'm sure that should be alright.
Thank you, Mr. Paxton.
I'm obliged to you.
-Goodbye.
-Goodbye.
How is she, Thelma?
I don't think it's anything serious,
but she still complains of feeling dizzy.
-You didn't say anything about?
-No, I did not.
You can't talk to her about anything,
not at the moment - she's
not really with you.
You've probably guessed
why we're here, Inspector?
I've just been talking
to the Inspector, Thelma.
Diana still sticks to her story.
She still says it was you
that received that telephone call.
She said that, again tonight?
Yes, madam, I'm afraid she did.
Mrs. Bowen, what did Mrs. Stewart
mean when she said -
What happened tonight?
I saw you at Miss Tracey's?
I don't know.
I don't know what she meant.
I just couldn't understand it.
Have you any idea what
she meant, dear boy?
No, I'm afraid I haven't.
Who's Miss Tracey, anyway?
The only Miss Tracey I know
is the one in Station Street.
Oh, that little woman
with a sweet shop!
That's right, but I
hardly know the woman -
and I certainly haven't
seen her for ages.
Oh, I'm sorry, sir.
Does this bother you?
No, not at all.
-Are you sure?
-Yes, of course.
It's extraordinary.
Never occurs to me I might be
making a nuisance of myself.
Girl told me off one
night in a restaurant.
Ye Gods, she tore me off a strip.
Good looking girl too.
Mrs. Stewart's a good looking
woman, isn't she, sir?
Yes, I suppose she is.
I hadn't really thought
about it, Inspector.
Drop me off on the corner
of Station Street, Mr. Paxton.
That'll do me nicely.
Thank you, Mr. Mills. I'll be with you
in about fifteen minutes, sir.
Yes, I do know the house,
sir, thank you.
The doctor says she's been
dead for about two hours,
possibly three. Certainly no more.
Yes, that's what I thought.
Alright, now listen - everybody.
Whoever did this was
looking for something
and that isn't to say he found it.
I want this place searched
from top to bottom.
This room, the bedroom, the stairs,
the whole damned place!
But what are we looking for?
I don't know, but find it.
I'll be back in an hour.
Well, get on with it.
It's very good of
you to see me at a
moment's notice, sir.
I do appreciate it.
That's all right Inspector.
Take a pew.
Thank you, sir.
Can I offer you a drink?
I wouldn't say no to
a whiskey and soda, sir.
I believe you have an appointment
with Mrs. Stewart tomorrow
morning, sir?
Yes, I have, and I can't say
-I'm looking forward to it.
-No. Sir?
Definitely no, Inspector.
But how did you know
about the appointment?
I was at the house
when you telephoned.
-Oh. Oh, I see.
-Thank you, sir.
Very nice.
And what can I do for you, Inspector?
I imagine you've read the news, sir?
Mr. Stewart - the motel?
Yes. An appalling business.
Have you any idea who did it?
Yes, sir. Since you ask me, I have.
Now, may I ask you a question?
Certainly. Go ahead.
I understand your firm
acted for Mr. Stewart?
Yes, we did a certain
amount of work for him;
but I'm afraid he was rather
an unsatisfactory client.
What is it you're curious
about, Inspector?
What is it you want to know?
-I'm curious about his will, sir.
-His will?
I'd like to know who
the beneficiaries are.
Then I suggest you ask Mrs. Stewart
tomorrow morning.
She'll to able to tell you.
I'm asking you, sir.
And I don't want to
know tomorrow morning.
I want to know now - tonight.
Mr. Mills, a moment ago
you asked me
if I knew who the murderer was
and I was frank with you.
I said I did.
Well?
Well, under the circumstances sir,
don't you think
you too could stretch a point -
take me into your confidence?
Just over two years ago
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart
came to see me.
They'd been married
about eighteen months
and Geoffrey - Mr. Stewart - said
he wanted to make a new will.
We discussed the details
and eventually I drew up
the document.
With the exception of
one bequest -
a thousand pounds
to his housekeeper -
he left everything to his wife.
Go on, sir.
Well, about a month ago I had
a call from Geoffrey Stewart
to come round and see
him on urgent business.
I drove round to the house
and he presented me
with this envelope.
He said it contained a new will -
one he'd just had drawn up -
and he didn't want his wife,
or anyone else,
to know anything about it.
Yes sir?
Well, I took the envelope
away with me.
Was he telling the truth?
Yes, he was telling the truth alright.
The will was drawn up by
a firm of solicitors in London,
a very reputable firm,
I might add.
It was signed in their office on July,
the 10th, just five weeks ago.
Well, sir?
He's left a thousand pounds
to his housekeeper,
nine thousand pounds to his wife,
and the residue of his estate -
which incidentally,
I should estimate to be
somewhere in the region of
three-quarters of a million pounds
to a Miss Diana Valesco,
33, Franklin Terrace, Chelsea,
London, S.W.1.
Diana Valesco?
Who the devil's Diana Valesco?
That's precisely what Mrs. Stewart's
going to ask me tomorrow morning.
I wish I knew the answer.
[Door bell]
Please, wait a moment.
-Miss Valesco?
-Yes?
My name is Clay.
Detective-Inspector Clay.
-You are from the police?
-My card.
-Oh please, come in.
-Thank you.
What a delightful flat!
Thank, you Inspector.
That's why you came,
because of Geoffrey?
Yes. I suppose you've
heard the news.
I heard this evening.
It was on the radio.
Miss Valesco, I'm
investigating this case
and I think, in fact, I feel sure -
that you can help me.
-I'll tell you anything you want to know.
-Thank you.
But first please - you
must tell me something.
Of course.
How did you find out about me?
How did you know this address?
It was in the will.
The will?
Yes, Geoffrey Stewart's will.
He made a new one -
quite recently.
And my name is
mentioned in the will?
Yes. Yes, it is.
You seem surprised?
But I am. Very surprised.
Yes, well - that's not
why I called here.
You'll hear about the will
later, from someone else.
Miss Valesco, tell me about your
friendship with Mr. Stewart.
When did you first meet him?
How did you meet him?
We met about six months ago.
-Where?
-Here in London.
[Phone rings]
Hello?
Sergeant? This is Clay.
Oh, hello, sir!
We wondered what had
happened to you.
You said you'd be
back in an hour.
Yes, I'm sorry, Sergeant,
I had to come up to
London to see someone.
Any news? Did you find anything?
Yes, sir. We've found
several interesting things;
but whether we've found
what they were looking for,
I wouldn't know.
Well, what have you found?
Could we discuss this later, sir?
Yes, alright. I make it
a quarter to twelve.
It'll take me an hour and a half
to get back to Alunbury.
I think we'd better meet
in my office, Booth.
Very good, sir.
-Is Mr. Tallboy in?
-I think he's in his workshop.
Good morning, Mr. Tallboy.
Can you spare me a minute?
Yes, of course. Come
along in, Inspector!
What can I do for you?
I'm making inquiries
about a Miss Tracey, sir.
She runs a sweet shop,
or rather
-Kitty Tracey?
-That's right, sir.
I know Miss Tracey;
she's a tenant of mine.
So I get it.
Has something happened
to Miss Tracey?
-May I sit down, sir?
-Yes. Of course.
Miss Tracey was murdered
last night, sir;
she was stabbed to death.
According to the doctor's report
Kitty Tracey?
No. No, I don't believe it.
I'm afraid it's true, sir.
But why on earth should anyone
want to murder Miss Tracey?
I don't know why, sir.
That's why I came to see you.
I was hoping you might be able to
help me answer that question.
Well - I'll certainly help you
if I can, Inspector.
What is it you want to know?
How well did you know Miss Tracey?
Well, I hardly knew her at all.
About two years ago I bought
some property in Station Street;
Kitty Tracey's and
Felton's, the newsagent's.
It was purely an
investment on my part;
I didn't want possession
of the property.
At first Miss Tracey was
difficult, damn difficult.
I think she thought I was
trying to evict her -
well, which wasn't
true, incidentally.
But after a while she
calmed down alright.
What do you mean when you say
- she was difficult, sir?
Well, she refused to pay her rent
and she wrote me two absolutely
stinking letters about the property.
Have you got the letters, sir?
No, I'm afraid I haven't,
I threw them away.
I don't want to sound
unkind, Inspector,
but - she was a bit
dotty, you know.
No-one ever took her seriously.
Someone did, sir. Otherwise,
why was she murdered?
Yes, I see what you mean.
Oh, I beg your pardon.
Mr. Tallboy, if I take
you into my confidence,
will you be perfectly frank
with me about something?
Oh yes!
I think Kitty Tracey was
blackmailing Mr. Stewart.
I think she'd been doing it
for some considerable time.
Kitty Tracey blackmailing
Geoffrey Stewart?
Yes, sir.
Oh, that's absurd!
No, I don't think so.
It's my bet that during
the last twelve months
she's had close to two
thousand pounds from him.
But what was she
blackmailing him about?
Don't you know, Mr. Tallboy?
Me? No. No; I don't.
Several days ago - the day
Mr. Stewart was murdered -
I asked you how long
you'd known Mr. Stewart,
and you said ten years.
Well?
Long time - ten years.
You can get to know a man
very well in that time.
What are you suggesting, old man?
Did you know he was having an affair
with a girl called Diana Valesco?
Well, I knew there was
a popsy somewhere
in the background, but - he
never told me who she was.
He just told you he had a girlfriend?
No, he didn't even tell me that, he
Well, to be perfectly honest,
I saw him one night in town,
at a nightclub.
He was with a tall, dark,
good looking girl.
They were dancing cheek to cheek
and I got the message.
Why didn't you tell me about
all this Mr. Tallboy?
Oh I just didn't think it was important.
You must have known it was important.
Well I'm sorry, Inspector.
You just didn't want to get
involved, was that it?
Did you tell Stewart you'd seen him?
Well, I hinted at it.
What does that mean?
We had a few words one day
about a car he'd borrowed.
He was a pretty rotten driver
and I told him he ought
to stick to dancing.
And what did Stewart say?
Oh, he just laughed it off;
but he knew what I meant alright.
What did you say this girl was the
the girl I saw him with?
Well, if it's the same girl,
her name's Valesco.
Diana Valesco. She's an Italian.
That's her alright. Tall, dark,
and very good looking
That's right, sir.
Yes. Quite a dish, in fact.
But by George,
I'll bet she was expensive!
I don't think you've quite
got the picture, Mr. Tallboy.
-No?
-No.
Mr. Stewart was serious
about this girl.
Very serious.
He's even mentioned her in his will.
In his will?
You mean, he's left her something?
Only the jackpot, sir.
For God's sake, Diana!
Tell me what he said!
I've told you!
You keep telling me
what you think!
I don't want to know what you think!
I want
Mark, you're hurting my arm!
-To know precisely what Mills said.
-Mark, please
Geoffrey made a new will.
-When?
-About a month ago.
Did Mills draw it up?
No, it was done in London.
I think he said the firm was
called "Belton and Rice"
I know "Belton and Rice".
Our firm's had dealings with them.
-They're well known.
-That's what Mills said.
Well, go on.
That's all there is.
He left a thousand pounds
to Mrs. Houston;
nine thousand pounds to me,
and everything else to this girl.
-Everything?
-Yes; everything!
I'm not exaggerating, Mark.
Literally everything.
I don't believe it!
-I just don't well believe it
-Well, it's true.
Did you know about this girl?
-Of course, I didn't.
-You'd never even heard of her?
No, of course I hadn't
heard of her!
If I'd heard of her I
would have told you about her!
My God, after all that's happened -
after all we've been
through this past week
What are we going to do?
There's only one thing you
can do - contest the will.
But that could take months!
It doesn't matter
how long it takes,
you've got to do it!
Now listen, Diana - first
thing in the morning
Mark, what is it?
What is it?
What did you say
she's called, this girl?
Valesco.
And where does she live?
Oh, I think Mills said Chelsea -
Franklin Terrace. Why?
Mark, what is it?
Diana, I want you to forget
what I said just now.
I don't want you to do anything.
I don't want you to do anything,
not for forty-eight hours.
You understand?
Alright, Mark.
[Phone rings]
Chelsea 2975?
Could I speak to
Miss Valesco, please?
Who is that speaking?
My name is Paxton. Mark Paxton.
I'm a friend - or rather I was
a friend of Geoffrey Stewart's.
This is Diana Valesco speaking.
Oh, good afternoon, Miss Valesco.
I'm terribly sorry to trouble you,
but do you think we
could meet sometime?
There's something I'd very much
like to talk to you about.
Well, it's a little difficult at the moment
because I'm thinking of going away
Is it urgent, Mr. Paxton?
Yes, I'm rather afraid it is.
Believe me, Miss Valesco,
I wouldn't dream of troubling
you if it wasn't important.
Would this evening be
convenient to you?
Yes it would.
It would suit me admirably.
Seven o'clock?
Very well, seven o'clock.
My address
Yes, I have the address,
thank you.
33, Franklin Terrace, Chelsea
Yes, that's right.
Thank you, Miss Valesco.
[Door bell]
-Miss Valesco?
-Yes?
I'm Mark Paxton.
Oh, yes! Please come in.
Thank you.
Would you excuse me?
I won't be a moment.
Yes, of course.
Good evening, Mr. Paxton.
Do sit down, sir.
I didn't expect to find
you here, Inspector.
No, I don't expect you did, sir.
I had an appointment
with Miss Valesco
and when I heard that
you were dropping in,
I wanted to chat with you,
so I thought we might as well
do it here as anywhere else.
Yes, what is it you wanted
to have a chat about?
-Mrs. Stewart, sir.
-Mrs. Stewart?
Yes. How long have you
known Mrs. Stewart, sir?
About two or three years,
I suppose.
Would you say she
was a friend of yours?
Good heavens; no!
Naturally, I've seen quite
a lot of her just lately,
but she certainly isn't a
friend of mine, Inspector.
Then would you mind explaining
something to me, sir?
Certainly if I can.
If Mrs. Stewart isn't a friend of yours,
why did you take her to the theatre -
the Criterion Theatre -
on the night of March, the 18th?
-March, the 18th?
-Yes sir.
But I didn't.
I think you did, sir.
You took Mrs. Stewart to the theatre
and then you had dinner -
the both of you, afterwards -
at a little restaurant in Soho.
Yes, that's right, we did.
You're absolutely right, Inspector!
I'm terribly sorry!
Yes, that was the night
Mr. Stewart was taken ill.
Well, not really ill, he
had a bilious attack.
Yes, Mr. Stewart was taking
his wife to the theatre
and he had to cry off at
the last moment, so
Go on, sir
So he telephoned me and
asked me if I'd take her.
Wasn't that a little unusual?
Yes, it was. I was very surprised.
But there was nothing
I could do about it.
The bosses' wife
What could I do, Inspector?
Yes, I get the point.
Thank you, Mr. Paxton.
That explains it.
But how did you find
out about the theatre?
I'm investigating a murder case, sir.
It's my job to find out
about all sorts of things.
Yes, well - just to keep
the record straight,
I'm not having a wild affair
with Mrs. Stewart.
If that's what you're thinking.
Tell me about Miss Valesco, sir.
What do you mean?
How did you come
to hear about her?
Mr. Stewart made a will
and apparently he left most of his
Yes. I know about the will, sir.
Well, that's how I heard
about Miss Valesco.
Nigel Mills, the solicitor,
saw Mrs. Stewart and
she sent for me.
Why?
She wants me to have a
chat with Miss Valesco;
to try and come to some
arrangement with her.
-About the will?
-Yes.
But isn't that a job for a lawyer?
I should have thought that
Mr. Mills was the best
I'm afraid Mrs. Stewart
isn't particularly fond
of lawyers at the moment, Inspector.
I see what you mean, sir.
Now, may I ask you a question?
Yes, of course.
Why did you come here tonight?
Well, I should have thought
that was obvious.
I came to see Miss Valesco.
Yes, but why?
Geoffrey Stewart was shot;
he was murdered.
Yes, we know that.
And I want to make sure,
quite sure, sir -
that the same thing doesn't
happen to Miss Valesco.