Dancing On the Edge (2013) s01e04 Episode Script
Episode 4
1 METAL CLATTERING All my life I've been somebody All fired up and not nobody Shouting loud Beat the crowd This girl's going far Blow, Joe, blow 'I had no idea.
' 'That she was a little bit famous?' 'Not to this extent, no.
' 'Now, we've spoken with Mr Luscombe' and he says there must have been witnesses who saw him on the train.
I definitely saw him at 11.
30 that night at The Imperial.
.
.
I'm going to be a star Once you told me I was worth nothing Now I realise Jessie is dead.
Coffee? We need an idea and very quickly.
Better than the last one, Stanley.
It will be Oh, Louis.
Look at her How could this have happened?! I hadn't seen her for three days, I expect she thought I'd forgotten all about her.
We'll help with the funeral arrangements, of course but the dear child must have some family somewhere.
Well, they can hardly miss the press coverage.
It's going to be a huge story.
Why? Why can't they leave her alone now? But it's not going to be just their version people read.
TYPEWRITER CLICKING What are you doing up there, Stanley? What does it look like I'm doing? I always think better up here.
I don't know why, it's bloody freezing! And what are you writing, Stanley? You're not going to like this, Eric, but we've got to do a special edition, get the real story out there - how much Jessie had already achieved, not let it be blotted out by what's happened.
Well No! No! We are not going to wait till the next edition.
We absolutely cannot allow ourselves to be beaten by the competition.
I'll go to Mr Wax if I have to, I'll bloody make him.
Stanley, I've spoken to Mr Wax.
He's agreed.
You have? What, you thought of it too? Yes.
You realise it's not just a three page supplement we're doing It's going to be 20 pages, with a lot of pictures.
It will be a 32 page edition.
That is what Mr Wax has agreed to fund.
No, no! There will be absolutely no admittance to members of the press.
TYPEWRITER CLICKING Look at this! You know what, Sarah? We've got space for a lot more images, why don't you grab your photographs? Some of the shots that you've taken of the band.
In fact, bring us everything you've got.
Everything I've got?! Yes, go and get it now.
We've got a chance to do something very different with your pictures, something that nobody else will have.
Be careful there are already one or two people in the street, keeping vigil.
My honeypie I came to town and learned to love a little harder You showed me how to play the game that I succeeded in Now I can dream about as high as I can fall I'm just on top of the world.
Lord, lead me on Lord lead me on Take me by the hand Lord lead me on Show me the way ahead And lead me on Take my fears away Lead me on Lord, lead me on.
Mr Masterson has arranged for the reception to be right here, through the trees, so we won't have to be bothered with the press.
Louis .
.
this is Edith, Jessie's aunt.
Delighted to meet you.
Very pleased to meet you too.
I had no idea, you see, no idea at all, what Jessie did - singing with the band and everything.
I don't read the newspapers or listen to the wireless, we don't have a wireless anyway, and her mother would have been so proud, you know! And, oh, I gotta thank this gentleman for being so generous.
Sorry.
It's been so good of you to do all of this A little reminder that there's another world out there.
We're going where prying eyes can't follow.
The police may well start to make their presence felt again, Louis, if they haven't solved this case soon.
They'll get all our statements one more time, you mark my words.
Yes, I suppose.
I think they're very close to making an arrest, in fact.
This is the way, everybody.
Down this little path, here.
There's a surprise waiting for us beyond the trees.
GLASSES CLINKING Ah, Stanley, I need to congratulate you.
On what? On that special edition of the magazine.
It was rather remarkable.
Well, it was one edition that had to be serious, wasn't it? This is my mother, this is Lady Cremone.
Oh, Your Ladyship, how lovely to meet you.
I was hoping we would be introduced.
So happy to meet you.
My son never stops talking about you.
No, no, he does.
Every time I see him he mentions you, you're quite his favourite person.
Parents! They embarrass you every time, don't they? He's always very interested in what you're going to say, what your opinion will be of the next issue of the magazine - he asks every time, "Do you think she'll like it, Mum?" What a beautiful place to hold a wake but I do hope my brother doesn't feel the need to make a speech - I fear he might break down completely in the middle of it.
This may be the very last time we see each other, Your Ladyship.
Goodness, no! I still have my apartment in the hotel, do you remember? The, er, the Bertram family are coming to town owners of The Imperial.
Mm-mm? A murder in their hotel, it's something they can't tolerate.
Well, they can hardly blame you, Mr Schlesinger? Mr Masterson, er, this is my mother.
Mrs Mitchell.
How do you do? I'm going to say something extremely obvious to your son, Mrs Mitchell.
And what's that then? I'm going to say, that when something finishes - not always, but frequently - something else begins.
I'm sure that's true.
Oh, yes.
I expect your son may wonder what I mean by that.
And what do you mean? Well, why don't we make an appointment, Stanley, you and I, and figure out what I mean? GLASS BEING TAPPED I just want to say something - nobody be alarmed, I'm not making a speech at all! But I just want to say .
.
the flowers, some of these flowers, were brought here especially by Mr Masterson.
I know they look like they live here all the time but they don't, and I just want to thank him, and say what an appropriate gesture I think that was because Jessie's life was such a short life, so full of colour, so vivid it brought such joy into my life, and into many of our lives here today .
.
and I just want to pay tribute It's probably not a good idea after all to hold a wake in a glass house! We ought to get away from here.
(Yes.
) We could go to my house? My father's gone away for a few days.
Just showing Mr Lester my latest photographs, Lucy.
If there are any callers, I don't want to be disturbed.
We leave them at the funeral and here they are again! That's right.
They're following you! I haven't quite finished developing them all.
That is a spooky sight, certainly! Yes, this one looks rather hungry.
Quite a few of them look like they haven't had enough to eat.
How dedicated they were to Jessie already, after such a short time.
ExactlyI think one of them attacked Jessie in the hotel.
One of these? Stanley thinks this too - they wanted Jessie all to themselves.
People become so obsessed with their favourite performers, they want power over them, to own them.
Yes, but I never saw any of them inside the hotel, ever.
They could have got in.
I haven't told anybody what you've told me, I promise, but it can't have been Julian, I really believe it can't have been.
I did see him that night inside the hotel.
There'll be an explanation for that, there really will! Anyway, we don't need to think about that now.
No, we don't.
SHE MOANS I love you, Louis.
DOORBELL RINGING LOUIS CHUCKLES What's the matter? I don't think I've ever done this, being watched by myself before! Miss Sarah, Miss Sarah?! You're wanted.
Ignore it.
'Miss Sarah, Miss Sarah, there's someone here for you, Miss Sarah!' That girl! I told her! It's the police, Louis.
Ah, Mr Lester, I wonder if you could help us with some identification? Identification? Yes we need to make an identification and we believe that you, as a witness, could help us.
Are you willing to do that? Of course.
Hello, Harry.
Good afternoon, Mr Lester.
Now you saw Mr Luscombe in the hotel passage when he maintains he was on the train to Paris? I did, yes.
And how many feet away from him were you when you saw him? I don't know 60, 70 feet.
It would be at least that, wouldn't it? Turn round, if you could, Mr Lester.
Now, who is that at the end of the passage, Mr Lester? Can you tell me? Now, is it Mr Gunson, who you know? Can you tell me for sure that that is Mr Gunson? Or is it Sergeant Thomas, who you don't know? Or could that even be Mr Thornton from the Imperial Hotel, who was here just a short while ago? Which one is it, Mr Lester? Louis! This is nothing like it was, there's more light in the hotel.
You can't tell me, can you? This is Mr Julian Luscombe's passport, he gave it to us entirely voluntarily.
Please, have a look.
Now, it bears the correct stamp of the French passport control for the night train in question.
It's the right date and, of course, there is only one night train.
And then we have witnesses - a Mr Leopold Fitzmaurice, and, er, Mr Horace Verney, both of whom saw Mr Luscombe in their first class compartment and then saw him embark with them on the ferry.
Now, neither Mr Fitzmaurice nor Mr Verney are friends or acquaintances of Mr Luscombe, yet they identified him at once.
Apparently he never stopped talking the whole journey.
Is it possible, Mr Lester, that it was someone else that you saw at the hotel that night? Someone else who called your name? Is it possible that you can't be absolutely sure that you saw Mr Luscombe? If you're asking me whether I'm absolutely sure? I am.
Then I suppose it is possible that I'm not.
Thank you, Mr Lester, that is extremely helpful.
Why have you done that? Well, you taught me how to play, so it's all your fault! Well, you're better than you think.
Only sometimes! All the wonderful battles we've had, I used to want them never to finish.
Yes, sometimes they lasted for days.
We've saved our lives with games especially with these mice and frogs, and I still need them! Hello, Mummy, how was your little holiday? Was it a success? No, not really.
Hotel was horrible.
Some guests you didn't like? There were some guests I couldn't abide, yes, nor could your father.
We had to move rooms twice, in fact, to get far enough away from them.
There were some Jews in the hotel, Mummy? Is that what you mean? Unfortunately, yes, the hotel seemed to be crawling with them.
You really wouldn't expect that in Cornwall, would you? How on earth did we come out of that person, darling? Don't you ever think that? How on earth are we a part of her? I think about it all the time.
Nearly every morning.
You won't leave me here alone with them? Promise! I'll never leave you, darling.
I have plans, of course, great plans, at the moment! Mr Masterson's been so encouraging but wherever I go, I will always come back and I've decided .
.
I'm going to fill this house with Jews and Negroes maybe we should do that for Mummy's next birthday, in fact! Although Jessie won't be able to sing for her now.
I know you're so upset about Jessie.
You can talk to me about it, darling, how much you miss her.
You can tell me all about it.
I know I know I can.
Come in, Mr Mitchell, come in.
I was wondering where you were.
I'm not late, am I? You've not been here before? No, I haven't.
There's a lot to look at! Everybody runs to gold when times get hard but I didn't get where I am now by doing the obvious, Mr Mitchell.
No, I'm sure you didn't.
Stanley You don't mind if I call you Stanley, do you? Of course not, Mr Masterson.
You caused quite a rumpus at the German Embassy the other night, didn't you, Stanley? Well, that was a joke I thought a good one, as it happens.
I just wanted to give them one No.
There's no need to explain.
A little mischief might well do them some good.
You don't know much about the business I'm in, do you, Stanley? It's more than one business, isn't it, Mr Masterson? That's correct, Stanleyit's mainly real estate in the US, a little bit of coal, of course a LOT of oil In the Depression, like we're in now, there are certain things people still want - food, of course, soap, a little entertainmentand news.
At the moment I don't own any of those.
Except Julian's English cheese business, of course! Yes except for that.
Now, I don't want you to say anything to what I'm about to put to you.
Not at all? Whatever it is? That's correct.
I was very impressed by this edition of your magazine, Stanley.
I have just written to Mr Wax proposing that I buy Music Express off him.
I intend to find a new larger premises for the magazine and to expand it greatly.
I am extremely interested in the possibilities of photo journalism.
I don't think anybody's grasped its full potential.
I intend to make Music Express the foremost entertainment magazine in Europe.
I further intend to found a news magazine in the next year or so that will rival Time magazine, and then overtake it.
I propose to make you editor in chief of Music Express magazine.
That is if you want to take it, Stanley.
No, don't say anything, anything at all.
I want you to consider this, silently, for the next few days.
Louis?! Harry wants to see you.
What's it about? He will tell you.
A request has come up.
The Freemasons are holding their annual dinner for the new Worshipful Master in the rooms that they have here, and, er, rather surprisingly Well, surprising to methey've requested that you play at it.
The Masons? That'll be interesting.
I just wanted to check that you could manage it, to play at all - under the circumstances.
Yes.
We're going to keep on playing, that's already been decided.
For the time being.
What does that mean? Until it's decided otherwise.
It is up to Mr Schlesinger who plays at this hotel.
At the moment it is.
CLATTERING Oh, no, not again! I don't believe it! I will not stand for it! Stop that! At once! RIGHT NOW! You! Get out of here! I'll have you all arrested! Run! I don't care how hungry you are, you can't steal food from here! Hurry! I'll have you all locked up! I cannot understand how people have so little pride, let themselves fall so low.
People have to eat.
Not out of my dustbins, they don't.
Oh, and by the way, Mr Lester .
.
the police came round.
Said they wanted to take the sports car that belonged to Miss Taylor.
I said, of course, they could.
Why did they want that? I believe they've got it into their heads they need to have a thorough look at it.
Mr Wax is selling the magazine?! It hasn't happened yet, no.
To this American millionaire? He's one of the richest men in the world - why does he want our little magazine?! He sees great possibilities in it, that it'll grow enormously.
He's offered to make you captain of the team, has he? Nothing's been finalised.
I'm not supposed to be breathing a word about it to anyone but I just thought you should know.
Thank you, Stanley, for not keeping it a TOTAL secret.
Maybe Mr Wax won't sell after all? At the right price, most people will sell anything.
Mr Masterson has great plans for the magazine.
He'll never give you any freedom, Stanley, you realise, it will all change completely here.
I'm not sure about that.
If he suggests things we don't like, we won't do them.
How?! You won't be able to control what's happening, Stanley! Erm, excuse us for a moment but I'm sure you won't mind the interruption - Her Ladyship just wanted to see in here.
Lavinia.
So this is your lair, Stanley? I've only ever seen it from the outside.
It's usually a fraction tidier than this.
Is it? I always wondered what it would look like.
Well, it may not look like this for much longer.
That sounds interesting.
Er, maybe Your Ladyship would like to see the collection of back copies we have? They're in my office, if we would just return there.
I would love that.
I have, in fact, several bound copies of your magazine in my library - not many people can say that, I expect! And you are on the cover of one of our editions, of course.
One of our very BEST covers, I always say! PHONE RINGING Good evening, gentlemen.
Have you ever seen the Bertram Brothers before, Harry? I have not.
No.
They never EVER come here.
They could stop me getting another job anywhere in the hotel business.
A few weeks ago, we were one of the most fashionable hotels in London and now .
.
I have a terrible feeling about this week, Harry.
Have they said anything to you? No Have they spoken to you though, Harry? Just a few words, as I was showing them to their suite.
And what did they tell you? That a murder at this hotel is one of the worst things they could ever imagine happening.
(Yes) .
.
and unsolved too, of course.
So far, yes.
Every time I see them gather, I can't help being fascinated.
Me too.
There'll be a few dukes and marquises down there, some minor royals, perhaps, senior politicians, of course - all sorts of surprising people belong to the Central London Lodge.
Yes I thought now the band's playing at the dinner Isn't that so unexpected? Oh, yesI'm quite jealous, I'd love to be there! But, now that's happening, I thought, maybe, I could do an article about the Masons, in this hotel.
If you did, you'd never work again! Course, this may be the very last time they're here.
Because of the murder? I suppose we have to call it that now - the "murder".
But yes, they may be moving on, colonising another hotel.
I hear they've been scurrying around looking at all sorts of basements but I have no idea who's arranged for the band to play for them tonight - God knows what'll happen! You're looking surprisingly smart today.
I have an important dinner appointment, that's why.
In the new Atlantic Bar? That's right.
So do I.
They've re-decorated all of this and what a lovely room! I collect beautiful rooms around London, Stanley.
I don't see why one shouldn't spend as much of one's life as possible in them.
You must join Her Ladyship, you mustn't keep her waiting.
Lavinia, you look magnificent, as always.
I must just join that wonderful young artist, over there.
I'm hoping to help her get her first exhibition, she's exquisitely talented.
Stanley.
Arthur has a new project, it seems! To go with all the others! We have a great deal to talk about.
Yes, I know.
I hope I'm not too late.
No, sir.
They all here? Yes, they're all here, sir.
Thank you.
So, what do you know about Mr Masterson? What's he really like? He is one of the few people I've ever met who always seems to be ahead of events.
Ah, but can one trust him? Funnily enough, I think one can.
So you are involved in his acquisition of the magazine? I could be Of course, it doesn't need my money but he needs somebody who lives here, who can be on the spot, while he travels the world.
So I'm going to be working for you? Is that such a terrible prospect? I'm not even going to reply to that! If all this happens, we will both be working for Mr Masterson ultimately, but, yes, you'll be working for me, in a way.
I knew, for some reason, this was going to happen, I just, I just thought it might! I don't know how that's possible, Stanley, because I didn't until yesterday! Suddenly I realised the way I was living was absurd - can't be half a recluse, who's ever heard of that?! Half a hermit! Living like that was never going to bring my boys back and now I know I want to do something with the rest of my life - get involved, Stanley, get really involved.
Where's your singer? Carla.
She'll be coming, don't worry.
Are you usually down here with them, Harry, when they have their dinners? Yes, sometimes.
I thought they had their own people.
They do, but once or twice I've helped them out with their arrangements.
Of course, I've never been in the temple never see them in their robes.
Louis! There you are! Ha! This is going to be so good.
Such fun! You will get your cue in just a moment.
Best tipper in the hotel.
A very generous man, Mr Masterson.
Well, I suppose he needs to be, doesn't he? Why does he need to be? If you smash up your hotel suite the way he does, you rather need to leave good tips, don't you? I don't know what you mean? Oh, come on, Harry.
I saw his suite completely smashed up, you must have had to arrange to get it cleared up? You probably had to do that a number of? I have no idea what you are talking about! What are you so frightened of? Frightened? You think I'm the one who should be frightened?! Yes! I think you're extremely frightened.
What are you afraid of? You really think you're very clever, don't you? You think you can strut around with your musicians and get away with anything.
You even think you're different from the other minstrel bands, don't you?! Well, let me tell you something, this hotel will be destroyed by what you've done! What I've done? (Go on, tell me what I've done, Harry.
) Ever since you've been here I've seen it coming, I knew it was going to lead to disaster! Here I am.
Told you there was nothing to worry about! And I'm early, aren't I? Come this way, please.
Perfect timing, Carla! Remember I saw you with her! I saw you with Jessie Taylor.
I saw you arguing the night she was attacked! Everybody knows I had nothing to do with Jessie's death, I was playing for the Prince of Wales! And now I think the Masons are waiting for me.
The Worshipful Master will now take wine with his personal guests.
Now, don't worry, I know it looks a littlestrange, it's just like an ordinary meal, really.
They can be surprisingly jolly occasions, not much mumbo jumbo once we get eating! Have they ever had a singer in here before? No, no, don't think so.
It was my idea to invite you, of course.
I don't know how it's going to go down! We'll see! Ah, this is my friend, Leopold Fitzmaurice, we joined the Lodge together on the same day! He very much wanted to say hello to the band, didn't you, Leopold? I know you're going to liven up our dinner, no end! Leopold Fitzmaurice? Yes, that's his name, it's a grand name, isn't it? He was on the train with you, was he? The night train to Paris? Leopold and I are always on trains together! It's a pleasure meeting you.
So, yes, Leopold saw me on the trainand Horace, over there.
Horace Verney, always seems to be in my compartment! Now, I really must get back.
There's a first time for everything and this is absolutely a first.
The Louis Lester band will now give us their first number.
Where's the bloody music? THE PARTY CHUCKLE (Louis) (Louis, what are you doing?!) The first number we're going to play is Speak up! This Girl's Going Far.
(Yes.
) All my life I've been somebody All fired up and not nobody Shouting loud Beat the crowd This girl's going far Blow, Joe, blow Let 'em know I'm going to be a star Stop the music! Pamela? What are you doing here so early? Er, we're going on somewhere after, if you'd like to join us, by the way, that would be delightful.
Have you not heard the news? What news? What's happened? Someone has tried to assassinate the American President.
What?! Someone has tried to shoot Mr Roosevelt.
They're all worried how this is going to affect the market.
Do you think there'll be another crash, Walter? We need some more news, we need some reliable news.
Ah, Louis, what a massive pity this is! I so wanted to see what they thought of the music! MUSIC: "Rosen aus dem Suden" By Johann Strauss II They're only playing music! This is ridiculous! An enormous story like this, they've got to have an extra news bulletin surely?! No, instead they just play Strauss waltzes, like they always seem to at this time of night, nothing can change that.
Well, I definitely don't think we're going to get any more news from the BBC tonight, maybe we could try another station from abroad? STATIC CRACKLING Useless! We'll just have to wait until the morning, for the newspapers.
Have you heard the news from the US? We have, we're just trying to find out more.
I think I know where you can find out more.
I suggest you come with me.
To where? Oh, it's quite walkable.
Stanley! Louis, how did it go with the Masons? All right? You must tell me about it sometime.
I will, but I have to talk to you about something else.
Not now, haven't you heard the news?! I heard they tried to kill the President.
Yes, we don't know if he's badly injured, or dying, we don't know what's happened to him but Mr Masterson is taking us somewhere to find out.
It's one of his, er, mystery tours, like his picnics! Erm, but I can't lose him, or I won't know where they've gone.
Why don't you come? Seems we're the only ones mad enough to be out on a night like this! Come on, Louis, keep up or we'll lose him.
So, where are we going, Walter? Is this another party you haven't told anyone about? You're here too, darling! Isn't that wonderful? How come she knows about this?! Come inside.
Good evening, Sarah.
Sarah .
.
do you know why we're here? No, I got a telephone call from Mr Masterson just as I was going to bed, he said I had to come here, he had something to show me.
Where are we? Come on! Come in, come on, come on, come on! What the hell is Eric doing here? What an incredible wireless! It's fit for an emperor! This set here should be able to get us any station in Europe.
Let's see what we have.
That's Radio Luxembourg, they at least have news right into the night.
NEWSREADER SPEAKING FRENCH 'Bonsoir.
Le maire de Chicago a ete severement touche lors de la' They're saying that the President-Elect Mr Roosevelt is not injured but the Mayor of Chicago has been shot and his condition is very serious, several other people are shot.
'.
.
la police continue son enquete dans l'affaire du meurtre 'de la jeune chanteuse de couleur Jessie Taylor' Good heavens! What? What is it? What are they saying?! They're talking about the murder in a London hotel, the young coloured singer, Jessie Taylor, who had sung for royalty They're saying the police are now following new leads.
I knew it would be a huge story but I didn't realise they'd be talking about it across Europe! I didn't realise you could speak French.
You don't know everything about him! And learn to love a little more You showed me how to play the game That I'd succeed a little Now I can dream about as high as I can go I can't bear it! It's so sad to hear her voice, it's too upsetting! What is this place anyway? Don't you know? This is going to be our new home, Stanley.
This is extraordinary.
This is our new office? This room here? Not just this room.
It's the whole building, Stanley.
The whole building?! That can't be right! When did you buy it, Mr Masterson? Oh, only the other day.
I bought the wireless first, then needed somewhere big enough to house it.
He approached me just today - could I be so kind, would I look at the new premises and see if I approved? What an office this is! Even The Times would be jealous of this! Oh, they would indeed! YELPING There will, of course, be room for rather more staff and a large photographic department, where all your photographs will be and all the other photographers who will be working with you or I should say, working for you.
The use of photography is the future.
It is the future, yes.
Is, is that a job offer? Was that a job offer?! I rather think it was.
This is so very exciting, wonderful.
I should choose a room which I can have my office, perhaps I could have half of this room? Well, hang on, you're not having half of our room Maybe this will be an appropriate room? Oh, yes, this is your room, all right.
After all, it's the only one with a telephone! It's the first regular job I've ever had in my life, Stanley! With an office! The proprietor's office! Is it absurd me starting this sort of thing at my age? No, it's not absurd at all.
It's the obvious thing to do, in fact Of course, I might wish to be part of this too, Walter.
We should forget about the silly cheese idea.
Julian, the plans are decided.
I will decide my own future, thank you! I absolutely refuse to be told what to do.
I'm not a CHILD, Walter, you have to stop treating me like one, or I'll go and work somewhere else! What do you think, Louis? Isn't this so divine? We live in the age of the magazine, Mr Lester, they have the power to influence many things.
Yes, I'm sure it will soon become the most talked about magazine in London.
In London? Walter's not just interested in London! Don't be silly, Louis, how could he be interested in that?! His plans are much greater! Of course.
My mistake.
I'm sure you will conquer the world with it.
After all, who's to stop him? Excuse me, for a moment.
If only I had a tape measure with me, I could start planning the layout of the office immediately but maybe I can make some rough estimates.
Here goes! Louis, I've got a new job - at least I think I have! I know, I heard We can have a room each, remember .
.
I need to talk to you.
.
.
and you can have a whole department dedicated to electrical music! StanleyI think you should hear this too.
Julian, when you get to Manhattan everything will be so different because you won't have time to worry about anything.
You can take as much time as you want, learning one thing, then move on, up a step, to the next thing, the next problem.
Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt.
Darling, you're not interrupting.
What Walter was saying was not important at all, not in the slightest .
.
just a little trip we might be taking.
It's very cold, isn't it? I think I might try to light a fire in one of these rooms.
What on earth have you been doing? I told the police what I thought I'd seen.
You told the police you saw Julian in the hotel when he couldn't possibly have been there, when he was on a train to Paris?! He got his friends to LIE for him.
That's ridiculous.
What, you think all the passport controls are lying?! But then what did you do? You changed your story! I didn't change my story, I told them I couldn't be certain.
I wish you hadn't told them about Julian.
Don't you realise what a stupid thing it was to have changed your story, what possessed you?! The police will have been wanting to include you as a suspect all along.
They can't, I was playing at the airbase.
They CANNOT make me a suspect.
Why not? They can try to prove that you could have made it back in time.
Pamela! I was just looking for somewhere to light a fire.
I think next door might be better.
There's a little coal there.
You changed your story when you realised that Julian couldn't possibly have been there - what do you think a jury will make of that?! A jury?! It's not going to come to a jury?! I'm sure it won't, there won't be a trial or I told you to be careful with the police, I warned you that they would start again.
Well, you need a lawyer, and very quickly.
All right.
I'll go straight back to the hotel now and No, you won't, stay away from the hotel.
Trust me, I know what I am talking about, the police may come for you in the morning and you MUST try to be with a lawyer when they arrest you.
Arrest me?! They can't arrest me, there's no evidence! He's right, they can't arrest him.
We need to get you a lawyer.
Maybe Mr Masterson will help? I'm not taking any "help" from Mr Masterson, I promise you, that's the LAS thing I'll do.
You need to stop thinking he's involved in some way, and Julian too, for goodness sake, it's only going to make things worse for you! 'You can't say those things about them, you just can't! 'You have to stop.
' They're just through there, for Christ's sake! Maybe it's time they heard it.
Arthur will find Louis a lawyer.
He'll know somebody.
Yes, yes, of course, Mr Donaldson.
Except he doesn't get up till midday.
Hello? Who are you? If you're selling something, you've got to go to the back entrance.
No, no, Violetta, these are friends.
Welcome to you both.
This is Violetta, my niece, Emily, her friend - they're staying for a couple of days.
Nice surprise to see you both! We did telephone.
Your housekeeper said Said I was in bed.
Well, the day has only just begun, hasn't it? Two of you obviously don't worry about sleep.
Come in, come in.
We need your help, Arthur.
Of course, whatever I can do.
How quickly can you get me a lawyer? A lawyer? About 45 minutes.
No, I don't want to exaggerate, let's say 50.
So, Neville, how soon can you come? YesI-I want you to see a friend of mine, Mr Louis Lester.
That's right, he wants your advice rather urgently.
An hour? No, no, that's excellent.
If you can make it 50 minutes, that would be even better.
Neville's one of the best lawyers in London.
Thank you.
I appreciate it.
I have to meet my father at St Pancras, he's coming back today.
His train's at 2.
30 and he'll worry if I'm not there to meet him.
Of course I haven't been home since last night but maybe I can get Lucy to No, no, you must go I'll be fine here.
You will be.
I-I'll make sure that, er, nobody enters the house until Louis has had some time with his lawyer.
We have a warrant for the arrest of Mr Louis Lester on suspicion of murder.
Well, what are you telling me about it for? Arrest him! He's not in his room.
He must have heard you coming, mustn't he? PIANO MUSIC PLAYING Those are all of my travels, I'm afraid.
Rather egotistical to have them all on display, I know.
It was a wonderful time, Louis, Europe was a wonderful place.
You could go anywhere, anywhere you wished without a passport, stroll across borders - it was a heavenly time to be young, before the war.
Yes, must have been.
You're always marvellously calm, Louis.
Not today I'm certainly not today.
Well, you've been up all night, my friend.
But I admire you so much, how you conduct yourself - if I'm allowed to say that - how you don't allow yourself to be cowered.
No, I don't like to be, "cowered," Mr Donaldson .
.
and I refuse to panic now.
That's right.
No reason to panic.
But just realising that you're going to be accused of a crime, and a very serious crime, and, probably, there's nothing you can do to stop that happening, and somehow the evidence is going to beadjustedso it points straight at you.
Of course that's alarming, Louis, but the English police, they might not be as efficient as they claim to be, but they, they never wilfully hang the wrong man.
DOOR OPENING What are you doing with Mr Lester's cloak? It's all right.
Time for tea! It's not nearly time for tea.
But I've made some cakes! Mm, marvellous looking cakes, you two! They look absolutely irresistible.
There are three each Oh, I forgot about him.
I'm sure there'll be plenty for all of us.
Better take a seat, Louis, I think we're going to be eating these cakes, whether we like it or not, for some time, certainly until Neville gets here.
Mrs Courtney can make us all some tea.
I see no reason why we shouldn't have two or three teas today - it's not against the law, is it, girls? Leave the knives alone, Violetta! Mrs Courtney can cut the bread and maybe she'll find some of her delicious damson jam that she keeps hidden.
Oh, yes, I know about that KETTLE AND GIRL WHISTLING TRAIN WHISTLING 'He's arranged another train for us' and a jolly big picnic too, isn't that good? Except this time it's just you he wants to see, Louis.
I just need to meet my father.
It's better up here.
It's inviting, it's enticing She wants to go for a spin.
.
.
getting closer on the midnight run My heart is a-pounding and a-pumping and a-pumping! .
.
my runaway train stampeding I think this is the place.
.
.
stoker at the furnace fire For night-time dreams and desire It's inviting.
Hello? Anybody there? Hello, could you please open this door? Could you please open this door? DOORBELL RINGING 'Police.
I think you know why we're here' They took the knives! GLASS SMASHING He's there! He's over there! He's here! He's here! Come quick! Stanley! Oh, hello, you look beautiful.
I'm surprised you noticed but then, this is such a rare thing.
What do you mean? You and I alone.
Ah, well, plenty of chance for that.
You're here remarkably early.
So are you.
But then I don't want to miss a moment of Mr Masterson's farewell meal.
It's not a farewell really, he's only going to the USA for business reasons.
You're very well informed of his movements all of a sudden.
Well, I've been in meetings with him all day.
You know Julian's going to have a job in his office in America, for a few months at least.
Yes, I heard that.
My brother's going to be an American businessman and suddenly you're his partner too.
Mr Masterson's.
Not a partner but definitely a colleague.
This is such an enormous chance for me, Pamela.
It certainly appears to be, Stanley, yes.
LOUIS GRUNTING AND PANTING Watch out, you bastard! I'm sorry! I thought we'd get rid of the speeches before the serious eating has begun.
It's always so much more relaxing that way! In spite of us missing one or two people I'm sure our missing guests will be here soon.
I just wanted to thank Walter, or should I say Mr Masterson, since he's my boss now, for not only laying on this meal I thought we'd have the ballroom to ourselves for once, since we've spent so much time here.
And it's a charming gesture, I think we'd all agree! So this meal is not only to bid farewell to Mr Masterson on his trip to the United States where, hopefully, he will keep the President quite safe, and where, hopefully, too, he will not spend too much time.
He'll be back, don't worry! He's only happy when he's travelling! But this is also to celebrate the great new venture we're embarking upon together, under Stanley and Eric's editorship.
We understand, of course, that we're only a corner of your empire Not a corner, never just a corner.
.
.
but we hope, in our own way, to make many waves.
Cheers.
I'm so sorry I'm late.
I was held up, unavoidably! Forgive me.
I'll explain everything in a minute.
Carla has agreed to sing! Julian, it's the middle of the meal.
When better?! Now, until Louis arrives, you'll have to make do with me accompanying you.
Well, then we'll do one very simple song, shall we? Ah, Miss Peters, there's a telephone call for you, apparently it's urgent.
.
.
serenading to a tune A pop at the bull's eye You must join us, Mr Schlesinger, please.
.
.
dancing on the moon Louis? I was just thinking about what I might do for this hotel I've always liked it here.
'Where are you?' Near a church.
Where is the church? You don't need to know that.
'You can tell me where you are!' You don't trust me all of a sudden?! 'Why would you telephone me if you don't trust me?' I need somewhere to go.
Come here and we'll work out the best plan.
Come back to the hotel?! I'm not that stupid, Sarah! What are you saying? You don't trust any of us? You think we've all turned against you in two days? Can't believe you'd think like that, Louis! I'm dreaming of the big time A chance to dig a goldmine Donaldson called the police.
'He did not call the police!' They appeared at his house, he's just told me what happened.
They appeared at his house?! 'Yes!' Of course they're going to visit everybody you know, Louis, they're looking for you.
No lawyer ever turned up.
He got delayed Do you know what they did? They locked me in, as if I was.
.
They wanted to let you sleep, they wanted to stop the children from disturbing you - you've got to believe me! Come here, Louis.
This is where people can help you.
How many times do I have to tell you I'm not coming back to the hotel?! 'Then I'll meet you somewhere else, wherever you like!' The police are going to arrest you.
'They have to find me first.
' 'You can't run away from them!' I can get out of the country.
'You'll never manage that on your own! You have to meet me.
' I can't bear the thought that you don't trust me, you have to trust somebody, Louis, you have to! Maybe I don't I think this will be a lot easier if I don't trust anyone.
Louis, you have to remember What do I have to remember? Who I am? Is that what you mean? That is what I mean but not in that way.
Please, listen to menot everybody thinks like me and Stanley, not everybody wants to help you.
No, Sarahthat's where you're wrong that's what I've just found out.
You think just the same as everyone else.
Thank you for being so patient and don't be concerned, I'm going to see a doctor now.
JULIAN PLAYING PIANO Was that Louis? Is he on his way? That was Louis he's not on his way.
Well, that is a disappointment, we won't have a proper chance to say goodbye.
How strange that Louis isn't here, I wouldn't have thought he'd want to miss this.
Stop playing, Julian! Julian, will you stop playing? GLASS TINKLING I have my own toast to propose .
.
to pay tribute to how everybody seems to be working for you now, Mr Masterson.
I'm not.
Carla isn't.
Everybody that is, except for me, and I'm sure that's how it should be because I have no speciality of any kind and am quite unqualified for regular work but I am sure it is a wonderful thing to be working for Mr Masterson and he will take care of my brother, I am sure, too, in his career over the ocean I'll only be gone for a while.
.
.
because my brother is a very sensitive person.
Somy toast What is my toast? My toast is to you .
.
I am sure you will all prosper in the ways that you want, in what you've set your hearts on .
.
by working for Mr Masterson .
.
and to our benefactor, Mr Masterson! Hear, hear.
Thank you, Pamela .
.
for your generous speech.
and I'd just want to add, because we have an empty chair I'm sure that before this meal is over, Mr Lester will be joining us.
Well it's, erm, copy night at the magazine our last edition at the old place, and though it has been put to bed, think I'll go back there.
No, no, no, Eric, I'll do this I just, er, feel the need.
Thank you.
Our last edition in the old place, Rosie! I thought I'd take one more look.
It's just what Mr Wax is doing too.
Really? Didn't realise he was that sentimental.
Are you sure you're doing the right thing, Stanley? Letting Mr Masterson buy our magazine.
Absolutelywithout a doubt.
We'll have no control, at all.
We have to grow! Don't you see? Rosie, this is going to change all our lives, not just for a few months, for ever.
' 'That she was a little bit famous?' 'Not to this extent, no.
' 'Now, we've spoken with Mr Luscombe' and he says there must have been witnesses who saw him on the train.
I definitely saw him at 11.
30 that night at The Imperial.
.
.
I'm going to be a star Once you told me I was worth nothing Now I realise Jessie is dead.
Coffee? We need an idea and very quickly.
Better than the last one, Stanley.
It will be Oh, Louis.
Look at her How could this have happened?! I hadn't seen her for three days, I expect she thought I'd forgotten all about her.
We'll help with the funeral arrangements, of course but the dear child must have some family somewhere.
Well, they can hardly miss the press coverage.
It's going to be a huge story.
Why? Why can't they leave her alone now? But it's not going to be just their version people read.
TYPEWRITER CLICKING What are you doing up there, Stanley? What does it look like I'm doing? I always think better up here.
I don't know why, it's bloody freezing! And what are you writing, Stanley? You're not going to like this, Eric, but we've got to do a special edition, get the real story out there - how much Jessie had already achieved, not let it be blotted out by what's happened.
Well No! No! We are not going to wait till the next edition.
We absolutely cannot allow ourselves to be beaten by the competition.
I'll go to Mr Wax if I have to, I'll bloody make him.
Stanley, I've spoken to Mr Wax.
He's agreed.
You have? What, you thought of it too? Yes.
You realise it's not just a three page supplement we're doing It's going to be 20 pages, with a lot of pictures.
It will be a 32 page edition.
That is what Mr Wax has agreed to fund.
No, no! There will be absolutely no admittance to members of the press.
TYPEWRITER CLICKING Look at this! You know what, Sarah? We've got space for a lot more images, why don't you grab your photographs? Some of the shots that you've taken of the band.
In fact, bring us everything you've got.
Everything I've got?! Yes, go and get it now.
We've got a chance to do something very different with your pictures, something that nobody else will have.
Be careful there are already one or two people in the street, keeping vigil.
My honeypie I came to town and learned to love a little harder You showed me how to play the game that I succeeded in Now I can dream about as high as I can fall I'm just on top of the world.
Lord, lead me on Lord lead me on Take me by the hand Lord lead me on Show me the way ahead And lead me on Take my fears away Lead me on Lord, lead me on.
Mr Masterson has arranged for the reception to be right here, through the trees, so we won't have to be bothered with the press.
Louis .
.
this is Edith, Jessie's aunt.
Delighted to meet you.
Very pleased to meet you too.
I had no idea, you see, no idea at all, what Jessie did - singing with the band and everything.
I don't read the newspapers or listen to the wireless, we don't have a wireless anyway, and her mother would have been so proud, you know! And, oh, I gotta thank this gentleman for being so generous.
Sorry.
It's been so good of you to do all of this A little reminder that there's another world out there.
We're going where prying eyes can't follow.
The police may well start to make their presence felt again, Louis, if they haven't solved this case soon.
They'll get all our statements one more time, you mark my words.
Yes, I suppose.
I think they're very close to making an arrest, in fact.
This is the way, everybody.
Down this little path, here.
There's a surprise waiting for us beyond the trees.
GLASSES CLINKING Ah, Stanley, I need to congratulate you.
On what? On that special edition of the magazine.
It was rather remarkable.
Well, it was one edition that had to be serious, wasn't it? This is my mother, this is Lady Cremone.
Oh, Your Ladyship, how lovely to meet you.
I was hoping we would be introduced.
So happy to meet you.
My son never stops talking about you.
No, no, he does.
Every time I see him he mentions you, you're quite his favourite person.
Parents! They embarrass you every time, don't they? He's always very interested in what you're going to say, what your opinion will be of the next issue of the magazine - he asks every time, "Do you think she'll like it, Mum?" What a beautiful place to hold a wake but I do hope my brother doesn't feel the need to make a speech - I fear he might break down completely in the middle of it.
This may be the very last time we see each other, Your Ladyship.
Goodness, no! I still have my apartment in the hotel, do you remember? The, er, the Bertram family are coming to town owners of The Imperial.
Mm-mm? A murder in their hotel, it's something they can't tolerate.
Well, they can hardly blame you, Mr Schlesinger? Mr Masterson, er, this is my mother.
Mrs Mitchell.
How do you do? I'm going to say something extremely obvious to your son, Mrs Mitchell.
And what's that then? I'm going to say, that when something finishes - not always, but frequently - something else begins.
I'm sure that's true.
Oh, yes.
I expect your son may wonder what I mean by that.
And what do you mean? Well, why don't we make an appointment, Stanley, you and I, and figure out what I mean? GLASS BEING TAPPED I just want to say something - nobody be alarmed, I'm not making a speech at all! But I just want to say .
.
the flowers, some of these flowers, were brought here especially by Mr Masterson.
I know they look like they live here all the time but they don't, and I just want to thank him, and say what an appropriate gesture I think that was because Jessie's life was such a short life, so full of colour, so vivid it brought such joy into my life, and into many of our lives here today .
.
and I just want to pay tribute It's probably not a good idea after all to hold a wake in a glass house! We ought to get away from here.
(Yes.
) We could go to my house? My father's gone away for a few days.
Just showing Mr Lester my latest photographs, Lucy.
If there are any callers, I don't want to be disturbed.
We leave them at the funeral and here they are again! That's right.
They're following you! I haven't quite finished developing them all.
That is a spooky sight, certainly! Yes, this one looks rather hungry.
Quite a few of them look like they haven't had enough to eat.
How dedicated they were to Jessie already, after such a short time.
ExactlyI think one of them attacked Jessie in the hotel.
One of these? Stanley thinks this too - they wanted Jessie all to themselves.
People become so obsessed with their favourite performers, they want power over them, to own them.
Yes, but I never saw any of them inside the hotel, ever.
They could have got in.
I haven't told anybody what you've told me, I promise, but it can't have been Julian, I really believe it can't have been.
I did see him that night inside the hotel.
There'll be an explanation for that, there really will! Anyway, we don't need to think about that now.
No, we don't.
SHE MOANS I love you, Louis.
DOORBELL RINGING LOUIS CHUCKLES What's the matter? I don't think I've ever done this, being watched by myself before! Miss Sarah, Miss Sarah?! You're wanted.
Ignore it.
'Miss Sarah, Miss Sarah, there's someone here for you, Miss Sarah!' That girl! I told her! It's the police, Louis.
Ah, Mr Lester, I wonder if you could help us with some identification? Identification? Yes we need to make an identification and we believe that you, as a witness, could help us.
Are you willing to do that? Of course.
Hello, Harry.
Good afternoon, Mr Lester.
Now you saw Mr Luscombe in the hotel passage when he maintains he was on the train to Paris? I did, yes.
And how many feet away from him were you when you saw him? I don't know 60, 70 feet.
It would be at least that, wouldn't it? Turn round, if you could, Mr Lester.
Now, who is that at the end of the passage, Mr Lester? Can you tell me? Now, is it Mr Gunson, who you know? Can you tell me for sure that that is Mr Gunson? Or is it Sergeant Thomas, who you don't know? Or could that even be Mr Thornton from the Imperial Hotel, who was here just a short while ago? Which one is it, Mr Lester? Louis! This is nothing like it was, there's more light in the hotel.
You can't tell me, can you? This is Mr Julian Luscombe's passport, he gave it to us entirely voluntarily.
Please, have a look.
Now, it bears the correct stamp of the French passport control for the night train in question.
It's the right date and, of course, there is only one night train.
And then we have witnesses - a Mr Leopold Fitzmaurice, and, er, Mr Horace Verney, both of whom saw Mr Luscombe in their first class compartment and then saw him embark with them on the ferry.
Now, neither Mr Fitzmaurice nor Mr Verney are friends or acquaintances of Mr Luscombe, yet they identified him at once.
Apparently he never stopped talking the whole journey.
Is it possible, Mr Lester, that it was someone else that you saw at the hotel that night? Someone else who called your name? Is it possible that you can't be absolutely sure that you saw Mr Luscombe? If you're asking me whether I'm absolutely sure? I am.
Then I suppose it is possible that I'm not.
Thank you, Mr Lester, that is extremely helpful.
Why have you done that? Well, you taught me how to play, so it's all your fault! Well, you're better than you think.
Only sometimes! All the wonderful battles we've had, I used to want them never to finish.
Yes, sometimes they lasted for days.
We've saved our lives with games especially with these mice and frogs, and I still need them! Hello, Mummy, how was your little holiday? Was it a success? No, not really.
Hotel was horrible.
Some guests you didn't like? There were some guests I couldn't abide, yes, nor could your father.
We had to move rooms twice, in fact, to get far enough away from them.
There were some Jews in the hotel, Mummy? Is that what you mean? Unfortunately, yes, the hotel seemed to be crawling with them.
You really wouldn't expect that in Cornwall, would you? How on earth did we come out of that person, darling? Don't you ever think that? How on earth are we a part of her? I think about it all the time.
Nearly every morning.
You won't leave me here alone with them? Promise! I'll never leave you, darling.
I have plans, of course, great plans, at the moment! Mr Masterson's been so encouraging but wherever I go, I will always come back and I've decided .
.
I'm going to fill this house with Jews and Negroes maybe we should do that for Mummy's next birthday, in fact! Although Jessie won't be able to sing for her now.
I know you're so upset about Jessie.
You can talk to me about it, darling, how much you miss her.
You can tell me all about it.
I know I know I can.
Come in, Mr Mitchell, come in.
I was wondering where you were.
I'm not late, am I? You've not been here before? No, I haven't.
There's a lot to look at! Everybody runs to gold when times get hard but I didn't get where I am now by doing the obvious, Mr Mitchell.
No, I'm sure you didn't.
Stanley You don't mind if I call you Stanley, do you? Of course not, Mr Masterson.
You caused quite a rumpus at the German Embassy the other night, didn't you, Stanley? Well, that was a joke I thought a good one, as it happens.
I just wanted to give them one No.
There's no need to explain.
A little mischief might well do them some good.
You don't know much about the business I'm in, do you, Stanley? It's more than one business, isn't it, Mr Masterson? That's correct, Stanleyit's mainly real estate in the US, a little bit of coal, of course a LOT of oil In the Depression, like we're in now, there are certain things people still want - food, of course, soap, a little entertainmentand news.
At the moment I don't own any of those.
Except Julian's English cheese business, of course! Yes except for that.
Now, I don't want you to say anything to what I'm about to put to you.
Not at all? Whatever it is? That's correct.
I was very impressed by this edition of your magazine, Stanley.
I have just written to Mr Wax proposing that I buy Music Express off him.
I intend to find a new larger premises for the magazine and to expand it greatly.
I am extremely interested in the possibilities of photo journalism.
I don't think anybody's grasped its full potential.
I intend to make Music Express the foremost entertainment magazine in Europe.
I further intend to found a news magazine in the next year or so that will rival Time magazine, and then overtake it.
I propose to make you editor in chief of Music Express magazine.
That is if you want to take it, Stanley.
No, don't say anything, anything at all.
I want you to consider this, silently, for the next few days.
Louis?! Harry wants to see you.
What's it about? He will tell you.
A request has come up.
The Freemasons are holding their annual dinner for the new Worshipful Master in the rooms that they have here, and, er, rather surprisingly Well, surprising to methey've requested that you play at it.
The Masons? That'll be interesting.
I just wanted to check that you could manage it, to play at all - under the circumstances.
Yes.
We're going to keep on playing, that's already been decided.
For the time being.
What does that mean? Until it's decided otherwise.
It is up to Mr Schlesinger who plays at this hotel.
At the moment it is.
CLATTERING Oh, no, not again! I don't believe it! I will not stand for it! Stop that! At once! RIGHT NOW! You! Get out of here! I'll have you all arrested! Run! I don't care how hungry you are, you can't steal food from here! Hurry! I'll have you all locked up! I cannot understand how people have so little pride, let themselves fall so low.
People have to eat.
Not out of my dustbins, they don't.
Oh, and by the way, Mr Lester .
.
the police came round.
Said they wanted to take the sports car that belonged to Miss Taylor.
I said, of course, they could.
Why did they want that? I believe they've got it into their heads they need to have a thorough look at it.
Mr Wax is selling the magazine?! It hasn't happened yet, no.
To this American millionaire? He's one of the richest men in the world - why does he want our little magazine?! He sees great possibilities in it, that it'll grow enormously.
He's offered to make you captain of the team, has he? Nothing's been finalised.
I'm not supposed to be breathing a word about it to anyone but I just thought you should know.
Thank you, Stanley, for not keeping it a TOTAL secret.
Maybe Mr Wax won't sell after all? At the right price, most people will sell anything.
Mr Masterson has great plans for the magazine.
He'll never give you any freedom, Stanley, you realise, it will all change completely here.
I'm not sure about that.
If he suggests things we don't like, we won't do them.
How?! You won't be able to control what's happening, Stanley! Erm, excuse us for a moment but I'm sure you won't mind the interruption - Her Ladyship just wanted to see in here.
Lavinia.
So this is your lair, Stanley? I've only ever seen it from the outside.
It's usually a fraction tidier than this.
Is it? I always wondered what it would look like.
Well, it may not look like this for much longer.
That sounds interesting.
Er, maybe Your Ladyship would like to see the collection of back copies we have? They're in my office, if we would just return there.
I would love that.
I have, in fact, several bound copies of your magazine in my library - not many people can say that, I expect! And you are on the cover of one of our editions, of course.
One of our very BEST covers, I always say! PHONE RINGING Good evening, gentlemen.
Have you ever seen the Bertram Brothers before, Harry? I have not.
No.
They never EVER come here.
They could stop me getting another job anywhere in the hotel business.
A few weeks ago, we were one of the most fashionable hotels in London and now .
.
I have a terrible feeling about this week, Harry.
Have they said anything to you? No Have they spoken to you though, Harry? Just a few words, as I was showing them to their suite.
And what did they tell you? That a murder at this hotel is one of the worst things they could ever imagine happening.
(Yes) .
.
and unsolved too, of course.
So far, yes.
Every time I see them gather, I can't help being fascinated.
Me too.
There'll be a few dukes and marquises down there, some minor royals, perhaps, senior politicians, of course - all sorts of surprising people belong to the Central London Lodge.
Yes I thought now the band's playing at the dinner Isn't that so unexpected? Oh, yesI'm quite jealous, I'd love to be there! But, now that's happening, I thought, maybe, I could do an article about the Masons, in this hotel.
If you did, you'd never work again! Course, this may be the very last time they're here.
Because of the murder? I suppose we have to call it that now - the "murder".
But yes, they may be moving on, colonising another hotel.
I hear they've been scurrying around looking at all sorts of basements but I have no idea who's arranged for the band to play for them tonight - God knows what'll happen! You're looking surprisingly smart today.
I have an important dinner appointment, that's why.
In the new Atlantic Bar? That's right.
So do I.
They've re-decorated all of this and what a lovely room! I collect beautiful rooms around London, Stanley.
I don't see why one shouldn't spend as much of one's life as possible in them.
You must join Her Ladyship, you mustn't keep her waiting.
Lavinia, you look magnificent, as always.
I must just join that wonderful young artist, over there.
I'm hoping to help her get her first exhibition, she's exquisitely talented.
Stanley.
Arthur has a new project, it seems! To go with all the others! We have a great deal to talk about.
Yes, I know.
I hope I'm not too late.
No, sir.
They all here? Yes, they're all here, sir.
Thank you.
So, what do you know about Mr Masterson? What's he really like? He is one of the few people I've ever met who always seems to be ahead of events.
Ah, but can one trust him? Funnily enough, I think one can.
So you are involved in his acquisition of the magazine? I could be Of course, it doesn't need my money but he needs somebody who lives here, who can be on the spot, while he travels the world.
So I'm going to be working for you? Is that such a terrible prospect? I'm not even going to reply to that! If all this happens, we will both be working for Mr Masterson ultimately, but, yes, you'll be working for me, in a way.
I knew, for some reason, this was going to happen, I just, I just thought it might! I don't know how that's possible, Stanley, because I didn't until yesterday! Suddenly I realised the way I was living was absurd - can't be half a recluse, who's ever heard of that?! Half a hermit! Living like that was never going to bring my boys back and now I know I want to do something with the rest of my life - get involved, Stanley, get really involved.
Where's your singer? Carla.
She'll be coming, don't worry.
Are you usually down here with them, Harry, when they have their dinners? Yes, sometimes.
I thought they had their own people.
They do, but once or twice I've helped them out with their arrangements.
Of course, I've never been in the temple never see them in their robes.
Louis! There you are! Ha! This is going to be so good.
Such fun! You will get your cue in just a moment.
Best tipper in the hotel.
A very generous man, Mr Masterson.
Well, I suppose he needs to be, doesn't he? Why does he need to be? If you smash up your hotel suite the way he does, you rather need to leave good tips, don't you? I don't know what you mean? Oh, come on, Harry.
I saw his suite completely smashed up, you must have had to arrange to get it cleared up? You probably had to do that a number of? I have no idea what you are talking about! What are you so frightened of? Frightened? You think I'm the one who should be frightened?! Yes! I think you're extremely frightened.
What are you afraid of? You really think you're very clever, don't you? You think you can strut around with your musicians and get away with anything.
You even think you're different from the other minstrel bands, don't you?! Well, let me tell you something, this hotel will be destroyed by what you've done! What I've done? (Go on, tell me what I've done, Harry.
) Ever since you've been here I've seen it coming, I knew it was going to lead to disaster! Here I am.
Told you there was nothing to worry about! And I'm early, aren't I? Come this way, please.
Perfect timing, Carla! Remember I saw you with her! I saw you with Jessie Taylor.
I saw you arguing the night she was attacked! Everybody knows I had nothing to do with Jessie's death, I was playing for the Prince of Wales! And now I think the Masons are waiting for me.
The Worshipful Master will now take wine with his personal guests.
Now, don't worry, I know it looks a littlestrange, it's just like an ordinary meal, really.
They can be surprisingly jolly occasions, not much mumbo jumbo once we get eating! Have they ever had a singer in here before? No, no, don't think so.
It was my idea to invite you, of course.
I don't know how it's going to go down! We'll see! Ah, this is my friend, Leopold Fitzmaurice, we joined the Lodge together on the same day! He very much wanted to say hello to the band, didn't you, Leopold? I know you're going to liven up our dinner, no end! Leopold Fitzmaurice? Yes, that's his name, it's a grand name, isn't it? He was on the train with you, was he? The night train to Paris? Leopold and I are always on trains together! It's a pleasure meeting you.
So, yes, Leopold saw me on the trainand Horace, over there.
Horace Verney, always seems to be in my compartment! Now, I really must get back.
There's a first time for everything and this is absolutely a first.
The Louis Lester band will now give us their first number.
Where's the bloody music? THE PARTY CHUCKLE (Louis) (Louis, what are you doing?!) The first number we're going to play is Speak up! This Girl's Going Far.
(Yes.
) All my life I've been somebody All fired up and not nobody Shouting loud Beat the crowd This girl's going far Blow, Joe, blow Let 'em know I'm going to be a star Stop the music! Pamela? What are you doing here so early? Er, we're going on somewhere after, if you'd like to join us, by the way, that would be delightful.
Have you not heard the news? What news? What's happened? Someone has tried to assassinate the American President.
What?! Someone has tried to shoot Mr Roosevelt.
They're all worried how this is going to affect the market.
Do you think there'll be another crash, Walter? We need some more news, we need some reliable news.
Ah, Louis, what a massive pity this is! I so wanted to see what they thought of the music! MUSIC: "Rosen aus dem Suden" By Johann Strauss II They're only playing music! This is ridiculous! An enormous story like this, they've got to have an extra news bulletin surely?! No, instead they just play Strauss waltzes, like they always seem to at this time of night, nothing can change that.
Well, I definitely don't think we're going to get any more news from the BBC tonight, maybe we could try another station from abroad? STATIC CRACKLING Useless! We'll just have to wait until the morning, for the newspapers.
Have you heard the news from the US? We have, we're just trying to find out more.
I think I know where you can find out more.
I suggest you come with me.
To where? Oh, it's quite walkable.
Stanley! Louis, how did it go with the Masons? All right? You must tell me about it sometime.
I will, but I have to talk to you about something else.
Not now, haven't you heard the news?! I heard they tried to kill the President.
Yes, we don't know if he's badly injured, or dying, we don't know what's happened to him but Mr Masterson is taking us somewhere to find out.
It's one of his, er, mystery tours, like his picnics! Erm, but I can't lose him, or I won't know where they've gone.
Why don't you come? Seems we're the only ones mad enough to be out on a night like this! Come on, Louis, keep up or we'll lose him.
So, where are we going, Walter? Is this another party you haven't told anyone about? You're here too, darling! Isn't that wonderful? How come she knows about this?! Come inside.
Good evening, Sarah.
Sarah .
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do you know why we're here? No, I got a telephone call from Mr Masterson just as I was going to bed, he said I had to come here, he had something to show me.
Where are we? Come on! Come in, come on, come on, come on! What the hell is Eric doing here? What an incredible wireless! It's fit for an emperor! This set here should be able to get us any station in Europe.
Let's see what we have.
That's Radio Luxembourg, they at least have news right into the night.
NEWSREADER SPEAKING FRENCH 'Bonsoir.
Le maire de Chicago a ete severement touche lors de la' They're saying that the President-Elect Mr Roosevelt is not injured but the Mayor of Chicago has been shot and his condition is very serious, several other people are shot.
'.
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la police continue son enquete dans l'affaire du meurtre 'de la jeune chanteuse de couleur Jessie Taylor' Good heavens! What? What is it? What are they saying?! They're talking about the murder in a London hotel, the young coloured singer, Jessie Taylor, who had sung for royalty They're saying the police are now following new leads.
I knew it would be a huge story but I didn't realise they'd be talking about it across Europe! I didn't realise you could speak French.
You don't know everything about him! And learn to love a little more You showed me how to play the game That I'd succeed a little Now I can dream about as high as I can go I can't bear it! It's so sad to hear her voice, it's too upsetting! What is this place anyway? Don't you know? This is going to be our new home, Stanley.
This is extraordinary.
This is our new office? This room here? Not just this room.
It's the whole building, Stanley.
The whole building?! That can't be right! When did you buy it, Mr Masterson? Oh, only the other day.
I bought the wireless first, then needed somewhere big enough to house it.
He approached me just today - could I be so kind, would I look at the new premises and see if I approved? What an office this is! Even The Times would be jealous of this! Oh, they would indeed! YELPING There will, of course, be room for rather more staff and a large photographic department, where all your photographs will be and all the other photographers who will be working with you or I should say, working for you.
The use of photography is the future.
It is the future, yes.
Is, is that a job offer? Was that a job offer?! I rather think it was.
This is so very exciting, wonderful.
I should choose a room which I can have my office, perhaps I could have half of this room? Well, hang on, you're not having half of our room Maybe this will be an appropriate room? Oh, yes, this is your room, all right.
After all, it's the only one with a telephone! It's the first regular job I've ever had in my life, Stanley! With an office! The proprietor's office! Is it absurd me starting this sort of thing at my age? No, it's not absurd at all.
It's the obvious thing to do, in fact Of course, I might wish to be part of this too, Walter.
We should forget about the silly cheese idea.
Julian, the plans are decided.
I will decide my own future, thank you! I absolutely refuse to be told what to do.
I'm not a CHILD, Walter, you have to stop treating me like one, or I'll go and work somewhere else! What do you think, Louis? Isn't this so divine? We live in the age of the magazine, Mr Lester, they have the power to influence many things.
Yes, I'm sure it will soon become the most talked about magazine in London.
In London? Walter's not just interested in London! Don't be silly, Louis, how could he be interested in that?! His plans are much greater! Of course.
My mistake.
I'm sure you will conquer the world with it.
After all, who's to stop him? Excuse me, for a moment.
If only I had a tape measure with me, I could start planning the layout of the office immediately but maybe I can make some rough estimates.
Here goes! Louis, I've got a new job - at least I think I have! I know, I heard We can have a room each, remember .
.
I need to talk to you.
.
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and you can have a whole department dedicated to electrical music! StanleyI think you should hear this too.
Julian, when you get to Manhattan everything will be so different because you won't have time to worry about anything.
You can take as much time as you want, learning one thing, then move on, up a step, to the next thing, the next problem.
Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt.
Darling, you're not interrupting.
What Walter was saying was not important at all, not in the slightest .
.
just a little trip we might be taking.
It's very cold, isn't it? I think I might try to light a fire in one of these rooms.
What on earth have you been doing? I told the police what I thought I'd seen.
You told the police you saw Julian in the hotel when he couldn't possibly have been there, when he was on a train to Paris?! He got his friends to LIE for him.
That's ridiculous.
What, you think all the passport controls are lying?! But then what did you do? You changed your story! I didn't change my story, I told them I couldn't be certain.
I wish you hadn't told them about Julian.
Don't you realise what a stupid thing it was to have changed your story, what possessed you?! The police will have been wanting to include you as a suspect all along.
They can't, I was playing at the airbase.
They CANNOT make me a suspect.
Why not? They can try to prove that you could have made it back in time.
Pamela! I was just looking for somewhere to light a fire.
I think next door might be better.
There's a little coal there.
You changed your story when you realised that Julian couldn't possibly have been there - what do you think a jury will make of that?! A jury?! It's not going to come to a jury?! I'm sure it won't, there won't be a trial or I told you to be careful with the police, I warned you that they would start again.
Well, you need a lawyer, and very quickly.
All right.
I'll go straight back to the hotel now and No, you won't, stay away from the hotel.
Trust me, I know what I am talking about, the police may come for you in the morning and you MUST try to be with a lawyer when they arrest you.
Arrest me?! They can't arrest me, there's no evidence! He's right, they can't arrest him.
We need to get you a lawyer.
Maybe Mr Masterson will help? I'm not taking any "help" from Mr Masterson, I promise you, that's the LAS thing I'll do.
You need to stop thinking he's involved in some way, and Julian too, for goodness sake, it's only going to make things worse for you! 'You can't say those things about them, you just can't! 'You have to stop.
' They're just through there, for Christ's sake! Maybe it's time they heard it.
Arthur will find Louis a lawyer.
He'll know somebody.
Yes, yes, of course, Mr Donaldson.
Except he doesn't get up till midday.
Hello? Who are you? If you're selling something, you've got to go to the back entrance.
No, no, Violetta, these are friends.
Welcome to you both.
This is Violetta, my niece, Emily, her friend - they're staying for a couple of days.
Nice surprise to see you both! We did telephone.
Your housekeeper said Said I was in bed.
Well, the day has only just begun, hasn't it? Two of you obviously don't worry about sleep.
Come in, come in.
We need your help, Arthur.
Of course, whatever I can do.
How quickly can you get me a lawyer? A lawyer? About 45 minutes.
No, I don't want to exaggerate, let's say 50.
So, Neville, how soon can you come? YesI-I want you to see a friend of mine, Mr Louis Lester.
That's right, he wants your advice rather urgently.
An hour? No, no, that's excellent.
If you can make it 50 minutes, that would be even better.
Neville's one of the best lawyers in London.
Thank you.
I appreciate it.
I have to meet my father at St Pancras, he's coming back today.
His train's at 2.
30 and he'll worry if I'm not there to meet him.
Of course I haven't been home since last night but maybe I can get Lucy to No, no, you must go I'll be fine here.
You will be.
I-I'll make sure that, er, nobody enters the house until Louis has had some time with his lawyer.
We have a warrant for the arrest of Mr Louis Lester on suspicion of murder.
Well, what are you telling me about it for? Arrest him! He's not in his room.
He must have heard you coming, mustn't he? PIANO MUSIC PLAYING Those are all of my travels, I'm afraid.
Rather egotistical to have them all on display, I know.
It was a wonderful time, Louis, Europe was a wonderful place.
You could go anywhere, anywhere you wished without a passport, stroll across borders - it was a heavenly time to be young, before the war.
Yes, must have been.
You're always marvellously calm, Louis.
Not today I'm certainly not today.
Well, you've been up all night, my friend.
But I admire you so much, how you conduct yourself - if I'm allowed to say that - how you don't allow yourself to be cowered.
No, I don't like to be, "cowered," Mr Donaldson .
.
and I refuse to panic now.
That's right.
No reason to panic.
But just realising that you're going to be accused of a crime, and a very serious crime, and, probably, there's nothing you can do to stop that happening, and somehow the evidence is going to beadjustedso it points straight at you.
Of course that's alarming, Louis, but the English police, they might not be as efficient as they claim to be, but they, they never wilfully hang the wrong man.
DOOR OPENING What are you doing with Mr Lester's cloak? It's all right.
Time for tea! It's not nearly time for tea.
But I've made some cakes! Mm, marvellous looking cakes, you two! They look absolutely irresistible.
There are three each Oh, I forgot about him.
I'm sure there'll be plenty for all of us.
Better take a seat, Louis, I think we're going to be eating these cakes, whether we like it or not, for some time, certainly until Neville gets here.
Mrs Courtney can make us all some tea.
I see no reason why we shouldn't have two or three teas today - it's not against the law, is it, girls? Leave the knives alone, Violetta! Mrs Courtney can cut the bread and maybe she'll find some of her delicious damson jam that she keeps hidden.
Oh, yes, I know about that KETTLE AND GIRL WHISTLING TRAIN WHISTLING 'He's arranged another train for us' and a jolly big picnic too, isn't that good? Except this time it's just you he wants to see, Louis.
I just need to meet my father.
It's better up here.
It's inviting, it's enticing She wants to go for a spin.
.
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getting closer on the midnight run My heart is a-pounding and a-pumping and a-pumping! .
.
my runaway train stampeding I think this is the place.
.
.
stoker at the furnace fire For night-time dreams and desire It's inviting.
Hello? Anybody there? Hello, could you please open this door? Could you please open this door? DOORBELL RINGING 'Police.
I think you know why we're here' They took the knives! GLASS SMASHING He's there! He's over there! He's here! He's here! Come quick! Stanley! Oh, hello, you look beautiful.
I'm surprised you noticed but then, this is such a rare thing.
What do you mean? You and I alone.
Ah, well, plenty of chance for that.
You're here remarkably early.
So are you.
But then I don't want to miss a moment of Mr Masterson's farewell meal.
It's not a farewell really, he's only going to the USA for business reasons.
You're very well informed of his movements all of a sudden.
Well, I've been in meetings with him all day.
You know Julian's going to have a job in his office in America, for a few months at least.
Yes, I heard that.
My brother's going to be an American businessman and suddenly you're his partner too.
Mr Masterson's.
Not a partner but definitely a colleague.
This is such an enormous chance for me, Pamela.
It certainly appears to be, Stanley, yes.
LOUIS GRUNTING AND PANTING Watch out, you bastard! I'm sorry! I thought we'd get rid of the speeches before the serious eating has begun.
It's always so much more relaxing that way! In spite of us missing one or two people I'm sure our missing guests will be here soon.
I just wanted to thank Walter, or should I say Mr Masterson, since he's my boss now, for not only laying on this meal I thought we'd have the ballroom to ourselves for once, since we've spent so much time here.
And it's a charming gesture, I think we'd all agree! So this meal is not only to bid farewell to Mr Masterson on his trip to the United States where, hopefully, he will keep the President quite safe, and where, hopefully, too, he will not spend too much time.
He'll be back, don't worry! He's only happy when he's travelling! But this is also to celebrate the great new venture we're embarking upon together, under Stanley and Eric's editorship.
We understand, of course, that we're only a corner of your empire Not a corner, never just a corner.
.
.
but we hope, in our own way, to make many waves.
Cheers.
I'm so sorry I'm late.
I was held up, unavoidably! Forgive me.
I'll explain everything in a minute.
Carla has agreed to sing! Julian, it's the middle of the meal.
When better?! Now, until Louis arrives, you'll have to make do with me accompanying you.
Well, then we'll do one very simple song, shall we? Ah, Miss Peters, there's a telephone call for you, apparently it's urgent.
.
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serenading to a tune A pop at the bull's eye You must join us, Mr Schlesinger, please.
.
.
dancing on the moon Louis? I was just thinking about what I might do for this hotel I've always liked it here.
'Where are you?' Near a church.
Where is the church? You don't need to know that.
'You can tell me where you are!' You don't trust me all of a sudden?! 'Why would you telephone me if you don't trust me?' I need somewhere to go.
Come here and we'll work out the best plan.
Come back to the hotel?! I'm not that stupid, Sarah! What are you saying? You don't trust any of us? You think we've all turned against you in two days? Can't believe you'd think like that, Louis! I'm dreaming of the big time A chance to dig a goldmine Donaldson called the police.
'He did not call the police!' They appeared at his house, he's just told me what happened.
They appeared at his house?! 'Yes!' Of course they're going to visit everybody you know, Louis, they're looking for you.
No lawyer ever turned up.
He got delayed Do you know what they did? They locked me in, as if I was.
.
They wanted to let you sleep, they wanted to stop the children from disturbing you - you've got to believe me! Come here, Louis.
This is where people can help you.
How many times do I have to tell you I'm not coming back to the hotel?! 'Then I'll meet you somewhere else, wherever you like!' The police are going to arrest you.
'They have to find me first.
' 'You can't run away from them!' I can get out of the country.
'You'll never manage that on your own! You have to meet me.
' I can't bear the thought that you don't trust me, you have to trust somebody, Louis, you have to! Maybe I don't I think this will be a lot easier if I don't trust anyone.
Louis, you have to remember What do I have to remember? Who I am? Is that what you mean? That is what I mean but not in that way.
Please, listen to menot everybody thinks like me and Stanley, not everybody wants to help you.
No, Sarahthat's where you're wrong that's what I've just found out.
You think just the same as everyone else.
Thank you for being so patient and don't be concerned, I'm going to see a doctor now.
JULIAN PLAYING PIANO Was that Louis? Is he on his way? That was Louis he's not on his way.
Well, that is a disappointment, we won't have a proper chance to say goodbye.
How strange that Louis isn't here, I wouldn't have thought he'd want to miss this.
Stop playing, Julian! Julian, will you stop playing? GLASS TINKLING I have my own toast to propose .
.
to pay tribute to how everybody seems to be working for you now, Mr Masterson.
I'm not.
Carla isn't.
Everybody that is, except for me, and I'm sure that's how it should be because I have no speciality of any kind and am quite unqualified for regular work but I am sure it is a wonderful thing to be working for Mr Masterson and he will take care of my brother, I am sure, too, in his career over the ocean I'll only be gone for a while.
.
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because my brother is a very sensitive person.
Somy toast What is my toast? My toast is to you .
.
I am sure you will all prosper in the ways that you want, in what you've set your hearts on .
.
by working for Mr Masterson .
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and to our benefactor, Mr Masterson! Hear, hear.
Thank you, Pamela .
.
for your generous speech.
and I'd just want to add, because we have an empty chair I'm sure that before this meal is over, Mr Lester will be joining us.
Well it's, erm, copy night at the magazine our last edition at the old place, and though it has been put to bed, think I'll go back there.
No, no, no, Eric, I'll do this I just, er, feel the need.
Thank you.
Our last edition in the old place, Rosie! I thought I'd take one more look.
It's just what Mr Wax is doing too.
Really? Didn't realise he was that sentimental.
Are you sure you're doing the right thing, Stanley? Letting Mr Masterson buy our magazine.
Absolutelywithout a doubt.
We'll have no control, at all.
We have to grow! Don't you see? Rosie, this is going to change all our lives, not just for a few months, for ever.