The Persuaders (1971) s01e22 Episode Script

- Brett? - Mm? You had a higher education, tell me something, do you call it she-ing or skiing? It depends what you're doing, where you're doing it and with whom.
OK, I'm gonna call it she-ing.
Aren't you being a trifle premature? What do you have to do to come down a mountain? It depends what condition you wish to be in when you arrive at the bottom.
We go into a snowplough, put our toes together and Wait a minute.
Toes together - There.
Now what? - Press the legs out.
- Now, if you lean left - Lean left.
you'll turn to the right.
- Right.
And if you lean right you'll turn left.
Now look what you've done.
- Hurt yourself? - Don't get funny.
Oh, never mind, the snow is softer.
If only we were near it.
And apart from that we do not have time.
"We"? Where do you get the "we"? You got a secret message to come to Switzerland, not me.
I'm here for the winter sports whoever she may be.
- Oh, get up.
- Give me a hand.
It's her.
- Keep talking.
- Could it be? I only wished for her.
Wait! - Did you ring room service? - Not me.
Ha, well Oh.
May I say that uninvited visitors have never been more welcome.
- It's lucky for them you showed up.
- I wish to identify you.
- Your passport.
- You have your passport? - Yes.
- Give it to her.
Thank you.
Oh, she's the immigration department.
Personalised service.
You are Lord Sinclair.
Oh! Thank you for coming.
I am yours to command.
C-Could you tell us where you're taking us? Forgive me but no.
A few minutes more and all will be explained.
Mm.
Meanwhile could we finish the introductions? I am sorry.
I'm the Princess Alexandra Pavlovana Ozerova, directly descended from the Imperial Romanovs.
It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Princess.
Oh, look, she's got a nice body for a princess, I'll tell you that.
Look at the rest of the scenery, we may have to leave in a hurry.
Please.
Uh-huh.
Enter! Your Imperial Highness, I present Brett Rupert George Robert Andrew Sinclair, Earl of Mannoch and Mr Daniel Wilde.
The Grand Duchess Anna Sergeievna Orezov, widow to the Grand Duke Mikhail Vassilovich Ozerov, nephew to the late Emperor of all Russia, Tsar Nicholas II.
My grandmother.
You may approach us.
A great honour, Your Highness.
And for us a great pleasure.
I knew your dear father, the 13th Earl.
The 13th Earl was my grandfather, ma'am.
Oh, we make such mistakes.
Yes, I knew him at Windsor, with George V.
Dear George such a kind man.
But a bad dancer.
- Really, ma'am? - Mm.
And Mr Wilde.
We are most - happy to receive you.
- Thank you.
Excuse me, is Ozerov the family name? Oh.
Er In the Bronx there's a delicatessen called Ozerov's Delicatessen, could he be a relation? - Oh, yes.
Ivan.
- Ivan, that's him! - A distant cousin.
- Yes, of course.
He makes the best sandwiches in town.
Wait till I tell him I saw you! - He'll be knocked out! - Forgive us for making you stand.
Let us go over here.
Ivan, yes, he used to send us sometimes salami.
Will you convey to him that we are grateful? - I certainly shall.
- Alexandra! - Champagne for our guests.
- But Grandmother A magnum, and tell Nikolai, the special reserve to serve.
- Now, will you take your coats off? - Thank you, ma'am.
Now I must explain.
We'd be most grateful, ma'am.
We tried on purpose to be most intriguing.
And you succeeded, ma'am.
But why? We live in a world which ended many years ago.
The Russian aristocracy have now become jokes.
Figures of fun.
Oh, no, no - it is true.
And perhaps we are.
But tell me honestly, would you have come here had you known it was to meet an old woman who lives in memories and dreams? Please, it is lemonade but say nothing.
Na zdorovye! Your Lordship er, Ladyship, this is - A remarkable vintage.
- It's wonderful.
Wonderful.
We thank you for coming.
It's our pleasure.
There is someone you should meet.
It is at his insistence you are here.
- You are vital to his work.
- Oh, in what way? I don't know but he will be here soon.
- Who is he? - Wilhelm Ganguin.
An archivist.
- A what? - An historian.
He's been researching our family history and apparently has found a connection between the Ozerovs and the Sinclairs.
When? Soon.
The times we speak of were most painful.
The revolution.
Much blood was spilled.
Prince Ozerov, my fiancé, saw what was coming.
No one would listen to him.
He saw the danger so he began making preparations.
He sent the family jewellery to a bank here in Switzerland.
Putting something away for a rainy day, huh? They got away but the journey across Russia was a terrible ordeal.
After two weeks we came to a small village.
Godjinska.
In the church there Prince Ozerov and I were married.
In ten days' time we'd almost reached the frontier.
We were ambushed and my husband was killed.
The village was destroyed and any documentary evidence of the wedding with it.
There are no surviving witnesses.
Forgive me but where is the jewellery now? Still at the bank here in Geneva.
I am forced to go to the courts.
I tell them I am the widow of Ozerov.
They do not believe me.
They want proof.
Proof! My word is not enough.
I have the same barbarian treatment they give to poor Anastasia in Paris.
Anastasia? Er, excuse me, Your Highness, do you know Anastasia? - Of course, we grew up together.
- Fantastic.
When you are in New York ask cousin Ivan.
He carried her from the Winter Palace.
You know something, he used to tell that story all the time and nobody believed him.
They'd just say, "Crazy Ivan, there he is all juiced up on that vodka.
" Fantastic.
This is a a fascinating and moving story but I don't see what it has to do with me.
The Soviets asked for the return of the jewels claiming they belonged to the Russian people.
The Swiss authorities have ruled that all claims must be laid before the tribunal before the end of next month.
If no claim is validated, the jewels will go back to Russia.
You don't have to announce me, it's a casual visit, not a state occasion.
Highness Alex And you must be Sinclair and Wilde.
My nephew, Sergei Ozerov.
It is no secret that we are not in the least fond of each other.
But as he is a relative I allow him to come here.
I will go to my room for a little while.
I will return when Monsieur Ganguin arrives.
Yes, I'm looking forward to meeting him.
So are we, as a matter of fact.
How long will that be? He'll be here any time now, please you will wait? - Ready? - Ready.
People like you are a menace, driving like maniacs! Excuse me.
There's nothing of value in there.
What's this about? - It's here.
- Good.
Now, get back into your car.
Goodbye.
- What about my case? - Of course.
I see you got the lemonade treatment? Yes, I've been meaning to ask you about that.
I can tell you.
It's part of the game they play here.
They've been broke for years.
They don't light this place with candles because it's romantic.
No, the power's been cut off.
They keep the truth from the old lady.
That's why it's so important she wins her claim.
Well, I hate to be boring and repetitious but have you any idea - what my connection here is? - None.
Well, somebody does.
The men who ransacked my room were looking for something.
Are there any other claimants? Him.
Interesting looking sabre.
You know anything at all about them? A little.
How about you? I could give you a few pointers.
Oh, I can always use a few pointers.
- The sabre's my weapon.
- Is it? - I'm remarkably good.
- You better be.
Excuse me.
Hello? Yes, speaking.
I love the balance of the blade here.
Oh, no! Yes, I understand.
Yes, yes, I'll come down as soon as possible.
Ganguin is dead.
His car went over the cliff.
I have to go to the police station.
- Grandmother! - It's all right, I heard.
I've lived with hope for so long, there is nothing more that anyone can do.
The matter of the Ozerov fortune is ended.
We found a letter on the body with your address but there was no briefcase.
He was doing research, he must have had something.
- Are sure it was an accident? - We have no reason to doubt it.
- Have you located his daughter yet? - Not so far.
We'd be grateful if you'd make a statement, mademoiselle.
What is it, Charlie Chan? - I was thinking - What? - A researcher must have records.
- Ah-so.
Number one son speak with tongue of wisdom.
- And his house isn't too far away.
- We go, chop chop? See you later, Alex.
OK, come on, let me be navigator.
Daniel, I remember when we went to Berlin.
- So? - We were supposed to go to Madrid.
Well, nobody's perfect.
Certainly not you.
Well, there's no one home, we'll have to break in.
Maybe they left the key under the mat.
Don't be so stupid, Daniel.
Wait a minute They don't.
What is that? - How'd you beat me in? - Who's there? Oh, ho ho ho.
What a sloppy housekeeper.
That's what comes of leaving keys under mats.
- Hello.
- What? They haven't been gone long, this is still warm.
If they couldn't find what they wanted it'll take us years.
Especially when we don't know what we're looking for.
Wait a minute, look, a lot of books on Russia.
Here's two - The Massacre Of Petrograd, Karnonsky.
The Romanovs by Kochuriev.
Gesundheit.
Thank you.
- Sinclair.
- Yes? Not you, this book - Sir Rodney Parkington Sinclair.
- Any relation? - Yes, my uncle.
"Limited edition, printed privately, 1922.
" - I remember reading this as a child.
- You're kidding.
My Uncle Rodney was one of the most boring men in the world.
As a child I wasn't allowed sleeping pills so I read his books.
That's the connection, you know, between the Sinclairs and the Ozerovs.
I'm gonna take this back with me.
Hey - Nice to see you, officers.
- What kept you? - Arrest these criminals.
- I'll decide who's being arrested! You all right, Sergeant? All right, handcuff them.
- Is there any use explaining - Our apologies Bring in Mademoiselle Ganguin! Ah, Mademoiselle.
Are these the men you saw breaking in? Yes, they are the ones.
Sergeant, bring them along.
Breaking in This is the most boring book I ever read in my whole life.
Boring.
It was my uncle's most exciting book.
Really? - Would you do me a great favour? - Sure.
Get my cigar case out of my side pocket.
Thank you.
- Back in the same place? - Mm.
- How did you do that? - Do what? Fortunately for you this matter has been cleared up.
- Glad to hear it.
- It was my fault.
When I saw you enter the house I just ran to telephone the police.
- No trouble.
- Perfectly understandable.
- You still had no right to go there.
- Neither did the people there.
Then you are still treating my father's death as an accident? I see no reason to do otherwise.
I'll keep you informed of any developments.
Excuse me.
You can take the cuffs off them, they're free to go.
About your father - can we do anything? Thank you, I just don't believe it was an accident.
He was such a careful driver, he knew the road so well.
Do you know anything about your father's research into the Ozerovs? He talked to me about it sometimes.
Perhaps when you're feeling better you'll tell us.
I found this book at the house, can I borrow it? I remember that, he was very excited when he found it.
"The Englishman looked at the weapon to which he was unaccustomed.
"'The challenger,' he said, 'in all countries where honour is known, "'accepts the arms of the challenged.
' "And so I left the Winter Palace.
"I wore a suit of heavy blue serge with hand stitching on the lapels "and lined with a pale blue silk.
"My trousers were My trou" Oh.
"My shoes My shirts" What is this? What's with your uncle and? Look at that, six pages describing the suit he was wearing.
Now, listen to this.
"Eventually I was given food and refuge "in a church in the village of Godjinska.
" That's where my grandmother was married.
- Right.
- Go on, please.
Go on.
"My conversations with the clergy were of other refugees" - It could've been them.
- Mm-hm.
"who were sheltered here before.
"These conversations are recorded in my diaries of the event.
" - Diaries? - Mm.
Hundreds of them.
He wrote everything down.
"I started again on my weary way wearing a double-breasted grey suit.
" Ahem.
- "It was November 7th.
" - The wedding was on November 5th! - Two days before.
- Yes.
They must have talked about it, right? - It's almost certain they would.
- Are these diaries still around? Not only are they around, so is Uncle Rodney.
Guess where you're going? To see Uncle Rodney.
It's 50 years since the jewels were entrusted to us.
- They've been here all that time.
- Oh, really? It won't seem the same without them.
- Be a big loss to the bank if - Not at all.
No, in fact quite the reverse.
Unlike cash, they can't be invested.
That's not to say they haven't been an asset.
The very fact that we were holding them inspired trust in others.
Our reputation was built on that.
Wow! Beautiful.
After all these years I'm still impressed every time I see it.
What's it worth? Four million American dollars would be a very conservative estimate.
How many people can claim it? A few vague relatives but they don't stand a chance.
The only real claimants are the Duchess and her nephew Sergei.
- Do you know him? - Yeah, we met.
He did not like you very much, Mr Wilde.
The feeling's mutual, ma'am.
Do not worry, he dislikes me even more.
Well, what do you think of the Ozerov inheritance? - Fantastic.
- Magnificent, isn't it? - It's beautiful.
- Herr Yelker is so kind.
He lets me come here whenever I want just to see and remember.
If Brett's successful, you can wear them.
Some new evidence? Where could I find Sergei? He has a room on the Noblestrasse.
Number 73.
He runs a small gymnasium.
Gymnasium? He gives lessons in swordsmanship.
It gives him a chance to show off.
Well, he could use it.
Excuse me.
Keep the elbow in.
Mr Wilde, if you've come for a lesson get a jacket.
Try riposting those parries like that! And that! That! And the point is a good riposte.
You are still fighting defensively.
The aggressor has all the advantages.
That'll do for today, you can get changed.
- Mr Wilde.
- Hi, Sergei.
- You said the sabre was your weapon? - Right.
Try that, it has a nice feel.
Oh, thank you.
It's a beautiful salle.
Beautiful.
I'm glad you decided to take up my offer.
I like to take a sabre lesson every chance I get.
It seems to me that somebody's trying to stop the Duchess from getting the evidence that she needs.
Do you have any idea who that could be? En garde.
To answer your question - no, I don't have any idea but if you're looking for somebody with a motive nobody has a better one than me.
En garde.
You're standing too wide.
The sides are a much narrower target.
And get that knee turned out! Right! Keep your distance.
Salute.
Your defence is too slow.
Right! I don't need to do anything about stopping the Duchess's research - there is no evidence there never was! Ganguin thought so.
Then he was wrong.
Touché.
You don't get murdered for being wrong.
What?! There is no proof that Ganguin was murdered.
Just as there is no proof the Duchess ever married! Break! What I really resent is outsiders interfering in a family affair.
You came for some information - all right, I'll give you some.
Stay out of it! Understand?! Stay out! There's no charge for the lesson, Mr Wilde.
Or the advice.
Enjoy your trip back to London.
Hmm, you smell certainly much nicer than Sergei does.
I think you'll live.
I'll get it.
Somebody at the door - Hi, kid, how are you? - Good afternoon.
- Can I take your coat? - Thank you.
- How'd it go? - I spent the day tidying the house.
It must really be rough.
Did you, er did you find anything? No, there was not one document left relating to the Ozerov research.
There was no trace of his briefcase? All I found was his address book, scraps of paper with book titles, some names that mean nothing to me.
- How long did he work on this? - For over a year.
- Who paid him? - What do you mean? This kind of research costs money and Grandma is busted, kid.
- Herr Yelker.
- Herr Yelker? He took care of the fees.
He has been very generous.
He believes in her.
There are bankers like that.
Your father worked alone? Sometimes if it was very complicated he'd use a detective agency that specialised in that work.
You know the name? No, it was only a minor point.
It was all done on the telephone.
Here, maybe you could recognise the name in there if you saw it, huh? - Like a drink? - Thank you.
Vodka.
This is it, I'm almost sure.
An agency called Walther and Dante.
Walther and Dante.
It was Tuesday, I recall.
No, no, I'm wrong, it was Thursday.
Yes, because we were having smoked haddock.
My wife er er No, no, don't tell me, I'll remember in a minute.
She was having tea with the Tsarina, Alexandra Fyodorovna Uncle, after your escape from the Winter Palace you spent the night in Godjinska and wrote about it in your diaries.
I write down everything that happens to me! I could tell you what I had for breakfast 20 years ago! - What was that again? - What happened in Godjinska? Grapefruit, devilled kidneys, er thinly buttered toast.
Yes, that was it, yes.
Godjinska? - Yes, which diary did you write? - That was Russia, you know.
- I know.
- I spent the night there.
- But which diary? - Ah, yes.
Coffee without milk, a glass of seltzer Diary? Try number 14.
Thank you, Uncle.
Butler's name was Percy.
Decent enough fellow although he spilt gravy down my smoking jacket.
Brown velvet it was.
Awful mess.
My wife, she was terribly annoyed about it.
Of course, nothing could be done, it never looked the same afterwards.
Uncle, might I use your phone? Eh-eh-eh-eh? Oh, yes.
- Where is it? - Over there somewhere.
The smoking jacket was never the same.
- Could I borrow the diary? - Oh, yes, yes.
Operator, I'd like to send a cable.
- To Switzerland.
- Mary, that was my wife's name! Hello? Hello! Hello, did you Hi, er Hotel, right? - How did you find me? - Your name was in Ganguin's book.
You left it at the house.
That was careless.
One little question - who's paying you? At least that proves you know nothing important.
- Sergei Ozerov? - Guess all you want.
If you really want to play games try guessing what happens to you now.
Well, er, let's see You're not gonna do to me what you did to Ganguin, are you? No! The police think it was an accident.
They cannot prove anything else.
Forget it - two accidents like that in a row? You're right, I think we must find something different for you.
Yes.
Yeah.
A week in Acapulco? All right, get up! All right, call the police - go ahead! Call the police.
Turn me in.
- You said they can't prove anything.
- Right.
- One other thing they can't do.
- What? Here! Who are you working for? - Are you all right? - Yes.
Find something to tie his hands.
- What is it? - It's from Sinclair.
He arrives on the first flight tomorrow.
He's got what he went for.
What do we do with him? He can't stay here! I'll check.
Thank you for one of the most interesting flights I've ever had.
- I didn't know we'd landed.
- It's the only way to fly.
We must do it again soon.
Excuse me, don't make a fuss here but I have a message for you.
Western Union now? Last time we met you were a housebreaker, as I recall.
And now I'm a photographer.
Look at that.
Daniel.
Always took a bad picture.
He could look a lot worse if you don't come with me.
I doubt that.
But lead on.
Come on, stand up! I feel like I've been out a month or so.
We gave you a shot to help you sleep.
You should be as fresh as a daisy.
- What is this place? - You've been here before.
If it isn't Ivan the Terrible.
I don't like your mouth, Mr Wilde.
Hit him.
- If it isn't Ivan the Terrible.
- I've already said that.
Pity.
What's an old man like you doing rolling around? - I've had a terrible night.
- Give me his bag.
I'll bet you $100 the next thing he says is "where is it?" - Where is it? - Here, undo these.
Search him.
- Coat.
- Please? Where is the diary? Diary? The most painful thing you can do now is to be heroic.
Where is the diary?